MTV definitely hit the jackpot with the first ever reality series The Real World. I can’t imagine the show would be in it’s 21st season had producers moved forward with the original premise based on a set of “strangers” recreating characters and a basic storyline. Instead they chose to let the crazies be crazy and interact with each other sans script. Good call!

The show has received some heat over the years from critics claiming that in the “real world” people do not live in such luxury, are not given jobs in the media without any effort, and do not vacation for free in exotic places. I agree, but still think this show has provided America with some great entertainment over the years.

Take a look back now at The Real World classes of ‘92-’99 and some of the most memorable aspects of those seasons:

1992 - New York

The NY cast’s behavior certainly set the stage for some reoccurring themes to be seen consistently throughout the following seasons: arguments about race and sexual orientation, unrequited love amongst the roommates, and police arrests/questioning.

1993 - Los Angeles

Without this season, the ‘confessional’ would’ve never existed. This was also the first season in which one of the roommates got kicked out of the house - big time wild card David Edwards. Irene also left the show to get married. Both were replaced by new roommates and the drama continued.

1994 - San Francisco

Pedro Zamora was one of the first openly gay men with AIDS to be portrayed in popular media. As a result, this season garnered a lot of attention, specifically from then-President Bill Clinton.  It doesn’t get more real than that!

1995 - London

This season taught everyone the same lesson, and that is if your name is Neil and you’re in a band, you probably shouldn’t respond to a drunken heckling fan by french kissing him.  Result: front half of tongue bitten off and surgically stitched back on.

1996 - Miami

Miami was the first season in which the cast was given an assignment - start up a business with $50K. Their efforts to do so were overshadowed by complete disorganization and conflict, causing them to fail miserably and never complete the task, thus setting the bar low for future assignments.

1997 - Boston

Let’s just say producers poorly assigned the Boston cast to an afterschool program.  Syrus inappropriately got involved with one of the parents; Montana was fired after allowing one kid to taste alcohol on a field trip; and Kameelah and Elka were reprimanded after arguing in front of about Kameelah’s sex life. Role models, eh?

1998 - Seattle

Who will ever forget the infamous scene when Irene insulted Stephen’s sexuality as she was leaving the house and he proceeded to follow her to the car, open the passenger side door, and SLAP her!  Wow. Straight to anger management classes he went.

1999 - Hawaii

You knew it was going to be a scandalous season when Ruthie kicked it off with a naked jump into the pool the first day she arrived to the house. Later that episode, she became severly inebriated and lost consciousness, prompting her housemates to call 911.  That behavior in no way foreshadowed her brief stint in rehab.

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