The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the longest-running reality series in history, credited with launching the modern reality TV genre.
The series was hailed in its early years for depicting issues of contemporary young-adulthood relevant to its core audience, such as sex, prejudice, religion, abortion, illness, sexuality, AIDS, death, politics and substance abuse, but later garnered a reputation as a showcase for immature and irresponsible behavior.
Following Bunim’s death from breast cancer in 2004, Bunim/Murray Productions continues to produce the program. The 28th and most recent season, set in Portland, Oregon, premiered on March 27, 2013, and ended its first run on June 12, 2013. An upcoming 29th season, set in San Francisco, California, is currently in production, and is expected to air in 2014.
The series has generated two notable spin-offs, both broadcast by MTV: Road Rules, which lasted for 14 seasons, and the reality game show The Challenge, which has run for over 20 seasons since 1998. The Challenge is mostly cast-contestant dependent on both The Real World and Road Rules, as it combines contestants from various seasons of both shows. Coordinating the series with its spin-off, MTV alternates between airing seasons of The Real World and The Challenge and ends out seasons of both shows by showing previews for the upcoming season of the other.
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Docu-series that follows 10 entrepreneurial techies looking to make names for themselves while also perhaps bursting others’ bubbles. To do so, they must enter a grueling seven-week program at Draper University, a program led by billionaire founder and venture capitalist Tim Draper. After a semester of learning the fundamentals of launching a startup company under the mentorship of America’s business leaders, the students will pitch their ideas to venture capitalists eager to find the next big tech innovation.
Each week four contestants will compete to create full costumes and character origin stories that will dazzle a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000.
Living history show presented by Fi Glover. Six celebrities travel back in time to the relentless graft of Victorian Britain.
Follow three sisters who have left polygamy and now help others break free from the often dangerous and abusive lifestyle.
Alan Thicke, one of Hollywood’s most famous TV dads, stars in the role of his life in Unusually Thicke, an original reality sitcom—but not even seven seasons as Dr. Jason Seaver on Growing Pains could prepare him to be the patriarch of his own real-life modern family. Between his feisty younger wife, Tanya, his opinionated teenage son, Carter, and his iconic career, Alan has his hands full in a unique series that follows the family’s daily drama and humor.
Bravo network executive Andy Cohen discusses pop culture topics with celebrities and reality show personalities.
Filmed from the perspectives of dealers, users and the police, this vivid series offers a bracing look at the war on drugs.
Polar opposite friends Luke Caldwell and Clint Robertson take an unconventional approach to house flipping in their hometown of Boise, Idaho. While refined designer Luke likes to reach for the stars, rugged contractor Clint remains focused on their bottom line. With an endless inventory of old houses to choose from, the only decision this dynamic duo needs to make is which house to transform next.
American version of the British show “Love Island” in which ten singles come to stay in a villa for a few weeks and have to couple up with one another. Over the course of those weeks, they face the public vote and might be eliminated from the show. Other islanders join and try to break up the couples.
Shipping Wars is a reality TV series on A&E that began airing on January 10, 2012. The show follows six independent carriers who have discovered that fortunes can be made transporting items that traditional carriers either cannot or will not haul. The series also features uShip, the world’s largest online auction house for independent truckers. For Season 1, the featured carriers are Marc Springer, Roy Garber, Jennifer Brennan, Jarrett Joyce, and Suzanne and Scott Bawcom. Starting with Season 2, the Bawcoms are replaced by the team of Christopher Hanna and Robbie Welsh. Season 3 premiered on December 12, 2012 . New shippers Johnny Chavez and the team of Chelsea Grant and Courtney Aguilera appear in Season 4.
In a typical episode, the carriers place bids on two jobs listed on uShip, in a reverse auction format. Each client has the option of awarding the job either to the lowest bidder, or to a higher bidder based on feedback from previous clients. Ties are broken in favor of the carrier with the higher average feedback rating. Winners load their cargo and attempt to deliver it intact by the client’s deadline. Feedback ratings from clients are displayed as the loads are delivered. At the end of the episode, each carrier’s net profit or loss is tallied on-screen, with the expenses subtracted from the bid amount to determine the overall profit or loss. At times, a carrier will arrange to haul one or more additional loads on the same trip, with the extra money figured into his/her tally.
Twelve hopeless bakers are recruited for an intense boot camp, during which hosts Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale will attempt to transform them into pastry experts over the course of six weeks of intensive sweet and savory challenges.
