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{{Short description|American reality TV series (1992–2019)}}
{{other uses|The Real World (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = NewRWLogosince2014.jpg
| caption              = Logo variant used for seasons 29–31, partial for 33
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
*[[Reality television]]
*[[Documentary]]
}}
| opentheme            = "Up Like" performed by SILAS
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
*[[Mary-Ellis Bunim]]
*[[Jonathan Murray]]
}}
| developer            = 
| starring             = [[List of The Real World cast members|''The Real World'' cast members]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 33
| num_episodes         = 614
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
*[[George Verschoor]]
*[[Matt Kunitz]]
*Rick de Oliveira
*Anthony Dominici
*Russell Heldt
*[[Ted Kenney]] 
*Ken Chien
}}
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
*[[Gil Goldschein]]
*Kelly Rose
*Jacquelyn French
*Jim Johnston
*Jonathan Murray
}}
| runtime              = {{Plainlist|
*30 minutes
*60 minutes
}}
| company              = [[Bunim/Murray Productions]]
| network              = [[MTV]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1992|05|21}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2019|8|29}}
| network2             = [[Facebook Watch]]
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|2019|6|13}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|2019|8|29}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
*''[[Road Rules]]''
*''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]''
*''[[The Challenge: All Stars]]''
}}
}}

'''''The Real World''''' (known as '''''Real World''''' from 2014 to 2019) is an American [[reality television]] series produced through [[MTV]] and [[Bunim/Murray Productions]] that most recently aired on [[Facebook Watch]] after airing on [[MTV]] from 1992 to 2019. It was originally produced by [[Mary-Ellis Bunim]] and [[Jonathan Murray]]. First broadcast in 1992, the show was inspired by the 1973 [[PBS]] documentary series ''[[An American Family]]''. ''The Real World'' is one of the longest-running programs in MTV history,<ref name="Hollywood">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/about/pdfs/Real_World_Hollywood_location.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925212333/http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/about/pdfs/Real_World_Hollywood_location.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2007|title=''The Real World: Hollywood''; Press Release from MTV.com|website=[[MTV]]|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> one of the longest-running reality series in history, and is credited with launching the modern [[reality TV]] genre.<ref>Gorman, Bill. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180522180936/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/network-press-releases/mtvs-the-real-world-is-turning-25-and-returning-to-sin-city-as-seven-roommates-take-over-hard-rock-hotel-casino-in-march-2011/ "MTV's 'The Real World' Is Turning 25 And Returning To Sin City As Seven Roommates Take Over Hard Rock Hotel & Casino In March 2011"] TV By the Numbers; September 17, 2010</ref> Seven to eight young adults are picked to temporarily live in a new city together in one residence while being filmed non-stop.

The series was hailed in its early years for depicting issues of contemporary young-adulthood relevant to its core audience, such as [[sex]], [[prejudice]], [[religion]], [[abortion]], [[illness]], [[Human sexuality|sexuality]], [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], [[death]], [[politics]], and [[substance abuse]], but later garnered a reputation as a showcase for immaturity and irresponsible behavior.<ref name=Nola.com>Thompson, Richard. [http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2010/03/real_world_dirty_business_gets.html "Real World New Orleans: Toothbrush-as-toilet scrubber sickens housemate, triggers police action"] Nola.com; March 21, 2010</ref>
The series has generated two notable related series, both broadcast by MTV: ''[[Road Rules]]'', a [[sister show]], which lasted for 14 seasons (1995–2007),<ref>{{cite book|title=I.am.relevant: A Generation Impacting Their World with Faith|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d_kdkOJLCcEC&pg=PA8|year=2002|publisher=Relevant Media Group|isbn=978-0-9714576-0-7|page=8}}</ref> and the ongoing spin-off [[Reality competition|reality game show]] ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'', which has run for 40 seasons since 1998, thus surpassing ''The Real World''.<ref>{{cite web|title='The Game Has Changed': This is The Challenge: Total Madness|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3157891/the-challenge-total-madness/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305134850/http://www.mtv.com/news/3157891/the-challenge-total-madness/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2020|author= Jordana Ossad|website=MTV News|date=March 4, 2020|access-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref>

On June 8, 2018, it was announced that MTV and Bunim/Murray were working on a revival of ''The Real World'', with the hopes of selling the new version to a streaming platform.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title='Real World' Reboot In Works By MTV & Bunim-Murray, Eyed For SVOD Platforms|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/real-world-reboot-mtv-bunim-murray-svod-platforms-1202404898/|website=Deadline|access-date=June 8, 2018|date=June 7, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, it was announced that the revival had been sold to [[Facebook Watch]] for a new American season, plus a Mexican and a Thai version of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/the-real-world-heads-to-facebook-watch-after-landmark-deal-with-mtv-studios-bunim-murray-1202483750/|title='The Real World' Heads To Facebook Watch After Landmark Deal With MTV Studios & Bunim/Murray|website=Deadline|first=Peter|last=White|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> The thirty-third season was filmed in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] and premiered on June 13, 2019, along with the first new international localized versions since 1996: ''[[El Mundo Real]]'' in Mexico City and ''The Real World: Bangkok''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/facebook-watch-mtvs-real-world-reboot-final-cast-members-to-be-determined-by-fans-1202565223/|title=Facebook Watch & MTV's 'Real World' Reboot Final Cast Members To Be Determined By Fans|website=Deadline|first=Dino-Ray|last=Ramos|date=February 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://deadline.com/2019/05/mtv-the-real-world-reboot-premiere-date-facebook-watch-1202617445/ ‘MTV’s The Real World’ Reboot Gets Premiere Date On Facebook Watch] ''Deadline Hollywood'', May 20, 2019</ref> A reboot of the original show for [[Paramount+]] was mentioned in the press in 2021 but never materialized.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/arts/television/real-world-homecoming-cast.html | title=The Original 'Real World' Cast Reunites, Older but Still Not Polite | work=The New York Times | date=February 26, 2021 | last1=Itzkoff | first1=Dave }}</ref>

On March 4, 2021, the spin-off ''[[The Real World Homecoming: New York]]'' premiered on [[Paramount+]]. The series reunited the cast of ''[[The Real World: New York]]'' to live in the same loft they lived in for the original series.<ref name=NYTimes2.26.21>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/arts/television/real-world-homecoming-cast.html|title = The Original 'Real World' Cast Reunites, Older but Still Not Polite|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=[[Itzkoff, Dave]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=March 8, 2023|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226151453/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/arts/television/real-world-homecoming-cast.html}}</ref><ref name=MTV-Homecoming>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3174459/first-look-real-world-homecoming-new-york/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227010909/http://www.mtv.com/news/3174459/first-look-real-world-homecoming-new-york/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 27, 2021|website=MTV News|title=Here's The Very First Look At The Real World Homecoming: New York|author=Ossad, Jordana|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref> Two more reunion seasons followed.<ref name=MTV9.29.21>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3181541/real-world-homecoming-renewed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929175433/http://www.mtv.com/news/3181541/real-world-homecoming-renewed/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2021|website=MTV News|title='This is the True Stotory': The Real World Homecoming Renewed for two Additional Seasons|author=Ossad, Jordana|date=September 29, 2021|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref> All three seasons were removed from the streaming service in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2023-02-01 |title=Paramount+ Becomes Latest Streamer To Remove Titles Including 'Real World: Homecoming' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/paramount-to-remove-titles-including-real-world-homecoming-1235246702/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
{{MTV}}
''The Real World'' was inspired by the 1973 [[PBS]] documentary series ''[[An American Family]]''.<ref name=Westword>Roberts, Michael (March 14, 1996). [http://www.westword.com/1996-03-14/music/the-unreal-world/ "The Unreal World"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132305/http://www.westword.com/1996-03-14/music/the-unreal-world/ |date=January 28, 2015 }}. ''[[Westword|Denver Westword]]''.</ref> It focuses on the lives of a group of strangers<ref>Each cast consisted of seven cast members, except for the [[The Real World: Brooklyn|twenty-first]] through the [[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)|twenty-fourth]] seasons, which featured eight. In addition, replacement cast members are sometimes brought in when a member of a season's original cast leaves the show prior to its conclusion, and in later seasons additional cast members have been added without replacing anyone.</ref> who audition to live together in a house for several months, as cameras record their interpersonal relationships. The show moves to a different city each season. The footage shot during the housemates' time together was edited into 22-minute episodes for the first 19 seasons, and into 44-minute episodes beginning with ''[[The Real World: Hollywood]]'', the series' twentieth season, before shortening to a 30-minute length for its thirty-third season. The narration given over the opening title sequence used during the first 28 seasons by the seven housemates states some variation of the following:

{{blockquote|1=This is the true story…of seven strangers…picked to live in a house…(work together) and have their lives taped…to find out what happens…when people stop being polite…and start getting real…''The Real World''.}}

''The Real World'' was originally inspired by the popularity of youth-oriented shows of the 1990s like ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' and ''[[Melrose Place]]''. Bunim and Murray initially considered developing a scripted series in a similar vein, but quickly decided that the cost of paying writers, actors, costume designers, and make-up artists was too high.<ref name=TheAVClub>Blake, Meredith (June 6, 2011). [https://www.avclub.com/the-real-world-this-is-the-true-story-1798169103 "This is the True Story..."]. [[The A.V. Club]].</ref> Bunim and Murray decided against this idea, and at the last minute, pulled the concept (and the cast) before it became the first season of the show. [[Tracy Grandstaff]], one of the original seven picked for what has come to be known as "[[The Real World: Pilot|Season 0]]",{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} went on to minor fame as the voice of the animated ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'' character Daria Morgendorffer, who eventually got her own spinoff, ''[[Daria]]''. Dutch TV producer Erik Latour claims that the ideas for ''The Real World'' were directly derived from his television show ''[[Nummer 28]]'', which aired in 1991 on Dutch television.<ref name=Nummer28>Van den Boogaard, Raymond (September 28, 1996). [http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Nieuws/1996/09/28/Rtv/rtv.html "Zeven werklozen samen op zoek naar een baan"]. [[NRC Handelsblad]]. (Dutch).</ref> Bunim/Murray decided upon the cheaper idea of casting a bunch of "regular people" to live in an apartment and taping their day-to-day lives, believing seven diverse people would have enough of a basis upon which to interact without scripts. The production converted a massive, 4000-square-foot duplex in Soho, cast seven cast members from 500 applicants, and paid them $2,600 for their time on the show. The cast lived in the loft from February 16 to May 18, 1992. The series premiered three days later, on May 21, 1992.<ref name=TheAVClub/>

At the time of its initial airing, reviews of the show were mostly negative. Matt Roush, writing in ''[[USA Today]]'', characterized the show as "painfully bogus", and a cynical and exploitative new low in television, commenting, "Watching The Real World, which fails as documentary (too phony) and as entertainment (too dull), it's hard to tell who's using who more." ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s [[Tom Shales]] commented, "Ah to be young, cute, and stupid, and to have too much free time...Such is the lot facing the wayward wastrels of The Real World, something new in excruciating torture from the busy minds at MTV." Shales also remarked upon the cast members' creative career choices, saying, "You might want to think about getting a real job."<ref name=TheAVClub/>

Nonetheless, the series was a hit with viewers. One early sign of the show's popularity occurred on the October 2, 1993 episode of the [[sketch comedy]] show, ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', which parodied the second-season [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] cast's recurring arguments over [[clique|cliquism]], prejudice and political differences.<ref name=Doherty>[http://www.tv.com/saturday-night-live/shannen-dohertycypress-hill/episode/102456/summary.html "Shannen Doherty/Cypress Hill"]. TV.com. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref><ref name=DiariesPage5>''The Real World Diaries''. 1996. [[Pocket Books]]. Page 5 Introduction by Mary Ellis-Bunim and Jon Murray.</ref>

The show also gained widespread attention with its third season, ''[[The Real World: San Francisco]]'', which aired in 1994, and depicted the conflict between [[David "Puck" Rainey]], a [[bicycle messenger]] criticized for his poor personal hygiene,<ref>{{cite episode|title=You Gotta Have Art|series=The Real World: San Francisco|network=MTV|season=3|number=5|airdate=July 28, 1994|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357674/simple-pleasures.jhtml#id=1607527|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331113638/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357674/simple-pleasures.jhtml#id=1607527|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref><ref>''The Real World Diaries''. Page 131</ref><ref name=EW>Fretts, Bruce. (July 21, 1995). [https://ew.com/article/1995/07/21/real-world-returns-fourth-season/ The ''Real World'' returns for fourth season]. [[Entertainment Weekly]]</ref> and his roommates, most notably [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] activist [[Pedro Zamora]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Love Stinks|series=The Real World: San Francisco|season=3|number=2|airdate=July 7, 1994|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357656/saint-pucks-day.jhtml#id=1607523|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331101529/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357656/saint-pucks-day.jhtml#id=1607523|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> As the show increased in popularity, Zamora's life as someone living with AIDS gained considerable notice, garnering widespread media attention. Zamora was one of the first openly gay men with AIDS to be portrayed in popular media,<ref>Heigl, Alex. [http://www.nerve.com/entertainment/evolved-mtv "Twelve Crucial Moments in the Evolution of MTV"]. Nerve. August 2011.</ref> and after his death on November 11, 1994 (mere hours after the final episode of his season aired), he was lauded by then-[[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]]. Zamora's friend and roommate during the show, [[Judd Winick]], went on to become a successful comic book writer, and wrote the [[Eisner Award]]-nominated [[graphic novel]] ''[[Pedro and Me]]'', about his friendship with Zamora, as well as high-profile<ref>Winick appeared on [[Phil Donahue]]'s [[MSNBC]] program to discuss his gay-related storylines on August 15, 2002. [http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1191 Source] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530125410/http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1191|date=May 30, 2010}}</ref> and controversial<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/documents/02404906.htm|title=Comic relief|author=Bronski, Michael|newspaper=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Phonex]]|date=August 22–29, 2002}}</ref> storylines in mainstream [[superhero]] comics that featured gay and AIDS-related themes. Zamora's conflicts with Rainey were not only considered emotional high points for that season,<ref name=EW/> but are credited with making ''The Real World'' a hit show, and with proving that the infant "reality" television format was one that could bring considerable ratings to a network.<ref name=TimePedro>Webley, Kayla. [https://entertainment.time.com/2011/04/08/32-epic-moments-in-reality-tv-history/slide/the-real-world-puck-vs-pedro/ "32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History: 7. The Real World: Puck vs. Pedro"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2021.</ref> By July 1995, the series surpassed ''Beavis and Butt-head'' as the network's top-rated show during the fourth season, ''[[The Real World: London]]''.<ref name=EW/>

==Cast member successes==
Appearing on the program has often served as a springboard to further success, especially in the entertainment industry.<ref name=LATimes>Weinstein, Steve. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-19-ca-36595-story.html "TELEVISION – A 'Real World' of Difference"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. September 19, 1993. Retrieved December 24, 2021.</ref>

[[Eric Nies]] of the [[The Real World: New York|New York]] cast went on to become a model, actor, and television host. His housemate, [[Kevin Powell]], became a successful author, poet,<ref>Salvatore, Rosanne. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/real-world-cast-members-gallery-1.92861 "'The Real World' cast members: Where are they now?"]. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''. April 1, 2011. Page 4 of 44</ref> journalist,<ref name="Westword"/> and politician.<ref>Hicks, Jonathan P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/nyregion/28brooklyn.html "Brooklyn Congressman and Veteran of Tough Primaries Faces New Fight"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. April 28, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Egeln, Harold|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=27&id=23062|title=Primary Elections: Big Changes in Brooklyn|publisher=[[Brooklyn Eagle]]|date=September 10, 2008}}</ref> Their housemate [[Heather B. Gardner]] went on to become a [[hip-hop music]] artist under the professional name Heather B.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/1993-02-06/rap-song|title=Chart Listing For The Week Of Feb 06 1993|access-date=February 21, 2008|date=February 6, 1993|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526085820/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=369&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot%2BRap%2BSingles&ci=3013919&cdi=6695214&cid=02%2F06%2F1993|archive-date=May 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=AllHipHop>AbduSalaam, Ismael. [http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/03/12/22145013.aspx "Heather B. Returns With DJ Premier For 'Open Bar'"]. [[AllHipHop]]. March 12, 2010</ref>

[[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] cast member Beth Stolarczyk has produced men's and women's calendars and television programs featuring reality TV personalities, including herself and other ''Real World'' alumni, including [[Tami Roman]] (who became a cast member on ''[[Basketball Wives]]'' and spinoff ''[[Basketball Wives LA]]''), [[The Real World: Las Vegas|2002–2003 Las Vegas]]' [[Trishelle Cannatella]], [[The Real World: Chicago|2002 Chicago]]'s [[Tonya Cooley]] and [[The Real World: Back to New York|Back to New York]]'s [[Coral Smith]]. Stolarczyk, Cannatella, and [[The Real World: Miami|Miami]]'s Flora Alekseyeun appeared in the May 2002 ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine,<ref>"Girls of Road Rules & Real World". ''[[Playboy]]'' May 2002.</ref><ref>[http://www.mm-agency.com/beth-stolarczyk/ "Beth Stolarczykof Real World LA Booking Appearance"]. MM Agency. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref><ref name=THS>''The E! True Hollywood Story: Bad Girls of Reality TV''. Broadcast January 3, 2008.</ref> with later issues spotlighting Cannatella's 2002–2003 Las Vegas housemate, [[Arissa Hill]].<ref>''Playboy: Girls of Reality TV''. 2003. Playboy Home Video.</ref> Cooley appeared on playboy.com. In addition to ''Playboy'' magazine, Cannatella has also posed for the online Playboy Cyber Club,<ref name=THS/> as well as for ''[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/index.aspx?id=1843|publisher=[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]]|title=Passport to Pleasure|access-date=May 1, 2007|date=April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131932/http://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/index.aspx?id=1843<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref>

[[The Real World: San Francisco|San Francisco]] alum [[Judd Winick]] is a noted comic book writer and artist, with the majority of his work appearing in comic books published by [[DC Comics]], including writing such well known characters as [[Batman]], [[Green Arrow]], and [[Green Lantern]]. Winick also published ''[[Pedro and Me]]'', a [[graphic novel]] about his friendship with fellow castmate [[Pedro Zamora]], who died of [[AIDS]] related complications not long after his experience on the show.

[[The Real World: London|London]] cast member [[Jacinda Barrett]]'s acting career includes films such as ''[[Ladder 49]]'', ''[[The Namesake (film)|The Namesake]]'', ''[[The Human Stain]]'', and ''[[Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason]]''.

[[The Real World: Boston|Boston]] cast member [[Sean Duffy]] was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for {{ushr|WI|7}} in 2010 as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and became the 20th [[United States Secretary of Transportation]] in January 2025. He is married to [[The Real World: San Francisco|San Francisco]] alum [[Rachel Campos-Duffy]], a conservative TV news personality.

Lindsay Brien of the [[The Real World: Seattle|Seattle]] cast became a radio and [[CNN]] personality.<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/05/sun.05.html "People Enjoy Music in Atlanta"]. [[CNN]]. May 5, 2002</ref>

[[The Real World: Hawaii|Hawaii]] cast member Tecumseh "Teck" Holmes III appeared in films such as ''[[National Lampoon's Van Wilder]]'' and in TV series such as ''[[Friends]]''.<ref>Beard, Lanford (May 21, 2012). [https://ew.com/article/2012/05/21/real-world-20th-anniversary/ "'The Real World': 20 years later, seven strangers who made their mark"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''.</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=The One with the Mugging|series=[[Friends]]|network=[[NBC]]|airdate=February 13, 2003|season=9|number=15}}</ref>

[[Mike Mizanin]] has also found fame as a [[WWE]] wrestler wrestling under the name "The Miz", a character he debuted during the ''[[The Real World: Back to New York|Back to New York]]'' season. His successes have included the [[WWE Championship|WWE World Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name="wwebio">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/themiz|title=The Miz Bio|access-date=April 14, 2009|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>

2002 Chicago cast member [[Kyle Brandt]]'s acting career includes starring in the soap opera ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''.<ref>[http://www.daysofourlives.com/show_guide/cast_bio_detail_67.html "Cast Bio: Kyle Brandt"]. ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/martha-madison/photos/194853/68919 "Photo Gallery: Martha Madison"]. ''[[TV Guide]]''. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref> His castmate Tonya Cooley also appeared on an MTV special of ''True Life: I'm a Reality TV Star''.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=194517&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=5331245 "True Life Episode Guide 2006 – I'm a Reality TV Star"]. ''TV Guide''. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref> He also works for the NFL Network.

2002–2003 Las Vegas cast members Trishelle Cannatella and [[Steven Hill (model)|Steven Hill]] appeared in the [[horror film]] ''Scorned''. Cannatella has also appeared on other reality shows, such as ''[[The Surreal Life]]'', ''[[Battle of the Network Reality Stars]]'', and ''[[Kill Reality]]'', the latter of which also featured Hill and Cooley.

[[The Real World: Paris|Paris]] castmate [[Mallory Snyder]] went on to become a model, most notably appearing in ''Sports Illustrated'' magazine's [[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue|annual swimsuit issue]] in 2005 and 2006.

[[The Real World: San Diego|2004 San Diego]] castmate [[Jamie Chung]] has appeared in various television and film roles, including ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]'', ''[[Sorority Row]]'', ''[[The Hangover Part II]]'', ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'', and ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]''.<ref>Lee, Amber. [http://bleacherreport.com/articles/945452-30-hottest-girls-ever-on-real-worldroad-rules-challenges/page/30 "2. Jamie Chung"] {{webarchive|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20111125180706/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/945452-30-hottest-girls-ever-on-real-worldroad-rules-challenges/page/30|date=November 25, 2011}}. [[Bleacher Report]]. November 17, 2011</ref> Cameran Eubanks, also from the 2004 San Diego cast, starred on Bravo's reality series ''[[Southern Charm]]'' for its first six seasons. 

[[The Real World: Philadelphia|Philadelphia]] cast member [[Karamo Brown]] appeared as a cast member on the [[TV One (American TV channel)|TV One]] original reality series ''The Next: 15'' and is the host on ''[[Are You the One?#Second Chances|Are You the One? Second Chances]]''. He is also the Culture guide on [[Netflix]]'s ''[[Queer Eye (2018 TV series)|Queer Eye]]'' reboot. He currently hosts his own talk show, ''[[Karamo (talk show)|Karamo]]''.

[[The Real World: DC|Washington, D.C.]], cast member Emily Schromm was voted as the winner of ''[[Women's Health (magazine)|Women's Health]]''{{'}}s America's Next Fitness Star in August 2014, and will be featured in a series of fitness [[DVD]]s.<ref>{{cite web|author=Donnelly, Matthew Scott|title=It's Official: 'Challenge' Champ Emily Schromm Is The Next Fitness Star Of Women's Health|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1894882/challenge-emily-schromm-fitness-star-winner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813140947/http://www.mtv.com/news/1894882/challenge-emily-schromm-fitness-star-winner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2014|work=[[MTV]]|date=August 11, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=America's Next Fitness Star Announced|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/womens-health-americas-fitness-star-announced-24925754|work=[[Yahoo!]]|date=August 11, 2014|access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref>

[[The Real World: Portland|Portland]] cast member Jordan Wiseley appeared on the [[Oprah Winfrey Network|OWN Network]] original series, [[Tyler Perry]]'s ''[[If Loving You Is Wrong (TV series)|If Loving You Is Wrong]]''.

[[Real World: Ex-Plosion|Ex-Plosion]] cast member Cory Wharton went on to become a supporting cast member on [[Teen Mom OG]] with his girlfriend Cheyanne Floyd in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/cory-wharton-cheyenne-floyd-teen-mom-og-165858|title = Cory Wharton and Cheyenne Floyd Join Teen Mom OG|date = September 11, 2018}}</ref>

Dozens of former cast members from ''The Real World'' and its sister production ''[[Road Rules]]'' have appeared on the spin-off series ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'', which pays $100,000 or more to its winners. Various cast members have also earned livings as [[public speakers]], since Bunim-Murray Productions funded their training in motivational speaking by the [[Points of Light Foundation]] in 2002, allowing them to earn between $1,500 and $2,000 for an appearance on the college lecture circuit.<ref name="Aurthur">{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/10/arts/television/reality-stars-keep-on-going-and-going.html|last=Aurthur|first=Kate|title=Reality Stars Keep on Going and Going|work=The New York Times|date=October 10, 2004|page=2|access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref>

==Residence and facilities==
The residence is typically elaborate in its décor, and for many seasons was furnished by [[IKEA]].<ref name=houses>{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldhouses.com/realworld12.html|title=The Palms suite at|publisher=Realworldhouses.com|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> The residence usually includes a [[pool table]], a [[Jacuzzi]], and in many seasons an aquarium, which serves as a metaphor for the show, in that the roommates, who are being taped at all times in their home, are seen metaphorically as fish in a fishbowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldhouses.com/rw20fishtank.html|title=Columbia Square Building Fish Tank at|publisher=Realworldhouses.com|date=December 21, 2007|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> This point is punctuated not only by the fact that the [[MTV]] logo title card seen after the closing credits of each episode is designed as an aquarium, but also by a poem that [[Judd Winick]] wrote during his stay in the [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] house called "Fishbowl".<ref>Seen at the end of "White Like Me", the third episode of ''[[The Real World: San Francisco]]''.</ref> In some seasons, the group is provided with a shared car to use during their stay,<ref>The [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]] cast was given a hybrid car, as documented in that season's [http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0002E01400080098E61F/User/Blog/BlogPostDetail.aspx online videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201185944/http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF0002E01400080098E61F/User/Blog/BlogPostDetail.aspx |date=February 1, 2009 }}, as were the [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]] roommates, as shown in that season's [https://web.archive.org/web/20090228093100/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-brooklyn-ep-8-angry-boys-and-dirty-girls/1605449/playlist.jhtml eighth episode], and the [[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)|2010 New Orleans]] season, as seen in that season's [https://web.archive.org/web/20100903045155/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-10-getting-down-blowing-up/1646543/playlist.jhtml tenth episode].</ref> or in the case of the [[The Real World: St. Thomas|St. Thomas]] season, a chauffeured motorboat to transport cast members from their [[Hassel Island, U.S. Virgin Islands|Hassel Island]] residence to [[Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]].<ref name=Episode7>{{cite episode|title=No Shirt, Boat Shoes, No Sanity|series=The Real World: St. Thomas|network=MTV|season=27|number=7|airdate=August 8, 2012|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-st-thomas-ep-7-no-shirt-boat-shoes-no-sanity/1691424/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811082531/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-st-thomas-ep-7-no-shirt-boat-shoes-no-sanity/1691424/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2012|access-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> There is also a home phone and a computer provided for cast members to have contact with family and friends, as they are not allowed to use their mobile phones during their stay in the house.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==Format and structure==
Each season consists of seven to eight people (in initial seasons ages 18–26 before changing to 21–26 and currently cast for 21–34), usually selected from thousands of applicants from across the country, with the group chosen typically representing different races, sexes, sexual orientations, levels of sexual experience, and religious and political beliefs. Should a cast member decide to move out, or be asked to do so by all his or her roommates, the roommates will often get a replacement, dependent on how much filming time is left. Cast members are paid a small stipend for their participation in the show.<ref name="Aurthur"/> The cast of the first season, for example, was given $2,500.<ref name=Westword/> This amount increased to $5,000 before taxes with the first New Orleans season in 2000, and included each cast member's story rights in perpetuity.<ref name=HuffPost5.21.22>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/real-world-new-orleans-melissa-beck_n_6287c357e4b0933e736504ba|publisher=[[HuffPost]]|author=Arceneaux, Michael|language=en-US|url-status=live|title='Real World: New Orleans' Star Melissa Beck Is Still Giving Us Comic Relief|date=May 21, 2022|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521180108/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/real-world-new-orleans-melissa-beck_n_6287c357e4b0933e736504ba}}</ref> However, because cast members are not actors playing characters, they do not receive residuals that are routinely paid to actors when a TV show on which they appear is aired and replayed,<ref name=Westword/> and are not permitted to use the name of the series when promoting their own business ventures.<ref name=HuffPost5.21.22/>

Each season begins with the individual members of the house shown leaving home, often for the first time, and/or meeting their fellow housemates while in transit to their new home, or at the house itself. The exception was the [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles season]], which premiered with two housemates picking up a third at his [[Kentucky]] home and driving in a [[Winnebago Industries|Winnebago]] [[Recreational vehicle|RV]] to their new home in Los Angeles.
The housemates are taped around the clock. The house is outfitted with video cameras mounted on walls to capture more intimate moments, and camera crews consisting of three to six people follow the cast around the house and out in public.<ref name=PedroAndMePg61-62>Winick, Judd. ''[[Pedro and Me|Pedro & Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned]]''. 2000. Henry Holt. Pages 61 and 62</ref> In total, approximately 30 cameras are used during production.<ref name=E!>Haberman, Lia (November 26, 2003). [http://www.eonline.com/news/real_world_rape/46350 "A 'Real World' Rape?"] [[E!]].</ref> Each member of the cast is instructed to ignore the cameras and the crew,<ref name=PedroAndMePg61-62/> but are required to wear a battery pack and microphone in order to record their dialogue, though some castmembers have been known to turn off or hide them at times. The only area of the house in which camera access is restricted are the bathrooms.<ref name=E!/>

Despite the initial awkwardness of being surrounded by cameramen, castmembers have stated that they eventually adjust to it, and that their behavior is purely natural, and not influenced by the fact that they are being taped.<ref>Various castmembers insisted this during ''The Real World Reunion'', the first multi-season reunion show in 1995.</ref> Winick, an alumnus of the show's third season (San Francisco), adds that castmembers eventually stop thinking about the cameras because it is too exhausting not to, and that the fact that their lives were being documented made it seem "more real".<ref name=CBR>Manning, Shaun (April 1, 2000). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20641 "Judd Winick on MTV's 'Pedro' Movie"]. [[Comic Book Resources]].</ref><ref name=PedroAndMePg62&100>Winick (2000). pp. and 110</ref> Other cast members have related different accounts. Members of the [[The Real World: London|London]] cast found the cameras burdensome at times, such as Jay Frank and [[Jacinda Barrett]], who felt they intruded on the intimacy of their romantic relationships. Lars Schlichting related an anecdote in which roommate Mike Johnson asked a question when cameras were not present, and then asked the same question five minutes later when cameras ''were'' present, which Schlichting adds was not typical of Johnson. Johnson himself has remarked that castmate Barrett "hammed it up a lot," and that roommate Sharon Gitau withheld details of her life out of fear that her grandmother would react negatively. Movement of the roommates outside of the residence is restricted to places that are cleared by producers<ref>{{cite web|date=July 12, 2008|url=http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1590314&vid=256516|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828074417/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1590314&vid=256516|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2008|title=The Real World: Hollywood Reunion (Segment 4 of 8)|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> through contractual arrangements with locations to allow filming.<ref>Williams, Paul K. [http://www.washblade.com/2009/6-19/outindc//local/14755.cfm "'Real World' house has rich gay history: Dupont mansion once home to lesbian bar"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622074538/http://www.washblade.com/2009/6-19/outindc/local/14755.cfm|date=June 22, 2009}}. ''[[Washington Blade]]''. June 19, 2009</ref>

The producers made an exception to the taping protocol during the third season, when [[Pedro Zamora]] requested that he be allowed to go out on a date without the cameras, because the normal anxieties associated with first dates would be exacerbated by the presence of cameras.<ref>Winick (2000); p. 104</ref>

===Confessional===
At the end of each week, each housemate is required to sit down and be interviewed about the past week's events. Unlike the normal day-to-day taping, these interviews, which are referred to as "confessionals", involve the subject looking directly into the camera while providing opinions and reflective accounts of the week's activities, which are used in the final, edited episodes. The producers instruct the cast to talk about whatever they wish,<ref name=PedroAndMePg62&100/><ref>{{cite episode|title=To a New Beginning...|series=The Real World: Los Angeles|network=MTV|season=2|number=2|airdate=July 1, 1993|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/228240/the-real-world-to-a-new-beginning}}</ref> and to speak in complete sentences, to reinforce the perception on the part of the home viewer that the cast is speaking to them. Winick described this practice as "like therapy without the help".<ref name=PedroAndMePg62&100/> The confessionals were originally conducted by [[Mary-Ellis Bunim]] and [[Jonathan Murray]], but were eventually delegated to production staff members like George Verschoor and Thomas Klein. Beginning with the second season (Los Angeles), a small soundproof room was incorporated into each house for this purpose, which itself has also become known as the Confessional in which cast members could record themselves and provide thoughts about house and life events. (The soundproofing practice appears to have been discontinued in later seasons.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Looks Can Be D.C.-ving|series=The Real World: DC|season=23|number=1|airdate=December 30, 2009|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-1-looks-can-be-dc-ving/1628228/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107194831/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-1-looks-can-be-dc-ving/1628228/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realworlddailies.com/Video/Greg-overhears-confessional-calls-mom/092ECFFFF00A1312F0017001BDDD6|title=The Real World: Hollywood Dailies: Greg overhears confessional, calls mom|work=MTV|date=January 1, 2008|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072431/http://www.realworlddailies.com/Video/Greg-overhears-confessional-calls-mom/092ECFFFF00A1312F0017001BDDD6|url-status=dead}}</ref>)

The various casts were often creative in their use of the confessional, which Bunim and Murray referred to as "inspired lunacy", such as a group confessional that the Los Angeles cast conducted on their last day in order to appear less contentious, but which ended with them arguing and storming out, an appearance by San Francisco housemate Judd Winick in a nun's habit, and [[The Real World: Miami|Miami]] roommates Melissa Padrón and Flora Alekseyeun dressing up as sex workers for a shared confessional in which they discuss why their roommates did not get along with them.<ref name=DiariesPage5/> During [[Mardi Gras]], [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]] cast member Danny Roberts used the confessional to engage in a sex act.<ref name=NewOrleans2000ep12>{{cite episode|title=Mardi Gras Mayhem|series=The Real World: New Orleans|number=12|network=MTV|airdate=August 22, 2000}}</ref>

===Evolution and changes===
Initially, the show documented the housemates as they struggled to find and maintain jobs and careers in their new locales, with minimal group activities aside from their day-to-day lives in the house and their socializing in the city. The only group activity engineered by the producers during the first season was a trip for the three women to [[Jamaica]]. By the second season, sending the entire cast on a vacation and/or short-term local trip would become the norm for most seasons. By the fifth season, the cast would be given an ongoing, season-long activity, with the Miami cast given startup money and a business advisor to begin their own business. This aspect of the show remained in most subsequent seasons.<ref>This element was not present in the [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]], [[The Real World: Washington D.C.|Washington D.C.]] and [[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)|2010 New Orleans]] seasons.</ref> The assignments are obligatory, with casts assigned to work at an after-school daycare program, a radio station, public-access television station, etc. Beginning with the [[The Real World: Back to New York|tenth season]], a rule was implemented that required a roommate fired from the group job to be evicted from the house and dropped from the cast. [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]]'s Greg Halstead and [[The Real World: Cancun|Cancun]]'s Joey Rozmus were evicted from their respective houses after they were fired from their group jobs.<ref name=HollywoodEpisode8>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hollywood|title=Arrival and Departure|season=20|number=8|airdate=June 4, 2008|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-hollywood-ep-8-arrival-and-departure/1588278/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=24776&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121123337/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-hollywood-ep-8-arrival-and-departure/1588278/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=24776&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name=CancunEpisode7>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Cancun|title=Peak Week|season=22|number=7|airdate=August 6, 2009|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-7-peak-week/1617242/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=27379&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809091710/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-7-peak-week/1617242/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=27379&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2009}}</ref> Later seasons provided the cast with pre-approved jobs they could apply for without the firing rule, while other casts took part in internships or did not pursue work.

===Editing===
Footage taped throughout each season is edited into episodes (half-hour episodes for the first 19 seasons, one-hour episodes beginning with [[The Real World: Hollywood|the twentieth]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://observer.com/2008/05/the-real-world-brooklyn-for-real/|author=Sicha, Choire|title=The Real World: Brooklyn. For Real|newspaper=[[The New York Observer]]|date=May 13, 2008|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

==Rules and discipline==
===Physical violence===
Physical violence of any kind is typically not tolerated by the producers. After an incident occurs, producers or cast members are typically given the choice as to whether a violent housemate can stay due to a contract clause that prohibits violence. After an incident during the [[The Real World: Seattle|Seattle]] season in which Stephen Williams slapped [[Irene McGee]] as she moved out,<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Seattle]]|title=Irene Calls It Quits|season=7|number=15|network=MTV}}</ref> a response to the event was debated by the housemates, who did not witness the incident was viewed a videotape of it. The producers, not wanting to be seen condoning violence, gave the housemates the choice of having him leave, but instead the housemates chose to let him stay, and Williams was ordered to attend an [[anger management]] class.<ref name=SlapAftermath>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Seattle|title=The Aftermath of 'The Slap'|season=7|number=16|network=MTV}}</ref> During the [[The Real World: Las Vegas|2002–2003 Las Vegas]] season, Brynn Smith and [[Steven Hill (model)|Steven Hill]] got into an altercation in which Smith threw a fork at Hill. Hill contacted the producers who notified him that it was up to the cast to decide on Smith's fate. The cast let Hill make the ultimate decision, and he chose that Smith could stay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-las-vegas-2002-full-episode-ep-6/1559769/playlist.jhtml |title=Hey, Jealousy: Ep. 06: Full Episode Video|publisher=[[MTV]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822090515/http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-las-vegas-2002-full-episode-ep-6/1559769/playlist.jhtml |archive-date=2009-08-22}}</ref> During the [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]] season, Trisha Cummings shoved Parisa Montazaran to the ground during a heated altercation. Producers gave Montazaran the choice as to whether Cummings could stay or leave, and she chose that Cummings had to leave.<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Sydney]]|title=Enjoy Your Flight|season=19|number=18|network=MTV|airdate=November 28, 2007}}</ref> [[The Real World: Denver|Denver]] housemates Tyrie Ballard and Davis Mallory got into an explosive altercation that required production to intervene on-screen and separate the two before any violence occurred.<ref name=DenverEpisode4>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Denver|title=Davis vs Tyrie|season=18|number=4|airdate=December 13, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episode.jhtml?episodeID=104492#moreinfof|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111145549/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episode.jhtml?episodeID=104492#moreinfof|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> Similarly, Hollywood castmates William Gilbert and Dave Malinosky got into a similar fight with fellow housemate Greg Halstead that also required intervention from production, as well as Gilbert and Malinosky to undergo anger management.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hollywood|title=Get It On|season=20|number=7|network=MTV}}</ref> During the [[The Real World: Portland|Portland]] season, Nia Moore physically attacked Johnny Reilly in retaliation for Reilly purposely throwing a drink on her during a heated altercation, and later got into a physical altercation with Averey Tressler, when Tressler defended Reilly from an attempt by Moore to attack Reilly again with a hair dryer. Unlike most prior seasons where the one assaulted housemate was given the sole choice as to whether the attacker could stay, the Portland cast had its producers decide that only those not involved in the confrontation could decide whether Moore could stay via a majority vote. They chose to let her stay, and producers did not order Moore to anger management, despite subsequent threats to attack other cast members. As a result, Reilly and Tressler chose to leave the loft during that season's final episode.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Welcome to the Sh*t Show!|series=The Real World: Portland|network=MTV|season=28|number=11|airdate=June 5, 2013|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-11-welcome-to-the-sht-show/1708490/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609151708/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-11-welcome-to-the-sht-show/1708490/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Out With a Bang!|series=The Real World: Portland|network=MTV|season=28|number=12|airdate=June 12, 2013|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-12-out-with-a-bang/1708915/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616050922/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-12-out-with-a-bang/1708915/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref> In the final three episodes of the [[Real World: Go Big or Go Home|''Go Big or Go Home'']] season, castmates Jenna Thomason and Ceejai Jenkins got into two physical altercations while in the house. During the second altercation, Jenkins gave Thomason a black eye and bruises. As a result, both were removed by production due to the altercation.<ref name="GoBigOrGoHomeFinale">{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/full-episodes/4aitb0/real-world-go-big-or-go-home-the-leak-season-31-ep-3105|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418115116/http://www.mtv.com/full-episodes/4aitb0/real-world-go-big-or-go-home-the-leak-season-31-ep-3105|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2016|title=The Leak|series=Real World: Go Big or Go Home|network=MTV|airdate=April 14, 2016|season=31|number=5}}</ref>

===Drug use===
Cast members are also subject to random drug tests, and a cast member failing a drug test will lead to him or her being evicted from the house. During the Hollywood season, it became known that [[Joey Kovar]], had used large amounts of alcohol, cocaine, [[MDMA|ecstasy]], [[methamphetamine]], as well as steroids that he used in bodybuilding since he was a teenager, and had suffered near-fatal overdose. Because of the erratic behavior he displayed as a result of this, he was asked to leave the show to pursue treatment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Season 3 Cast Bios|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/celebrity_rehab_with_dr_drew/season_3/cast.jhtml |publisher=[[VH1]]|language=en-US|url-status=dead|year=2010|archive-date=December 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223075321/http://www.vh1.com/shows/celebrity_rehab_with_dr_drew/season_3/cast.jhtml}}</ref> Kovar would later die of opiate intoxication on August 17, 2012, at the age of 29.<ref>{{cite news|first=Christie|last=D'Zurilla |title=Joey Kovar of 'Real World', 'Celebrity Rehab' found dead at 29 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-et-mg-joey-kovar-dead-real-world-20120817-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=August 17, 2012|access-date=May 23, 2023|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111213110/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-et-mg-joey-kovar-dead-real-world-20120817-story.html}}</ref> During the St. Thomas season, Brandon Kane was removed from the house in that season's eleventh episode after testing positive for cocaine use.<ref name=StThomas11>{{cite episode|title=Should I Stay or Should I Blow?|series=[[The Real World: St. Thomas]]|network=MTV|season=27|number=11|airdate=September 6, 2012|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/st_thomas/episode.jhtml?episodeID=197255|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110045515/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/st_thomas/episode.jhtml?episodeID=197255|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2012|access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref>

===Property damage===
Cast members are held responsible for any damage to property that occurred within the house. For example, [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]]'s J.D. Ordoñez was required to pay $350 after destroying a coffee table in one episode.<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/episode.jhtml?episodeID=148947|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126115942/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/episode.jhtml?episodeID=148947|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2010|series=The Real World: Brooklyn|title=Angry Boys and Dirty Girls|season=21|number=8|network=MTV|airdate=February 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/345117/we-all-saw-it.jhtml#id=1605446|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228131536/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/345117/we-all-saw-it.jhtml#id=1605446|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2009|title=The Real World: Brooklyn Ep. 8 Aftershow|publisher=MTV|date=February 25, 2009}}</ref> Cancun's Bronne Bruzgo was evicted from the hotel that served as the cast residence following a drunken incident in which he threw a fire extinguisher from a balcony to a pool below, though he was provided with nearby alternative housing by Student City, the cast's season employer.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bickel, Chris|url=https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/bruzgo-evicted-from-tv-house/article_c0ef1d82-1d0a-58d3-8930-75ee8d222c27.html|language=en-US|url-status=live|title=Bruzgo evicted from TV house|newspaper=[[Daily Collegian]]|date=August 24, 2009|access-date=May 23, 2023|archive-date=May 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523164558/https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/bruzgo-evicted-from-tv-house/article_c0ef1d82-1d0a-58d3-8930-75ee8d222c27.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Love Square|series=[[The Real World: Cancun]]|network=[[MTV]]|season=22|number=9}}</ref> [[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|2011 Las Vegas]]' Adam Royer was held responsible for the $3,105 worth of damage that his drunken and disorderly behavior caused to the suite that housed that season's cast.<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.jointherealworld.com/|series=The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|title=Ep. 6, Real World Las Vegas Ep. 6 Aftershow|season=25|number=6|network=MTV|airdate=April 19, 2011}}</ref>

==Recurring themes==

===Prejudice===
As their experiences on ''The Real World'' were often the first time that cast members encountered people of different races or sexual orientations,<ref>{{cite episode|title=No More Practical Jokes|series=The Real World: Los Angeles|network=MTV|season=2|number=12|airdate=September 9, 1993|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/228231/the-real-world-no-more-practical-jokes#x-0,vepisode,1,0}}</ref><ref>Two examples are [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]' Jon Brennan and [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]]' Julie Stoffer, who indicated that they never interacted with [[African American|black]] people prior to their experiences with the show.</ref> many episodes documented conflict over these issues. [[The Real World: New York|First season]] housemate [[Kevin Powell]] had such arguments with [[Eric Nies]], Julie Gentry, and [[Rebecca Blasband]]. The premiere episode of the [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] season depicted regional epithets exchanged between Jon Brennan, Dominic Griffin, and Tami Roman. [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] housemate [[David "Puck" Rainey]]'s treatment of [[Pedro Zamora]]'s homosexuality was an issue for Zamora.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: San Francisco|title=Trouble in Paradise|season=3|number=6|network=MTV|airdate=August 4, 1994}}</ref> Flora Alekseyeun, during an argument with her [[The Real World: Miami|Miami]] roommate Cynthia Roberts, dismissed what she referred to as Roberts' "black attitude", and their roommate Melissa Padrón, during a heated exchange with openly gay Dan Renzi, called him a "flamer".<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Miami]]|title=Act Out|season=5|number=12|network=MTV}}</ref> Racism and religious intolerance was a point of contention among [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]] housemates [[Julie Stoffer]], [[Melissa Howard]] and Jamie Murray on more than one occasion.<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: New Orleans]]|title=Race Matters|season=9|number=9|network=MTV|airdate=July 13, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New Orleans|title=Matt Explores His Options|season=9|number=11|network=MTV|airdate=July 27, 2000}}</ref>

The stereotypical views about black people imparted to ''[[The Real World: Back to New York|Back to New York]]''{{'s}} [[Mike Mizanin]] by his uncle offended [[Coral Smith]] and Nicole Mitsch when he related them, and they tried to educate him on African American culture.<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Back to New York]]|title=Conveniently Single|season=10|number=2|network=MTV|airdate=May 25, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Back to New York|title=Coral vs. Mike|season=10|number=3|network=MTV|airdate=June 1, 2001}}</ref> They were also offended by the fact that [[biracial]] roommate Malik Cooper wore a T-shirt with the image of [[Marcus Garvey]], who was against [[miscegenation]], despite the fact that Cooper was of mixed heritage and by his own admission had never dated a black woman.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Back to New York|title=Nicole vs. Malik|season=10|number=7|network=MTV|airdate=June 29, 2001}}</ref>

[[The Real World: Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]'s Karamo Brown expressed being "borderline racist" towards White people,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110224122922/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season15/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1128 Biography page for Karamo Brown]. Conversely, Brown was harassed by police in one episode, growing upset when his White roommates failed to understand why his experience as a Black man was particularly traumatic. MTV. 2004. Retrieved November 7, 2011.</ref> though he had softened in these feelings by the end of the season.<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Philadelphia]]|title=Losing You|season=15|number=26|network=MTV|airdate=March 1, 2005}}</ref> In the [[The Real World: Denver|Denver]] season, Davis Mallory and Stephen Nichols confronted each other over Mallory's homosexuality and Nichols' race,<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Denver]]|title=Heating Things Up|season=18|number=2|airdate=November 29, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episode.jhtml?episodeID=104487#moreinfo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111145821/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episode.jhtml?episodeID=104487#moreinfo|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> and Mallory later used a racial epithet during a drunken argument with black housemate Tyrie Ballard.<ref name=DenverEpisode4/><ref name=40Greatest>''40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2''. [[VH1]]. August 10, 2007</ref>

During the [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]] season, [[Persian people|Persian]] housemate Parisa Montazaran was offended at an anecdote related by housemate Trisha Cummings, in which Cummings described an Asian [[McDonald's]] employee whose command of English was not perfect, though Cummings later insisted that she misworded her anecdote.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 16, 2008|url=http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1579401&vid=203750|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118192309/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1579401&vid=203750|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2008|title=Video of ''Escape from Oz: The Real World Sydney Reunion''|work=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> A similar confrontation occurred during the [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]] season between J.D. Ordoñez and Chet Cannon, after a drunk Ordoñez made offensive statements about [[Immigration|immigrants]], following an incident at a drugstore.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090115183103/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-brooklyn-ep-2-the-outs-and-ins-of-brooklyn/1602334/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=25736&channelId=1 "The Outs And Ins of Brooklyn"]. ''[[The Real World: Brooklyn]]''. Episode 2. MTV. January 14, 2009</ref>

[[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]]'s Kimberly Alexander got into an argument with [[Brianna Taylor]], who is African American, and said, "Let's not get [[ghetto]]." When roommate William Gilbert saw this as racist, Alexander explained that Taylor had previously described herself as sometimes behaving "ghetto", and was merely referencing that.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091121123327/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-hollywood-ep-2-lets-not-get-ghetto/1585753/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=24776&channelId=1 "Let's Not Get Ghetto"]. ''The Real World: Hollywood''. Episode 2. MTV; April 23, 2008</ref>

During the [[The Real World: Back to New Orleans|2010 New Orleans]] season, tensions escalated between Ryan Leslie and openly gay Preston Roberson-Charles, amid questions about Leslie's own sexuality, and their mutual use of [[homophobic slurs]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100724115754/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-4-superbrawl-2010/1643800/playlist.jhtml "Superbrawl 2010"]; ''[[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)]]''; Episode 4; MTV; July 21, 2010</ref> In addition, Roberson-Charles also drew some homophobic remarks from housemate Ryan Knight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-7-buliding-breaking/1645162/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814131647/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-7-buliding-breaking/1645162/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2010|title=Video of Episode 7 at MTV.com|website=[[MTV]]|access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref> During the [[The Real World: San Diego (2011)|2011 San Diego]] season, tensions arose between Frank Sweeney and his male housemates Zach Nichols and Nate Stodghill over Sweeney's [[bisexuality]],<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-san-diego-ep-3-a-pig-walks-into-a-gay-bar/1672417/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014095126/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-san-diego-ep-3-a-pig-walks-into-a-gay-bar/1672417/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2011|title=A Pig Walks Into A Gay Bar...|series=The Real World: San Diego|network=MTV|airdate=October 12, 2011|season=26|number=3}}</ref> and Nichols later made what he said he intended to be a humorous remark to [[lesbian]] roommate Sam McGinn that alluded to [[gay bashing]], to which McGinn took exception.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/series/all-content?xrs=PPM-18-10caf1c|title=MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows|website=MTV|access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-san-diego-ep-5-over-the-rainbow/1673251/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028213633/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-san-diego-ep-5-over-the-rainbow/1673251/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2011|title=Over the Rainbow|series=The Real World: San Diego|network=MTV|airdate=October 19, 2011|season=26|number=5}}</ref> In the ''[[Real World: Go Big or Go Home|Go Big or Go Home]]'' season, Jenna Thomason made homophobic and racist comments toward her roommates, causing tension between her and the rest of the cast.<ref name="GoBigOrGoHomeFinale"/>

===Politics and religion===
[[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] housemate Jon Brennan disagreed with Tami Roman's decision to have an abortion, and argued with castmate Aaron Behle, and Behle's girlfriend, Erin, who were both [[pro-choice]].<ref name=LosAngelesEpisode10>{{cite episode|title=Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?|series=The Real World: Los Angeles|network=MTV|season=2|number=10|airdate=August 26, 1993}}</ref> [[Rachel Campos]], a conservative [[Republican Party of the United States|Republican]] member of the [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] cast, clashed with [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] roommates Mohammed Bilal and Judd Winick.<ref>{{cite episode|title=White Like Me|series=The Real World: San Francisco|network=MTV|season=3|number=3|airdate=July 14, 1994|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357662/words.jhtml#id=1607524|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331111806/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/357662/words.jhtml#id=1607524|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Just Friends|series=The Real World: San Francisco|network=MTV|season=3|number=18|airdate=October 27, 1994|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/358223/putting-up-a-wall.jhtml#id=1607634|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910113241/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/358223/putting-up-a-wall.jhtml%23id=1607634|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref> [[The Real World: Paris|Paris]] housemates Simon Sherry-Wood and Leah Gillingwater argued over the [[Iraq War]],<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Paris|title=Episode 18|season=13|number=18|network=MTV|airdate=September 23, 2003}}</ref> and in a subsequent episode, Chris "C.T." Tamburello became confrontational and threatening toward Adam King, referencing the war himself.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Paris|title=Episode 19|season=13|number=19|network=MTV|airdate=September 30, 2003}}</ref> Nehemiah Clark, of the [[The Real World: Austin|Austin]] cast, expressed disapproval of [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] and the Iraq War, coming into conflict with Rachel Moyal, who served in [[Iraq]] as a combat medic for the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Love & War|series=The Real World: Austin|network=MTV|season=16|number=5|airdate=July 12, 2005|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season16/episode.jhtml?episodeID=87386|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021214017/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season16/episode.jhtml?episodeID=87386|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2009}}</ref> [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]]'s Dunbar Flinn angered Parisa Montazaran and Trisha Cummings with his comments about [[Jesus]] and the [[Bible]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Whining and Dining|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=7|network=MTV|airdate=September 12, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124420|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163940/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124420|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> The [[2008 United States Presidential election]] served to highlight the political differences among the [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]] cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/episode/episode.jhtml?episodeId=148950|title=Summary page for Episode 11 of ''The Real World: Brooklyn'' ("Saving a Private Ryan")|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 19, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-brooklyn-ep-11-saving-a-private-ryan/1606893/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322074436/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-brooklyn-ep-11-saving-a-private-ryan/1606893/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2009|title=Video of Episode 11 of ''The Real World: Brooklyn''|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> In the [[The Real World: Washington D.C.|Washington, D.C.]], season premiere, [[atheist]] Ty Ruff got into an argument with Christian roommates Ashley Lindley and Mike Manning.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 30, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-1-looks-can-be-dc-ving/1628228/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107194831/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-1-looks-can-be-dc-ving/1628228/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2010|title=Video Episode 1 of ''The Real World: Washington D.C.'' ("Looks Can Be D.C.-ving")|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

===Romance===
Many cast members tried to maintain long-distance relationships that predated their time on the show, though remaining faithful was often a challenge. [[The Real World: Miami|Miami]]'s Flora Alekseyeun attempted to maintain relationships with two boyfriends simultaneously.<ref name=FloraBio>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090825033926/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season5/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1107 Biography page for Flora Alekseyeun]. MTV. 1996. Retrieved November 13, 2011.</ref> [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]]' Danny Roberts cheated on his boyfriend Paul, who was stationed in the military.<ref name=NewOrleans2000ep12/> During the [[The Real World: Seattle|Seattle]] season, Nathan Blackburn's girlfriend worried about their relationship.<ref name=SleepingInSeattle>{{cite episode|title=Sleeping in Seattle|series=The Real World: Seattle|season=7|number=1|network=MTV|airdate=June 16, 1998|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47207|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111152333/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47207|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Mistaken Identity|series=The Real World: Seattle|season=7|number=2|network=MTV|airdate=June 23, 1998|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47208|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907085917/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47208|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=I Love You, Don't Touch Me.|series=The Real World: Seattle|season=7|number=4|network=MTV|airdate=July 7, 1998|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47210|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111152719/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47210|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Birthday Bashes and Romantic Crashes|series=The Real World: Seattle|season=7|number=7|network=MTV|airdate=July 28, 1998|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111152509/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47213|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> Shauvon Torres departed from the [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]] house to reconcile with her ex-fiancé.<ref name=SecondFiddle>{{cite episode|title=Second Fiddle|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=14|network=MTV|airdate=October 31, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124584|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163237/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124584|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> Her housemates, Trisha Cummings,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Suddenly Single|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=3|network=MTV|airdate=August 15, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=118437|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528164707/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=118437|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Breaking the Girl Code|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=10|network=MTV|airdate=October 3, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124423|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163226/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124423|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=The Grilled Cheese Incident|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=11|network=MTV|airdate=October 10, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124425|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163944/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124425|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> KellyAnne Judd<ref name=SecondFiddle/> and Dunbar Merrin,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Off the Hook|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=17|network=MTV|airdate=November 21, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124587|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163659/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124587|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Friends Again|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=19|network=MTV|airdate=December 5, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124589|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163242/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124589|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> all flirted, dated or had sex with people other than their significant others back home. [[The Real World: Cancun|Cancun]]'s [[Jonna Mannion]],<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Love Square|series=The Real World: Cancun|season=22|number=9|network=MTV|airdate=August 19, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156734|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809051221/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156734|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Flirting with Disaster|series=The Real World: Cancun|season=22|number=6|network=MTV|airdate=July 29, 2009|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156731|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809064632/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episode.jhtml?episodeID=156731|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref> [[The Real World: Washington D.C.|Washington D.C.]]'s Josh Colón<ref>{{cite episode|title=Cheaters, Beaters and Pavement Eaters|series=The Real World: DC|season=23|number=9|network=MTV|airdate=February 24, 2010|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-9-cheaters-beaters-and-pavement-eaters/1632517/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228143422/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-9-cheaters-beaters-and-pavement-eaters/1632517/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2010}}</ref> and [[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|2011 Las Vegas]]' Nany González severed long-term relationships following suspicions and admissions of infidelity, and in the case of González, after she began a relationship with housemate Adam Royer.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Three Hook Ups and a Breakup|series=The Real World: Las Vegas|season=25|number=10|network=MTV|airdate=March 30, 2011|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-4-three-hooks-ups-and-a-break-up/1660964/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402072754/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-4-three-hooks-ups-and-a-break-up/1660964/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref>

Some cast members developed romantic relationships with their castmates. [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] roommates [[Pam Ling]] and [[Judd Winick]] have since married,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DEEDB1139F93AA3575AC0A9679C8B63|title=Weddings: vows; Pamela Ling and Judd Winick|access-date=April 12, 2007|first=Debra A.|last=Klein|date=September 9, 2001|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>This was mentioned at the end of the 2008 film ''[[Pedro (2008 film)|Pedro]]''.</ref> as have their roommate [[Rachel Campos]] and [[Sean Duffy (Wisconsin)|Sean Duffy]] of the [[The Real World: Boston|Boston]] cast.<ref name=celebritybabies>[http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/04/16/rachel-campos-duffy-welcomes-daughter-mariavictoria-margarita/ "Rachel Campos-Duffy Welcomes Daughter MariaVictoria Margarita"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721144409/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/04/16/rachel-campos-duffy-welcomes-daughter-mariavictoria-margarita/ |date=July 21, 2011 }}, ''[[People magazine|People]]'' magazine; April 16, 2010</ref> In the [[The Real World: Las Vegas|2002–2003 Las Vegas]] season, [[Trishelle Cannatella]] and [[Steven Hill (model)|Steven Hill]] consummated a romance during the show,<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: Las Vegas]]|title=Love Connection|season=12|number=2|airdate=September 24, 2002|network=MTV}}</ref> while their roommates Irulan Wilson and Alton Williams began a relationship<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Las Vegas|title=Stepping In|season=12|number=9|airdate=November 12, 2002|network=MTV}}</ref> that continued for three years after they moved out of the Las Vegas suite.<ref>Lawrence, Christopher. [http://www.lvrj.com/living/7714532.html "Past rears ugly head during 'Real World' reunion"]. ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]''. May 28, 2007</ref> The [[The Real World: Austin|Austin]] cast spawned two relationships, between Wes Bergmann and Johanna Botta, as well as Danny Jamieson and Melinda Stolp; the latter couple married in August 2008 but divorced in spring 2010.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Martin|url=http://www.mm-agency.com/blog/mtv-real-world/danny-melinda-have-a-real-world-wedding-at-castle-hill-near-boston/3319/|title=Danny & Melinda have a Real World Wedding at Castle Hill near Boston|publisher=Michael Martin Agency|date=August 4, 2008|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>Ernst, Amanda. [http://crushable.com/entertainment/real-worlds-melinda-smooches-someone-not-danny/ "Real World's Melinda Smooches Someone – Not Danny"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312103737/http://crushable.com/entertainment/real-worlds-melinda-smooches-someone-not-danny/ |date=March 12, 2012 }}. Crushable.com. April 6, 2010</ref> [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]]'s William Gilbert became involved in a relationship with ''[[The Real World: Key West]]'' alumna Janelle Casanave, who made guest appearances in several episodes during that season. However, their relationship ended when Gilbert later became attracted to his roommate Brittni Sherrod.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hollywood|title=Mexi-Loco|season=20|number=12|airdate=July 2, 2008|network=MTV}}</ref><ref name=Reunion>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828102834/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1590314&vid=256510 ''The Real World: Hollywood Reunion'']. MTV. July 12, 2008</ref> [[The Real World: Portland|Portland]] housemates Johnny Reilly and Averey Tressler developed a mutual attraction,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Bondage, Butts, And Burlesque|series=The Real World: Portland|network=MTV|season=28|number=1|airdate=March 27, 2013|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-1-bondage-butts-and-burlesque/1704455/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331000017/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-ep-1-bondage-butts-and-burlesque/1704455/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=39982&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref> leading to a relationship that they continued for one year after filming ended.<ref name=PortlandReunion>{{cite episode|title=The Real World: Portland Reunion|series=The Real World: Portland|network=MTV|season=28|number=13|airdate=June 13, 2013|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-reunion/1708990/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616162016/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-portland-reunion/1708990/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oh no! New Exes??|url=http://stopbeingpolite.com/2013/12/04/oh-no-new-exes/|publisher=Stop Being Polite|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref>

===Sexuality===
The level of sexual experience varies among a given season's cast members. [[The Real World: New York|New York]]'s Julie Gentry,<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New York|title=This is the True Story...|season=1|number=1|airdate=May 21, 1992|network=MTV}}</ref> [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]' Jon Brennan<ref name=JonMTVBio>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090904082633/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season2/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1097 Jon: The Real World: Los Angeles]. MTV. 1993. Retrieved November 24, 2011.</ref><ref name=OrlandoSentinel>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|title=Teen Faced Realities Of 'The Real World'|first=Susan|last=White|page=E.1|date=July 8, 1993|access-date=November 21, 2010|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/07/08/teen-faced-realities-of-the-real-world/}}</ref> and Aaron Behle,<ref name=LosAngelesEpisode10/> [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]]'s Cory Murphy and [[Rachel Campos]],<ref>''The Real World Diaries''. Pages 142–143</ref> [[The Real World: Seattle|Seattle]]'s Rebecca Lord,<ref name=SleepingInSeattle/> [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]]' Matt Smith and [[Julie Stoffer]],<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New Orleans|title=New Orleans Newbies|season=9|number=1|airdate=June 13, 2000|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season9/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48595|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108103905/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season9/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48595|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>Pierce, Scott D. [https://www.deseret.com/2000/6/2/19560565/unlikely-path-byu-to-mtv "Unlikely path: BYU to MTV"]. ''[[Deseret News]]''. June 2, 2000, Retrieved December 24, 2021</ref><ref>Larsen, Kent. [http://www.mormonstoday.com/000611/P2Julie02.shtml "News about Mormons, Mormonism, and the LDS Church"]. ''Mormons Today''/''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]''/[[Associated Press]]. June 7, 2000</ref> [[The Real World: Paris|Paris]]' [[Mallory Snyder]],<ref name=MalloryBio>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629164515/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season13/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1081 The Real World: Paris: Cast: Mallory]. MTV. Retrieved November 13, 2011.</ref> [[The Real World: Austin|Austin]]'s Lacey Buehler,<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?/whateverhappened/more/real_world.html "Former Real World' star Lacey Buehler runs Florida salon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612122016/http://www.cleveland.com/whateverhappened/plaindealer/index.ssf?/whateverhappened/more/real_world.html |date=June 12, 2013 }}. ''[[The Plain Dealer]]''. July 14, 2008</ref> [[The Real World: Brooklyn|Brooklyn]]'s Chet Cannon<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101011234141/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10597 "Real World: Brooklyn: Cast: Chet"]. MTV. 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2011.</ref> and [[The Real World: Atlanta|Atlanta]]'s Meagan Melancon,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-real-world-trailer-meet-the-new-roommates-for-facebook-watch-revival-video/|title='The Real World' Trailer: Meet the New Roommates for Facebook Watch Revival (Video)|date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> for example, all stated they were [[virgin]]s during their respective seasons. On the other end of the spectrum was 2000 New Orleans' [[David Broom]],<ref>''[[TV Guide]]''. June 24, 2000</ref> [[The Real World: Cancun|Cancun]]'s Joey Rozmus,<ref name=JoeyBio>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090530050731/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rw_cancun/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=11881 Biography page for Joey Rozmus]; mtv.com</ref> and [[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011 season)|2011 Las Vegas]]'s Heather Cooke,<ref>An aggressive player both on the field and in the bedroom, Cooke has been known to be a man eater with frequent bi-curious tendencies -mtv.com</ref> who took pride in their promiscuity with various sexual partners during their respective seasons.<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-4-cancun-casanovas/1615514/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719080606/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-4-cancun-casanovas/1615514/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 19, 2009|title=Cancun Cassanovas|number=4|series=The Real World: Cancun|publisher=MTV|date=July 15, 2009|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> [[The Real World: Denver|Denver]]'s Jenn Grijalva<ref>In the one-hour season premiere, Grijalva and castmate Brooke LaBarbera made out in a hot tub, and Grijalva was subsequently intimate with castmate Alex Smith and later towards the end of the season had sex with Stephen.{{cite episode|title=3-Way Premiere|series=The Real World: Denver|season=19|number=1|network=MTV|airdate=November 25, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-1-2/1545851/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729034542/http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-1-2/1545851/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> and Alex Smith,<ref>During the season Alex had sexual relations with Both Jenn and Colie.{{cite episode|title=3-Way Premiere|series=The Real World: Denver|season=19|number=1|network=MTV|airdate=November 25, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-1-2/1545851/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729034542/http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-1-2/1545851/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]]'s KellyAnne Judd<ref>During the season KellyAnne had sexual relations with [https://web.archive.org/web/20100618124439/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/193957/the-busted-condom.jhtml#id=1575470 "Dunbar and Cohutta"]</ref> and Dunbar Flinn,<ref>During the season Dunbar had sexual relations with [http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2008/09/30/sexposed-the-truth-about-what-went-down-ahem-between-dunbar-and-ashli/ "KellyAnne and Ashli"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531001503/http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2008/09/30/sexposed-the-truth-about-what-went-down-ahem-between-dunbar-and-ashli/ |date=May 31, 2013 }}</ref> Cancun's Ayiiia Elizarraras,<ref>She and Emilee Fitzpatrick shared a night of intimacy in [https://archive.today/20130129150045/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-3-i-kissed-a-girl-and-i-liked-it-at-first/1614956/playlist.jhtml Episode 3] of that season, she had a [[menage a trois]] with castmate Jonna Mannion and a coworker Jonna was dating named Pat in [https://web.archive.org/web/20090829232529/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-10-threes-a-crowd/1619089/playlist.jhtml Episode 10], and had sex with Joey Rozmus in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20090913142903/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-12-adios-cancun/1620678/playlist.jhtml season finale].</ref><ref>Lee, Amber. [http://bleacherreport.com/articles/945452-30-hottest-girls-ever-on-real-worldroad-rules-challenges/page/11 "21. Jonna Mannion"]. [[Bleacher Report]]. November 17, 2011</ref> and [[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|2011 Las Vegas]]' Nany González<ref>During the season Nany had sexual relations with [http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2011/06/01/real-world-las-vegas-finale-cooke-nany-hookup/ "Adam, Heather and Cooke"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530235538/http://remotecontrol.mtv.com/2011/06/01/real-world-las-vegas-finale-cooke-nany-hookup/ |date=May 30, 2013 }}</ref> and Heather Marter<ref>During the season Heather had sexual relations with [http://www.afterellen.com/column/morning-brew/5-6-2011 "Dustin and Nany"]</ref> were sexually intimate with multiple castmates during their respective seasons.

More than once, fellow housemates have been involved in pregnancy scares, such as [[Steven Hill (model)|Steven Hill]] and [[Trishelle Cannatella]] during the [[The Real World: Las Vegas|2002–2003 Las Vegas]] season,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Pregnancy Scare|series=The Real World: Las Vegas|season=12|number=14|network=MTV|airdate=December 10, 2002|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season12/episode.jhtml?episodeID=60486|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111141039/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season12/episode.jhtml?episodeID=60486|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> Cohutta Grindstaff and KellyAnne Judd during the Sydney season,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Praying for a Miracle|series=The Real World: Sydney|season=19|number=20|network=MTV|airdate=December 12, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124590|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528163247/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episode.jhtml?episodeID=124590|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref> and Leroy Garrett and Naomi Defensor during the 2011 Las Vegas season.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Guys Who Like Girls Who Like Girls Who Like Sex|series=The Real World: Las Vegas|season=25|number=9|network=MTV|airdate=May 4, 2011|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/lasvegas/episode.jhtml?episodeID=176657|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508161636/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/lasvegas/episode.jhtml?episodeID=176657|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref>

[[The Real World: London|London]]'s Sharon Gitau expressed difficulty with relationships, and with being open about this and other aspects of her life with her castmates.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Out of Africa...and Outta Here!|series=The Real World: London|season=4|number=22|network=MTV|airdate=November 15, 1995}}</ref>

Overt sexual behavior was minimal during the show's early seasons, relegated mostly to discussion. In subsequent seasons, the level of sexual activity greatly increased, beginning with the [[The Real World: Miami|Miami]] season, which depicted or touched upon activities such as [[exhibitionism]], [[Non-penetrative sex|frottage]], [[voyeurism]], and [[threesome]]s.<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season5/episode.jhtml?episodeID=42356|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402192418/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season5/episode.jhtml?episodeID=42356|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2010|title=Lies, and Videotape|series=The Real World: Miami|number=17|season=5|network=MTV|airdate=October 30, 1996}}</ref>

===Unrequited love===
Jon Brennan's [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] roommates speculated that he had developed a crush, or possibly had fallen in love, with Irene Berrera.<ref name=WeddingBellsRing>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Los Angeles|title=Wedding Bells Ring|season=2|number=12|airdate=September 2, 1993|network=MTV}}</ref> [[The Real World: New Orleans|2000 New Orleans]]' Melissa Howard was attracted to Jamie Murray, who did not reciprocate.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New Orleans|title=Hookups and Linkups|season=9|number=5|airdate=June 15, 2000|network=MTV}}</ref> Their roommate Julie Stoffer harbored similar feelings for Matt Smith, who also did not reciprocate.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New Orleans|title=The Never Ending Story|season=9|number=22|airdate=October 12, 2000|network=MTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: New Orleans|title=Cupid Strikes|season=9|number=7|airdate=June 29, 2000|network=MTV}}</ref> [[The Real World: Back to New York|''Back to New York'']]{{'}}s Lori Trespicio developed an attraction for Kevin Dunn, though he only saw her as a [[Friend zone|friend]].<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Back to New York|title=Get a Nightlife!|season=10|number=4|airdate=January 30, 2001|network=MTV}}</ref>

===Departed housemates===
Many times, housemates have left the ''Real World'' house (and the cast) before production was completed, due to conflicts with other roommates, personal issues, [[homesickness]] or violations of work assignment policies. Replacement roommates would sometimes move in as a result. Housemates who departed over personal conflicts with other housemates include [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]' [[David Edwards (The Real World)|David Edwards]], [[The Real World: San Francisco|San Francisco]]'s [[David "Puck" Rainey]], [[The Real World: Sydney|Sydney]]'s Trisha Cummings, [[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)|2010 New Orleans]]' Ryan Leslie and [[Real World: Ex-Plosion|Ex-Plosion]]'s Ashley Mitchell, though Rainey, Leslie and Mitchell continued to appear in subsequent episodes following their departures. Housemates who moved out due to personal issues back home include [[The Real World: Hawaii|Hawaii]]'s Justin Deabler,<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hawaii|title=Justin Fouls Out|season=8|number=16|airdate=September 28, 1999|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48074|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402193838/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48074|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2010}}</ref> Sydney's Shauvon Torres<ref name=SecondFiddle/> and [[The Real World: Portland|Portland]]'s Joi Niemeyer.<ref name=PortlandReunion/> Housemates who moved out due to homesickness include [[The Real World: San Diego|2004 San Diego]]'s [[Frankie Abernathy]]<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: San Diego|title=The End is Near|season=14|number=21|airdate=May 25, 2004|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episode.jhtml?episodeID=68948|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814224029/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episode.jhtml?episodeID=68948|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: San Diego|title=Goodbye Juliet|season=14|number=22|airdate=June 1, 2004|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episode.jhtml?episodeID=68949|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814230110/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episode.jhtml?episodeID=68949|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2009}}</ref> and [[The Real World: DC|Washington D.C.]]'s [[Erika Lauren Wasilewski|Erika Wasilewski]].<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Real World: DC]]|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-12-white-house-glass-house/1634015/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322194359/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-washington-dc-ep-12-white-house-glass-house/1634015/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2010|title=White House, Glass House|network=MTV|number=12|season=23|airdate=March 17, 2010|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> Housemates who were evicted after being fired from group work assignments include [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]]'s Greg Halstead<ref name=HollywoodEpisode8/> and [[The Real World: Cancun|Cancun]]'s Joey Rozmus,<ref name=CancunEpisode7/> though Rozmus returned by that season's finale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/433469/a-flirtatious-vibe.jhtml#id=1619765|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906090453/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/433469/a-flirtatious-vibe.jhtml#id=1619765|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2009|title=Sneak Preview For ''The Real World: Cancun'', Episode 12|publisher=MTV|date=September 2, 2009|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> Housemates who were evicted for either physical altercations or reckless behavior include [[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|2011 Las Vegas]]' Adam Royer,<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-6-sexiles-exiles/1661885/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=35476&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416082511/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-6-sexiles-exiles/1661885/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=35476&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2011|title=Sexiles/Exiles|network=MTV|number=6|season=25|airdate=April 13, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> [[Real World: Go Big or Go Home|''Go Big or Go Home'']]'s Jenna Thomason and Ceejai Jenkins, [[Real World Seattle: Bad Blood|''Bad Blood'']]'s Theo King-Bradley and Peter Romeo and [[The Real World: Atlanta|Atlanta]]'s Clint Wright,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ossad, Jordana|title=Real World Altercation: Should Jenna and Ceejai' Have Been Sent Home?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2882860/real-world-altercation-jenna-ceejai/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520195820/http://www.mtv.com/news/2882860/real-world-altercation-jenna-ceejai/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 20, 2016|work=[[MTV]]|date=May 19, 2016|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ossad, Jordana|title=Defining and Understanding Domestic Abuse in The Real World|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2966355/real-world-emotional-abuse/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229130713/http://www.mtv.com/news/2966355/real-world-emotional-abuse/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2016|work=[[MTV]]|date=December 28, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Donnelly, Matthew Scott|title=A (not so) Fond Farewell: The 13 Real World Cast Members Who've Been Evicted|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3137675/real-world-cast-members-evicted/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831042154/http://www.mtv.com/news/3137675/real-world-cast-members-evicted/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2019|work=[[MTV]]|date=August 30, 2019|access-date=August 31, 2019}}</ref> though Royer later returned for that season's twelfth episode.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Las Vegas|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-12-addicted-to-love/1664470/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=35476&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529002151/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-12-addicted-to-love/1664470/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=35476&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 29, 2011|title=Addicted To Love|network=MTV|number=12|season=25|airdate=May 25, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

Housemates have also departed for other reasons. Irene Barrera moved out of the Los Angeles house when she got married.<ref name=WeddingBellsRing/> [[Irene McGee]] claimed a relapse of [[Lyme disease]] was the reason for her moving out of the [[The Real World: Seattle|Seattle]] house,<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Seattle|title=Irene Calls It Quits|season=7|number=15|airdate=September 22, 1998|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47221|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111152432/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episode.jhtml?episodeID=47221|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> though in a previously unaired<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-real-world/real-world-reunion-2000.php?page=11|title=Real World Reunion 2000|author=Kim|work=[[Television Without Pity|Televisionwithoutpity.com]]|date=May 23, 2010|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919165750/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-real-world/real-world-reunion-2000.php?page=11|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Solomon|first=James|title=in the House: The Real World Seattle|publisher=[[MTV|MTV Books]]|date=November 1998|isbn=0-671-02597-X|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/inhousemtvsrealw00solo}}</ref> interview from her time on the show that aired during the 2000 reunion show, ''The Real World Reunion 2000'', she explained that the main reason was her ethical objections to aspects of the show's production, which she characterized as an inauthentic environment designed to fabricate drama and conflict, and not the social experiment it was portrayed to be. McGee further explained that this was an unhealthy environment for her to live in, and that the stress and manipulation of the production exacerbated her illness.<ref>''The Real World Reunion 2000''. MTV. May 6, 2000</ref><ref>{{Cite podcast| url =https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/no-ones-listening-podcasts/id94797703| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130703193422/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/no-ones-listening-podcasts/id94797703| url-status =dead| archive-date =July 3, 2013| title =No One's Listening: Internet Meme Hurricane Irene| website =Nooneslistening.org| publisher =[[iTunes]]| host =Irene McGee| date =August 27, 2011| access-date =December 12, 2011}}</ref> [[Joey Kovar]] moved out of the Hollywood house, fearing a drug and alcohol relapse after spending time in rehab,<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hollywood|title=Joey Checks Out|season=20|number=9|airdate=June 11, 2008|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134981|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123142329/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134981|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2009}}</ref> though he returned for that season's finale.<ref>{{cite episode|series=The Real World: Hollywood|title=It's A Wrap|season=20|number=13|airdate=July 9, 2008|network=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111040041/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134985|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2009}}</ref> [[The Real World: St. Thomas|St. Thomas']] Brandon Kane was the first cast member ever evicted for failing a random drug test during filming.<ref name=StThomas11/> ''Ex-Plosion''{{'s}} Lauren Ondersma and ''Bad Blood''{{'s}} Tyara Hooks departed after finding out they were pregnant.<ref>{{cite web|author=Donnelly, Matthew Scott|title='Real World' Poll: was Cory's Reaction to Lauren's Pregnancy Understandable?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2386915/real-world-ex-plosion-cory-lauren-pregnancy-reaction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210012651/http://www.mtv.com/news/2386915/real-world-ex-plosion-cory-lauren-pregnancy-reaction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2019|work=[[MTV]]|date=February 26, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Donnelly, Matthew Scott|title=Real World Pregnancy: What Should Tyara Do Next Now That She's With Child?|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2963402/real-world-tyara-pregnant/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216142032/http://www.mtv.com/news/2963402/real-world-tyara-pregnant/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2016|work=[[MTV]]|date=December 14, 2016|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref>

===On-screen marriage===
Irene Barrera got married during the [[The Real World: Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] season.<ref name=WeddingBellsRing/> [[Pedro Zamora]] exchanged wedding vows with his boyfriend, Sean Sasser, during the [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] season.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Love Rules|series=The Real World: San Francisco|season=3|number=19|airdate=November 3, 1994|network=MTV}}</ref>

===Coping with illness===
[[Pedro Zamora]] lived with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]].<ref name=TimePedro/> He succumbed to complications related to the disease on November 11, 1994, hours after the [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] season finale aired. [[The Real World: San Diego|2004 San Diego]] housemate [[Frankie Abernathy]] suffered from [[cystic fibrosis]]. She died on July 9, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 12, 2007|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1562302/20070612/id_0.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614152352/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1562302/20070612/id_0.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2007|title ='Real World: San Diego' Alum Frankie Abernathy Dead At 25|publisher =MTV|access-date=June 12, 2007}}</ref>

[[The Real World: Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]'s Sarah Burke,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season15/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1132|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224075357/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season15/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1132|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 24, 2011|title=Bio page for Sarah Burke|publisher=MTV|access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> [[The Real World: Key West|Key West]]'s Paula Meronek,<ref>{{cite web|date=August 23, 2006|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-key-west-reunion/1539280/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730055537/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-key-west-reunion/1539280/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2009|title=The Real World: Key West Reunion|publisher=MTV}}</ref> and [[Real World: Skeletons|Skeletons]]' Violetta Milerman<ref>{{cite episode|title=Sarasota's Finest|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/real-world-skeletons-ep-8-sarasotas-finest/1733943/playlist/#id=1733943|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205080702/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/real-world-skeletons-ep-8-sarasotas-finest/1733943/playlist/#id=1733943|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2015|series=Real World: Skeletons|season=30|number=8|network=MTV|airdate=February 3, 2015}}</ref> each suffered from an [[Eating disorders|eating disorder]], [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]] and/or [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimia]]. [[The Real World: Denver|Denver]]'s Colie Edison battled [[mononucleosis]].<ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-7/1548577/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830042819/http://www.mtv.com/videos/rw-denver-full-episode-ep-7/1548577/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=20765&channelId=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2009|series=The Real World: Denver|number=7|title=The Kissing Disease|publisher=MTV|date=December 25, 2006}}</ref> [[The Real World: Cancun|Cancun]]'s Ayiiia Elizarraras had a history of [[drug abuse]] and [[self-harm]]ing,<ref name=AyiiiaBio>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090530051948/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rw_cancun/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=11886 Biography page for Ayiiia Elizarraras]. MTV.com</ref> the latter of which manifested during that season's fifth episode. She received treatment for it after filming ended, and recorded a public service announcement on the condition that it aired at the end of that episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rw_cancun/episode/episode.jhtml?episodeId=156730|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726035536/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rw_cancun/episode/episode.jhtml?episodeId=156730|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2009|title=Summary page for ''The Real World: Cancun'', Episode 5 ("Payback, Piglets and Projects")|work=MTV|date=May 19, 2011|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-5-payback-piglets-and-projects/1616252/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726035751/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-real-world-cancun-ep-5-payback-piglets-and-projects/1616252/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2009|title=Video of "Payback, Piglets and Projects"|work=MTV|date=July 22, 2009|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref> [[The Real World: New Orleans (2010)|2010 New Orleans]]' Ryan Leslie suffered from severe [[obsessive compulsive disorder]], which had deleterious effects on his relationship with the rest of the cast.<ref name=RyanBio>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=14122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611043109/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=14122|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2010|title=Biography page for Ryan Leslie|work=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/episode.jhtml?episodeID=170026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828060135/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/episode.jhtml?episodeID=170026|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2010|title=Real World XXIV: New Orleans: Ep. 2409: Fired|publisher=MTV|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|access-date=November 18, 2011|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-9-fired/1646117/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828060325/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-new-orleans-ep-9-fired/1646117/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2010|series=Real World: New Orleans|season=24|number=9|title=Fired|publisher=MTV|airdate=August 25, 2010}}</ref>

One recurring illness with which a number of cast members have dealt is addiction. While cast members sometimes become inebriated in social situations during filming, [[The Real World: Hawaii|Hawaii]]'s Ruthie Alcaide<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48071|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402182407/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episode.jhtml?episodeID=48071|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2010|title=The Real World: Hawaii: Ep. 13: Hasta Pasta, Hawaii|publisher=MTV|date=August 2, 2002|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref> and [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]]'s [[Joey Kovar]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134976|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123142118/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134976|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2009|title=Real World: XX: Hollywood: Ep. 2004: Joey's Intervention|publisher=MTV|date=May 7, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-hollywood-ep-4-joeys-intervention/1586651/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120225901/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-hollywood-ep-4-joeys-intervention/1586651/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2009|title=Joey's Intervention|series=The Real World: Hollywood|network=MTV|airdate=May 7, 2008|season=20|number=4}}</ref> entered treatment programs for drug or alcohol addiction during filming. Other cast members have recounted past troubles with addiction that they had endured prior to filming, including [[The Real World: Chicago|2002 Chicago]]'s Chris Beckman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1064|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101041808/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1064|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2011|title=The Real World: Chicago: Cast: Chris|publisher=MTV|year=2002|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1064|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101041808/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=1064|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 1, 2011|series=The Real World|title=The Gang Gets Their New Job|season=11|number=15|network=MTV|airdate=April 30, 2002}}</ref> Hollywood's [[Brianna Taylor]],<ref>{{cite episode|title=Let's Not Get Ghetto|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134974|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123142108/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/hollywood/episode.jhtml?episodeID=134974|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2009|series=The Real World: Hollywood|season=20|number=2|network=MTV|airdate=April 23, 2008}}</ref> 2010 New Orleans' Ryan Knight,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100611041049/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=14115 "Real World: New Orleans: Cast: Knight"]. MTV. Retrieved November 13, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Welcome to New Orleans|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/episode.jhtml?episodeID=170018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706120028/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/episode.jhtml?episodeID=170018|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 6, 2010|series=The Real World: New Orleans|season=24|number=1|network=MTV|airdate=June 30, 2010}}</ref> [[The Real World: St. Thomas|St. Thomas']] Brandon Kane,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Paradise Found|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-st-thomas-ep-1-paradise-found/1688520/playlist.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630094939/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-st-thomas-ep-1-paradise-found/1688520/playlist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2012|series=The Real World: St. Thomas|season=27|number=1|network=MTV|airdate=June 27, 2012}}</ref> and ''Skeletons''{{'}} Madison Walls.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Love and Other Drugs|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/real-world-skeletons-ep-2-love-and-other-drugs/1733247/playlist/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226063356/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/real-world-skeletons-ep-2-love-and-other-drugs/1733247/playlist/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 26, 2014|series=Real World: Skeletons|season=30|number=2|network=MTV|airdate=December 23, 2014}}</ref>

==Seasons==
{{Main|List of The Real World seasons}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|-
!Season #
!Title
!City
!Year(s) Aired
!Episodes
|-
|1
|''[[The Real World: New York]]''
|[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|1992
|13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season1/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819002904/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season1/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: New York''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|2
|''[[The Real World: Los Angeles]]''
|[[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]
|1993
|21<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season2/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830062304/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season2/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Los Angeles''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|3
|''[[The Real World: San Francisco]]''
|[[San Francisco|San Francisco, California]]
|1994
|20<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season3/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825033921/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season3/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: San Francisco''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|4
|''[[The Real World: London]]''
|[[London|London, England]]
|1995
|23<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season4/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830062959/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season4/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: London'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|5
|''[[The Real World: Miami]]''
|[[Miami|Miami, Florida]]
|1996
|22<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season5/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817120157/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season5/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 17, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Miami''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|6
|''[[The Real World: Boston]]''
|[[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]]
|1997
|23<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season6/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123095722/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season6/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Boston'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|7
|''[[The Real World: Seattle]]''
|[[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]
|1998
|20<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903095057/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season7/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Seattle'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|8
|''[[The Real World: Hawaii]]''
|[[Honolulu|Honolulu, Hawaii]]
|1999
|23<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831235715/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season8/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Hawaii'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|9
|''[[The Real World: New Orleans (2000 season)|The Real World: New Orleans]]''
|[[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
|2000
|23<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season9/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904072845/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season9/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: New Orleans'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|10
|''[[The Real World: Back to New York]]''
|New York City, New York
|2001
|22<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season10/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901125712/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season10/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Back to New York''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|11
|''[[The Real World: Chicago]]''
|[[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
|2002
|24<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822102254/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season11/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 22, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Chicago''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|12
|''[[The Real World: Las Vegas (2002 season)|The Real World: Las Vegas]]''
|[[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
|2002–2003
|28<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season12/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109015042/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season12/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2010|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Las Vegas''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|13
|''[[The Real World: Paris]]''
|[[Paris|Paris, France]]
|2003
|25<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/search.php?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3B&qs=The+Real+World+Paris|title=''The Real World: Paris'' summary at|publisher=Tv.com|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-date=June 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604033049/http://www.tv.com/search.php?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3B&qs=The+Real+World+Paris|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|14
|''[[The Real World: San Diego (2004 season)|The Real World: San Diego]]''
|[[San Diego, California]]
|2004
|26<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809125105/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season14/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: San Diego''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|15
|''[[The Real World: Philadelphia]]''
|[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
|2004–2005
|26<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season15/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830044615/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season15/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Philadelphia''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|16
|''[[The Real World: Austin]]''
|[[Austin, Texas]]
|2005
|24<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season16/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811024707/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season16/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Austin''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|17
|''[[The Real World: Key West]]''
|[[Key West, Florida]]
|2006
|25<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season17/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729033022/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season17/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Key West''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|18
|''[[The Real World: Denver]]''
|[[Denver|Denver, Colorado]]
|2006–2007
|28<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727131411/http://www.mtv.com/shows/realworld-season18/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 27, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Denver''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|19
|''[[The Real World: Sydney]]''
|[[Sydney|Sydney, Australia]]
|2007–2008
|24<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119131010/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/sydney/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 19, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Sydney''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|20
|''[[The Real World: Hollywood]]''
|Los Angeles, California
|2008
|13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103064932/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Brooklyn''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|21
|''[[The Real World: Brooklyn]]''
|New York City, New York
|2009
|13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103064932/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/brooklyn/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Brooklyn'' at|work=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|22
|''[[The Real World: Cancun]]''
|[[Cancún|Cancún, Mexico]]
|2009
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105023707/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/cancun/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2009|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Cancun''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|23
|''[[The Real World: D.C.]]''
|[[Washington, D.C.]]
|2009–2010
|14<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/Washingtondc/episodes.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910051905/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/Washingtondc/episodes.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2012|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: D.C.''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|24
|''[[The Real World: New Orleans (2010 season)|The Real World: New Orleans]]''
|New Orleans, Louisiana
|2010
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605065621/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/neworleans2/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 5, 2010|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: New Orleans''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|25
|''[[The Real World: Las Vegas (2011 season)|The Real World: Las Vegas]]''
|Las Vegas, Nevada
|2011
|13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/lasvegas/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210184642/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/lasvegas/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2011|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Las Vegas''|publisher=MTV|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|26
|''[[The Real World: San Diego (2011 season)|The Real World: San Diego]]''
|San Diego, California
|2011
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/san_diego/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923163825/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/san_diego/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2011|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: San Diego'' at|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 21, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|27
|''[[The Real World: St. Thomas]]''
|[[Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands]]
|2012
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/st_thomas/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606012128/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/st_thomas/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 6, 2012|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: St. Thomas''|publisher=MTV|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|28
|''[[The Real World: Portland]]''
|[[Portland, Oregon]]
|2013
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/portland/series.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221150641/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world/portland/series.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2013|title=Episode synopsis list for ''The Real World: Portland''|publisher=MTV|access-date=February 16, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|29
|''[[Real World: Ex-Plosion]]''
|San Francisco, California
|2014
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_explosion/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113032256/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_explosion/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2014|title=Episode synopsis list for ''Real World: Ex-Plosion''|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|30
|''[[Real World: Skeletons]]''
|Chicago, Illinois
|2014–2015
|13<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024130135/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real_world_skeletons/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2014|title=Episode synopsis list for ''Real World: Skeletons''|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|31
|''[[Real World: Go Big or Go Home]]''
|Las Vegas, Nevada
|2016
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real-world-go-big-or-go-home|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117160527/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real-world-go-big-or-go-home|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2016|title=Episode synopsis list for ''Real World: Go Big or Go Home''|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|32
|''[[Real World Seattle: Bad Blood]]''
|Seattle, Washington
|2016–2017
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/real-world-seattle-bad-blood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909053042/http://www.mtv.com/shows/real-world-seattle-bad-blood|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2016|title=Episode synopsis list for ''Real World Seattle: Bad Blood''|publisher=MTV|access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|33
|''[[The Real World: Atlanta]]''
|[[Atlanta, Georgia]]
|2019
|12<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/the-real-world-heads-to-facebook-watch-after-landmark-deal-with-mtv-studios-bunim-murray-1202483750/|title='The Real World' Heads To Facebook Watch After Landmark Deal With MTV Studios & Bunim/Murray|first=Peter|last=White|date=October 17, 2018| work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref>
|}
:'''Note:''' Seasons 20–32 aired one-hour episodes, while seasons 1–19 and 33 aired 30-minute episodes.
===''Homecoming''===
In addition to the main edition of the show, a handful of reunion specials of ''The Real World'' have been produced, where the casts from a particular season were reunited for another season of the show. The original Vegas reunion followed the cast as they returned to stay in their original residence with planned activities for them. The reunion series that began in 2021 (titled ''The Real World: Homecoming'') maintained this basic premise while having an additional element of having the original cast occasionally watch footage from their original show and answering prompts.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;" The setting for the 3rd season bypassed numerous past seasons that aired closer to the 2nd (Los Angeles) season than the first New Orleans season to head to the latter, because not enough people from any of the interval seasons were willing to do a reunion set. Paramount+ has removed all 3 Homecoming seasons from its streaming archives and stated there are no plans to have any future editions.
|-
!Season #
!Title
!Original Season
!City
!Year(s) Aired
!Episodes
|-
|1
|''[[Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas]]''
|''[[The Real World: Las Vegas (2002 season)|The Real World: Las Vegas]]''
|[[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
|2007 (5 years later)
|7
|-
|2
|''[[The Real World Homecoming: New York]]''<ref name=NYTimes2.26.21/><ref name=MTV-Homecoming/>
|''[[The Real World: New York]]''
|[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|2021 (29 years later)
|6
|-
|3
|''[[The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles]]''<ref name=MTV9.29.21/> 
|''[[The Real World: Los Angeles]]''
|[[Los Angeles, California]]
|2021 (28 years later)
|8
|-
|4
|''[[The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans]]''
|''[[The Real World: New Orleans]]''
|[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
|2022 (22 years later)
|8
|}

==Spinoffs and related projects==
In 2008, prior to the airing of the [[The Real World: Hollywood|Hollywood]] season, the first-ever ''Real World Awards Bash'' aired on MTV. Viewers voted the [[The Real World: Austin|Austin]] season as their favorite season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/specials/real_world_awards/winners.jhtml|title=''The Real World Awards Bash'' winners page|publisher=MTV|access-date=May 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925194948/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/specials/real_world_awards/winners.jhtml|archive-date=September 25, 2010}}</ref>

Since the introduction of ''The Real World'', Bunim/Murray has introduced a number of other reality shows, most notably ''[[Road Rules]]'', in which five strangers (six in later seasons) are sent off in a [[Recreational vehicle|RV]] (with the exception of the eighth season) and asked to travel to various locales and complete certain tasks to eventually gain a "handsome reward". Other Bunim/Murray productions include ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'', which pits teams of alumni from both shows against each other in physical competitions.

Bunim-Murray also produced ''[[Pedro (2008 film)|Pedro]]'', a 2008 film by director Nick Oceano, which dramatized the life of [[Pedro Zamora]], including his stay in the ''Real World'' house. The film, Bunim/Murray's first scripted project since the original unaired "Real World" concept, was an Official Selection at the 2008 [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pedrothemovie.com/|title=''Pedro'' official site|publisher=Pedrothemovie.com|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pedrothemovie.com/cast_crew.html|title=Cast and crew page of ''Pedro''|publisher=Pedrothemovie.com|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-date=December 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229004512/http://www.pedrothemovie.com/cast_crew.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Two international localized editions were produced in the 1990s, ''[[The Real World: Stockholm]]'' and ''[[The Real World: Visby]]''.

In February 2021, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Paramount was planning to develop future seasons for its streaming service [[Paramount+]].<ref name=NYTimes2.26.21/> The following month, the spin-off ''[[The Real World Homecoming: New York]]'' premiered on [[Paramount+]], which reunited the cast of the original 1992 season.<ref name=NYTimes2.26.21/> In September 2021, the series was renewed for two more seasons, with the second reuniting most of the cast of ''[[The Real World: Los Angeles]]''.<ref name=MTV9.29.21/> Because the majority of the original series' casts between the 3rd and 8th seasons declined any offers to return (and a London-set reunion was unconsidered because of the cost and logistical issues of holding it outside the U.S.), the third edition jumped ahead to a reunion of the 9th season in New Orleans, which like the RH: NY season had all of the original cast members return. The show has since been removed from Paramount+ streaming archives and as of 2025 there are no plans for any future "Homecoming" editions.

===''The Real World Movie: The Lost Season''===
In 2002, MTV also produced a made-for-TV movie, ''The Real World Movie: The Lost Season'', ostensibly about a season of ''The Real World'' whose cast members are terrorized by a rejected would-be member.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyner |first=Adam |date=March 23, 200 |title=Real World Movie: The Lost Season, The |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/5888 |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=[[DVD Talk]]}}</ref>

==Criticism==
===Authenticity===
[[File:20010716-077 Real World Chicago 2001 Vandalized.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[The Real World: Chicago]] residence on July 16, 2001. Note the vandalism (red paint on the door)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kleine|first=Ted|title=Reality Bites|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/reality-bites/Content?oid=906087|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Chicago Reader|date=August 2, 2001|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Column|first=Jill Lewandowski|date=2002-01-16|title=Wicker Park gets a dose of reality|url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2002/01/16/archive-manual/wicker-park-gets-a-dose-of-reality/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=The Daily Northwestern}}</ref> and street-level brick that has been worn due to graffiti and its continued removal due to protests.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A 'Real World' Protest|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-real-world-protest/|access-date=2021-03-06|website=CBS News|date=July 23, 2001 |language=en-US}}</ref>]]
As with other reality shows, ''The Real World'' has received criticism for being staged.<ref name=EWPage3>Fretts. 1995. [https://ew.com/article/1995/07/21/real-world-returns-fourth-season/ Page 3 of 4] </ref><ref>Rogers, Steve. [http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/real-world-chicago-cast-admits-their-september-11-reactions-were-staged-546.php "'Real World: Chicago' cast admits their September 11 reactions were staged"]. August 19, 2002</ref> During a reunion show featuring the first four ''Real World'' casts, [[Heather Gardner]], of the original [[The Real World: New York|New York]] cast, asked some members of the [[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]] cast if their situations were real. She noted that situations from the original season seemed to repeat themselves in the other incarnations, stopping short of accusing them of acting. On an edition of the ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' that spotlighted the series, cast member Jon Brennan revealed that he was asked by the producers to state on the air that he felt hatred towards housemate Tami Roman for her decision to have an abortion, and that he refused to do so, stating that although he disagreed with her decision, he did not feel hatred towards her. Another accusation is that producers selectively edit material in order to give the false impression of certain emotional reactions or statements from the castmates.<ref name=realityreel>{{cite web|title=Interview With Coral Jeanne Smith from ''Battle of the Sexes'' and ''The Real World''|date=December 23, 2004|url=http://www.realityreel.com/index.php?file=article&sid=976&pageid=2|access-date=June 21, 2007|work=Reality Reel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928185155/http://www.realityreel.com/index.php?file=article&sid=976&pageid=2|archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref> ''New York'' cast member [[Rebecca Blasband]] says producers paid a man $100 to ask her out on a date, and that she terminated that plan when she learned of it. She also says that the argument she and [[Kevin Powell]] had in the seventh episode of that season was edited to make both of them appear more extreme.<ref name=Westword/>

Some critics see the very concept of being in "the real world" as a misnomer, asserting that in the real world, people do not live in luxurious dwellings for free, are not given jobs in the media without any effort, and are not taken to exotic locations for free,<ref>[[The Real World: San Francisco|1994 San Francisco]]'s [[Judd Winick]] related receiving this criticism during ''The Real World Reunion'' in 1995.</ref> a "reaction" that has been "experienced" by Judd Winick, who calls the series "reality in context".<ref name=CBR/>

===Behavior of housemates===
The early seasons have been reassessed in light of history, and in comparison to that of later seasons, particularly in terms of the cast. Writing in 2011, Meredith Blake of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' found the first-season cast's career goals to be "ambitious, articulate, and thoughtful", particularly in the context of the time when the show was produced, when cast members may have sought to be on TV to further their career goals, but not to be reality TV personalities, which was not yet a common goal at the time, stating, "What's so curious about the show's somewhat chilly critical reception is that, compared to today's reality fare—''[[Jersey Shore (TV series)|Jersey Shore]]'', the [[Kardashians]], the various ''[[Real Housewives]]—The Real World: New York'' now seems incredibly, achingly earnest, bracingly raw, and sweetly idealistic." Blake contrasts this with the casts of later seasons, such as that of 2011, who tend to be defined more by their pasts than by their career goals, and who are never unaware of their own onscreen "narrative".<ref name=TheAVClub/> In addition, the later seasons earned the series a reputation for immature or irresponsible behavior on the part of the cast,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/the_real_world_26/2011_Jun_07_san_diego|title=Real World returning to San Diego for its 26th season|last=Dehnart|first=Andy|author-link=Andy Dehnart|publisher=RealityBlurred.com|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> which [[Nola.com]] has described as being "sometimes fit for a police report".<ref name=Nola.com/> On the final track of his ''[[Become the Media]]'' spoken word album, activist [[Jello Biafra]] discusses a conversation he had with ''[[The Real World: Seattle]]'' cast member [[Irene McGee]], who was slapped by castmate Stephen Williams, saying:

{{cquote|We know ''Real World'' is not the real world. I recently met a woman named Irene McGee who quit this show and said not even the house was real. The fridges were all filled to the brim with Vlasic pickles delivered daily by the crate load along with gallons of Nantucket Nectar. If she drank anything else, the crew took it from her hand and made sure the Nantucket Nectar label was facing the camera instead. When she walked out, another guy in the cast of ''Real World'' hit her and the camera guy did nothing&nbsp;... When she spoke out, MTV sued her. And ''Entertainment Weekly'' rated Irene getting smash mouthed the 47th most interesting event on TV that whole year&nbsp;... Can't you MTV think of a better way to raise audience awareness of domestic violence than to make it look cool?<ref>Biafra, Jello. ''Become the Media''; 2000</ref>}}

McGee has toured colleges to discuss [[media manipulation]] and the [[Deception|falsehoods]] of [[reality television]]. She later started a youth-oriented radio show/podcast, ''No One's Listening'', covering a wide range of pop-culture and media-related issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nooneslistening.org|title=Official Site of ''No One's Listening''|publisher=Nooneslistening.org|access-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=March 2023}}

The show has also been accused of encouraging or glorifying certain cast members' alcohol abuse and sexual antics,<ref>Kaplan, Don. [http://www.nypost.com/seven/01092007/tv/real_world_off_to_sydney_tv_don_kaplan.htm "Real World' Off to Sydney"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415200657/http://www.nypost.com/seven/01092007/tv/real_world_off_to_sydney_tv_don_kaplan.htm|date=April 15, 2009}}, ''[[New York Post]]'', January 9, 2007.</ref><ref>Lindsay, Richard (July 9, 2015). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/poptheology/2015/07/remembering-pedro-and-sean/ "Remembering Pedro and Sean — and why Marriage Matters"]. [[Patheos]].</ref> beginning with the show's [[The Real World: Las Vegas|2002 Las Vegas season]]. ''[[The Real World: Hawaii]]'' (1999) season was also met with concerns and criticism surrounding the glorification of alcohol on the show, notably with then-21-year-old cast member [[Ruthie Alcaide]]'s heavy drinking on the premiere episode; after a long night out, Alcaide blacked-out. She was filmed by the camera crew being cared-for at home by the other housemates, and even vomiting in the shower; eventually, an ambulance was called. After being hospitalized, producers were filmed speaking to Alcaide about her drinking, which, notably, did not immediately stop at that time.<ref>{{Cite news|edition=Final|page=3a|last=Clarke|first=Norm|title=Despite "Real World" conflict, Las Vegas" Trainor on best behavior|newspaper=[[The Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=July 14, 2003|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-14-Mon-2003/news/21720599.html|access-date=January 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>Graham, Renee. [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040926/news_1a26real.html "MTV's 'Real World' turns into 'The Carnal Camera Show'"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', September 26, 2004</ref><ref>Carlson, Daniel. [http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/reunited-the-real-world-las-vegas.php "Ooh Las Vegas: Just the Place for a Poor Boy Like Me"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929043603/http://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/reunited-the-real-world-las-vegas.php |date=September 29, 2011 }}, Pajiba, June 12, 2007</ref>

There is a larger perception that the show has become increasingly superficial, with respect to the drama and angst depicted on the part of cast members. As critic Benjamin Wallace-Wells put it:{{cquote|No longer an outlet for [[Twentysomething (term)|twentysomethings]] to brood about their future careers, the show has become a cyclic three-month on-air party for young adults to mingle in hot tubs and obsess about the present. The locales have changed from creative meccas like New York and London to vacation spots like Las Vegas and Hawaii. MTV has rejiggered the show to require characters to engage in artificial, season-long contests or projects – like putting together a fashion show – which the characters embrace in the way most American teenagers experience spring break: as a big party.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[The Washington Monthly]]|url=http://www.c-ville.com/www/archives/2003/11-18-2003/asp/1.asp|date=November 18, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324121714/http://www.c-ville.com/www/archives/2003/11-18-2003/asp/1.asp|archive-date=March 24, 2006|first=Benjamin|last=Wallace-Wells|title=Reality Killed the Video Star}}</ref>}}

A 2006 comment from ''[[LA Weekly]]'''s [[Nikki Finke]] reflects the same sentiments:{{cquote|The show that once seriously delved into hot-button issues like homosexuality, [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], racism, religion and abortion was now purposely pushing someone's buttons to have that person implode on air.<ref>{{Cite news| newspaper=[[LA Weekly]]|first=Nikki|last=Finke|author-link=Nikki Finke|url=http://www.laweekly.com/general/deadline-hollywood/savage-tv/14381/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201070203/http://www.laweekly.com/general/deadline-hollywood/savage-tv/14381/|archive-date=December 1, 2006|title=Savage TV: From freak shows to freak accidents to freakin' mayhem. Reality goes wild|date=September 6, 2006}}</ref>}}

The [[Parents Television Council]], which has frequently criticized MTV, has also frequently criticized ''The Real World'' for its overtly sexual content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/campaigns/MTV/main.asp|title=PTC campaign against MTV|publisher=Parentstv.org|date=August 12, 2005|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-date=July 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729140226/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/campaigns/mtv/main.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, that organization contends that because MTV routinely reruns ''Real World'' episodes with a simple "[[Television content rating systems#United States|TV-14]]" rating without the "L" ([[profanity|language]]) descriptor, parents cannot block out the show with a [[V-Chip]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/clips/MTV/MTVRatings.asp|title=Content from "The Real World: Philadelphia" episode dated January 4, 2005|publisher=Parentstv.org|access-date=May 23, 2011|archive-date=June 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605034203/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/clips/MTV/MTVRatings.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> although countering reports claim that the V-Chip does not totally rely on content descriptors added to the general ratings to work.<ref>{{cite press release|title=The Parents Television Council's Release is Flawed by Faulty Analysis and Biased Methodology|publisher=[[Television Watch]]|date=April 19, 2007|url=http://www.televisionwatch.org/newspolls/factsheets/fs001.html|access-date=August 2, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901161221/http://www.televisionwatch.org/newspolls/factsheets/fs001.html|archive-date=September 1, 2007}}</ref> An episode of ''[[The Real World: San Diego]]'', that was broadcast in January 2004, came under intense criticism from both the PTC<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/action/Cable/content.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211155337/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/action/Cable/content.htm|title=PTC Action Alert: Summary OF "The Real World" Content; parentstv.org|archive-date=December 11, 2007}}</ref> and [[American Family Association]] for its sexual content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.afa.net/mtvboycott.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107134428/http://www.afa.net/mtvboycott.asp|title=Boycott statement of the AFA from AFA Online; Accessed August 8, 2007|archive-date=January 7, 2011}}</ref>

===Diversity===
In December 2005, Aaron Gillego, a columnist for ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'', criticized the series for having never cast an Asian man in the then-13 years of its existence, opining that Asian women have been cast on the show because heterosexual men have been socialized by the media to think of them as exotic beauties or sex objects, but that Asian men have been largely invisible in popular media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid23209.asp|title=Simply invisible|website=The Advocate|first=Aaron|last=Gillego|date=December 7, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618163627/http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid23209.asp|archive-date=June 18, 2008}}</ref> As of 2018, an Asian man has never been cast in the 25 years of the show's existence.

==Parodies==
* Dutch TV producer Erik Latour claims that the ideas for ''The Real World'' were directly derived from his television show ''[[Nummer 28]]'', which aired in 1991 on Dutch television.<ref name=Nummer28/>
* Video artist Eileen Maxson's short film ''Tape 5925: Amy Goodrow'' is set up as an audition tape for ''The Real World'', a familiar component of the series' casting specials and season openers. Maxson portrays the title character, a sensitive and awkward young woman whose main hobby is paper craft, and reveals a surprising sexual encounter between her teenage self and a teacher. The resulting confession lands on the desk of a jaded MTV employee, who fast-forwards through the details of her depressing story. The video was named one of the "sweet 16" experimental film and video works of 2003 by ''[[Village Voice]]'' media critic [[Ed Halter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-12-23/news/the-year-in-experimental-film-and-video/|title=The Year in Experimental Film and Video Halter, Ed. Village Voice 2003|newspaper=[[Village Voice]]|access-date=December 20, 2012|archive-date=June 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612154223/http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-12-23/news/the-year-in-experimental-film-and-video/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On ''[[Happy Endings (TV series)|Happy Endings]]'', three of the core characters met during the season of ''The Real World'' titled ''The Real World: Sacramento''. In the episode "More Like Stanksgiving", the characters watch clips from an episode of their ''The Real World'' season. The fictional season was said to have not aired due to one of the cast members burning down the house.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/21/happy-endings-the-real-world-video_n_2169567.html|title='Happy Endings': See The Episode Of 'The Real World' Where The Gang Met (VIDEO)|work=The Huffington Post|date=November 21, 2012|access-date=December 20, 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Road Rules]]'' – A road-trip inspired spin-off, also from Bunim & Murray.
* ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'' – A reality competition spin-off, featuring ''The Real World'' and ''Road Rules'' castmembers, also from Bunim & Murray.
* ''[[Terrace House (franchise)|Terrace House]]'' – A Japanese show that is similar in premises to ''The Real World'', that airs internationally on [[Netflix]].
* [[List of programs broadcast by MTV]]
* [[List of The Real World cast members]]
* [[List of The Real World seasons]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/realworldonwatch Official ''The Real World'' on Facebook]
* [https://www.facebook.com/elmundoreal/ Official ''El Mundo Real'' website]
* [https://www.mtv.com Archival official MTV ''The Real World'' website] 
* [http://www.mtv.ca/realworld/ MTV.ca's official ''The Real World'' website]
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103520/ ''The Real World'' at the Internet Movie Database]

{{RealWorld|state=expanded}}
{{MTV Network programs}}
{{Facebook Watch}}
{{Paramount+}}

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