The Real World?

The Real World?

The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the longest-running reality series in history, credited with launching the modern reality TV genre.

The series was hailed in its early years for depicting issues of contemporary young-adulthood relevant to its core audience, such as prejudice, abortion, sexuality, AIDS and substance abuse, but later garnered a reputation as a showcase for immature and irresponsible behavior.

Following Bunim’s death from breast cancer in 2004, Bunim/Murray Productions continues to produce the program. The twenty-seventh season, set in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, premiered on June 27, 2012, and ended its first run on September 12, 2012. The twenty-eighth season, set in Portland, Oregon, premiered on March 27, 2013. The show is currently renewed by MTV through its 28th season.

The series has generated two notable spin-offs, both broadcast by MTV: Road Rules, which lasted for 14 seasons (1995–2007), and the reality game show The Challenge (originally known as Road Rules: All Stars before being renamed Real World/Road Rules Challenge after both its precursors), which has run for over 20 seasons (1998–present). The Challenge is mostly cast-contestant dependent on both The Real World and Road Rules, as it combines contestants from various seasons of both shows. Coordinating the series with its spin-off, MTV alternates between airing seasons of The Real World and The Challenge and ends out seasons of both shows by showing previews for the upcoming season of the other.