Gonzalez: 'Real World' reality check

Erika Gonzalez, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Stick a fork in it: The Real World is done.

And if the just-finished Denver installment didn't hammer the nail in the show's coffin, at the very least, the cast invited the angel of death over for a few drinks.

Not that the seven spoiled binge-drinking brats who called LoDo home for four months last summer didn't do their jobs. They consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol. They eagerly exchanged bodily fluids with each other and any willing strangers. They formed unhealthy attachments. They fought like Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump.

But those antics have grown tiresome, even for a generation raised on such reality trash gems as Cheaters and Big Brother.

Just 2.1 million viewers regularly tuned into The Real World Denver, according to Nielsen Media Research. That wasn't enough to land the show in the top 40 on cable. In fact, more people watched National Bingo Night and America's Funniest Home Videos, which I thought got canceled years ago.

The Real World has morphed into that friend from college who was going to be a social worker and had so much potential freshman year. But he started partying too much and dropped out and now you can't invite him over because he always has one too many and starts a fight.

But it's not just about the bad behavior. Bad casting also deserves some blame. The Real World's selection criteria is so formulaic, with minimal training, monkeys could probably pick next season's cast. Every season, producers fill the house with certain types: a sexy party girl, a meathead jock, an angry member of a minority community, a member of the gay community, an insecure girl with serious mental issues. Aside from a change in background, if you've seen one season of The Real World in the past five years, you've seen them all.

And while the premise has always been somewhat flawed (how many twentysomethings can afford such plush digs?), the show did feel more authentic when it started. The original New York cast members were in the Big Apple pursuing "real world" dreams. The Real World San Francisco's Pedro Zamora was genuinely dedicated to raising awareness about AIDS.

Many of these early Real Worlders did their best to simply live their lives in front of the cameras. In contrast, today's casts live their lives for the cameras. Within hours of arriving in Denver, castmate Jenn, a former Oakland Raiders cheerleader, hopped in the hot tub and planted a passionate kiss on roomie Brooke - cementing her position as a reality television star.

I'm no doctor, but I'd say the cancer originated five years ago in Las Vegas, site of hot tub orgies, pregnancy scares and potentially fatal fork throwing. But despite its many problems, The Real World has not gone quietly into the night. The 19th season is now filming in Australia and MTV is contracted for a 20th season as well.

But producers are finally acknowledging the franchise's ailing health and mounting a last-ditch effort to save the show. On its casting Web site, production company Bunim-Murray has posted an ad for the 20th season aimed at recruiting cast members who want to pursue career goals in a major metropolitan area. Producers are also allowing viewers to choose the show's final castmate.

But let's get real: Those are nice steps toward restoring the show to its roots. But in an age where young viewers are more invested in YouTube videos and their MySpace friends, it's too little too late.

One last look

The Real World blog reveals virtually every dirty little detail of the just-completed season, plus a slide show of the house where the cast lived.

Boomer or bust?

Last week we asked if the huge post-World War II generation, the baby boomers, deserved praise for being leaders in many respects.

48.5% Yes, The boo- mers have accomplished a lot; other generations are just jealous.

51.5% No, They're the only generation that seems to need a publicist. Enough already!

gonzaleze@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5350