MTV
Two new series premiered this week in two different decades, but only one of them went on to have a hugely successful and influential run, generating two related shows, earning a place in pop culture history, and launching the careers of several cast members. Read on to learn some interesting facts about one of the longest running reality shows in television history.
1952
- No new series premiered this week in 1952.
1962
- No new series premiered this week in 1962.
1972
- No new series premiered this week in 1972.
1982
- No new series premiered this week in 1982.
1992
May 21 – The Real World
- Synopsis: Seven to eight young adults are picked to temporarily live in a new city together in one residence while being filmed non-stop.
- Network: MTV / Facebook Watch
- Broadcast History: Thirty-three seasons, 614 episodes, last broadcast on August 29, 2019
- Trivia: Inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary An American Family. It is the longest running program in MTV’s history and the longest running reality series in history. The series generated two related series, Road Rules and The Challenge. The 33rd season streamed on Facebook Watch. A reunion series, The Real World Homecoming, has produced three seasons to date on Paramount Plus. Episodes for the first 19 seasons ran 30 minutes, then expanded to an hour until the 33rd season which went back to 30 minute episodes. The series was also inspired by youth-oriented dramas Bevely Hills 90210 and Melrose Place, and was originally developed as a scripted drama, but the cost of paying actors, writers and a crew was too high so the concept was changed to casting ‘regular people’ to live together and film their day-to-day lives. Seven people from 500 applicants were cast for Season 1. They were paid $2,600 for their time on the show, and taping lasted from February 16 to May 18, 1992. An early sign of the show’s popularity came when Saturday Night Live parodied the second season on October 2, 1993. Season 3 put the series on the map in the mainstream due to conflicts between ‘Puck’ and his housemates, and with the casting of Pedro Zamora, one of the first openly gay men living with AIDS to be portrayed in popular media. Zamora died November 11, 1994 just hours after the final episode of his season aired. Several cast members have gone on to successful public careers including Eric Nies, Heather B., Tami Roman, Arissa Hill, Judd Winick, Jacinda Barrett, Mike Mizanin, Kyle Brandt, Jamie Chung, and Karamo Brown.
2002
May 16 – Eye Drops
- Synopsis: A showcase of short computer animated movies and clips using off the shelf 3D animation software.
- Network: TechTV
- Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on August 8, 2002
- Trivia: The series claimed to feature all types of animation, but only a very small number were non-CG productions.
2012
- No new series premiered this week in 2012.
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