Yes, Why Has America Stopped Paying Attention To Reality TV?
It is rare that I have read an article about reality television with which I agree less. (Particularly because the analysis of early 'Real World' here seems to me-despite the unfortunate use of "arguably"-very accurate: "Season two of The Real World is, arguably, the single most important season of any TV show of the last twenty years." And because the following points about people on reality TV become simulacra of prior people on reality TV seems quite right!) But it all leads up to this: "It's difficult to say exactly why we retreated from reality television." Which, strongly disagree!? Anyway, worth a read, if you're looking for reading! Your opinions will vary, as you are all just like the cast of a very strange season of Real World-constantly at odds for unknown reasons.
Second season of the Real World, forever. I'm still waiting for Jon to have his breakthrough as a country star. Not that I would know. Arguably.
i saw a where are they now special on vh1 and he is apparently the youth minister at some megachurch in kentucky… where he also leads praise and worship – so i think he's pretty close to his dream! ?
My biggest problem is that he gives Jon the shoutout for spending "nearly every minute of his screentime watching television and drinking Kool-Aid" to the presumed "disgust" of the producers. But you can't establish that particular pantheon and then not honor its golden gold: Neil! That dude was practically nocturnal! He was just always chillaxing on the couch. I dug Neil.
Neil!!!
I was partial to the girl who had her jaw wired shut and then had to have an abortion. But come on, no love RW Season 3? Peanutbutter gate? Rachel the Republican? Jo who had a stalker? I miss those guys.
S3 FTW. Seriously. Has Pedro been forgotten so soon?
Season 3 definitely beats out 2 in terms of importance. Still being very young when it aired, I really learned about AIDS for the first time from Pedro and then later (I think?) from all of the specials they ran after Magic was diagnosed with HIV. And then there was Puck, of course. Epic reality TV douchebag prototype.
Never!
i definitely agree season 3 was much more important than season 2! butttt, i did love real world: miami, i cannot explain why that season has a hold on my heart but it does!
The reason I am constantly at odds is hardly unknown, at least to anyone who's met my family.
teenage son: "which season of the Real World is your favorite?
me: "I hate all of them."
teenage son: "Then why do you watch it?"
me: "You don't just stop watching something after 20 years."
Season Three changed my life.
Pedro. Zamora.
Pfft. It was Road Rules that changed the world! That girl slept with the mayor of Nogales, Arizona pretty much right there on camera and no one gave a shit. Scales fell from my eyes.
The best analysis of The Real World and it's impact on American culture is still Klosterman's in Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs.
while we're on the real world, is anyone else bothered by the lack of asians on the shows? i know that really i could extend it to all folks of color, but when road rules was going on, i felt that the latino/as were kinda present, and there was always the token black person (maybe two) on the real world… but when was the last time we saw an asian – real world san diego? and she was what, the third or fourth one ever?
Pam in RW S3. She later married Judd the comic book artist.
yeah she was the first… i think jamie in real world san diego is the last… i'm wondering why asians get no love.
Replaced by Mormons.
Ruthie was Filipino!
listicle without commentary?! don't forget Melissa from New Orleans. (part Filipino)