MTV's The Real World: “The Ryan & Chet Show, starring Katelynn”

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MTV's The Real World: “The Ryan & Chet Show, starring Katelynn”

So.

MTV [1]'s “The Real World [2].”

As the introductory episode, our cast is presented for the first time; my gut
reaction to each member as they're introduced:

Ryan [3]

Small town soldier with average intelligence; he can play the guitar
but could use some singing lessons, but he should not give up his day
job. He's not much better at the lyrics either.
Katelynn [4]

Pretty much the Katelynn I know, although she comes across a bit more
reserved, a bit more mature and not quite as wild as I remember.
Chet [5]

Ah, Chet. Tight clothes. Purples and pinks. Yeah, I totally believe
you're a straight-laced Mormon and not a closetted raging homosexual
(not that there's anything wrong with that [6]). That you make your
own clothes is just icing on the cake. No really! I believe you!
Devyn [7]

My, what … large tracks of … land you have! And no question at all
that she's won a few pageants. Wow.
Baya [8]

Cute, but the dancing reminds me of the type of dancing Elizabeth
Berkley [9] has done. But I believe her when she says she's not
Mormon.
Sarah [10]

Okay, it's clear that none of these people aren't hansome, beautiful
or cute. But, come on … a former lesbian who's found “love-forevah!”
with a man? Isn't that a cliché? A man's “wishful thinking”?
Especially for a girl from San Francisco? Sigh.
JD [11]

Nice enough guy. Seems straightforward, but isn't straight at all.
And a dolphin trainer. Pretty cool, being a tutor to heir apparent of
the throne of France [12] at age 22.
Scott [13]

Beefcake. 2% body fat and six-pack abs to die for. <sarcasm>I hate
him already.</sarcasm> Could be straight. Could be gay. Hard to say—
we'll have to see how this plays out (and it's clear that the
majority of the cast is in lust with him).

I'm not sure how much control Katelynn (or any of the “cast”) had over their
protrayals, or even the opening introductory segments, but for Katelynn, I
think it would have been dramatically better for her transgender status to
come out later in the series and not blown right up front. Then again, given
the publicity of the show so far, perhaps the producers knew they couldn't
keep this a secret, so let the audience in on her status early.

Obligatory Sidebar Links

* Meet the Real World Brooklynites [14]
* Bash Compactor: Theyve Stopped Being Polite, Started Getting Real [15]

Anyway, while this show was ostensibly to introduce us to the eight [DELETED-
contestants-DELETED] member cast, the show really ended up being the “Ryan &
Chet Show, starring Kaytelynn.” Ryan was determined to figure out what
exactly, was “up” with Katelynn (apparently when filming started, no one else
knew she was transgendered), and Chet, naïve Mormonnite that he is, appeared
totally enthralled with Ryan and his wonderful singing (I swear, Chet is so
deep in the closet it's a surprise he's not in Narnia [16] by now).

They both come across as insensitive clods; perhaps the producers playing up
their provincial upbringing? In any case, as presented, I don't care for
either of them (neither does Bunny, who suffered through the show to watch
our friend Katelynn).

The rest of the cast don't get as much character development. JD does reveal
he's gay to Ray and Chet, and when he takes Katelynn out to dinner she
reveals to him that she's transgendered (he took her out to make her feel
more welcome, being a bit of an outsider himself). But that's about as much
character development as we get from the “Ryan & Chet Show starring
Katelynn.” But there's still eleven weeks to go.

[1] http://www.mtv.com/
[2] http://realworld.mtv.com/
[3] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10601
[4] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10603
[5] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10597
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outing
[7] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10598
[8] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10596
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showgirls
[10] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10600
[11] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10599
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dauphin_of_France
[13] http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/real_world_brooklyn/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=10602
[14] http://gothamist.com/2008/12/04/meet_the_real_world_brooklynites.php
[15] http://www.nypress.com/article-18931-bash-compactor-theyrsve-stopped-being-polite-started-getting-real.html
[16] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe#Plot_summary

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