Buckwild cancellation? Sen. Joe Manchin calls for MTV show's end, producer defends Buckwild concept

MTV's new reality series might not be as "Buckwild" as its title would suggest.

The executive producer for the program, which chronicles the reality TV-worthy antics of nine young adults living in Sissonville, West Virginia, told Entertainment Weekly that "Buckwild" is "quite the opposite of everything else on TV."

The EP, John Stevens, points to the fact that these kids aren't as attached to technology and social media as others in their age group, and that their idea of fun involves time spent hanging in the woods and riding ATVs.

"[I]t's not like looking at a train wreck. ... There is a certain coolness to it," Stevens said. "It's different than a lot of the stuff that has been produced. I think it's going to get people talking and it might change people's perspectives. These kids are totally wild and carefree. It will be very refreshing to the MTV audience."

The concept hasn't been so refreshing for West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who called "Buckwild" a "travesty" in a letter to MTV and asked the network to cancel the show ahead of its January 3 premiere.

On the "Today" show Monday, Manchin reiterated his stance that "it's just not who we are. It's not how we were raised, and to portray this as the norm is wrong ... the viewers must understand that this is not reality, that this is not real West Virginia."

CNN has yet to receive comment from MTV on Manchin's call for cancellation. The network has ordered 10 episodes of "Buckwild," which will air in the same Thursday night timeslot that once hosted "Jersey Shore."