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-Landing on cable,
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MTV was about pushing
television's boundaries.
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00:00:09,301 --> 00:00:10,278
-Hi, MTV!
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00:00:10,302 --> 00:00:11,696
-But in the '90s,
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MTV launches
an entirely new kind of TV.
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- This is the true story.
- "The Real World."
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-Everything changed after that.
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- What are gonna do, hit me?
- 'Cause I'm a Black man
I'm gonna hit you?
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00:00:21,355 --> 00:00:22,916
That's what you assume?
- No.
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-It gave birth to an entire
genre of television.
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-[ Screaming ]
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-It's called "reality TV."
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- You're disgusting!
- David!
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-You're watching real people
in real lives.
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-I'm going to terminate
the pregnancy.
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-For better...
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-So I love you.
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- but often for worse...
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-Shut up. You.
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- being yourself
in front of the camera
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can now make you famous.
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-That was when
it came true to me,
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like,
this is actually happening.
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-And it's like the real weird
shit is just about to start.
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-Oh! Oh!
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[ Laughter ]
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{\an8}♪♪
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[ Dial-up modems screeching ]
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{\an8}♪♪
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-I'm back in!
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{\an8}[ Man shouting, applause ]
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{\an8}-By the end of the '90s,
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{\an8}the "M" in "MTV"
stood mostly for "mayhem."
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{\an8}-Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville,
and I have gas.
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-This is how
you drink fresh milk.
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-[ Groaning ]
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-I'm lubing up
the little toy car
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because I'm going to
put it in my butt.
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-Oh...
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- [ Laughing ]
- This doesn't happen in nature.
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{\an8}-I can't watch it.
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{\an8}I don't watch any reality TV.
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{\an8}None.
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It just gives me
the worst stomachache.
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[ Laughs ]
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-That's how MTV makes
parents feel
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back when the "M" in "MTV"
stood exclusively for "music."
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-Welcome to MTV,
Music Television.
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-The world's first
video music channel,
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00:02:02,998 --> 00:02:05,685
all day, all night, in stereo.
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{\an8}-When it was founded in 1981,
its point was to be
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00:02:09,796 --> 00:02:14,193
{\an8}a 24-hour music-video jukebox,
and there was no structure.
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It was truly just kind of
a nonstop cycle of videos.
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-Almost from the start,
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the channel helped to define
an entire generation.
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{\an8}MTV, throughout the '80s, was
the arbiter of what cool was.
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I'm Dave Holmes.
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I was a VJ on MTV
from 1998 to 2002,
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and now I am a writer and editor
at-large for Esquire magazine.
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MTV just seemed like a clubhouse
that you wanted to get into.
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-By the late '80s,
MTV expands to include shows
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that cater to older teens
and late-night partiers.
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-You're watching
the "Headbangers Ball."
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I'm your host, Lita.
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{\an8}-You had "Headbangers Ball,"
you had "Yo! MTV Raps."
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00:03:00,972 --> 00:03:02,533
{\an8}You had the "Top 20 Countdown."
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-And when grunge explodes,
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MTV gives its audience
and mostly young staff
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a front-row seat
to the changing culture.
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-My career at MTV started
back when I was
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right out of high school.
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You know 17, 18.
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I was going to NYU Film and
got me an internship there.
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I'm Tony DiSanto, and I'm
the CEO of Allyance Media Group,
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but most importantly,
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I was a long-term
former employee of MTV.
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It was so exciting being in that
basement set, that MTV vibe.
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It started really not
just reflecting pop culture,
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but MTV became pop culture.
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-Yet, despite its
social prominence,
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serving up music videos on TV
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faces the same problem
as playing songs on the radio.
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-Apparently, the viewers at home
would change the channel
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every time a song came on
that they didn't like.
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-And that's when they start
to experiment
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with other kinds of programing.
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So they have
"Liquid Television,"
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which is this amazing venue
for independent animation.
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-Just peel, lick, and stick.
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-My name is Amanda Ann Klein,
and I am the author
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of "Millennials Killed
the Video Star:
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00:04:16,798 --> 00:04:19,527
MTV's Transition
to Reality Programming."
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So MTV, you know, constantly
has to update its content.
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And so that was where
they engaged in the work of,
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you know, the "political good."
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-The '92 presidential campaign,
with its generational battle
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between George Bush
and Bill Clinton,
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provides MTV with an opportunity
to join in,
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with specials
like "Choose or Lose."
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-We were in the first
Bush administration.
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Change was in the air.
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And for Bill Clinton just to
make an appearance on MTV
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made a massive difference,
I think, in his campaign.
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It really showed
that this was someone
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who could actually speak
the language of young people.
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-If you had it to do over again,
would you inhale?
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-Sure, if I could.
I tried before.
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-And then at the same time,
you saw real standoffish.
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From the, you know,
the Bush side of things.
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-Well, I'm a little concerned
about 13-year-old pregnancies.
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Maybe others are.
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I'm very much...
May I finish, please?
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-And it just galvanized
their audience,
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you know, the youth of America.
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-MTV also launches Rock the Vote
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and solicits music's
biggest stars to speak out
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on issues important
to MTV's audience.
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-Don't just sit there,
let's get to it.
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Speak your mind,
there's nothing to it.
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00:05:33,458 --> 00:05:35,061
Vote!
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-But politics just isn't
as interesting to young people
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as what's happening on Fox's
recently launched show
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00:05:40,924 --> 00:05:43,319
"Beverly Hills 90210."
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{\an8}♪♪
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So MTV shifts gears
126
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and goes looking for
a youth-oriented soap opera
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00:05:50,308 --> 00:05:52,495
of their own.
128
00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:57,291
Two unknown TV writers living in
New York take up the challenge.
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00:05:57,315 --> 00:05:59,919
What they create
will transform television
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00:05:59,943 --> 00:06:02,088
for the next four decades.
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00:06:02,112 --> 00:06:03,798
-So Jonathan Murray,
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00:06:03,822 --> 00:06:06,133
who had a background
in documentary filmmaking,
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00:06:06,157 --> 00:06:10,179
and Mary-Ellis Bunim, who had
a background in soap operas,
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they are working on a drama
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00:06:12,497 --> 00:06:16,644
focused on
a bunch of young people.
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00:06:16,668 --> 00:06:18,437
-They pitched MTV
that they wanted
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to do a soap opera
in the vein of "90210,"
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00:06:21,298 --> 00:06:23,025
and MTV came back, was like,
139
00:06:23,049 --> 00:06:25,027
"Yeah, it's too expensive.
You can't."
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00:06:25,051 --> 00:06:27,154
"Okay, what if
we throw the writers out?
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00:06:27,178 --> 00:06:28,406
That'll save money."
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00:06:28,430 --> 00:06:30,157
{\an8}♪♪
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It's like,
"Yeah, still too expensive."
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00:06:32,183 --> 00:06:37,331
"Okay, what if...
What if we throw the actors out
145
00:06:37,355 --> 00:06:40,459
and we just have regular people
and no scripts?"
146
00:06:40,483 --> 00:06:42,211
And, like, you can shoot
100 hours
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of this stuff
a week for nothing.
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-And "The Real World" was born.
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- This is the true story.
- "The Real World."
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-So this was 1992.
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00:06:52,829 --> 00:06:56,642
I'm a musician, and apparently
the casting directors
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were going around to where young
people worked and congregated.
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I'm Andre Comeau.
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00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:06,944
I was on the first season
of MTV's "Real World,"
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00:07:06,968 --> 00:07:12,950
and we started
this whole reality-TV hell.
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{\an8}♪♪
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00:07:16,102 --> 00:07:20,750
My sister was a promotions
executive at EMI Records,
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00:07:20,774 --> 00:07:22,877
one of the places
that they were, you know,
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mining for young talent,
and one of her friends
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recommended me
to that casting director.
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{\an8}♪♪
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00:07:31,534 --> 00:07:35,431
-But Andre's still up against
500 other hopefuls.
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After numerous interviews
and auditions,
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he gets a life-altering call.
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-I was super excited.
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And, you know,
we all went out and celebrated.
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{\an8}♪♪
168
00:07:52,055 --> 00:07:54,742
-It was all young artists.
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There were a couple musicians.
There was a dancer.
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There was a poet.
There was a model.
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00:08:00,939 --> 00:08:03,042
-There is a painter.
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00:08:03,066 --> 00:08:05,294
And then an aspiring
singer-songwriter.
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00:08:05,318 --> 00:08:07,505
- Hi.
- Just walk around.
174
00:08:07,529 --> 00:08:09,382
-This is where we live?
175
00:08:09,406 --> 00:08:11,634
-It was all people who had gone
to New York to make it happen.
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00:08:11,658 --> 00:08:15,429
And it was just like,
"Let's watch them live."
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- So how old are you?
- I'm 19.
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00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:18,849
- 19?
- Yeah!
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-Oh!
That's a baby.
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I'm the baby?
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-Despite seeming totally unique,
182
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"The Real World"
isn't the first show
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00:08:25,422 --> 00:08:28,526
to document regular people
living their lives.
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That honor goes to
185
00:08:29,968 --> 00:08:33,406
a little-remembered PBS series
from 1973,
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00:08:33,430 --> 00:08:36,117
"An American Family."
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00:08:36,141 --> 00:08:39,120
-They found this family that had
five children,
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00:08:39,144 --> 00:08:43,374
and they filmed them for
a period of about six months.
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It was just them going about
their everyday lives.
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00:08:46,151 --> 00:08:50,089
The idea that everyday people
191
00:08:50,113 --> 00:08:52,216
are interesting enough
on their own.
192
00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,761
So "The real World" is a return
193
00:08:55,785 --> 00:08:58,431
to this one moment in the '70s
194
00:08:58,455 --> 00:09:02,768
when people had basically agreed
to be part of this fishbowl,
195
00:09:02,792 --> 00:09:04,562
this social experiment.
196
00:09:04,586 --> 00:09:08,107
- "The Real World" format may
date back to PBS in the '70s,
197
00:09:08,131 --> 00:09:11,235
but that's about the only thing
this '90s MTV show
198
00:09:11,259 --> 00:09:13,154
has in common
with that earlier decade.
199
00:09:13,178 --> 00:09:15,197
-Utopia is beautiful,
you know what I mean?
200
00:09:15,221 --> 00:09:16,949
-I'm not even
talking about Utopia.
201
00:09:16,973 --> 00:09:18,451
- But in a way, you are.
- No!
202
00:09:18,475 --> 00:09:20,536
-They were having
interesting conversations.
203
00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:23,080
On the networks,
we weren't really seeing this.
204
00:09:23,104 --> 00:09:25,207
Everything was, like,
super manufactured.
205
00:09:25,231 --> 00:09:29,295
This had the smell
of being real.
206
00:09:29,319 --> 00:09:31,881
{\an8}♪♪
207
00:09:31,905 --> 00:09:34,467
"The Real World"
felt subversive.
208
00:09:34,491 --> 00:09:37,011
It felt edgy.
209
00:09:37,035 --> 00:09:39,430
It felt MTV.
210
00:09:39,454 --> 00:09:40,848
-♪ You're sloppy,
wishy-washy ♪
211
00:09:40,872 --> 00:09:42,600
♪ It's time to watch me ♪
212
00:09:42,624 --> 00:09:45,352
♪ Yo, I'm good to go,
I got the female funk flow ♪
213
00:09:45,376 --> 00:09:46,979
♪ Again ♪
214
00:09:47,003 --> 00:09:50,357
{\an8}♪♪
215
00:09:50,381 --> 00:09:52,651
-The show encourages castmates
to engage
216
00:09:52,675 --> 00:09:56,322
in the country's increasingly
volatile social issues.
217
00:09:56,346 --> 00:09:58,115
{\an8}♪♪
218
00:09:58,139 --> 00:10:02,787
-One of my favorite memories
was driving down to Washington
219
00:10:02,811 --> 00:10:06,207
and being a part
of the women's rights rally
220
00:10:06,231 --> 00:10:09,001
that we participated in.
221
00:10:09,025 --> 00:10:13,589
-They also went to
a political campaign.
222
00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:16,509
And so they were
very much involved.
223
00:10:16,533 --> 00:10:18,677
Even if they weren't always
getting it right,
224
00:10:18,701 --> 00:10:22,515
they were engaged with it
and talking about it.
225
00:10:22,539 --> 00:10:26,393
-But "The Real World" is so
unlike anything else on TV,
226
00:10:26,417 --> 00:10:29,021
the cast are flying
completely blind.
227
00:10:29,045 --> 00:10:30,898
-If you look back on it,
228
00:10:30,922 --> 00:10:33,150
nobody knows what
they're supposed to be doing.
229
00:10:33,174 --> 00:10:37,404
They don't, like, have a bunch
of zingers in a notes app.
230
00:10:37,428 --> 00:10:40,032
They just kind of showed up
to be normal,
231
00:10:40,056 --> 00:10:41,659
and conflict happened,
232
00:10:41,683 --> 00:10:43,327
but it seemed
to happen organically.
233
00:10:43,351 --> 00:10:45,663
-Go, Heather.
[ Pager beeps ]
234
00:10:45,687 --> 00:10:47,122
- What is that?
- A beeper.
235
00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:48,624
-Do you sell drugs?
Why do you have a beeper?
236
00:10:48,648 --> 00:10:51,043
-Once she said the bit
about the drug dealer,
237
00:10:51,067 --> 00:10:52,545
I really want to talk to her.
238
00:10:52,569 --> 00:10:54,380
I really want to know
what she thinks.
239
00:10:54,404 --> 00:10:56,090
-Okay, so everyone's
gonna be against me
240
00:10:56,114 --> 00:10:57,550
because I'm the only Southerner.
241
00:10:57,574 --> 00:10:59,552
I don't consider myself racist
in any way.
242
00:10:59,576 --> 00:11:02,388
I don't even know
how it ended up like that.
243
00:11:02,412 --> 00:11:05,015
-In early '92,
the most sensitive conflicts
244
00:11:05,039 --> 00:11:07,393
in America center around race.
245
00:11:07,417 --> 00:11:09,854
{\an8}The entire country is awaiting
a verdict in the trial
246
00:11:09,878 --> 00:11:13,107
{\an8}of the four white cops
who beat Rodney King.
247
00:11:13,131 --> 00:11:18,028
{\an8}-It was such a hotbed moment
in time.
248
00:11:18,052 --> 00:11:19,405
You know, the United States
249
00:11:19,429 --> 00:11:21,407
was going
through such a racial reckoning
250
00:11:21,431 --> 00:11:24,243
because of the Rodney King
beatings, which was horrific.
251
00:11:24,267 --> 00:11:29,373
-And so it was very ironic
that these very issues
252
00:11:29,397 --> 00:11:31,750
and debates
were happening in the loft
253
00:11:31,774 --> 00:11:34,545
as they were happening
out in the world.
254
00:11:34,569 --> 00:11:36,589
-But I think there's a lot
of opportunity in this country.
255
00:11:36,613 --> 00:11:38,048
-Opportunity for what?
256
00:11:38,072 --> 00:11:39,925
-They took one look at me
and they were like,
257
00:11:39,949 --> 00:11:42,261
"No, we can't hire him."
You know what I'm saying?
258
00:11:42,285 --> 00:11:44,930
Why not, Becky?
The color of my skin.
259
00:11:44,954 --> 00:11:47,391
-Kevin, who is
a poet and activist,
260
00:11:47,415 --> 00:11:52,229
is trying to make his
white housemates understand
261
00:11:52,253 --> 00:11:54,899
the experience
of the Black male in America.
262
00:11:54,923 --> 00:11:58,319
-You called me a racist.
-If you and I went
to the same job and applied,
who would get it?
263
00:11:58,343 --> 00:12:00,279
-I don't know.
-You would get it.
More than likely.
264
00:12:00,303 --> 00:12:03,198
- How do you know?
- I've gone through
enough job interviews.
265
00:12:03,222 --> 00:12:06,243
- You just called me a racist.
- 'Cause you are.
266
00:12:06,267 --> 00:12:10,372
-And his housemates are often
not ready to receive it.
267
00:12:10,396 --> 00:12:11,790
-How many times
have you been stopped
268
00:12:11,814 --> 00:12:13,876
and spread against a police car?
269
00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:16,420
How many times?
- I've never been stopped.
270
00:12:16,444 --> 00:12:18,464
-All right, then.
You don't know how it feels.
271
00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:21,675
-It's very real and honest
in that way.
272
00:12:21,699 --> 00:12:23,636
-I just know that the scales
are tipped
273
00:12:23,660 --> 00:12:26,263
in certain people's favors and
has been for a very long time.
274
00:12:26,287 --> 00:12:28,807
-You don't know until you've
walked in somebody else's shoes
275
00:12:28,831 --> 00:12:31,060
who's got a favor
and who doesn't.
276
00:12:31,084 --> 00:12:35,481
-As the racism debate simmers
inside the loft,
277
00:12:35,505 --> 00:12:41,844
outside in the real real world,
a full-on race war is raging.
278
00:12:48,393 --> 00:12:50,753
Outside in the real real world,
-2,800 National Guard troops
279
00:12:52,146 --> 00:12:56,401
oand into the night, extending,
their dusk-to-dawn curfew.
280
00:13:00,196 --> 00:13:02,091
-On April 29, 1992,
281
00:13:02,115 --> 00:13:05,719
the four white cops who beat
Rodney King are acquitted.
282
00:13:05,743 --> 00:13:07,221
-Saturday, the mayor's office
283
00:13:07,245 --> 00:13:09,223
put its conservative
damage estimate
284
00:13:09,247 --> 00:13:11,850
at more than
half a billion dollars.
285
00:13:11,874 --> 00:13:13,769
-They don't represent the people
no more.
286
00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:15,562
[ Sirens wailing ]
287
00:13:15,586 --> 00:13:16,855
-Over the next week,
288
00:13:16,879 --> 00:13:19,733
the L.A. riots
death toll hits 63.
289
00:13:19,757 --> 00:13:23,112
-Please, in the name of Jesus,
cut out the violence!
290
00:13:23,136 --> 00:13:25,155
{\an8}♪♪
291
00:13:25,179 --> 00:13:26,657
-Back in New York,
292
00:13:26,681 --> 00:13:28,409
the cast of MTV's
"The Real World"
293
00:13:28,433 --> 00:13:30,202
watch in horror.
294
00:13:30,226 --> 00:13:34,164
{\an8}-The riots that were happening
in Los Angeles in real time.
295
00:13:34,188 --> 00:13:37,459
And Kevin, the writer,
is an activist.
296
00:13:37,483 --> 00:13:38,776
- of the 1960s.
297
00:13:42,030 --> 00:13:44,341
-What did you say, Julie?
"It doesn't make a difference."
298
00:13:44,365 --> 00:13:46,468
Know what I'm saying?
And you didn't even apologize.
299
00:13:46,492 --> 00:13:47,845
-No, I didn't.
300
00:13:47,869 --> 00:13:50,139
The Manhattan loft becomes
a microcosm
301
00:13:50,163 --> 00:13:53,058
of the country's
rising racial tensions.
302
00:13:53,082 --> 00:13:55,728
-You come from a particular
background, I come from
a particular background.
303
00:13:55,752 --> 00:13:57,646
Wait a minute.
Will you listen?
304
00:13:57,670 --> 00:13:59,273
- That has nothing to do
with your culture.
- Yes, it does.
305
00:13:59,297 --> 00:14:01,734
{\an8}-Julie,
the youngest cast member,
306
00:14:01,758 --> 00:14:05,612
{\an8}a white woman who had grown up
very sheltered,
307
00:14:05,636 --> 00:14:07,614
had not a lot of experience
talking with people
308
00:14:07,638 --> 00:14:09,324
from different
racial backgrounds.
309
00:14:09,348 --> 00:14:11,326
- Look at Los Angeles.
- What are you gonna do? Hit me?
310
00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:12,786
-'Cause I'm a Black man
I'm gonna hit you?
311
00:14:12,810 --> 00:14:14,455
That's what you assume?
- No.
312
00:14:14,479 --> 00:14:17,791
-I remember just watching it
and taking Julie's side
313
00:14:17,815 --> 00:14:20,419
because, of course,
I was a young, white,
314
00:14:20,443 --> 00:14:22,546
sheltered, middle-class girl.
315
00:14:22,570 --> 00:14:25,340
-You're 19 years old.
White girl from Alabama.
316
00:14:25,364 --> 00:14:28,302
-You call yourself a teacher?!
Get out of my face!
317
00:14:28,326 --> 00:14:30,637
- Why you upset?
- I'm so sick of this!
318
00:14:30,661 --> 00:14:33,807
-The roommates
seem to all take Julie's side.
319
00:14:33,831 --> 00:14:36,834
-This isn't the first time that
we've seen him go at someone.
320
00:14:38,586 --> 00:14:42,107
-The six of us bonded apart
from Kevin.
321
00:14:42,131 --> 00:14:45,277
{\an8}♪♪
322
00:14:45,301 --> 00:14:49,055
He was the oldest one
by about five years.
323
00:14:51,599 --> 00:14:54,787
So when he did have this
brush-up with Julie,
324
00:14:54,811 --> 00:14:57,772
it was like, "Kevin freaked out,
Kevin freaked out."
325
00:14:59,482 --> 00:15:02,544
-Looking back on the season
now as an adult
326
00:15:02,568 --> 00:15:05,672
and having seen decades
of the kind of abuse
327
00:15:05,696 --> 00:15:09,676
that Black men were facing,
you can see that essentially
328
00:15:09,700 --> 00:15:13,806
everything Kevin had said
to his roommates was correct.
329
00:15:13,830 --> 00:15:17,017
He was saying
what needed to be said.
330
00:15:17,041 --> 00:15:18,852
{\an8}♪♪
331
00:15:18,876 --> 00:15:23,023
-But the show is more than just
arguments and racial uneasiness.
332
00:15:23,047 --> 00:15:24,817
{\an8}♪♪
333
00:15:24,841 --> 00:15:28,821
The roommates are also out
pursuing their dreams.
334
00:15:28,845 --> 00:15:30,948
Or just having a good time.
335
00:15:30,972 --> 00:15:34,016
-It was just such a great time
to be in New York.
336
00:15:40,857 --> 00:15:43,669
Not with other cast members, no.
337
00:15:43,693 --> 00:15:45,295
The cast was hooking up
with the crew.
338
00:15:45,319 --> 00:15:46,672
[ Laughs ]
339
00:15:46,696 --> 00:15:49,216
That's really
what was happening.
340
00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,510
-Well, there's one thing
that did happen in Jamaica,
341
00:15:51,534 --> 00:15:55,472
which, um... happened.
342
00:15:55,496 --> 00:15:58,100
-The only hookup,
the love connection
343
00:15:58,124 --> 00:15:59,560
that actually happened
344
00:15:59,584 --> 00:16:02,354
was between
Becky and the director, Bill,
345
00:16:02,378 --> 00:16:05,440
and it unfortunately got Bill
346
00:16:05,464 --> 00:16:07,776
into some hot water
with the production,
347
00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,948
and he had to leave the show.
348
00:16:12,972 --> 00:16:15,242
[ Laughter ]
349
00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:16,535
-On the last day of shooting,
350
00:16:16,559 --> 00:16:18,328
the cast burst into
the control room
351
00:16:18,352 --> 00:16:20,998
to celebrate what they think
is the end
352
00:16:21,022 --> 00:16:23,292
to this televised
social experiment.
353
00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:25,002
-Feel like we've been stranded
for three months,
354
00:16:25,026 --> 00:16:26,587
and now we've gotten
off Gilligan's Island.
355
00:16:26,611 --> 00:16:31,842
-They showed us
the first episode of the show.
356
00:16:31,866 --> 00:16:36,555
When I saw how things were
manipulated in editing,
357
00:16:36,579 --> 00:16:42,043
that was very... scary.
358
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:48,567
I was naively expecting it
to be more of a documentary,
359
00:16:48,591 --> 00:16:50,593
and here it is
playing out like a soap opera.
360
00:16:51,928 --> 00:16:53,989
-The cast of the first season
of "The Real World,"
361
00:16:54,013 --> 00:16:59,369
{\an8}is the first to then
have to see what happens after.
362
00:16:59,393 --> 00:17:01,705
{\an8}After all that footage
goes to an editor
363
00:17:01,729 --> 00:17:03,498
and after somebody decides
364
00:17:03,522 --> 00:17:05,125
what you've said
that they're going to use
365
00:17:05,149 --> 00:17:08,587
and what you said that might
get taken out of context.
366
00:17:08,611 --> 00:17:10,047
You can almost see at the end
367
00:17:10,071 --> 00:17:11,757
when they're saying
goodbye to one another
368
00:17:11,781 --> 00:17:13,759
that they're just like,
"Well, that's over."
369
00:17:13,783 --> 00:17:17,971
And it's like, "No,
the real weird shit
370
00:17:17,995 --> 00:17:19,389
is just about to start.
371
00:17:19,413 --> 00:17:22,768
And, you know, God,
I hope you're okay."
372
00:17:22,792 --> 00:17:27,189
{\an8}♪♪
373
00:17:27,213 --> 00:17:31,818
-On May 21, 1992,
just days after filming ends,
374
00:17:31,842 --> 00:17:34,238
"The Real World"
premieres on MTV.
375
00:17:34,262 --> 00:17:39,660
{\an8}-What I remember mostly was how
quickly it sort of caught fire.
376
00:17:39,684 --> 00:17:43,038
And, you know, the cast
suddenly becoming stars.
377
00:17:43,062 --> 00:17:44,790
{\an8}♪♪
378
00:17:44,814 --> 00:17:46,625
-That kind of instant celebrity
379
00:17:46,649 --> 00:17:50,003
often comes
with fame and fortune,
380
00:17:50,027 --> 00:17:53,298
but it doesn't quite
work out that way.
381
00:17:53,322 --> 00:17:56,468
The grand total was $2,600.
382
00:17:56,492 --> 00:17:59,346
Before the filming,
I had my music attorney
383
00:17:59,370 --> 00:18:01,807
read through my contract.
384
00:18:01,831 --> 00:18:04,518
"We own everything.
You own nothing."
385
00:18:04,542 --> 00:18:06,853
{\an8}♪♪
386
00:18:06,877 --> 00:18:10,006
We expected it to air once,
maybe twice.
387
00:18:11,674 --> 00:18:15,862
-It becomes a hit show
that gets run and rerun
388
00:18:15,886 --> 00:18:19,783
and marathon weekend
run for years to come.
389
00:18:19,807 --> 00:18:27,249
They gave up their lives
and their images for nothing,
390
00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:29,960
which is tough.
391
00:18:29,984 --> 00:18:33,505
[ Sirens wailing ]
392
00:18:33,529 --> 00:18:37,450
-Fame without fortune is a drag.
393
00:18:40,369 --> 00:18:44,891
You're on call because so
many people just walk up to you
394
00:18:44,915 --> 00:18:46,709
and naturally think
they know you.
395
00:18:49,045 --> 00:18:51,505
I did not cope well
with how it played out.
396
00:18:53,549 --> 00:18:57,029
And it was really heartbreaking.
397
00:18:57,053 --> 00:19:00,097
I felt like I had
to get away from myself.
398
00:19:02,391 --> 00:19:06,496
I had one of those crazy
suicidal moments in the mirror
399
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,149
where you, you know, you cut off
all your hair in a fit of rage.
400
00:19:11,942 --> 00:19:14,671
Not only do I cut my hair,
I cut the cord.
401
00:19:14,695 --> 00:19:16,906
I had to get rid of MTV.
402
00:19:18,074 --> 00:19:21,744
It was a difficult time
in my life.
403
00:19:25,915 --> 00:19:28,143
-Despite Andre's
personal struggles,
404
00:19:28,167 --> 00:19:31,021
many twentysomething fans
see "The Real World"
405
00:19:31,045 --> 00:19:35,650
as a new and novel way
to get their 15 minutes of fame.
406
00:19:35,674 --> 00:19:37,402
-I'm an attention hog!
407
00:19:37,426 --> 00:19:39,780
-At the time, watching
season one of "The Real World,"
408
00:19:39,804 --> 00:19:42,074
I was like,
"Sign me up. Sign me up."
409
00:19:42,098 --> 00:19:46,453
Never did make a tape, but I was
like, "I could do that."
410
00:19:46,477 --> 00:19:47,829
-I want to be
on "The Real World"
411
00:19:47,853 --> 00:19:49,873
because my life
is really [bleep] up.
412
00:19:49,897 --> 00:19:52,501
{\an8}♪♪
413
00:19:52,525 --> 00:19:55,587
{\an8}-In January 1993,
seven new housemates
414
00:19:55,611 --> 00:19:58,548
are on board for
"The Real World: Los Angeles."
415
00:19:58,572 --> 00:20:01,218
-It seems like
the producers clocked
416
00:20:01,242 --> 00:20:02,969
that people remembered
the fighting.
417
00:20:02,993 --> 00:20:05,055
-You pin me down
in that argument!
418
00:20:05,079 --> 00:20:06,556
-Stupid bitch.
419
00:20:06,580 --> 00:20:09,142
-And so they were like,
"Fighting. Got it.
420
00:20:09,166 --> 00:20:11,144
"You want fighting,
we'll give you fighting."
421
00:20:11,168 --> 00:20:12,604
-You don't call somebody trash.
422
00:20:12,628 --> 00:20:14,356
- I didn't call you trash.
- Yes, you did.
423
00:20:14,380 --> 00:20:18,360
-They put three of them
into, like, a Winnebago
424
00:20:18,384 --> 00:20:21,446
to drive across the country
from New York to L.A.
425
00:20:21,470 --> 00:20:23,657
to, like, symbolically
pass the torch.
426
00:20:23,681 --> 00:20:27,786
Tami and Dominic,
and Jon from Kentucky.
427
00:20:27,810 --> 00:20:29,371
-They are so different.
428
00:20:29,395 --> 00:20:32,582
They are immediately hating
on each other.
429
00:20:32,606 --> 00:20:35,502
-So pretty funny if I'd have
socked your ass in the head.
430
00:20:35,526 --> 00:20:36,962
-If you're brave enough
to do it,
431
00:20:36,986 --> 00:20:38,588
then you're brave enough
to get hit right back.
432
00:20:38,612 --> 00:20:42,300
-You need to go to new lengths
to to grab viewers.
433
00:20:42,324 --> 00:20:46,054
That's the evolutionary scale
of reality TV.
434
00:20:46,078 --> 00:20:49,474
-I'm really good
at moving the stick, though.
435
00:20:49,498 --> 00:20:52,269
- I bet you are, Tami.
- [ Laughs ]
436
00:20:52,293 --> 00:20:55,814
-Season two is the first group
of people to understand
437
00:20:55,838 --> 00:20:58,483
the value
of speaking in soundbites.
438
00:20:58,507 --> 00:21:00,485
-Beth.
And she was carrying a cat.
439
00:21:00,509 --> 00:21:02,195
I can't stand cats.
440
00:21:02,219 --> 00:21:04,030
-So for the first time
you're seeing people
441
00:21:04,054 --> 00:21:08,410
give a little bit of thought
to themselves as a character
442
00:21:08,434 --> 00:21:11,788
and what they're giving
the editor to work with.
443
00:21:11,812 --> 00:21:13,748
- Aah! David!
- David, stop!
444
00:21:13,772 --> 00:21:16,334
-The new cast's desired
to be good TV
445
00:21:16,358 --> 00:21:19,045
may contribute
to a dangerous confrontation.
446
00:21:19,069 --> 00:21:22,299
-Beth and Tami and David
are joking around.
447
00:21:22,323 --> 00:21:23,717
[ Telephone rings ]
- Phone's ringing.
448
00:21:23,741 --> 00:21:25,552
-It was, you know,
late at night.
449
00:21:25,576 --> 00:21:27,053
Tami's trying to go to bed.
450
00:21:27,077 --> 00:21:30,182
-Don't do that!
I swear to God!
451
00:21:30,206 --> 00:21:31,766
Don't!
452
00:21:31,790 --> 00:21:34,102
-Tami says that she
doesn't have any clothing on
453
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:35,562
under her blanket.
454
00:21:35,586 --> 00:21:38,315
And David says, "Well, I'm gonna
go find out."
455
00:21:38,339 --> 00:21:42,444
It's one of those moments where
everyone's having a good time,
456
00:21:42,468 --> 00:21:43,820
and then there is a shift.
457
00:21:43,844 --> 00:21:46,180
-[ Screaming ]
458
00:21:46,847 --> 00:21:48,783
-No! David!
459
00:21:48,807 --> 00:21:50,202
-Aaah!
460
00:21:50,226 --> 00:21:52,954
-You watch it now
from today's perspective,
461
00:21:52,978 --> 00:21:55,499
and it's a woman saying,
"No. No.
462
00:21:55,523 --> 00:21:57,083
I'm in my underwear.
No."
463
00:21:57,107 --> 00:22:00,670
-[ Screaming ]
464
00:22:00,694 --> 00:22:03,006
- You're disgusting!
- Whoo!
465
00:22:03,030 --> 00:22:04,549
-[ Laughs ]
466
00:22:04,573 --> 00:22:08,428
-Things really go off the rails
in a bad way.
467
00:22:08,452 --> 00:22:12,349
Tami's so upset,
a house meeting is called.
468
00:22:12,373 --> 00:22:16,228
-We want him to leave.
We don't want him here.
469
00:22:16,252 --> 00:22:20,232
-There is a discussion of this
being a kind of assault
470
00:22:20,256 --> 00:22:22,359
and that the women
didn't feel safe.
471
00:22:22,383 --> 00:22:23,818
-And he becomes the first person
472
00:22:23,842 --> 00:22:26,321
to get kicked out of
a "Real World" house.
473
00:22:26,345 --> 00:22:31,701
{\an8}♪♪
474
00:22:31,725 --> 00:22:33,703
-But that first
will be overshadowed
475
00:22:33,727 --> 00:22:35,163
by Tami revealing something
476
00:22:35,187 --> 00:22:38,250
never-before divulged
on reality TV.
477
00:22:38,274 --> 00:22:42,212
-In case everybody
didn't already know by now
478
00:22:42,236 --> 00:22:45,382
that I'm pregnant.
479
00:22:45,406 --> 00:22:49,285
And I'm going to terminate
the pregnancy.
480
00:22:50,286 --> 00:22:52,514
-This is
a pretty radical moment.
481
00:22:52,538 --> 00:22:55,308
Even today, you do not see
482
00:22:55,332 --> 00:22:58,144
people getting abortions
on television.
483
00:22:58,168 --> 00:23:00,796
- "The Real World: California."
484
00:23:04,675 --> 00:23:06,278
-At the beginning of the decade,
485
00:23:06,302 --> 00:23:09,281
the Roe v. Wade court ruling
is under attack.
486
00:23:09,305 --> 00:23:10,615
As legalized abortion
487
00:23:10,639 --> 00:23:12,867
becomes an even more
divisive issue,
488
00:23:12,891 --> 00:23:15,870
abortion clinics
become battlefields.
489
00:23:15,894 --> 00:23:18,540
{\an8}-It was an incredibly
dangerous time
490
00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:20,083
{\an8}to be an abortion provider.
491
00:23:20,107 --> 00:23:21,501
-Michael Griffin is accused
492
00:23:21,525 --> 00:23:23,211
of shooting
abortion doctor David Gunn.
493
00:23:23,235 --> 00:23:24,921
-Doctors were being shot,
494
00:23:24,945 --> 00:23:28,925
people were being harassed
walking into and out of clinics.
495
00:23:28,949 --> 00:23:31,136
So it wasn't a small thing
496
00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,973
that MTV decided to address this
in "The Real World."
497
00:23:34,997 --> 00:23:36,308
-It was like a really
hard decision
498
00:23:36,332 --> 00:23:39,561
for me to make that decision,
but...
499
00:23:39,585 --> 00:23:42,230
{\an8}-It was a brave choice
for the network,
500
00:23:42,254 --> 00:23:43,732
{\an8}because for the first time
501
00:23:43,756 --> 00:23:46,943
you saw the human face
of a person
502
00:23:46,967 --> 00:23:49,321
who is
going to have an abortion.
503
00:23:49,345 --> 00:23:52,616
-Finding out that I was pregnant
was a big downer for me
504
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,118
because at this particular point
and time in my life, I mean,
505
00:23:55,142 --> 00:23:56,703
I'm not ready for kids.
506
00:23:56,727 --> 00:23:59,205
-Even if you didn't
approve of abortion,
507
00:23:59,229 --> 00:24:02,292
which, like, Jon in the house
does not approve of abortion...
508
00:24:02,316 --> 00:24:04,377
-I think that Tami's making
a mistake.
509
00:24:04,401 --> 00:24:06,504
- he's still her friend,
510
00:24:06,528 --> 00:24:08,173
and this is her choice.
511
00:24:08,197 --> 00:24:10,925
-He's chosen to stick by me
512
00:24:10,949 --> 00:24:13,386
and help me
through the situation.
513
00:24:13,410 --> 00:24:17,265
-To compare it
to its sort of inspiration,
514
00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:20,310
"Beverly Hills 90210" talked
about abortion...
515
00:24:20,334 --> 00:24:22,729
-This is hard enough, okay,
so just let me say it.
516
00:24:22,753 --> 00:24:25,565
- but you would never get
a character
517
00:24:25,589 --> 00:24:27,400
who actually had an abortion.
518
00:24:27,424 --> 00:24:30,695
They would either
lose the baby conveniently,
519
00:24:30,719 --> 00:24:33,823
or they would just decide
to go ahead and have it.
520
00:24:33,847 --> 00:24:35,325
- "The Real World" does neither.
521
00:24:35,349 --> 00:24:37,410
It shows Tami making
her own decisions
522
00:24:37,434 --> 00:24:39,371
about how to handle
her pregnancy.
523
00:24:39,395 --> 00:24:42,791
-I first had to decide
how I was going to tell my mom.
524
00:24:42,815 --> 00:24:45,377
-I was very pissed off.
525
00:24:45,401 --> 00:24:48,588
-We see her go to the clinic.
526
00:24:48,612 --> 00:24:52,133
-When I walked into the clinic,
the first thing that hit my mind
527
00:24:52,157 --> 00:24:54,552
was that I wanted it
to be over very quickly.
528
00:24:54,576 --> 00:24:56,554
-She is the first
529
00:24:56,578 --> 00:25:03,478
and maybe still only person
to have an abortion.
530
00:25:03,502 --> 00:25:04,979
-You need to fill these out
531
00:25:05,003 --> 00:25:06,731
and bring them up
as soon as you're done.
532
00:25:06,755 --> 00:25:08,233
-Thank you.
533
00:25:08,257 --> 00:25:09,818
-This was a real person,
534
00:25:09,842 --> 00:25:12,946
and it was hard to, like,
vilify her, you know?
535
00:25:12,970 --> 00:25:16,241
I don't remember there
being any angry editorials
536
00:25:16,265 --> 00:25:18,434
in The Wall Street Journal
about it or anything,
537
00:25:23,105 --> 00:25:24,980
in-Go home, get some Advil
538
00:25:25,004 --> 00:25:26,876
or some Tylenol,
539
00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:28,086
and that'll help her.
540
00:25:28,110 --> 00:25:29,587
- Okay.
- Get some food.
541
00:25:29,611 --> 00:25:31,297
- You okay? Give me a hug.
- I'm fine.
542
00:25:31,321 --> 00:25:35,301
{\an8}-Tami's abortion in
"Real World" season two
543
00:25:35,325 --> 00:25:36,928
had power and impact
544
00:25:36,952 --> 00:25:39,431
because it was authentic
and real.
545
00:25:39,455 --> 00:25:44,853
You're presenting real life
in an unfiltered fashion
546
00:25:44,877 --> 00:25:48,148
and not imposing artifice on it.
547
00:25:48,172 --> 00:25:49,607
-Are you okay?
548
00:25:49,631 --> 00:25:51,609
-Hmm? No.
Sick.
549
00:25:51,633 --> 00:25:54,553
-I think that's reality
television at its best.
550
00:25:57,139 --> 00:25:58,908
-Tami's personal experience,
551
00:25:58,932 --> 00:26:01,286
including her work
at a local AIDS clinic,
552
00:26:01,310 --> 00:26:03,121
helped to make season two
of "The Real World"
553
00:26:03,145 --> 00:26:05,582
a ratings success for MTV.
554
00:26:05,606 --> 00:26:08,001
She also inspires
the show's co-creators,
555
00:26:08,025 --> 00:26:10,295
Jonathan Murray
and Mary-Ellis Bunim
556
00:26:10,319 --> 00:26:13,631
to set season three at ground
zero for the AIDS crisis...
557
00:26:13,655 --> 00:26:16,050
San Francisco.
558
00:26:16,074 --> 00:26:18,636
-You know, San Francisco
had been, you know,
559
00:26:18,660 --> 00:26:21,306
a part of the epidemic
for such a long time.
560
00:26:21,330 --> 00:26:23,540
And in 1994,
there was no treatment.
561
00:26:26,335 --> 00:26:29,272
-We had 200,000 people,
you know,
562
00:26:29,296 --> 00:26:31,399
in the early '90s
who had died of AIDS.
563
00:26:31,423 --> 00:26:34,569
[ Indistinct shouting ]
564
00:26:34,593 --> 00:26:38,490
-And so Bunim and Murray
made a point of casting
565
00:26:38,514 --> 00:26:42,976
not only an out gay man
but one with HIV.
566
00:26:44,144 --> 00:26:47,165
-His name is Pedro Zamora,
and his openness
567
00:26:47,189 --> 00:26:50,668
and authenticity shines
throughout his audition tape.
568
00:26:50,692 --> 00:26:52,170
-I just got out of
569
00:26:52,194 --> 00:26:55,381
a three-and-a-half-year
relationship, um...
570
00:26:55,405 --> 00:26:56,591
to an asshole.
571
00:26:56,615 --> 00:26:57,842
[ Laughs ]
572
00:26:57,866 --> 00:26:59,719
I had to say it.
573
00:26:59,743 --> 00:27:04,265
{\an8}-He's funny. He's kind.
He's soap-opera handsome.
574
00:27:04,289 --> 00:27:05,969
And he's living
with this terrible disease.
575
00:27:08,418 --> 00:27:10,063
I'm Judd Winnick.
576
00:27:10,087 --> 00:27:12,357
I was a cast member on
"Real World 3: San Francisco."
577
00:27:12,381 --> 00:27:15,109
All he wanted to do
was to show people
578
00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:16,986
what it was really like
to live with AIDS and HIV.
579
00:27:17,010 --> 00:27:18,404
He wanted people to understand.
580
00:27:18,428 --> 00:27:19,948
-Where are you from originally?
581
00:27:19,972 --> 00:27:21,533
- Cuba.
- Cuba.
582
00:27:21,557 --> 00:27:24,035
How long have you been here?
- 13 years.
583
00:27:24,059 --> 00:27:27,664
-He was on the Mariel boatlift
in 1980
584
00:27:27,688 --> 00:27:30,917
when, you know, thousands
and thousands of Cubans
585
00:27:30,941 --> 00:27:33,294
came over to the United States.
586
00:27:33,318 --> 00:27:35,380
-So are you ready for this?
587
00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:37,006
-I think so.
588
00:27:37,030 --> 00:27:38,466
-Five more people to meet,
right?
589
00:27:38,490 --> 00:27:42,554
-The producers at MTV
decide not to inform
590
00:27:42,578 --> 00:27:47,267
the other castmates
that Pedro has HIV.
591
00:27:47,291 --> 00:27:49,978
{\an8}-All of us knew that somebody
was HIV positive,
592
00:27:50,002 --> 00:27:51,211
{\an8}but we didn't know who.
593
00:27:53,255 --> 00:27:54,399
I am Pam Ling.
594
00:27:54,423 --> 00:27:56,860
I was cast on the third season
595
00:27:56,884 --> 00:27:58,903
of MTV's "The Real World,"
San Francisco.
596
00:27:58,927 --> 00:28:00,446
-That's where she's coming from,
then.
597
00:28:00,470 --> 00:28:03,032
-Of course, Pedro knew
who was HIV positive,
598
00:28:03,056 --> 00:28:06,369
and he did a very kind
of artful thing
599
00:28:06,393 --> 00:28:08,997
where he would kind
of casually drop, like,
600
00:28:09,021 --> 00:28:11,124
"Oh, I need
to show you my scrapbook."
601
00:28:11,148 --> 00:28:13,668
-The reason I brought
the scrapbook was because
602
00:28:13,692 --> 00:28:15,587
it was gonna
make it easier for me
603
00:28:15,611 --> 00:28:18,756
to let them know
that I was HIV positive.
604
00:28:18,780 --> 00:28:23,845
-He'd actually been doing
AIDS education in high schools,
605
00:28:23,869 --> 00:28:26,163
and then he'd had his story
in The Wall Street Journal.
606
00:28:29,499 --> 00:28:32,252
In Washington,
iadvocating for HIV and AIDS.
607
00:28:33,837 --> 00:28:36,441
-But not everyone
in the San Francisco House
608
00:28:36,465 --> 00:28:38,109
welcomes Pedro.
609
00:28:38,133 --> 00:28:40,612
-Rachel kind of just got up
and left.
610
00:28:40,636 --> 00:28:42,447
I wanted to ask some
hardcore questions
611
00:28:42,471 --> 00:28:45,199
about how it affects him,
612
00:28:45,223 --> 00:28:47,035
how it's gonna affect us
as his roommate.
613
00:28:47,059 --> 00:28:48,828
None of those
things were discussed.
614
00:28:48,852 --> 00:28:52,498
-When Rachel finds out
that he has HIV, is like,
615
00:28:52,522 --> 00:28:54,667
"Well, I don't think I should
share a bathroom with you."
616
00:28:54,691 --> 00:28:56,544
-There may have been, in the
back of my head, something,
617
00:28:56,568 --> 00:29:01,215
"Well, I'm sharing a bathroom
with somebody that has HIV."
618
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:02,592
-At the time it was
a death sentence,
619
00:29:02,616 --> 00:29:06,095
so Rachel's fears
are not unwarranted.
620
00:29:06,119 --> 00:29:07,513
{\an8}♪♪
621
00:29:07,537 --> 00:29:10,558
-But it's Puck,
a local bike messenger,
622
00:29:10,582 --> 00:29:13,394
who will give Pedro
the hardest time.
623
00:29:13,418 --> 00:29:14,479
- Hi.
- Hey.
624
00:29:14,503 --> 00:29:16,356
- [ Laughs ]
- Hi.
625
00:29:16,380 --> 00:29:17,565
-I am the Puck.
626
00:29:17,589 --> 00:29:19,442
-When production cast Puck,
627
00:29:19,466 --> 00:29:21,402
they knew he'd be
pretty outrageous.
628
00:29:21,426 --> 00:29:23,655
-I would never
go out like Pedro anyway.
629
00:29:23,679 --> 00:29:27,241
If I did have AIDS, I'd be in,
like, the south of France
630
00:29:27,265 --> 00:29:33,206
and Nepal and Switzerland,
and then I'd die.
631
00:29:33,230 --> 00:29:35,750
-I don't think they understood
that he would eventually
632
00:29:35,774 --> 00:29:36,960
get really, really vicious.
633
00:29:36,984 --> 00:29:38,252
-I know I don't like him,
Rachel.
634
00:29:38,276 --> 00:29:40,964
I know in three minutes.
"You're a dork."
635
00:29:40,988 --> 00:29:43,341
My stance is this... Unh-unh.
636
00:29:43,365 --> 00:29:47,553
-Puck was just
reality-TV villain asshole
637
00:29:47,577 --> 00:29:49,847
who treated him badly.
638
00:29:49,871 --> 00:29:55,061
-The problem is that Pedro
got attention from the roommates
639
00:29:55,085 --> 00:29:56,854
and was liked,
640
00:29:56,878 --> 00:30:00,757
and Puck was kind of instantly
disliked by just about everyone.
641
00:30:04,094 --> 00:30:07,407
And so there was, I think,
this resentment.
642
00:30:07,431 --> 00:30:09,701
-I told you
we were the odd couple.
643
00:30:09,725 --> 00:30:12,578
Well, you know, there's
a dirty guy and a clean guy.
644
00:30:12,602 --> 00:30:14,372
An unconfirmed gay guy.
645
00:30:14,396 --> 00:30:16,416
-What I really hate
is this whole gay thing.
646
00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:18,292
-One guy's dirty,
one guy's clean.
647
00:30:18,316 --> 00:30:20,253
You tell me.
Are we fitting the bill?
648
00:30:20,277 --> 00:30:22,171
-His personality
seemed to change
649
00:30:22,195 --> 00:30:23,881
when he knew
he was being filmed.
650
00:30:23,905 --> 00:30:26,467
-Puck's antics become
even more problematic
651
00:30:26,491 --> 00:30:28,970
as Pedro's health
begins to deteriorate.
652
00:30:28,994 --> 00:30:32,265
-Your total helper T cells
are 32 right now.
653
00:30:32,289 --> 00:30:34,642
So that's a drop for you.
654
00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:39,063
-Bad living conditions
and stress in the house,
655
00:30:39,087 --> 00:30:42,442
this stuff was negatively
affecting his health.
656
00:30:42,466 --> 00:30:45,194
-My T cell count dropped again.
657
00:30:45,218 --> 00:30:48,489
I have like maybe 30 T cells,
which is ridiculous.
658
00:30:48,513 --> 00:30:51,576
-He had, like,
no immune system left, right?
659
00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,037
Normally you have
over 500 T cells
660
00:30:54,061 --> 00:30:55,621
to measure your immunity.
661
00:30:55,645 --> 00:30:57,790
-Pedro's declining health
662
00:30:57,814 --> 00:31:00,543
only seems to fuel Puck's
bullying behavior.
663
00:31:00,567 --> 00:31:04,047
-He started getting angrier
664
00:31:04,071 --> 00:31:06,740
when attention
wasn't being paid to him.
665
00:31:09,534 --> 00:31:13,306
And it started coming out
in homophobic remarks.
666
00:31:13,330 --> 00:31:16,768
-All he talks about is how,
"Heterosexuals are this.
667
00:31:16,792 --> 00:31:18,978
And [ Spanish accent ] "I can
make fun of heterosexuals
668
00:31:19,002 --> 00:31:21,314
because you're heterosexuals."
669
00:31:21,338 --> 00:31:24,067
-And it just tended escalate.
670
00:31:24,091 --> 00:31:28,821
-He just keeps coming off
as a dick
671
00:31:28,845 --> 00:31:32,909
to someone who's trying to
do something good in the world.
672
00:31:32,933 --> 00:31:34,911
-What I heard you say,
not only tonight
673
00:31:34,935 --> 00:31:37,538
but since the first day,
is that you don't
674
00:31:37,562 --> 00:31:39,791
give a [bleep] about
what I feel.
675
00:31:39,815 --> 00:31:41,667
-What can you do about
your choice, Pedro?
676
00:31:41,691 --> 00:31:43,211
-Not live with you.
677
00:31:43,235 --> 00:31:46,631
-The tension in the house
continues to escalate
678
00:31:46,655 --> 00:31:49,300
until Pedro issues an ultimatum.
679
00:31:49,324 --> 00:31:51,260
- I am saying it right now.
- What?
680
00:31:51,284 --> 00:31:54,305
-Either I get out
or he gets out.
681
00:31:54,329 --> 00:31:57,308
So by the time I get back,
the decision has to be made.
682
00:31:57,332 --> 00:31:59,644
As long as Puck
lives in this house,
683
00:31:59,668 --> 00:32:01,962
Pedro does not live
in the house.
684
00:32:09,344 --> 00:32:10,988
-By 1994, San Francisco
has been supportive
685
00:32:11,012 --> 00:32:12,949
of gay rights for decades.
686
00:32:12,973 --> 00:32:16,452
The city elected the first
openly gay mayor in California,
687
00:32:16,476 --> 00:32:18,079
Harvey Milk.
688
00:32:18,103 --> 00:32:21,666
It also hosts the country's
largest gay pride parade.
689
00:32:21,690 --> 00:32:24,544
So when "The Real World:
San Francisco" cast is forced
690
00:32:24,568 --> 00:32:27,672
to choose
between AIDS educator Pedro
691
00:32:27,696 --> 00:32:29,465
and belligerent bully Puck...
692
00:32:29,489 --> 00:32:31,259
-Shut up. You.
693
00:32:31,283 --> 00:32:33,761
Deal with it or not,
but I'm not gonna change.
694
00:32:33,785 --> 00:32:38,516
- their decision
does their adoptive city proud.
695
00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:40,143
-I think Puck should leave.
696
00:32:40,167 --> 00:32:42,252
- He should go.
- I agree.
697
00:32:43,837 --> 00:32:46,882
{\an8}-Ultimately he is asked
to leave the house.
698
00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:51,863
-I think we would all make
the same choice, you know?
699
00:32:51,887 --> 00:32:54,866
{\an8}Do I want to live
with a Pedro or a Puck?
700
00:32:54,890 --> 00:32:56,450
{\an8}The choice is clear.
701
00:32:56,474 --> 00:32:57,910
-One thing I noticed
since Puck has left
702
00:32:57,934 --> 00:32:59,996
is that everyone
on separate occasions
703
00:33:00,020 --> 00:33:03,666
has commented about how peaceful
the house is now.
704
00:33:03,690 --> 00:33:05,543
-With Puck voted out
of the house,
705
00:33:05,567 --> 00:33:08,212
Pedro can once again
focus on his life's mission...
706
00:33:08,236 --> 00:33:11,507
Educating the country's youth
about a deadly disease.
707
00:33:11,531 --> 00:33:13,551
-I will probably not see
the age of 30.
708
00:33:13,575 --> 00:33:16,220
I will probably die
before I turn 30 years of age.
709
00:33:16,244 --> 00:33:21,934
And somehow you had to find some
type of meaning to your life.
710
00:33:21,958 --> 00:33:24,020
{\an8}♪♪
711
00:33:24,044 --> 00:33:28,357
-With his health seemingly on
the mend, Pedro is invigorated.
712
00:33:28,381 --> 00:33:30,568
"The Real World" captures
his budding relationship
713
00:33:30,592 --> 00:33:32,028
with Sean Sasser,
714
00:33:32,052 --> 00:33:36,073
a fellow AIDS educator
who's also HIV positive.
715
00:33:36,097 --> 00:33:38,659
{\an8}-MTV really did honor
Pedro's story,
716
00:33:38,683 --> 00:33:42,705
{\an8}but the genius of it
being on reality TV
717
00:33:42,729 --> 00:33:44,665
is that we got to see him
fall in love,
718
00:33:44,689 --> 00:33:47,335
and he trusted that
they were telling
719
00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:49,670
a complete story.
720
00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:52,715
-But like too many AIDS
sufferers of that decade,
721
00:33:52,739 --> 00:33:55,551
Pedro's health
eventually worsens.
722
00:33:55,575 --> 00:33:58,679
-[ Coughing ]
723
00:33:58,703 --> 00:34:00,664
-You just got warmer.
724
00:34:02,499 --> 00:34:05,311
-We're gonna have to
call the clinic.
725
00:34:05,335 --> 00:34:09,106
-As season three airs on MTV,
viewers tune in to follow along
726
00:34:09,130 --> 00:34:10,942
with Pedro's
courageous struggle.
727
00:34:10,966 --> 00:34:12,259
-No, it's going up again.
728
00:34:13,843 --> 00:34:16,197
-I found out that
my temperature was 104.
729
00:34:16,221 --> 00:34:20,117
-Pedro's incredible fame
and illness
730
00:34:20,141 --> 00:34:22,036
came both at the same time.
731
00:34:22,060 --> 00:34:24,121
-Do you know
how you contracted AIDS?
732
00:34:24,145 --> 00:34:26,457
-I know that I got it
through unprotected sex.
733
00:34:26,481 --> 00:34:27,875
-He went from being
734
00:34:27,899 --> 00:34:30,503
a very highly sought after
local speaker
735
00:34:30,527 --> 00:34:33,297
to, you know, an enormous star.
736
00:34:33,321 --> 00:34:38,970
{\an8}♪♪
737
00:34:38,994 --> 00:34:40,930
And Pedro actually got
really sick
738
00:34:40,954 --> 00:34:44,666
in the middle of doing
a bunch of this press stuff.
739
00:34:46,459 --> 00:34:51,941
He got PCP pneumonia and he was
hospitalized, but he recovered.
740
00:34:51,965 --> 00:34:55,736
-Pedro's recovery opens up
the opportunity for Sean and him
741
00:34:55,760 --> 00:35:00,157
to formalize their relationship
in another reality-TV first.
742
00:35:00,181 --> 00:35:02,159
-Had a commitment ceremony
in the house,
743
00:35:02,183 --> 00:35:04,412
which we basically, like,
threw a gay wedding
744
00:35:04,436 --> 00:35:06,664
in the house for the first time.
745
00:35:06,688 --> 00:35:09,667
-And it was a big deal.
746
00:35:09,691 --> 00:35:12,837
{\an8}You know,
it was a gay wedding in 1994,
747
00:35:12,861 --> 00:35:14,380
{\an8}you know, on television.
748
00:35:14,404 --> 00:35:17,341
-It is a lot easier for me
to face my own fears
749
00:35:17,365 --> 00:35:21,262
and face the uncertainty
of my own life,
750
00:35:21,286 --> 00:35:22,579
knowing that he's there.
751
00:35:24,456 --> 00:35:27,184
So I love you.
752
00:35:27,208 --> 00:35:29,312
-And we were
really proud of that
753
00:35:29,336 --> 00:35:30,688
because it was so meaningful.
754
00:35:30,712 --> 00:35:33,274
And it was beautiful.
755
00:35:33,298 --> 00:35:35,401
{\an8}♪♪
756
00:35:35,425 --> 00:35:38,404
-And it's a ratings bonanza
for MTV.
757
00:35:38,428 --> 00:35:40,740
- "The Real World" season three
758
00:35:40,764 --> 00:35:45,453
was like
a cultural juggernaut, right?
759
00:35:45,477 --> 00:35:51,334
-I just felt, like, so relieved
that this important story
760
00:35:51,358 --> 00:35:52,585
was gonna be out there.
761
00:35:52,609 --> 00:35:55,504
[ Monitor beeping ]
762
00:35:55,528 --> 00:35:57,256
-But soon after the wedding,
763
00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:59,675
Pedro's health declines
once again.
764
00:35:59,699 --> 00:36:03,763
{\an8}♪♪
765
00:36:03,787 --> 00:36:06,247
-What are you supposed to do
when your friend's dying?
766
00:36:07,624 --> 00:36:11,228
-Even the president is moved
by Pedro's story.
767
00:36:11,252 --> 00:36:14,106
-President Clinton called
just to check in.
768
00:36:14,130 --> 00:36:16,150
{\an8}-Hello, Pedro.
It's President Clinton.
769
00:36:16,174 --> 00:36:19,862
{\an8}I just called to tell you
I was thinking about you
and praying for you.
770
00:36:19,886 --> 00:36:23,074
- He might not be able to answer,
but he understands everything.
- Okay.
771
00:36:23,098 --> 00:36:25,910
-Bill Clinton arranged
for his siblings
772
00:36:25,934 --> 00:36:30,581
who were still in Cuba
to be able to come to America,
773
00:36:30,605 --> 00:36:34,001
knowing that Pedro
was probably dying.
774
00:36:34,025 --> 00:36:36,921
{\an8}♪♪
775
00:36:36,945 --> 00:36:41,008
-At that time, Pedro was like
a significant cultural figure.
776
00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:45,721
And Pedro was, you know,
people's friend by now.
777
00:36:45,745 --> 00:36:49,600
So if you're under
the age of 30,
778
00:36:49,624 --> 00:36:52,561
"The Real World"
was a real event.
779
00:36:52,585 --> 00:36:55,648
-The day after the final episode
780
00:36:55,672 --> 00:36:59,068
of "The Real World:
San Francisco" airs on MTV,
781
00:36:59,092 --> 00:37:01,987
America's friend dies in Miami.
782
00:37:02,011 --> 00:37:05,241
[ Flatline beeps ]
783
00:37:05,265 --> 00:37:09,495
-Pedro Zamora, teenage AIDS
activist and MTV personality,
784
00:37:09,519 --> 00:37:11,354
was only 22 years old.
785
00:37:14,190 --> 00:37:17,378
-Pam and I were with Pedro
when he passed away,
786
00:37:17,402 --> 00:37:20,256
and he died without any pain.
787
00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,074
And he died
with his family around him.
788
00:37:24,951 --> 00:37:29,473
-Today, 1,500 people attended
a memorial service for Zamora
789
00:37:29,497 --> 00:37:30,891
in Miami Beach.
790
00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:32,977
-People really felt
connected to him.
791
00:37:33,001 --> 00:37:37,422
And so when, you know, when
he died, people were devastated.
792
00:37:39,007 --> 00:37:41,068
-It's very, very rare
that you have an experience
793
00:37:41,092 --> 00:37:42,695
where you're a part of something
794
00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:44,905
that is so much bigger
than yourself.
795
00:37:44,929 --> 00:37:46,598
And, uh...
796
00:37:48,558 --> 00:37:52,312
And I'm very conscious of that.
Still.
797
00:37:55,023 --> 00:37:57,376
-As tragic as it was and is,
798
00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:01,839
{\an8}it's really incredible what
that season of "Real World" did
799
00:38:01,863 --> 00:38:04,091
for everyone's
understanding of HIV.
800
00:38:04,115 --> 00:38:06,177
-Now no one in America can say
801
00:38:06,201 --> 00:38:09,305
they've never known someone
who's living with AIDS.
802
00:38:09,329 --> 00:38:12,349
The challenge to each of us
is to do something about it.
803
00:38:12,373 --> 00:38:14,268
-It really made a lot
of difference
804
00:38:14,292 --> 00:38:15,769
and a lot of change.
805
00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:18,606
It's an incredible moment
in television history.
806
00:38:18,630 --> 00:38:22,026
-But if the history of
television teaches us anything
807
00:38:22,050 --> 00:38:23,819
its that the show must go on.
808
00:38:23,843 --> 00:38:28,199
And as MTV pumps out follow-up
seasons of "The Real World,"
809
00:38:28,223 --> 00:38:31,285
the genuine emotion of the first
three seasons will be replaced
810
00:38:31,309 --> 00:38:34,121
by something darker
and more unsettling.
811
00:38:34,145 --> 00:38:35,730
[ Glass breaking ]
- Oh!
812
00:38:40,193 --> 00:38:42,796
-The death
of 22-year-old Pedro Zamora
813
00:38:42,820 --> 00:38:44,840
and the attention he brings
to "The Real World"
814
00:38:44,864 --> 00:38:47,176
marks a new era for MTV.
815
00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,596
-The success
that "The Real World" had
816
00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:53,599
begat a hunger for more
and more reality programing
817
00:38:53,623 --> 00:38:55,142
from the execs at MTV.
818
00:38:55,166 --> 00:38:57,895
-But the tone of reality
programs is shifting.
819
00:38:57,919 --> 00:39:00,314
Talk shows like "Jerry Springer"
demonstrate audiences
820
00:39:00,338 --> 00:39:02,441
will show up for confrontation.
821
00:39:02,465 --> 00:39:04,443
-What are you gonna do,
[bleep] hit me with your walker?
822
00:39:04,467 --> 00:39:05,986
-No, with this!
823
00:39:06,010 --> 00:39:08,239
-The more fistfights
and depravity, the better.
824
00:39:08,263 --> 00:39:10,741
MTV responds
with "Real World" spin-offs
825
00:39:10,765 --> 00:39:12,701
where conflict
takes center stage.
826
00:39:12,725 --> 00:39:14,912
-If I'm being a bitch,
I'm so sorry. I'm human.
827
00:39:14,936 --> 00:39:17,164
I can't be Mrs. Nice Person
all the time.
828
00:39:17,188 --> 00:39:21,210
-So "Road Rules,"
which is "Real World" in an R.V.
829
00:39:21,234 --> 00:39:24,797
And then there's enough alumni
from both of those shows
830
00:39:24,821 --> 00:39:26,465
that you can put them
back together
831
00:39:26,489 --> 00:39:28,968
and have the "Real World/
Road Rules Challenge,"
832
00:39:28,992 --> 00:39:31,303
where they're, like,
beating each other up
833
00:39:31,327 --> 00:39:32,930
and playing paintball
or whatever.
834
00:39:32,954 --> 00:39:35,641
{\an8}-The shift in reality
is on full display
835
00:39:35,665 --> 00:39:38,978
{\an8}when the show's producers
shoot a reunion special
836
00:39:39,002 --> 00:39:41,564
and it quickly devolves
into performative conflict.
837
00:39:41,588 --> 00:39:44,066
-What'd you say about Pedro
when he died?!
838
00:39:44,090 --> 00:39:46,986
-You said, "Good riddance,"
didn't you?! "Everywhere!
839
00:39:47,010 --> 00:39:51,115
If you're gay and you have AIDS,
you deserve to get it."
- Get off your soapbox, Judd.
840
00:39:51,139 --> 00:39:54,410
That's what you [bleep] said!
Tell me you didn't say it!
841
00:39:54,434 --> 00:39:56,704
-Your mother's my secret lover.
842
00:39:56,728 --> 00:40:00,249
-Looking back on it,
it's even more egregious
843
00:40:00,273 --> 00:40:05,004
That kind of personality
just does not age well.
844
00:40:05,028 --> 00:40:06,338
-For the second time,
845
00:40:06,362 --> 00:40:08,424
Puck is kicked out of
"The Real World."
846
00:40:08,448 --> 00:40:09,717
-Take yourself out of here,
then.
847
00:40:09,741 --> 00:40:11,385
-Oh, you know what?
848
00:40:11,409 --> 00:40:12,761
[ Cheers and applause ]
849
00:40:12,785 --> 00:40:16,849
-Youth audience,
they devour content
850
00:40:16,873 --> 00:40:18,350
and it burns really bright.
851
00:40:18,374 --> 00:40:20,436
The stuff they love
burns really bright.
852
00:40:20,460 --> 00:40:22,229
Then it would burn out,
and they're looking for
the next thing.
853
00:40:22,253 --> 00:40:26,525
And I think that's why you see
things change and become louder.
854
00:40:26,549 --> 00:40:28,319
[ Crash ]
- [ Screaming ]
855
00:40:28,343 --> 00:40:31,905
-That's what contestants are
doing on MTV's new game show,
856
00:40:31,929 --> 00:40:33,365
"Trashed."
857
00:40:33,389 --> 00:40:36,410
-It became almost like, uh...
like crack.
858
00:40:36,434 --> 00:40:37,995
Like, you just had to keep going
859
00:40:38,019 --> 00:40:41,040
and getting your next fix,
the next reality idea.
860
00:40:41,064 --> 00:40:43,626
And how do we cut through,
how do we make things different,
861
00:40:43,650 --> 00:40:44,752
how do we make things bigger?
862
00:40:44,776 --> 00:40:46,962
-But bigger isn't always better.
863
00:40:46,986 --> 00:40:48,589
For "The Real World,"
864
00:40:48,613 --> 00:40:51,550
the authentic reality on display
in its initial seasons
865
00:40:51,574 --> 00:40:55,471
is replaced by vapid battles
over airtime and attention.
866
00:40:55,495 --> 00:40:58,724
-By the end of the decade,
the show was very focused
867
00:40:58,748 --> 00:41:01,477
on partying, drinking,
868
00:41:01,501 --> 00:41:04,521
hooking up with one another,
and getting in fistfights.
869
00:41:04,545 --> 00:41:06,982
-First he was beating me up,
but then I start to come back.
870
00:41:07,006 --> 00:41:09,401
-This is the time
when "Girls Gone Wild" videos
871
00:41:09,425 --> 00:41:10,861
are being sold.
872
00:41:10,885 --> 00:41:13,155
This all becomes entertainment,
873
00:41:13,179 --> 00:41:15,199
seeing young people gone wild.
874
00:41:15,223 --> 00:41:18,744
And this becomes
a golden formula for MTV.
875
00:41:18,768 --> 00:41:20,829
-Turn on the video monitor that
has a camera over the hot tub.
876
00:41:20,853 --> 00:41:23,207
They were really enjoying
themselves in that hot tub.
877
00:41:23,231 --> 00:41:25,626
-It's all they want.
Hookups and hot tubs.
878
00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:26,794
That's what they love.
879
00:41:26,818 --> 00:41:30,297
-It certainly works hand in hand
880
00:41:30,321 --> 00:41:33,092
with the shift
in generations from,
881
00:41:33,116 --> 00:41:36,512
you know, the initial generation
that MTV was was catering to
882
00:41:36,536 --> 00:41:37,888
was Generation X.
883
00:41:37,912 --> 00:41:39,390
By the late '90s,
884
00:41:39,414 --> 00:41:42,309
it has shifted its attention
to millennials.
885
00:41:42,333 --> 00:41:44,186
-I'm back in!
886
00:41:44,210 --> 00:41:49,233
-Millennials are very interested
in branding themselves.
887
00:41:49,257 --> 00:41:51,068
[ Laughter ]
888
00:41:51,092 --> 00:41:53,737
-They just wanted to get famous
and be seen.
889
00:41:53,761 --> 00:41:55,114
It would make a show suffer.
890
00:41:55,138 --> 00:41:56,949
-That got bad news
written all over it.
891
00:41:56,973 --> 00:41:58,283
-Then there's "Jackass."
892
00:41:58,307 --> 00:42:00,077
-Oh! Oh!
893
00:42:00,101 --> 00:42:01,620
-As the millennium hits,
894
00:42:01,644 --> 00:42:05,207
MTV redefines reality TV
once again with "Jackass,"
895
00:42:05,231 --> 00:42:08,001
introducing audiences
to stunts and pranks
896
00:42:08,025 --> 00:42:10,921
that test
the limits of good taste, humor,
897
00:42:10,945 --> 00:42:12,464
and human endurance.
898
00:42:12,488 --> 00:42:15,300
-As happens a lot
in pop culture,
899
00:42:15,324 --> 00:42:18,929
something happens
that the smart people think
900
00:42:18,953 --> 00:42:20,431
is gonna be a gimmick,
901
00:42:20,455 --> 00:42:22,683
and then it's like...
Then it explodes.
902
00:42:22,707 --> 00:42:24,810
Then reality TV is a thing.
903
00:42:24,834 --> 00:42:27,146
{\an8}♪♪
904
00:42:27,170 --> 00:42:30,441
And now it's 90%
of every network,
905
00:42:30,465 --> 00:42:32,484
and there are
a thousand networks.
906
00:42:32,508 --> 00:42:33,569
It's crazy.
907
00:42:33,593 --> 00:42:35,446
-Reality TV rolls on,
908
00:42:35,470 --> 00:42:37,865
and its legacy
will always be linked
909
00:42:37,889 --> 00:42:40,242
to the pioneers
who broke first ground.
910
00:42:40,266 --> 00:42:42,578
-Pam and I went through
the nonsense together.
911
00:42:42,602 --> 00:42:46,790
We met on this
crazy television show.
912
00:42:46,814 --> 00:42:51,879
We fell in love, we got married,
we have two kids.
913
00:42:51,903 --> 00:42:53,839
We have a house, jobs, lives.
914
00:42:53,863 --> 00:42:56,967
That's not what's supposed
to happen with reality TV.
915
00:42:56,991 --> 00:42:59,970
-Reality TV has an opportunity
916
00:42:59,994 --> 00:43:04,641
to show people
as they really are.
917
00:43:04,665 --> 00:43:06,334
But we're not doing that.
918
00:43:09,045 --> 00:43:11,523
-In the '90s, we had
an aspect of our lives
919
00:43:11,547 --> 00:43:13,275
that we were trying
to share with people,
920
00:43:13,299 --> 00:43:17,386
not every waking moment
of our lives.
921
00:43:20,598 --> 00:43:23,327
-The directive is
kind of different now,
922
00:43:23,351 --> 00:43:26,413
but to have been in the nucleus
of that thing
923
00:43:26,437 --> 00:43:30,399
during the time that I was
is, like, such an honor.
924
00:43:31,776 --> 00:43:36,465
-The power of a kind of silly
TV show has
925
00:43:36,489 --> 00:43:39,593
to affect people's behavior for,
926
00:43:39,617 --> 00:43:44,640
{\an8}you know, three decades after
is really striking.
927
00:43:44,664 --> 00:43:52,664
{\an8}♪♪
928
00:43:53,422 --> 00:43:55,192
{\an8}-We did go through
a lot together
929
00:43:55,216 --> 00:43:57,027
{\an8}and it's, you know...
930
00:43:57,051 --> 00:44:01,365
{\an8}we'll always be connected in
a very deep and meaningful way.
931
00:44:01,389 --> 00:44:03,367
{\an8}♪♪
932
00:44:03,391 --> 00:44:05,476
{\an8}It was a wild experience.