Recapping The Real World: A Reality TV Show First & Tom's Blandness

It has been while since we have talked about The Real World, and truthfully, it is harder to do when the season does not leave much to the imagination. The storyline is the same for every character there 'Our ex's are here and instead of hating each other, we are trying to sort through our old relationship.'  It has become pretty boring and stale. I had an outside hope we would see the exes hooking up with each other or something a little less predictable. Corey and Lauren's relationship took a unique reality television turn and Tom continues his streak of being completely unlikable.  

Middle of the episode, we start seeing the Cory and Lauren relationship play out with them flirting, going on a date and having a bedroom romp (Not said enough, needs to be said more). We also learn how they grew up together for maybe the 704th time as well as how twisted their relationship has been throughout all of this time. By the end of the episode, Lauren takes a pregnancy test learning she is indeed pregnant. I believe this is the first time with a major reality television where a cast mate is pregnant. I could be wrong, but it will be interesting to see how MTV handles this delicate situation. 

Remember how poorly they handled Jay's mother passing away in conjunction with how they exploit teenage mothers habitually, the expectations should be low for MTV to do the right thing here. Lauren and Cory should be both be sent home. If she is pregnant, there is no reason to have whatever happens in her pregnancy play out on reality television show that does not deal with pregnancies. This is not 16 and Pregnant, this is The Real World. You could say this is like a real world situation which is true, but the Real World atmosphere where partying is a given on a night in, nigh out basis is not really conducive for someone expecting a child. Further, Cory should join her because he is just as much a part of the pregnancy as Lauren. This now for at least an episode is the most intriguing storyline to see just how MTV wants to play it. Hopefully, they do it the right way. 

Tom has become the most hated cast member. This usually happens about midway through the season so I am glad we finally have one. Women hate Tom because he is a classic player trying to be on Team Jamie while he is also on Team Hailey at the same damn time. Men hate Tom because he is softer than Charmin, a freshly dried towel and a fleece sweater combined. There is nothing about him that warrants a cool guy rather just some bro saying quite possibly the dumbest things ever. Jamie and her friend describe him as a 'manchild' which could not be more true. Easily, one of the most unlikable male castmate for just being him. It is hard to remember a cast mate like that, maybe Trey in St. Thomas but I did not watch much of that season. Usually, they do something wrong (See: Jordan from Portland's season), but this is just Tom being an overall softie.  

I keep expecting theatrics with this season and I do not get them. It is like waiting for the phone call about the job that you know will not be coming. Hopefully, Real World will improve, but right now, it is the same old song and dance. 

Charlie. 

Recapping The Real World: Hookin' Up Before Exes' Arrival

There is nothing worse in the reality show world than the 'To Be Continued' sign on the television screen when things are about to hit the fan, but instead, we get left with waiting for another week. The people of The Real World and The Challenge excel at doing this, and I knew right away when the show began on Wednesday, we were heading that way. Sure enough, it happened, and we are left wondering how will this season change now that the exes are officially here?  Will it be better or worse?

I do love the Real World house banded together to be friends right before this happened, and MTV did a great job setting that up. Tom and Jamie finally had sex; something that had been dragged out over three episodes along with Tom looking like quite possibly the most whipped man in reality television history. Cory and Jenny reunited with their fling calling 'Friends with benefits' which would be fine except for Coy got jealous of Jenny dancing with A GIRL the last time they knocked boots so definitely the whole FTB idea seems a bit flawed. 

Also we need to talk about Jay and his complete lack of self-awareness. Does he even understand how reality television works especially The Real World?!  After promising his ex-girlfriend he would not do anything with any girl which is weird in the first place, but okay, he ends up full-on making out with this girl and thinks he avoided the cameras. Yet there is one LOOKING DIRECTLY AT HIM. Jay tries to play it off all cool and tells the roommates not to talk about it on camera to save his cover. I have seen a lot of idiocracy on this show, but this might be my top choice. Odds the camera people or the producers show Jay's girlfriend the footage?  Extremely high.

Speaking of which, the exes are now finally here at The Real World house. I am going to wait a week to give a full breakdown of each cast member because that's what you deserve instead of a snapshot opinion of all of them. I will say that I am not looking forward to hearing Lauren's voice, Cory's ex and I am looking forward to the inevitable brawl between Cory and Bryan, Jenny's ex. That has to happen. If we do not get one physical fight as The Real World sorta, kinda allows violence now (See Hurricane Nia), this whole season is a failure and a disappointment. 

Will more people tune in now that the exes are here?  Maybe. If the ratings continue at or near all-time lows, I really do not see how this show can survive or how it actually survives. I mean this 'exes' thing is probably a one-time deal because I cannot see anyone else signing up for this after it will be nonstop drama. All of which being said, I am excited to see what ends up happening in the weeks to come. 

Charlie. 

Recapping The Real World: Thoughts on Cast Through Two Episodes

Cue up Jim Calhoun's press conference because I completely forgot about this post on Thursday. I have no idea how that happened, but here we are two episodes in without the exes coming in yet. We are 20 days away meaning I believe we have two or three more episodes with this cast before they add exes to the mix. The Real World ratings are still down which probably should concern those who enjoy the show like myself and it is time to start thinking about this show as Law & Order. 

Remember Law & Order went on for somewhere close to 20 years. It was a great show during different parts of the two decade long run. They had spin-offs all over the place, but Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took the mantle as the most popular show due to Netflix and re-runs all the damn time on USA network. This is how I feel like The Real World right now... The original programming is Law & Order and the SVU version is The Challenge. No doubt about it. People get much more fired up for The Challenge than they do with The Real World.  For those who still care about the latter, let's talk about the cast so far two episodes in....

Jenny - Through two episodes, she is probably the star of the season. Big Cat of Barstool Sports described her as 'Robin 2.0', the former cast member from The Real World: San Diego. There is a lot of Robin in Jenny. She brings a ton to the table though as a Real World cast member as well as a future Challenge competitor. She really does not have shame, and that's important in a Real World house. I also like that she does not really put up with anybody's shit. Thing that kills me about her though is how badly Real World production/makeup did her with the wrap-up stuff. The lighting is too bright and someone put too much makeup on her which does not really give her true features which is unfortunate.

Thomas - Is it Tom or Thomas?  The entire house calls him Tom but everywhere else it is 'Thomas' which pisses me off. This guy is a complete square. He is your one friend who just cannot be single. He does not know how to act when he is single, and life is better when he is in a relationship. I cannot believe people expected Thomas to be going around and having sex everywhere in the South. They do not have the same standards down there so the three number is not that odd for him honestly. Also who really cares whether it is 50 or 3?  Who gives a shit.

Ashley - Secret for MTV: Stop trying to make Nia happen again. When the previews ran for next week when Cory says 'Hurricane Ashley is back' it made me straight up cringe. There is only one hurricane and it is Hurricane Nia, leave it at that. Ashley is the crazy, drunk cast member without question, and what makes her great she apparently has all the money in the world. Even with that accent, she is loaded and makes snobby rich comments. It adds an element even if her comments are stunning to hear someone actually think that shit. She is a pretty good castmate.

Cory - There is not one likable guy cast member which upsets me. I always like to have one or two there that I enjoy rather than hating their guts. Cory acts like he is the best thing since the Internet was invented by Al Gore. All of this whole 'I am player' stuff is tired act at this point. He comes off like a massive tool. Would I tell him that in person? Absolutely not, he is ripped until forever. But really he does not pull off the jock role well.  Also him getting jealous of Jenny dancing on girls is quite stunning. Like that's a common thing for girls to do, and he gets jealous showing his unbelievable insecurity.

Aribelle - I actually am starting to like her more and more. She is the first homosexual cast member since Frank in 2011 which is sort of incredible given today's society and how this is supposed to be living in 'the real world.' But I like how she is sort of on the edges of all the friend cliques that have formed in the household. Also she can fight with the best of em which is encouraging to see moving forward as we always see some scraps.

Jay - He reminds me of a Jersey Shore reject whom could not pump enough PEDs to be on the show. MTV needed the guido lifestyle so insert Jay, a 26-year-old DJ.  I had no idea what he was doing there in the first episode, but in the second one, he acted like a 'shadow gangster' while Cory started a fight just saying things, not really doing much. All of this being said, I have no idea why Jay is here right now. He does not really bring much to the table. There is hope for him as we are still early on in the show, but I have no idea what's his future.

Jamie - I do not get this girl at all. She seems like someone who would be laid back and let things slide a bit because she sorts of act like it when she hangs around the house. Jamie acts all confrontational when Thomas is talking to girls, and the guy is harmless as it as a teddy bear. Like the last guy in the house to cheat is probably Thomas. Jamie also calling out Ashley for 'cheating' when she does not know if she met Ashley's boyfriend or not. I have no idea where she is going from here.

It should be a good season. We have fighting, sex and relationships already which is a good start. One of the biggest complaints with The Real World is how slow of a start it can get off to yet this is not the case.  But a bad start is there is not much likability in the case which is a problem and will turn off viewers.

Charlie.