Get off our lawn: MTV's The Real World turns 20 today

Lori Ziganto | 11:47 AM on May 21, 2012

*Shakes fists at sky*

Gee, thanks for the geezer reminder, Brian!

https://twitter.com/#!/sigepcory/status/204594454135439360

https://twitter.com/#!/Live_Shot/status/204594626831716352

https://twitter.com/#!/isalara/status/204594367061688320

MTV’s The Real World turns twenty today and its impact on reality television, good or bad, cannot be denied. From Reality Blurred:

On May 21, 1992, MTV debuted The Real World, with its creators, Jonathan Murray and Mary-Ellis Bunim, taking a cue from PBS’ American Family and turning real people’s lives into a soap opera. But as the introduction said, this wasn’t a pre-existing family, but something else:

“This is the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real: The Real World.
It’s impossible to overestimate the show’s impact on popular culture and television today, so I won’t even try, but everything we watch today and call reality television started here and carries its DNA.

Thank The Real World or blame them? The Twittersphere weighs in on the twenty year benchmark.

While many of the past The Real World cast members have faded into obscurity, two members from different seasons got married, had children and are part of the national conversation: Rachel Campos-Duffy and her Real World Boston alumni husband Sean Duffy, who is now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Wisconsin’s 7th district. He beat out Democrat incumbent Dave Obey. So, hey, can’t say that nothing good has ever come out of reality television!

Still, we could have done without the geezer reminder.