The Real World (MTV)

common sense media says

"Real life" amplified; mature teens only.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

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.

Positive messages: The series voyeuristically captures the lives of young adults living together in front of TV cameras.

Positive role models: There's rarely positive role model-type behavior on this series. Housemates who don't party as hard as the others are made to seem like "downers" by the rest of the cast. Gay, lesbian, and transgendered characters are also featured. One cast member was an advocate for raising HIV/AIDS awareness; one had an eating disorder, another was a recovering alcoholic.

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.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

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.)

TV themes & details

TV Details

TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: MTV
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: MTV

This review was written by Jill Murphy

Review It

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Little One!
kid, 1 year old

WARNING: Not Appropiate for the very young audience it appeals to (14-24) 25+.

WARNING: This show is NOT Appropiate for 14 year old Children. I think it Should be rated TV-MA instead of TV-14. Just becasue this show is rated TV-14, that dosen't mean this show is appropiate for 14 year olds, don't let the TV Ratings confuse you. I DO NOT Think anybody younger than 25 years of age should be watching this program. I DON'T Recommend this program for any age but, Especially to those younger than 25. Honestly, No Offense but, I can maybe see why so many kids Nowadays are getting into trouble because, it's rated TV-14 so that means even kids as young as 14 years of age are watching this show and the're looking up to these kids who are Negitive Role Models so that's why I think this show is WAY too Mature for a TV-14 Rating. It should be Rated TV-MA. This show is Highly Innapropiate. I Recommend that a 14 year old Child should watch PBS, Cartoon Network, Nickolodeon, Disney, The Hub, Discovery, & All the other Educational\Kids Channels. I think 24 is still too young to watch The Real World, but never mind 14. The reason why I gave this show 25+ because, I think this show is bad influence for Children under 25 because, kids under 25 are very vulenable copy the show & even though i'm younger than 12 but, I have a lot of wisdom for my age & the kids on the show are Negitive Role Models. I Don't Recommend this show at all for Any Age. Even the opening theme alone already give's their young viewers the wrong message, never mind the whole show. I can't believe this is rated TV-14, Sound's more like TV-MA. This show gives very Bad Examples to younger viewers. Off for ages 22 & younger, Caution for Ages 23-24, & personailly, I don't Recommend this show for any age but, if you're gonna watch this show at least be 25 years of age or older. I even disagree with a website saying 18+ becasue, 18 year olds are still too young & innocent for this Stupid Ghetto White Trash Show. 18 years old is still a very young child that's very vulenerable to copy this show. I hate this show. Another thing that I find wrong with this show that this show exposes all these kids on this show that has Hardcore partying & Drinking & the kids on the show range from 18-24, I find this show to be Very Irresponsable to have a 24 year old to be partying with an 18 year old, I just find it very wrong & disrespcetful. 18 year old's shouldn't even be on this show becasue, they are way too young & innocent to be even be watching the show, never mind being some of the cast members. 18 year old's shoudn't be out partying at a Nightclub late at night, they should be in bed sleeping. 18 year old's are still little kids, I know most people think 18 year old's are mature enough to handle watching this show, but, 18 years old is still very young & innocent that should be sheltered from this Stupid Hardcore partying show. WARNING: This show might appeal to 18 year old's, but, that doesn't mean this show is appropiate for 18 year old's & Definitly not appropiate for 14 year olds. This show is meant for 25-30 year olds, not 14-24 year olds. This show is very bad for the young developing mind.

What other families should know

TV Details

Genre

The Real World (MTV)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on The Real World

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

TV themes & details

TV Details

Review It

Review The Real World

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

WARNING: Not Appropiate for the very young audience it appeals to (14-24) 25+.

Oh My

For a MTV Generation

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

pshh..

Only for mature teens and adults

A train wreck in the making

My boy Joey was on it!

MATURE teens only not for kids!

addicting

Good for older teens, with solid minds.

i love this show

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