How did the Real World TV show become popular in the 90's? Who did it cater to?

[BroScienceTalkatWork]

Good thread dude

adult content. Everyone had a friend who’s brother was in college and they’d tell us about all the sex his bro had.. all the drugs, the raves etc

Real world is an extension of that. You can watch your older brother get drunk and start fights. And you can watch your older sister do pretty much the same thing

 

[crabmeat]

@crabmeat You've gotta remember this, it played during every commercial break. I bet so many people spent $40 in 1997 money and ended up disappointed when there was no nudity.

I do, brother.

I think it was on the Sun Channel at the time.

 

[Fedorgasm]

The novelty of the real world was that it was real. There were no reality shows back then.

We didn't have very many windows into other people's lives at the time. If we wanted to see how other young people lived outside of our own little circle, we had to watch sitcoms like friends and scrubs. But we know they were unrealistic.

That being said, I thought it was boring.

 

[HHJ]

Douglas may as well died in 95.

The fuck is you talkin about? He came back to ECW and that's when TRIPLE THREAT run started.

Shut ya MOUF

 

[HHJ]

CAN U REMEMBAH

REMEMBAH MY NAAAAAME

 

[My Spot]

I do, brother.

I think it was on the Sun Channel at the time.

It aired on our WB affiliate here.

 

[My Spot]

The fuck is you talkin about? He came back to ECW and that's when TRIPLE THREAT run started.

Shut ya MOUF

Don't be a mark. He was done for main audiences after the evil teacher gimmick.

 

[HHJ]

Don't be a mark. He was done for main audiences after the evil teacher gimmick.

That shit lasted like 6 months. YOU are the mark.

 

[My Spot]

That shit lasted like 6 months. YOU are the mark.

You think Shane Douglas was a big star. YOU are the (fucking) mark.

 

[HHJ]

You think Shane Douglas was a big star. YOU are the (fucking) mark.

Never said he was a BIG STAR, mark. He was in ECW, not one of the bigger promotions, after all.

But he WAS the SHIT.

One of the best heels of the 90s.

 

[My Spot]

Never said he was a BIG STAR, mark. He was in ECW, not one of the bigger promotions, after all.

But he WAS the SHIT.

One of the best heels of the 90s.

What a mark.

 

[HHJ]

What a mark.

IF YOU HEAR ME TALKIN ON THE WIND
YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND
WE MUST REMAIN
PERFECT STRANGERS
Mark

 

[My Spot]

"Shane Douglas was a huge star!"

 

[HHJ]

"Shane Douglas was a huge star!"

Never said that but do go on.

 

[My Spot]

Never said that but do go on.

I didn't quote you. A bit dog always hollers.

 

[Jack Reacheround]

The same fucking morons whose kids watch Big Brother today.

I didn’t understand the appeal of The Real World back then, and I don’t understand it now.

I think that shit is for simple people whose IQs are barely above 90. They’re easily entertained, and just want some slop shoved in their face so they don’t dare have an introspective thought.

 

[FyrFytr998]

It's widely agreed that the first 3 seasons were great and had interesting but "normal" people.

After that it started becoming a mess with producers choosing "characters" and pushing for sex, confrontation, and general low brow bullshit.

Agreed. After those first 3 seasons people auditioning for the shows knew what type of “characters” the producers were looking for based off the popularity of certain cast members. The minority, the hick, the drunk slut, the girl next door, the frat bro, the gay one, the bitch, etc….

What’s even funnier is these cast mates go on to become locked in caricatures of themselves in subsequent shows. I always found it funny that “reality show personality” is all some of these folks can put on their resumes. Then again, the money or notoriety must be good enough to keep signing on to do these shows. I put these challenge shows on the same level as pro wrestling. There’s definitely a script being followed. As is the same with all these dating shows out there now. It’s formulaic nonsense with an occasional “success story”.