In case you haven’t noticed, there is a new season of The Real World on MTV. Yes, that show is still on.
Arguably the world’s first reality program, The Real World premiered in New York City in 1992. Since then, the relatively simple concept (seven strangers in a house with cameras tracking their every move) has traveled the country, and across the Atlantic Ocean for two seasons in London and Paris. It’s inspired a spin-off series called Road Rules (along with endless subsequent versions of “The Challenge”), and bred many faux-celebrities that helped wide-eyed kids around the country believe that making out in hot tubs and having screaming matches with your roommates on national television is a way to “make it” in whatever kind of venue you so chose (and can get you a string of motivational speaking appearances at colleges around the country).
I was always a Real World fan, especially during it’s best seasons…Hawaii (with Ruthie the alcoholic), New Orleans (Mardi Gras and a Mormon), Chicago (the season to capture 9/11 on the air), and Las Vegas (two in-house romances, a pregnancy scare, the name Trishelle…), but ever since the show seems to lack any pizzazz or shock value. It’s not groundbreaking anymore, there isn’t anything new about it, thanks to an abundance of reality copycats over the years. Casts are simply churned out from the same formula, making the show so forgettable that I completely missed the last two seasons – Hollywood and Cancun. Their alcohol-infused locales seemingly had no potential for any sort of plausible ”reality.” Seeing the trailer for the newest edition of this old staple (the 23rd season!) in Washington DC somehow got me excited. Maybe it’s the city, maybe it’s the remnants of Obama-mania still the air, the promise of change, or the idea that they might be doing more than just drinking. Whatever the reason, I was intrigued and surprisingly eager to tune in.
My first take on the cast: I like them. Andrew is goofy and lovable, and his endless quest for ladies is hilarious (but does have the possibility to get tiresome). The casting directors and producers did fulfill the stereotypical requirements for roommates that have proven to be timeless, and made the show a success: the bisexual (Mike), the once- sheltered-girl-turned-rebel (Emily), the aggressive black man (Ty), the Southern conservative girl (Callie, who picks the bedroom with the Reagan portrait above the bed). Given these predictable molds, it comes as no surprise that within the first hour, there was a typical heated discussion over religion. Ty tries to tell Mike the Christian, that believing in God is stupid…chaos ensues
The third episode was a bit redundant, as Callie’s body image issues dominated most of the hour. I’m excited that bisexual Mike (who seems to lean more one way than the other) is comfortable enough with himself to take the roommates to a gay club so early in the experience AND bring someone home (get it!). Also, it’s nice to see that the rest of the group has no problem with it (and that he talks about his hookup with Ty!). Homophobic house mates are so last decade.
Aside from some of the predictable issues, I’m hoping for intriguing television this season. Ty and Emily’s obvious attraction towards one another has drama written all over it. You KNOW that is going to blow up in both of their faces at some point. In fact, in the first two episodes, it seems like all the roommates love each other so much, it will be interesting to see how long it lasts (and the answer is apparently not very long, as Mike and Ashley lash out at one another). Can somebody give Josh and Erika some more screen time please? It looks like that’s coming tonight, apparently Josh has a wandering eye, despite his long-term girlfriend. What happened to his first day declaration that he had a crush on his music loving female counterpart? Hopefully the kids will be given something to do soon, to get them out of the house, and give them more opportunity for drama and hilarity.
Are you watching the Real World DC? Can you believe it’s been almost 20 years since the original?
