When I first heard the upcoming season of the Real World was going to be in New Orleans I was annoyed. The show has already taped one season in New Orleans and has yet to tape in several other worthy cities like Portland, Phoenix, Charleston, Atlanta or Memphis. Then I watched the premiere.
In the opening episode I was immediately struck by a few things: first, this house is one hundred times more beautiful than the house the first New Orleans cast lived in. It looks like an old school, Southern estate. Its not just blinged out, its stunning, romantic and whimsical.
This cast is one of the more diverse I have seen in terms of personality types. The first person to rub everyone the wrong way is Ryan. He's a hair dresser and highly volatile. He claims to be very emotional and still hung up on his ex girlfriend. He has already offended two of his other castmates, just on night one.
I am loving Eric, an international relations specialist who has the most gorgeous skin and silver, sparkling eyes (hello, reality TV crush). He hasn't gotten much screen time yet, but I look forward to seeing more.
I am also enjoying Preston who is openly gay and fabulous. He is from Boston (represent!) and has been nothing but warm to his roommates. Ashley is also from Boston and went to Northeastern on a full basketball scholarship. Oh, and she has Angelina Jolie lips.
I've spotted three trouble makers, just in the first hour. Jemmye, from Mississippi, and clearly has some kind of warped relationship with men; McKenzie, who is from Jupiter, FL (where my grandparents live) and seems to be innocent but is actually a drunk; and Knight, a hockey player working his way back from addiction. I want to root for him, but New Orleans doesn't seem the best place to work on your "clean" lifestyle.
Lastly is Sahar, who is from Dearborn, MI where she lives in an almost exclusively Muslim community. She has recently met someone she feels a great connection with, but decided to come into this experience single. She is quite beautiful and actually reminds me of Ruthie from the Real World Hawaii.
Bravo MTV for sucking me in again! I look forward to seeing the drama unfold with your new crop of twentysomethings in the home of Mardi Gras.
