MTVs longest running program, the Real World, turns 20 today

Twenty years ago tonight, MTV debuted The Real World: New York. 

The first cast of the Real World. 

On May 21, 1992, The Real World: New York was broadcasted into homes and a generation stayed tuned in. The series, a pioneer in the reality television genre, brought contemporary issues to light in the eyes of seven twenty-somethings. The series has aired twenty-six seasons, is currently filming in St. Thomas, and has been renewed into 2013.

Since its debut, The Real World has been responsible for setting off a national conversation about young people and the issues they face today. The series brought serious discussions to the national stage. For example, a fight between Julie and Kevin in New York culminated in a discussion about race relations in the United States. Tami allowed cameras to document her abortion in Los Angeles, setting off a discussion between roommates. Most notably, after HIV-AIDS activist Pedro joined the San Francisco cast, the series gained widespread notoriety for its attention to the global issue.

The Real World is MTV's longest running program. In 1995, the network brought the first spin-off to life, Road Rules. Road Rules came to light after Jon, Tami, and David drove cross-country in a RV during the first two episodes of the Los Angeles season. The two shows experienced a rivalry that would ultimately culminate in the Challenge spin-off in 1998. Road Rules ran for fourteen seasons and the Challenge has started pre-production on its 23rd season.

Critics argue that the series has de-evolved from an honest documentary to a drunken revelry. During the Hawaii season in 1998, out of control Ruthie was sent to a 30-day program for alcohol abuse. The Las Vegas season in 2002 brought constant partying, debauchery, and pregnancy scares. The first Las Vegas season marked a turning point for the series, when the series began to become known for its party atmosphere.

Nonetheless, the series still tackled sensitive issues. In 2004, Frankie, a castmember with cystic fibrosis joined the cast, passing away three years later. In 2009, Katelynn, the show's first transgendered roommate, battled misperceptions and insecurities in Brooklyn. And for the first time, Dustin of the show's second Las Vegas season, a castmember was forced to deal with the consequences of a troubled past that resurfaced during the show.

Congratulations to Bunim-Murray Productions for twenty years!

Season 28 of the Real World is in full casting mode, even though the series has yet to be renewed

Bunim-Murray is embarking on a nationwide tour this month, looking for the next group of seven strangers.

The last cast of the Real World. 

Bunim-Murray is currently making the rounds, looking for the next group of seven strangers. Production is touring a number of large cities, hitting nightclubs and bars, interviewing people for a new cast. This is extremely peculiar, given that MTV has only greenlighted the St. Thomas season. Nonetheless, casting has drawn crowds in several different cities.

Bunim-Murray has a casting webpage online, where hopefuls can fill out an application. A few lucky potentials are contacted via email, given VIP appointment times, and are asked to appear at the casting call. You can also show up at the casting call without an appointment and try your luck there. The casting call usually consists of a short group interview where everyone is asked to talk about themselves in a small group of hopefuls. Unfortunately, this turns into a free-for-all whoring competition, where people throw out random stories they think make them interesting.

If you think you have an interesting story, casting calls are being held in Missoula, MT, Riverside, CA, Tuscaloosa, AL, Columbia, MO, Columbia, SC, San Francisco, CA, Buffalo, NY, Philadelphia, PA, State College, PA, Norfolk, VA, Providence, RI, Tempe, AZ, New York, NY, Oklahoma City, OK, Las Cruces, NM, Seattle WA, Las Vegas, NV, and Columbus, OH. If The Real World isn't renewed, you may have a shot at the next Fresh Meat.

Real World creator Jon Murray on his production company turning 25

The creator of The Real World, Road Rules, and Challenge series recently gave an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. 

Jon Murray & the Denver cast in the background

Jon Murray, creator of the Real World, Road Rules, and Challenge, is also responsible for a number of different reality shows. Bunim-Murray is at the helm of the wildly successful Kardashians series, the Bad Girls Club, and are now producing Project Runway. Murray sat down with the Hollywood Reporter to discuss his production company turning 25 and the changing nature of reality television. 

In the interview, he discusses his most proudest moment, when Pedro (San Francisco) impacted the nation by sharing his story with the world. Upon Pedro's death, former president Bill Clinton complimented Murray for his work on the series. Murray also opens up with other series including Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the Simple Life, and explains why The Real World wouldn't be picked up as a series today. 

Hulu Plus Offers Full Episodes of Real World and Road Rules

Hulu Plus, a web-streaming service, is currently offering full seasons of The Real World and Road Rules for a monthly fee.

Road Rules: USA Tour II

Hulu offers old school seasons including the first two seasons of Road Rules and the first four seasons of The Real World. So, if you're late to the game, you can catch up with Mark (USA Tour 1), who first appeared on the series in 1994. Amazon actually offers recent episodes of The Real World and The Challenge and their catalog is recent, but much more substantial than Hulu. From time to time, old clips will appear on YouTube and other file sharing services, but are usually taken off.

MTV renews Challenge for 23rd season; New season of the Real World films in St. Thomas

MTV announced yesterday that they will be renewing the Challenge for its 23rd season. Battle of the Exes was one of the most watched seasons of the Challenge, averaging two million viewers per week. No word yet on the setting or format, but the Challenge will presumably begin filming this summer.

St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands

The new season of the Real World is currently being filmed in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. This season of the Real World will feature the cast living on its own island. Filming ends in May 2012.

Virtual Real World allows you to hang out with the castmembers and other fans in cyberspace

MTV has unveiled a new feature over at their website. They are allowing people to create their own identities online and mingle with other fans all over the world in Virtual Real World.

Finally, you can break the wall between you and the castmembers and be a part of the action in the Real World Sydney house.

There are contests held and celebrities stop in every once in a while for you to chat with. Be sure to check it out at virtualrealworld.vmtv.com.

Strictly for your enjoyment: Men on Men and the T&A Team

Looking forward to tonight's episode. These two clips should keep you rolling until tonight. Here's the "Men on Men" clip and the "T&A Team":

MTV is giving out Real World and Road Rules "insider alerts" on your mobile

MTV is starting a program where they send "insider alerts" to your mobile phone. Alerts on The Real World and Road Rules are bunched together, so you can supposedly get news on both shows and the Challenges via your mobile phone.

Although the site fails to offer any additional details and doesn't say exactly what "insider alerts" are, probably expect text messages telling you when the next show is on, or when a new piece of content is uploaded to the MTV website.

If you want to check it out, sign up here.

Real World named one of MTV's 25 greatest moments of all time

As MTV turns 25 this month, CNN is releasing what it calls the 25 greatest moments in MTV history. What would a countdown be without the awesomeness of the Real World? CNN dedicates a blurb about the long running series and its impact on the fabric of American culture.

Casting for the Bad Girls Club is underway;

BMP is casting a new reality TV show for OXYGEN to be filmed in August in L.A... They're making a series modeled after the "bad girls" of Real World and Road Rules. Although the new spin-off show will have no concrete affiliation, they're looking for the same type of girls along the lines of Veronica (Semester At Sea), Tina (South Pacific) and Rachel (Campus Crawl), the self-proclaimed "mean girls" of the BMP world. Here's the press release:

Does your refusal to play by the rules sometimes get you in trouble?

Need a way to get it together and reach your dreams without compromising the things that make you special?

From the producers of The Real World, six girls will live by the beach in L.A. and work with each other to tackle aspects of their personalities that while making them fabulous, tend to hold them back from success in relationships and careers.

The Bunim/Murray casting department is currently accepting applications (applicants must between 21 and 32) from across the country- so apply today! For our lucky six cast members, this is sure to be an unforgettable experience!

Send us an email with a brief description of yourself (what makes you a bad girl?), email, phone number and a recent photo to badgirlscasting@bunim-murray.com. Please make the subject: Attn: Susan, Bad Girls Club Las Vegas. We'll be in Las Vegas this weekend so please reply ASAP!

Also, our Las Vegas open call is this Saturday, June 24 at the Ice House Lounge (650 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101) from 2pm-7pm. Bring a recent photo and a valid photo I.D.

The Real World turns fourteen today

On this very day fourteen years ago, May 21, 1992, The Real World: New York premiered on MTV. Andre, Becky, Eric, Julie, Heather, Kevin and Norman moved into their Soho loft and gave birth to a series that has spanned the globe, spoke to several generations and even gave rise to other beloved reality series. Happy 14th Birthday to The Real World!

And a reminder, MTV will be airing a preview special to the Challenge tomorrow at 10pm. So, catch up with former castmembers, meet the newbies and check out the preview of the Fresh Meat Challenge.

Updates seem to be slow with no shows in production lately

So, yes, there has been no updates for ten days. Things are slow. and especially with no shows in production, it's hard to get information in, but we've drummed up a little something for those of you thirsting for news: Svetlana (Key West) will be posing in May's issue of FHM Magazine. Also, a small reminder: if you haven't checked out the boss' blog lately (Ricky Croft, the Mystic Tan VP), it's updated alongside every new episode, with several posts with small tidbits of information on the cast. Keep sending those news tibdits to us if you have them.

We're still collecting MySpace pages of castmembers

By all odds, this is most likely not complete, but in order to expedite the process of collecting MySpace information, we're going to post the current list of castmember MySpaces that have been sent into us. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE: If you see that a castmember is missing from our list, contact us at newrwroad@hotmail.com or use our contact form. The list will eventually be incorporated into our menu, so don't worry about having to save the list. Here it is:

The list has been incorporated into the menu. Please look to the left for the list.

We're collecting MySpace pages of castmembers of Real World, Road Rules

Since we've received a tremendous amount of requests to list the MySpace accounts of castmembers, we've decided to comply... We posted a short blurb listing all the MySpace accounts of the Key West castmembers. (All seven have one.) So, we're currently searching for any MySpace accounts for all Real World and Road Rules castmembers. Take time to email us at newrwroad@hotmail.com or use the contact form to submit the web addresses of known MySpace profiles.

Former Real World castmember is supposedly recruiting men to appear in her pornographic film

Supposedly, last week there was an ad posted on Craigslist soliciting men to be "involved" in a pornographic film with a former female Real World castmember. Who knows if this ad is legitimate but RealityBlurred is giving their readers a few clues on who the woman could be. Who do you think will possibly be adding adult star to their long list of talents? According to the article, you can definitely rule out Trishelle and Tonya.

Bands get no money for their songs which appear on the Real World

If you were wondering if the bands whose songs are featured on the Real World ever get any cash from the network the answer is no. Check out an article at RealityBlurred to find out what the deal is.

A new Battle of the Network Reality Stars may be in the works with new castmembers

Over at the Survivor Blog, Ethan from Survivor Africa and All-Stars, has confirmed that Bravo will be airing a Battle of the Network Reality Stars II. So expect former Real World and Road Rules castmembers to join the fray once again.

MSNBC asks if Real World will even run out of cities to go to

One reader asks MSNBC if the Real World will ever run out of filming locations. Check out the answer here.

Take the Ultimate Real World Quiz to find out if you're really a fan

If you are looking for something fun to do today, take the Ultimate Real World Quiz.

Castmembers are being auditioned for a "reality movie" called "Kill Reality"

In an interesting turn of events, The Fishbowl and Creative Light Entertainment will be producing both a feature film and a reality show that's set to air on E!

The show, which is called "Kill Reality" (Press Release) will follow former reality television show alumni as they make their own scripted feature film, while living together. While the press release cites castmembers from Survivor and The Real World, the Fishbowl is holding open auditions for former reality television stars this week. To take a look at the open call, click here. E! plans to air "Kill Reality" in an eight episode span this July.