The Reality World
Throwbacks and reboots have been seemingly becoming more and more popular recently. Maybe it’s that we’re in a drought of fresh new ideas, or maybe we just miss the days of old. Either way, I’m not going to complain because now we’re rehashing some of my favorite movies and shows. Yes, I have a guilty pleasure of watching the Real World, the Road Rules, and even The Challenge on MTV. Maybe that’s part of being there for the golden age of MTV, when there was still a healthy mix of music with a dash programming on MTV?
When I heard that the cast of the original Real World was coming back to the original loft, I was in disbelief! First, I thought there was NO way they would all come back. I mean, it’s been 29 years since they started us down this reality TV rollercoaster. But I was wrong… and I have not been disappointed. Admittedly, I haven’t finished watching this season. Not for a lack of interest by any means, but I’ve decided to take my time and just enjoy it for what it is and not mindlessly binge it. Regardless, the minute the trailer was online, I was hooked.
A different approach
There’s one thing that sticks out the most with this season, and I’ll chalk it up to maturity, awareness, and an understanding of their social responsibility. The original season was filled with moments that had never been seen on TV before, at least in the way it was presented to viewers. I doubt they went into the first season with an intent to sensationalize their experience. However, in today’s reality TV, that’s not the case. Sensationalism sells baby! Cast members, contestants, and participants know that the better their storyline is, the more screen time they’ll get. And that has created the mess we have today…
This time around, it seems as if they have come into production with an understanding that their words and actions have weight. They knew that there was a history, as well as an expectation that certain topics would be brought up. I’m sure there were intentions to rehash previous experiences but it was seemingly more calm this time around (from what I’ve seen so far). Numerous times there were references to being more aware of what they’re saying and doing, and how they treat each other. Makes sense, right? They’re all grown up and have lives that they are living. They’re not relying on MTV to catapult them into success, and you can see the difference in how they act. But even with this rare burst of reality TV maturity, it never took away from the show. Especially for fans of the original when it first aired.
I’ve got to say, that even after 29 years, this cast has still got it. They’re still the same people with the same relationships. I never expected to see a reboot of reality TV, but the wait has been worth it, and I’m glad to see them back. Plus – It’s great to see this reboot trend closing over to The Challenge, but I’ll get to that at a later time.
A change of perspective
I just hope that over time, the mindful approach of being on TV catches on. Being mindful of the impact that words and actions carry. How whether they like it or not, cast members now have a responsibility to make good choices and choose their words wisely because of the impact that they carry. Even the most obscure shows have fans, and fans follow suit when they hear and see things on TV. We all know that the wilder the show, the greater the ratings. However, not everyone is able to separate the reality from the TV, especially since most of what we see isn’t real in the first place.
