“Find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...” is the phrase that started off a reality T.V. revolution. Long before shows like “Big Brother” and “Jersey Shore” hit the airwaves featuring ordinary people living together in a house, MTV’s the “Real World” introduced the viewing audience to the ultimate social experiment. After finishing its 24th season this week in New Orleans, the “Real World” remains a staple in the world of reality

Courtesy of MTV.com

This past season in New Orleans failed to disappoint. However, if you like your episodes filled with fights, love triangles and drunken roommates, this may not have been the best season for you. Sure there was Ryan’s unexplainable behavior (was he bipolar or just crazy?) and Knight and Jemmye’s more than just friends relationship, but nevertheless, this past season lacked the immature and irresponsible behavior seen in countless seasons before—think “Real World Cancun”. This time around, I actually liked every roommate at some point and surprisingly, they all seemed real.

In this day and age, shows certainly come and go. While getting renewed for a second season is at times a miracle, this MTV series continues to succeed. Next season is planned to debut in early 2011 and will take place in Las Vegas. Past seasons have had only thirty-minute episodes, but MTV is now extending each episode to a one hour slot.

Finally, the "Real World" created several successful spin-offs, known as the “Real World/Road Rules Challenges.”

“The Ruins,” “The Gauntlet,” and  “The Island” are just some of the many challenge series that have brought together the craziest, most competitive and most fame-obsessed roommates for a shot at a huge cash prize. Debuting October 6, MTV is introducing “The Challenge: Cutthroat.” To nobody’s surprise, some of the contestants are so familiar, you may ask yourself, aren’t they on every season? Katie from “Road Rules,” Paula and Johnny from Key West and Brad from San Diego are just some of the regulars returning once again. 

Don’t get too upset though, there are still some fresh faces to bring in new drama and craziness. Friends Emilee and Ayiiia from Cancun and Melinda from Austin decide to step up and join the all-star cast in the new season. 

No matter what time of the year it is, MTV will always have a new challenge or new season of the “Real World” that will keep viewers glued to the network. We can all bow down to the longest running show on MTV and one of the longest running reality T.V. shows in American history. Even with all the creative shows that have appeared over the years, the “Real World” is a show you can always go to as a guilty pleasure. Who knew “eight strangers... picked to live in a house...[who] work together and have their lives taped” could be so great. 

Reach Columnist Mike Vulpo here.