The reality television program that I decided to watch for this blog entry was The Real World. The Real World, which was created by MTV, is a reality show that is tapes the lives of strangers that get placed into a house together. Sometimes there are seven members in the house and other times there are eight. In this particular season, The Real World: Las Vegas has seven cast members; four guys and three girls. Usually MTV chooses to cast a people who differ from one another. They usually cast a homosexual or bisexual, people from minorities, people from majorities, and someone that is very conservative and religious. This video below is the season preview and shows all the cast members (Adam, Dustin, Heather, Leroy, Michael, Nany, and Naomi):
Reality programming would not exist without viewers and fans. We play an active role in this programming and make it as big as it is today. We, as viewers love drama when we are not directly involved in it. On reality programming you will see drama, violence, and sex; three things that we love to watch unfold. We influence the “games” themselves because we demand them. If no one watched the reality programming, no one would continue to watch it. We find it entertaining.
I watched the third episode of The Real World: Las Vegas which previewed for the first time on Wednesday evening. The roommates are still getting to know each other in this episode and we learn new things about cast member Adam. Adam, pretty much the wild child of the house smashes a beer bottle out of rage because he hears his roommates talking about his drinking issues. He gets in an altercation with Leroy (http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-3-stands-by-me/1660532/playlist.jhtml). Eventually, Adam tells three of the house member’s part of his past—he spent most of his teenage years in juvenile detention center. Some view this as an excuse for his wild behavior, whereas others do not. Nany seems to be very attracted to Adam and we know from previews for the next episode that they will become involved. Heather and Dustin discuss a kiss that occurred during a truth or dare game between Heather and Michael. Heather and Dustin take things to the next level and have sex although they know it will only complicate things.
Some of the reality I saw was a relationship forming between Dustin and Heather. Another aspect of reality was people hooking up and going out to party. Also in the episode they start their first day of work at the hotel. They work a motocross race event for Athlete Recovery Fund. I would say that the cast members are real people in real situations, but when they go out they have special privileges that your ordinary person would not have the liberty of. Some attributes portrayed are pretty girls, hansom men, people different races and ethnic backgrounds, and the cast members being the life of the party. There seemed to be a competition with Adam and Nany. Nany is involved in a long distance relationship that she has been in for years and Adam is attracted to Nany and wants to get involved with her. Although Nany is in a relationship, she is still somewhat attracted to her “badass” roommate. Michael is probably the most intelligent in the house and the most wholesome. He has had sex for the first time months before going to Las Vegas—he has strong morals and values. There is sex appeal present in each of the cast members. The girls dress provocatively and the men often have their shirts off. All the roommates for the most part are trying to “get some.”
I found this show to be extremely entertaining and will continue to watch it. The Real World: Las Vegas is so alluring because of the location and lifestyle of the cast members. They live in an awesome hotel suite, decked out with everything you could imagine. They have a really cool job and get to hang out and go out on a consistent basis. Who wouldn’t want to live like this? As a viewer my role of this show is to keep watching the show and continue to “wish I lived like this” and had the same experience the members of the cast are having. I would say the show is targeted towards teenagers into their twenties. Those who watch the show within this age range can relate to these people and the lives they lead. Most of the members have had rough upbringings, which allow the viewers to sometimes relate to them. Also, the people portrayed on this show are “ordinary” people who got selected to be on this reality show. I believe most of the programming in this reality program is actually real, unlike some other reality programming that have to deal with competition. Some of the show’s events may be provoked, but for the most part I believe it portrays what is actually going on in their Law Vegas penthouse suite. They develop a sense of community and become a family through the months they are spending every waking second together. Since they are constantly together, there are obviously going to be some altercations and people are going to get on each others’ nerves. Because people like myself watch the show is the reason why The Real World is in its twenty-fifth season. The second to last paragraph from Gabler sums reality TV well, “Reality programming is about the power of ordinary individuals, about the appeal of reality, and about the desire for community, even jerry-rigged community.”
I used to watch The Real World all the time. I think the very first one I watched was The Real World Paris. I haven't watched the show in a while though but it is definitely an entertaining show to watch once you start to watch a couple of episodes. The show never fails to come with a lot of drama though which is I guess why we all keep on tuning in. It is true how you said we like to watch drama when we're not directly involved in it.
ReplyDeleteI've watched The Real World a few times in the past and I too find it interesting. I think The Real World has been overrun a little bit by the Jershey Shore. I like how you said that the cast members live a life you would like to live. I think all of us would like to live lives where we can go out drinking and have fun. I wonder how many shows there are that are like The Real World and The Jershey Shore shows?
ReplyDeleteI used to watch this show all the time. The reason I stopped watching it, as you talked about, was because of how similar the cast was every year. It seemed like every season there was a lady's man, a homosexual male, a black man, a party boy, a party girl, a shy girl, and a girl with a boyfriend at home. It just got so played out for me. I think this, along with Jersey Shore, is a reality show where people's lives can, and very often do, unravel before our very eyes. It is sad that we see this as entertaining, and that these people become celebrities.
ReplyDeleteI really think these shows are interesting but also can be scripted. I watched the one where Tyron and the white guy got into a big fight and I just feel like that was him being stupid and the producers wanted to shake up the house a little bit. I could be wrong but ya never know. These shows are fun to watch because it's suppose to be like the "real world." But not everybody goes out every night and drinks and hooks up with the opposite sex. Who know what the producers are thinking but it's what is popular in today's society.
ReplyDeleteI watched the Real World a couple times. Its a pretty good, but interesting show. I agree with you, these programs wouldn't exist if it weren't for us to watch them. The show is filled with drama which draws the attention of people our age. It's interesting that that enjoy watching drama on TV, but hate dealing with it in life. You have a good point, we do demand this type of TV.
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