The Real World: Las Vegas

"This is the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. The Real World...Las Vegas!"

"Real World". Ahhhh what a show. A definition of reality television. Seven random strangers are picked to come together to live in a house and see what happens. "Real World" is already on season 25. It is officially the longest running reality TV show in existence according to celebrity writer Perez Hilton on his website: www.perezhilton.com. MTV noted in a news release that "Real World" ranked number one among all programs in its Wednesday night time slot among 12-to-34-year-olds.

The people on the Real World are shown in real situations; things that happen in their everyday lives. The difference is in that they know they are being broadcast to the whole country as well as several other countries. When you know you are being televised, of course you are going to change some of the things that you do or say. Whether it be to not show your "true" self in front of the world or to try to create drama for the audience. There are cameras everywhere in the house. Each house mate has to sign a contract saying that they are not allowed to go places where the cameras are not allowed in. There are no scripts, and none of the scenes aired are acted. Each cast member receives $250 a week, plus their house expenses paid (except for food).

Episode one of "Real World...Las Vegas" premiered March 9, 2011. In the third episode on March 23, Adam refuses to apologize for his erratic behavior from the previous episode in which alcohol make him lose control. Later in the episode, things get heated between Adam and Leroy after Adam hears the others talking about him behind his back. The roommates also start their job at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas. Their first assignment is working with Carey Hart, a pro motor cross racer. Their boss calls Adam out on his behavior at the Vanity night club. Some people are excited to start the job, while others, not so much. Adam opens up to Nany about being a juvenile correctional facility. Roommates try to patch things up but Adam and Leroy cannot get rid of their beef. Heather and Dustin take their relationship to the next level. Near the end of the episode, Naomi has to do manual labor with the boys while other roommates work the charity table. At the very end of the episode, Adam and Mike learn that they have more in common then they think. Needless to say, it was a pretty crazy episode.

Gabler states, "Reality itself is even more fascinating, holding us in the thrall of life...it has a strange way of captivating, regardless of how much or how little inherent entertainment value there seems to be."

This statement hits it on the bullseye. Why do we care so much to watch seven strangers living together from day to day? Why are we so obsessed in watching how each day pans out and what new drama will pop up? We are so interested in knowing everything about them, seeing if they hook up, seeing if they get arrested, etc. We'll never know how much of the show is actually true. A lot of what we see is edited to make it look like it all happened in a certain timeline.

It seems like a lot of the cast members that are chosen all have different attributes that contribute to the show. Adam was a drug dealer who also participated in a shooting. He established the creek to College program that encourages residents to pursue education. Dustin grew up in a small town with a bi-polar, drug addicted mom and an abusive stepfather. He worries whether he will develop bipolar disorder as well. Dustin also lived in the house featured on Frat Pad, a live webcam site in which he and other men engage in sexual activities with one another. Heather grew up with a brother struggling with brain cancer. She felt constant neglect and turned to alcoholism. Leroy was removed from his birth mother when he was 10 years old. He is seen as "an open, reliable guy who doesn't judge people based on their backgrounds." Michael moved between his grandparents, stepmother and father beginning at age five due to his parents being heavily involved in drugs and serving jail time. He recently lost his virginity and looks for women with a compatible personality. He is definitely the brains in the house. Nany is a a Dominican and Cuban woman. Her mother suffered from alcoholism and her father, who has never met her, was jailed on drug charges before she was born. She is determined to find him. She hopes to become a parole officer. Last but not least, Naomi is a Puerto Rican/Portugese American. She hopes to obtain a master's degree in international politics. She is an advocate for immigration and gay rights. She is described as "self-reliant" and a "firecracker" as well as "completely open about her life." She has had twelve sex partners since attending college and regrets none of them.

By having this array of personalities, you get a mix of emotions. As shown in the highlights video below, some lose their temper because of alcohol or drugs or purely because of rage. Some of the cast members hook up. Emotions stir. Tempers rage. Parties are off the wall. Adam is even shown getting so drunk and angry that he punches the wall and knocks the picture off the wall. The show is alluring to me because it's interesting to see people with such different backgrounds living together. Of course these issues come up and some have more in common than others. It is interesting to see the way they interact with each other and get to know each other. Gabler states, "Real-life stars, however, allow us to connect directly with them because they are us- people who are separated from us by nothing more than the break of getting on the air."