>>PREVIEW
THE REAL WORLD: DENVER
MTV on CTV
Saturdays at midnight
Bikini-clad models devouring manatee anuses in a kiddie pool of KY Jelly. Celebrities deciding which underwear model their kids get to call "daddy." Ryan Seacrest. This is reality on the other side of the glass. A parade of vapid freaks crawls past us awaiting our judgment between jingles for dishwasher detergent and sex chat lines. Yep, television sure is fucking awesome these days, and it’s thanks to a certain happy hour in a hot tub most of us know as MTV’s Real World.
"It’s the most unique show in television," says co-executive producer Jim Johnston about his show. While most people are off on holidays, he oversees post-production on the remaining episodes of the season. "If you’re a fan of the show, this will be one of the more memorable ones."
Johnston knows The Real World, having worked on the show and its various spinoffs for several years. He grew up with co-creator Jonathan Murray in upstate New York and went on to work in live television and documentaries. Now, Johnston is the guy who makes it all work. When somebody slips out of her bikini or a racist slur gets unleashed, it’s Johnston’s job to make sure a camera is there.
"I hate to use the term ‘reality television.’ I use ‘documentary’ or ‘docudrama,’" says Johnston about the show. "Once we pick the roommates and build the house, from the moment they arrive in the city they’re on camera, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We aren’t directing them at all. That’s a true documentary, that whole process of not knowing what’s going to happen or what’s important. When you look at The Real World, it’s very ragged, it’s very handheld, it seems like pieces are missing, because frankly they are."
MTV’s Real World strives for authenticity. The overwrought testimonials to the camera. Strangers discussing like, important issues and stuff. Drunken groping for second base in a hot tub. These are the tropes of reality television The Real World started in a New York loft in 1992.
The show is simple: seven roommates between the ages of 18 and 25 are selected and then thrown into a house to live together, while cameras capture their every move. Though you expect them to just sit around eating Doritos and playing Halo 2, they instead embark on a magical journey of discovery.
"It’s that age of not quite being an adult," says Johnston. "You’re working out what your choices are going to be in terms of relationships and jobs. Those types of stories never change over the years."
Currently in its 18th season, one would think the same stories over and over again with different hair colours would get monotonous. Especially since people on the cast grew up watching the show. Familiar with the show’s story beats and stereotypes, you can imagine new cast members running into the house going, "Ooooo, I get to be the religious slut," to the crestfallen faces of the other housemates.
"They are much more aware," admits Johnston. "But some of the people we bring to the table, like Steven in this cast, had never seen the show in his life. Once you get in that environment, you are on your own to interact with these six people. Over time, you can’t act and you can’t hide your true self. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t come out of this experience saying, ‘I’ve learned a lot about myself.’" |
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