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The Real World

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    "Real life" amplified; mature teens only.

Why We Rated This off for Ages 16 and Under

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There's rarely positive role model-type behavior on this series. The only redeemable housemates are those who don't party as hard as the others, but they're made to seem like "downers" by the rest of the cast. Jobs within the community are overshadowed by outlandish behavior and fights at the workplace.
  • Violence:

    Bar brawls.
  • Sex:

    Kissing, multiple sexual partners, group showers, same-sex hookups, one-night stands, skimpy clothes, grinding on the dance floor, threesomes.
  • Language:

    "Bitch," "ass," sexual discussions, more vulgar language bleeped out.
  • Consumerism:

    MysticTan, Subway, signs for local bars and restaurants get a lot of screen time.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Excessive drinking and smoking.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Real World was written by Jill Murphy

Parents need to know that this landmark MTV series first aired in 1992 (making it one of the first reality shows) and has remained popular among teens and young adults over the years. Each season follows seven new roommates who bring a wide range of social, behavioral, physical, and sexual issues and experiences to the table, including (but not limited to) alcoholism, smoking, bar brawls, girls kissing for shock value, hot tubbing, drunken parties, lewd sex talk, one-night hook-ups, eating disorders, stereotypes, group showers, concerns about body image and self-worth, excessive drinking, homosexuality, and racism. The housemates' ages range from 18-24, so it's no surprise that the show's topics are really for a mature audience.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the housemates. Which ones do you relate to? Why? What appeals to teens about the show and its stars? Is this something they might aspire to be part of? Why? What are the redeeming qualities (if any) of this fishbowl environment? Which issues in a particular season made a specific housemate stand out? Are there any positive role models here, or is everyone a stereotype? Do you think the housemates are chosen to fit a particular "type"? Why would producers want to do that? Why do you think they edit the show's content to emphasize sex, partying, and conflict?
Did this review help you decide?

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More on The Real World

What’s the Story?

No matter which city is home to each new season of MTV's iconic reality series THE REAL WORLD -- be it San Francisco, New York, Austin, London, Seattle, Key West, or Denver -- the setup is always the same: Seven strangers are picked to live in a lavish house for six months and be filmed for viewers' enjoyment. Their close quarters always create the kind of drama that reality TV thrives on. Each season's cast is assigned to a specific job and works with a local organization, although considering how hard they party in the evenings, they often treat the responsibility of a job like a nuisance. In early seasons, jobs were community driven -- like helping build a playground for at-risk youths or serving as mentors -- but later seasons have featured the cast doing things like building, running, and marketing a MysticTan salon.

Is It Any Good?

In this very formulaic show, each housemate seems expected to conform to one of the following broad personality traits/backgrounds: naïve, small town/small minded, homosexual, bisexual, sexually confused, angry/bitter, drunken frat boy/sorority girl, loose, heavy drinker, or racist. In fact, so carefully are these boxes checked off every season that if you don't fit the bill, you probably won't make it to The Real World.

For the most part, conversations among the roommates are sexual in nature or center on their self-doubt. Occasionally, someone declares their sexual preference or their need to get some action. Housemates can often be found in the indoor Jacuzzi (a staple of every season) and drinking runs rampant. There are no televisions in the houses, but the Internet and phone are readily available. (Drunken phone calls back home to a loved one have become commonplace in the series.)

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    MATURE teens only not for kids!

    This show is inappropriate for children. There are fights galore and the cussing is REALLY BAD!! Words are bleeped but you know what there saying. Most people are immature and whiny they act 12 instead of 21. This show makes kids think that this is how real adults should act, but thats farther than the truth.

  2. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    addicting

    the real world really shows ppl what its like to be these kids. it's a good reality show for a change

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    Kids ages: 8, 9
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 1.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off and give it 5.0

    Good for older teens, with solid minds.

    Most 8th and 9th graders in public schools know abotu everything mentioned on the show. The issue is do they have the solid minds to decide, hey thats bad. If you think your kid wont be influenced to go and have sex with 3 people in 1 night, go ahead let them watch it.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on and give it 4.0

    Only for mature teens and adults

    i only watch it sometimes. you should be mature to watch it. some things have bad references but its just a reality tv show. and a lot of things on tv have stuff liek this in it

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy and give it 2.0

    For a MTV Generation

    Since the cast members are 18-25, the show is appropriate for those ages, and mature teenagers. Social issues like aneroxia, alcoholism, and gay stereotypes are addressed in a good way, and the show can be a used as a tool to talk to teens about these issues.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off and give it 3.0

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title off and give it 5.0

    If you want a soft porn on tv then this is perfect.

    I saw the first episode and it began like this. They all got togethter in the house. ONe girl whined about there not being a gay guy. A black babtist found the gay guy(there's always a gay guy in the house) and he said "I think it's wrong that your gay". Then they all went out partying. There was a threesome kiss, smacking eachother's buts, etc. They got home and one of the girls wanted to have a "sleepover" with another guy. He said he'd be up in 20 minutes but he ended up making out with another girl and it actually showed about 5 minutes of making out.(oh and they were all drunk as heck). The episode continues like that. How is this the real world? IT's just a bunch of rich, horny, teens.

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy and give it 2.0

  11. I rate this title off and give it .0

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy and give it .0

    pshh..

    real world? what REAL world? more trash from mtv

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title off and give it .0

    Oh My

    This is for sure not for kids. Bad examples, sex, drinking, fights, swearing. Not something for the whole family to sit down to.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy and give it 4.0

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on and give it 5.0

    i love this show

    my mom and i watch this show and we can't get enough of it. WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on and give it 5.0

    love it

    I watch every episode! It's cool, but it might not be appropriate for people 12(my age) and under.

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