The Real World

American television program

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July 20, 2026

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"The Real World" is an American reality television program that premiered in 1992. It follows a group of seven young adults who have never met before, selected from thousands of applicants, as they live together for several months in a major city. Cameras document their behavior and interpersonal relationships, with the footage edited into episodes.

The show is credited with frankly addressing social issues of the 1990s, such as HIV/AIDS, abortion, and racism. While initially met with mixed reviews, it became a ratings success and is considered a precursor to many modern reality television formats. The series' relatively low production costs and novel premise contributed to its popularity and influenced the development of the reality TV genre.12

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reality TV
Early reality TV shows
…conflict and dramatic potential—in MTV’s The Real World (1992– ), a show following a group of young adults selected to live together in a house where cameras document their behavior and interpersonal relationships. The Real World premiered to mostly unfavorable reviews but quickly transformed into a ratings powerhouse with a…
Read More
…conflict and dramatic potential—in MTV’s The Real World (1992– ), a show following a group of young adults selected to live together in a house where cameras document their behavior and interpersonal relationships. The Real World premiered to mostly unfavorable reviews but quickly transformed into a ratings powerhouse with a…
Read More

Television in the United States
Reality TV
…spite of its title, MTV’s The Real World (begun 1992) was much more contrived than An American Family, and it set the style for future series of its kind. The Louds, after all, were a real family, as were the officers that were portrayed in Cops. For each new season…
Read More
…spite of its title, MTV’s The Real World (begun 1992) was much more contrived than An American Family, and it set the style for future series of its kind. The Louds, after all, were a real family, as were the officers that were portrayed in Cops. For each new season…
Read More