MTV Picks Up The Real World For 2 More Seasons

19 Comments

1. 1
   Hypnotoad
   Posted March 23, 2011 at 4:26 pm

   I think it jumped the shark at the Hawaii season. There were so many fame whores in that season. Before that, the show actually had some culturally relative avenues to explore, but now it’s just a bunch of people getting the herp from making out in a hot tub for 3 hours before having night-cam sex. Which, as you mentioned, is now Jersey Shore’s specialty.

2. 2
   Angela Parisi LaRoe
   Posted March 23, 2011 at 4:40 pm

   It has sucked since after San Diego. I just lost interest because you cannot get any better than Coral (RTNY), and the whole San Diego cast. Between the late Frankie being on San Diego with her whole issues I identified with, it has really spiraled downhill. I did like Brooke from the Denver series because she seemed to have issues I identified with.

   I still think they should do a Pittsburgh season.

3. 3
   someguy
   Posted March 23, 2011 at 4:47 pm

   Beating a DEAD HORSE. That is what MTV does

4. 4
   someguy
   Posted March 23, 2011 at 4:48 pm

   BEATING A DEAD HORSE. That is a MTV.

5. 5
   captain-save-uh-hoe
   Posted March 23, 2011 at 5:37 pm

   I’m ok with it! These ratings are keeping me employed Yay for two more seasons! haha— and @hypnotoad, to be fair— a lot of the cast members actually have pretty culturally relevant stories and discuss a lot of social issues BUT, the MTV audience doesn’t seem to care about that so much anymore (even though they say they do).. sometimes they fall flat, sometimes they’re considered ‘boring.’ T.V. has changed since the original seasons! Can’t win over everyone

6. 6
   jersey4041
   Posted March 24, 2011 at 2:50 am

   I don’t want to see it go!! I have to be honest, as someone who watched the very first episode I still want it to go back to its roots. Alas, I know it won’t happen. My boyfriend and I were talking about when female rap music changed and the fact that he referenced Heather B. just made me realize how socially relevant it was.

   Unfortunately the Real World has turned into the co-ed version of the Bad Girls Club. It used to be a study, but now its just some weird reflection of 20somethings trying to be famous. Give it the two years to have some new Challenge contestants and then let it go…it’s mocking itself at this point. RIP Real World.

7. 7
   captain-save-uh-hoe
   Posted March 24, 2011 at 6:25 am

   Hey Guys, So it would all seem like you have some great input for what would be socially and culturally relevant people/stories? I’d love to hear them… feedback is always great! In the past few seasons, we’ve had everything from a transgendered person, people having grown up in the foster system, a cast member searching for their biological parents, someone who’s gone through the juvenile system, a young woman who was raised in a religious cult, gay cast members, military cast members who have gotten the call back to Iraq, next to your genuine blue collar, guy next door, athlete, aspiring comedians and politicians etc. So, I must we WAY out of the loop in regards to what is socially/culturally relevant these days. If you just find them all boring, welp, that’s how you feel. But I’m confused by these blanket statements of how no one on the Real World is socially relevant anymore. Help me out!
   I’d say sadly, it not’s RW mocking itself but the ever so popular scripted Jersey Shore mocking the RW… and yet, Jersey Shore’s ratings skyrocket. Times have changed.

8. 8
   dazzyfresh
   Posted March 24, 2011 at 7:03 am

   I think the show like anything else has changed with the times, but like most things it has its pros AND cons. I read an article recently saying that how we live now is the lasting image of the grandiose 80s, and the original series came fresh off that era and was one we immediately connected to because WE wanted to be like Eric, Heather, Kevin and the rest. Now those of us who watched it in our early teens are in our early 30s, so we relate a little more to the Corals and Ruthie’s era than we do to the current Dustin or Pandrews of late.

   Captain, the show is still socially relevant and still manages TO compete with Jersey Shore’s idiocy and The Bad Girls Club lunacy, so kudos to that. We may not be into the ‘tight pants under the butt with bowties thing’ our current kids have adopted, but i look at leg warmers and big hair of the 80s and understand why our parents thought we were insane…lol. The Real World isnt better or worse, simply different…and its still here. So keep it up

9. 9
   NotWithoutMyTV
   Posted March 24, 2011 at 7:45 am

   I respectfully disagree. It’s different AND it’s worse.

10. 10
    captain-save-uh-hoe
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 8:18 am

    hahah I do both Bad Girls and Real World! Lots of crazy people out there. I’m all for people disagreeing and hearing input, it’s what helps us make the show better! If it’s different AND worse, hope you find another show that tickles your fancy! I’ve learned you can’t satisfy everyone and I can make just as much fun of these kids as the next person… I was just getting a little caught up in the whole socially relevant discussion as the reason for why it’s not ‘what it used to be’ since I’m just not sure that’s necessarily true. Thanks Dazzy!

11. 11
    VirginiaApple
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Well, I think another factor to consider is how different reality television is as a whole. When the Real World started, it was essentially the ONLY reality show, and (mostly) young people were introduced to about seven “reality stars” each year. That puts a lot more relevance on each person’s story when compared with today, in which seemingly hundreds of new reality personalities appear every year. Not to mention, most of the genre is a joke at this point. And when you look at when most people think the show went “downhill,” it’s around the same time that reality television was rapidly expanding and changing. As Nads and others have mentioned, the “serious” seasons don’t get the same ratings as the crazy ones. It’s partially because we’re older (although, I’m only a year older than some of the cast members), and partially because things have just changed so much in the past 10-20 years.

12. 12
    captain-save-uh-hoe
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    VA you hit the nail on the head. And btw, I feel like I’m coming off way too seriously. I don’t take my job that seriously (I mean helllllloooo I work in Reality T.V. LOL) I love this site and its recaps because it points out everything that is ridiculous and entertaining about the genre and I think if you can’t have fun and roll with the punches that come along with it, you need to lighten up!
    But yeah, it is a struggle every season to remain relevant among the reality t.v. show masses!

13. 13
    Derek Hazelton
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    This is why we have a “straight guy who does porn” and a few seasons back, we had the first trans-gendered person. If RW is going to be casting for stunts, rather than building a cohesive and interesting narrative, then it does become a co-ed dorm, a frat house, or the Bad Person’s Club.

14. 14
    captain-save-uh-hoe
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    I’m SO impressed with people who can spit out stereotypes! Derek, can we be friends?? You have pointed out something so unique and original! I’ve never heard this recycled opinion before! My point in bringing up cast member’s stories was in reference to the show trying to remain culturally relevant and relatable to a wide audience, while still at the core being a show about ’7 strangers living in a house.’ Since it is not scripted, their will be hits, there will be misses. You hope that each cast makes a ‘cohesive and interesting narrative’ and each season you learn what does and doesn’t work. You put people on who party and it becomes ‘a stupid season about people who just got cast to party and fuck’ or you put people on with interesting stories and it becomes a boring season ‘because they don’t party and fuck.’ And heaven forbid you like someone for all the unique traits they have.
    Ultimately, the viewers want to pride themselves in guessing why someone was cast- and usually they guess wrong. A ‘culturally relevant story’ isn’t the only thing that gets you on the show. Nor is it mandatory. I.E. just because you are transgendered, doesn’t mean you will get cast. You still have to be engaging, passionate, charismatic, those are just a number of things I imagine make someone watchable for the season’s duration. Ideally, everyone is a package deal.
    It takes no genius to watch ANY show and stereotype every single person. LOL kudos to being one of a bajillion that thinks they’re intelligent for their keen insight and observation!
    Feel free to snark away, I usually enjoy your comments. But spinning my words isn’t necessary.

15. 15
    captain-save-uh-hoe
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Apologies for the rant. I hadn’t had my chocolate for the day. Just full of stunts I suppose!

16. 16
    tigerbloodwinning
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Derek! Sorry (It’s Captain Save-uh-hoe) my account is all messed up. Probably for me being a dumbass in my response to your post. Although, if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have been able to create this new account name ode to Charlie Sheen! See, I have morals! I only like ‘real people!’ Haha. Anyways, your point is valid, but my point should have it’s not about stunts and more about always looking for that next interesting story that hasn’t been told. Have a good night!

17. 17
    Robinez
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    I think that the reason The Real World was so popular in the begining was because there wasn’t anything like it. It was different. It was compelling television because we were able to see true struggles that those people in the fishbowl had. And, thankfully back then some of the viewer’s came away with somewhat of an understanding about gays, interacial relationships, aids, etc.

    Unfortunately, it isn’t like that anymore. The stereotype’s are off the chain. If you are a Christian, they picked you because you are going to be an insufferable Christian and will alleniate people. If you are a republican, then you are certainly staunch and will alienate people. If you are transgender, you will pole dance, shove it down people’s throat, and alienate them.

    We are no longer privy to the struggles of the cast and their particular problem’s so that we may learn something like it was back in the olden days.. Instead we are blasted in the face with overblown streotypes and childish behavior.

    TC, Robin

18. 18
    J-Mo
    Posted March 24, 2011 at 11:34 pm

    The easiest way to tell the difference between the early Real World and the current Real World? Take a quick look at cast photos from back in the beginning, when the people chosen WEREN’T all porn models, but looked like people you might actually KNOW… nowadays chubbos and fuggos no longer exist in the realm of reality MTV unless we’re there to lose weight or undergo plastic surgery or have a baby at 16. Or have a hidden penis.

    love, J-Mo

19. 19
    Derek Hazelton
    Posted March 25, 2011 at 5:13 am

    @ Captain/TigerBlood, I wasn’t trying to stereotype anyone, nor was I trying to offend you. I apologize if I did! I’m just of the opinion that when it *seems* that a person was cast for what/who they are rather than having an interesting story, then the season generally falls flat. As a viewer, it seemed that after ANTM’s casting of their gender-bender Isis for Cycle 11, RW suddently needed a transgendered cast member for the Brooklyn season? When it comes to reality TV, I definitely don’t believe in coincidence, but I’m not behind the scenes and it may have been accidental…. I doubt it, though. This is why I referred to Katelynn’s casting on RW: Brooklyn as a stunt.