Living in The Real World
Greg Desautels, WG'05
Issue date: 10/11/04 Section: Insider
The cast is your typical Real World lineup: A good-looking ex-college football wide receiver; a pretty college student with an ugly boyfriend and a delinquent father; a wide-eyed, happy-go-lucky boy from rural Wisconsin; a perky blond you're not sure what to make of yet; an "emotional" African-American male who struggles to adjust; a fun, friendly gay Puerto Rican guy; and the token girl who is "comfortable with her sexuality." It's the tried-and-true mix of young, attractive, potentially explosive personalities, all of which will likely provide enough drama, sex and partying to fill 18 episodes.
So four episodes in, what's going on? First off , Haramo, the guy we expect will be one of the show's stereotypes, "the angry black guy," has turned out to not only fill that niche, but it turns out he is also gay. (This is quite a 1-2 punch for one character to fill both of those roles.) TRW Philadelphia also marks the first time ever that two of the seven characters are openly gay. It also turns out the girl you thought was going to be just a slutty bimbo (Sarah) is actually serving as the wise woman of the house, the calmer head, the person we would say exhibits the most Emotional Intelligence.
Last week the gang also got their "work" assignment: working for the Philadelphia Soul, the Arena League football team co-owned by Jon Bon Jovi. (I must caveat my remarks by saying that I participated in the Philadelphia Soul Field Application Project here at Wharton last Spring). Nevertheless, after one episode of "working" for the team, the cast has already been on the field, met Bon Jovi and got free stuff. Now it's true, we did get to watch a pep rally concert, hang with the fans at a game (doing interviews), and accept, on behalf of the school, a signed Bon Jovi electric guitar. But from one episode of Real World-Soul interaction, I can safely say that the MTV brand carries more weight than that of The Wharton School.
Watching the show has been entertaining. The city shots actually make Philadelphia look like a desirable place to live: fun, hip, cool. (This was no doubt a huge win for the city, at least in the eyes of those in city hall.) The episodes have already followed the cast to Shampoo, Fox and Hound, Swanky Bubbles and Bump. Their "home" gym, Philadelphia Sports Club, has made several appearances. The gang even ventured to University City, lunching at Pod and shopping at Smith Bros.
So four episodes in, what's going on? First off , Haramo, the guy we expect will be one of the show's stereotypes, "the angry black guy," has turned out to not only fill that niche, but it turns out he is also gay. (This is quite a 1-2 punch for one character to fill both of those roles.) TRW Philadelphia also marks the first time ever that two of the seven characters are openly gay. It also turns out the girl you thought was going to be just a slutty bimbo (Sarah) is actually serving as the wise woman of the house, the calmer head, the person we would say exhibits the most Emotional Intelligence.
Last week the gang also got their "work" assignment: working for the Philadelphia Soul, the Arena League football team co-owned by Jon Bon Jovi. (I must caveat my remarks by saying that I participated in the Philadelphia Soul Field Application Project here at Wharton last Spring). Nevertheless, after one episode of "working" for the team, the cast has already been on the field, met Bon Jovi and got free stuff. Now it's true, we did get to watch a pep rally concert, hang with the fans at a game (doing interviews), and accept, on behalf of the school, a signed Bon Jovi electric guitar. But from one episode of Real World-Soul interaction, I can safely say that the MTV brand carries more weight than that of The Wharton School.
Watching the show has been entertaining. The city shots actually make Philadelphia look like a desirable place to live: fun, hip, cool. (This was no doubt a huge win for the city, at least in the eyes of those in city hall.) The episodes have already followed the cast to Shampoo, Fox and Hound, Swanky Bubbles and Bump. Their "home" gym, Philadelphia Sports Club, has made several appearances. The gang even ventured to University City, lunching at Pod and shopping at Smith Bros.