DC WRAP: Real World Go Big or Go Home - Disaster from Down Under

BY DC CUEVA                           

> @DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

In the midst of what has been a very exciting stretch of events, welcome again to DCBLOG as we bring you post 2 of covering Episode 3 of Real World: Go Big or Go Home, before tonight's 4th episode as we find out if someone will be going home from Las Vegas.
   Last week, we saw Jenna having a striptease against her wishes, Dione cause girl drama after hooking up with Kailah, CeeJai celebrating her birthday and the group having fun in the desert on all-terrain vehicles. But an injury to Jenna may cause her to become the first castmate to leave Las Vegas for not completing a mission, and we'll find out her fate tonight.
   Now with a cliffhanger to that episode last week, plus work on a special blog post coming up this weekend, we'll recap for you in our Episode 4 posts. For this Week 3 edition of the WRAP, we'll just name winners of the night and have more fan reaction. But there's no shortage of stories here, and coming up we'll look at the Vegas experience of the three RW Vegas casts and how it compares to my experiences in Sin City. Plus, we'll look at the history of this franchise from a musical point of view, and we'll catch up with a recent Real World alum who has made it big in the world of fashion.

   Join DCBLOG after the jump for another edition of the Real World WRAP.

 WINNERS OF THE NIGHT 

As we'll save the Things to Know episode wrap for an extended EP 3&4 section here next week, we begin with the WOTN for this week. And there's only one for Episode 3...
● CeeJai: She's already been a winner of the night in being so brave in opening up on that fateful night in her life back in the premiere. In episode 3, she got to celebrate her birthday in only a way that a trip to Las Vegas would bring: having a night in your honor at the club and going ATV'ing as well. And yes, there was also the surreal moment she had of celebrating this day without her parents and it was emotional to see her tear up knowing that for each b'day she has from here on in, the only family she has to mark this occasion are her inner circle of friends, cousins and this RW cast.

#DCSocialPulse EXTRA: FAN'S VIEW

Now, for this week's Fan's View and more fan reaction.

> 'Pulse Extra: Fan's View
@dc408dxnow: Well, off to Vegas again for Real World. Last week, we had sex in bed, walking in drag and a search for mom. How about this week?
@dc408dxnow: Kailah & Jenna trying to get into a Rivals season. And we see Dean w/ the bear suit. And CeeJai celebrating a bday today in Vegas.
@dc408dxnow: The girls are looking at those fine-looking guys enjoying the sun. And now, an impromptu session of the fun stuff to say the least.
@dc408dxnow: As someone should give Sabrina a tissue, Jenna talking to boyfriend Austin back in SC. And they've got date at strip club on the weekend
@dc408dxnow: After the hookup last week, Dione & Kailah aren't looking at each other. And the girls talking to her of now to deal with him here
@dc408dxnow: They're at the strip club & gonna have fun w/ the Aussies. CeeJai on stage, then the others enjoying their company, except Jenna in the back
@dc408dxnow: Well, Jenna didn't want to do this, but gets pulled up to do it anyway. What an awkward feeling to be onstage w/ those Aussies. #DCRealWorld
@dc408dxnow: So, I blew that call there. But it felt like a mission in the girls all having to do that thing w/ the strippers.
@dc408dxnow: Well, Jenna & Chris have left the club knowing she F'd up to put it bluntly. Chris giving her some comforting words after all of that.
@dc408dxnow: Dione has his favorite gadget in that hover board as he & Kailah talk about Amanda. And Dean is on there too. It's just about everywhere.
@dc408dxnow: Jenna emailing Austin about that night. She's worried that this thing is dunzo and she's freaking out. And CeeJai having words w/ her.
@dc408dxnow: And Amanda ringing up Dione and he tells her about that Kailah hookup. Ensures her this is just a one night stand, nothing serious.
@dc408dxnow: Jenna talking with Austin back home & now to Chris and we're learning more about how tough a life she's had before going to LV.
@dc408dxnow: As Jenna & Chris are staying back, the others enjoying the social room w/ all those games occupying the former casino floor at GS.
@dc408dxnow: Learning about Jenna, always remember there's more to these people than what we see on camera, their backstories are always fascinating.
@dc408dxnow: Sabrina & Kailah looking for toothpaste. Now, the group going ATV'ing for CeeJai's bday. This should be fun in this Vegas playground.
@dc408dxnow: We saw this last time we were in LV. Jenna best suited to this, like what we saw w/ Dustin. And oh no, she's fallen off. But she's OK.
@dc408dxnow: And CeeJai goes down. But in all, a good day to have some fun & take a break from this drama. Literally thought we'd see TJ there.
@dc408dxnow: Oh dear, this is a painful moment for @MTVCeeJai as she cries in the confessional knowing her parents are not with her to celebrate this day
@dc408dxnow: CeeJai and Kailah headed off for a walk. Everyone else making bday girl a cake as Jenna's making this. Now they're at SLS for this occasion.
@dc408dxnow: And what a moment for @MTVCeeJai as she has a night in her honor at SLS on the Strip & she's enjoying this with her second family. Amazing.
@dc408dxnow: The Jenna & Austin story dominating this EP tonight. It's that one night that has affected her & has likely spelled the end of all this.
@dc408dxnow: Jenna crying as Chris listens. Kailah eavesdropping and not happy being called a B here. I suppose they'll be fireworks headed our way.
@dc408dxnow: Now the next mission... Underwater in 24 hours, or next week perhaps. Jenna doesn't want it, CeeJai is scared of heights.
@dc408dxnow: Well, Matt the producer tells Jenna she won't participate due to a injury by doctors orders. Maybe a new person coming? That's next week...

@CSUGradAkirk: Just got done watching #RealWorldGoBig glad @MTVCeeJai  got a good amount of air time love her as much as @kailah_casillas  and @itSabrinaK
RR
‏@BringMeYourTorc:@BringMeYourTorc It's obvious that @kailah_casillas & @ChallengeMTV go together like PB & J. What do you think, @RealWorldMTV? #RealWorldGoBig

- @kailah_casillas: @BringMeYourTorc
I THINK SO!
@BringMeYourTorc: @BringMeYourTorc
Awwww @jenstaxo & @MTV_CHRISTOPHER are bonding 🙂 #RealWorldGoBig
@BringMeYourTorc: @BringMeYourTorc
This seems like some @mtv cross promotion between @kailah_casillas & @MTVAwkward! #RealWorldGoBig
@BringMeYourTorc: @BringMeYourTorc
@MTVCeeJai 😕❤️❤️❤️

@KyleMcCann24: I'm ready for #RealWorldGoBig @jenstaxo @MTV_Dean @kailah_casillas @MTV_CHRISTOPHER @itSabrinaK @MTVCeeJai @MTVDIONE @MTV #MTV

- @MTV: @KyleMcCann24 it's gonna be a good one! #RealWorldGoBig
@KyleMcCann24: @MTV I LOVE Jenna!! if I got to meet her one day, there's a good chance I'd faint multiple times. #RealWorldGoBig
@KyleMcCann24: @kailah_casillas Dione may not know how he feels about you but I love you #RealWorldGoBig
@KyleMcCann24: Damn @MTVCeeJai got me tearing up over here, stay strong girl! #RealWorldGoBig
@KyleMcCann24: I'm in love with @kailah_casillas she's so beautiful & down to earth. #FutureWife haha #RealWorldGoBig
@KyleMcCann24: @jenstaxo Hey Jen, thank u for letting me share this with u. When I turned 21 I began partying a lot more than normal (obv) I had a great job that I started in 2006 (seasonal job at a golf course), had awesome friends, everything was great. Fast forward a few years & things at my job started to get more & more uncomfortable, my boss was a real jerk off. He would flip out & throw shit at me & the other employees & the tipping process was a joke, it was a private country club so the members tipped us. Anyway I was out one night at a bar playing beer pong & I met this girl Breanna & we immediately became great friends, she was always there for me no matter what. She was a U.S. Marine for 5 years, she also worked with autistic kids post military she was an amazing person. One day while I'm at work I get this phone call that my friend Breanna had passed away & I literally went into a state of shock. She got the call to go back into active duty in the Marines & she didn't want to so she took her own life & after that my life spiraled out of control i got myself fired from my job (purposely) after that began drinking no longer socially but to cope with the pain of losing her, in 2012 I quit drinking the first month was the hardest ended up in the hospital got diagnosed with anxiety & I'm on medication for the rest of my life for it. I was in a real dark place & I thank God every single day I was able to pull out of it. After tonight's episode the show, I really felt the need to share this story with you & say that no matter what NEVER GIVE UP no matter how bad things are, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

In that last tweet there, I've also included a deep story that one of the fans featured, Kyle, told Jenna about a tough situation in his life that he went through. It's hearing these stories from fans who tell the cast about them and speaks to how relatable and personal the Real World is all about, which is unique in the Trifecta.

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As the Episode 3 Things to Know recap is being tabled to our Episode 4 posts, the rest of this DC WRAP will be devoted to original essays looking at this Real World from a personal and a musical view.

 DC FORUM 

THE VEGAS EXPERIENCE

Over the years, we've seen the Real World casts take advantage of their new surroundings and check out what their new city can offer. So far this season in Vegas, we've seen the cast bungee jump out of a hot-air balloon, go to a strip club, riding on the ATV's, raise lanterns at night and are about to enjoy a day at the pool, just as they did at the Golden Palace hotel in enjoying this city's famous weekend pool parties. And there's plenty more ahead as we've crossed the quarter-pole of season 31.
   Las Vegas is often called "America's greatest playground," and with good reason. Yes, there's gambling, clubbing and entertainment, but there's also so many great activities beyond the casinos that bring visitors from all over the world to this great city. The town is a shopper's paradise with Forum Shops and Fashion Show Mall on the Strip, while it's become a top dining destination for top chefs doing their thing here in a town once known for their cheap buffets. The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are within driving distance, while golfers can enjoy playing the many courses in Clark County - among the many sports attractions here.

   The Vegas cast have taken advantage of the city's wide-ranging activities in the past two seasons in addition to this Go Big or Go Home season. On the first Vegas season, we saw Alton go rock-climbing out in the Red Rocks area, while the Road Rules Campus Crawl team came by to do a mini-Challenge of sorts. We even saw future Challenge vet Rachel and company go into the Palms suite and handcuff Steven to that same hot tub that he, Trishelle & Brynn had their threesome. This was the closest you can get to a crossover outside of Challenge land.
   We saw even more of these great activities in the show's second trip to Sin City. Dustin definitely took advantage of his competitive side emerging in riding go-karts (even if Mike Mike couldn't stand it) and then going motocrossing later on. He and the girls also got to jump off the world's largest free-standing tower, the Stratosphere Tower, from some 900 feet above. We saw Adam and Dustin go riding on a bull when the PBR was in town, helping out at a homeless shelter, and working on the Dew Tour when it took place there (it was the same event where TJ Lavin crashed).

   Typically when I'm in Vegas, I very much follow the same playbook in balancing being a sightseer, gambling a little bit and all else during the time I'm there. I first visited Las Vegas as a 10-year-old in summer 1994 when the city was marketed as a family destination, a far cry from now where the town is now catered more to the adults as their own Disneyland. It wouldn't be until some 13 years later that I would return there, and it's become almost a regular occurance since for me to travel there for pleasure. I've been to Vegas seven times, most recently last October just as filming of this Real World season was starting up.

   I have something in common with CeeJai: the both of us have celebrated our birthdays in Las Vegas. We saw her celebrate her b'day in Vegas in EP 3, while I got to celebrate my 26th there some seven years ago. When I was there that November 2009 week, the weather was actually cooler as the city is in a desert setting it isn't all 90's all year round. It also happened to be fight week for Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, and a must for any sports fan is to be in town for a big boxing or MMA event and even if you don't have tickets, just being there for the atmosphere is immense.

   My cousin Jason also celebrated his bday in Vegas a year later, which also doubled as the first mega-trip of sorts where me and all of our cousins got to go for the first time by ourselves, and was probably the best trip I've ever had. We arrived in town by riding a limo to our hotel (my first time riding a limo), met that former boy band member Joey Fatone while we took part in The Price is Right Live show, went to a concert, and spotted Pete Rose as well. These two pieces of travelogue are only part of my Vegas stories from over the years.
   Obviously, Sin City is the biggest tourism destination west of the Mississippi and you can't go anywhere nowadays without seeing an advertisement for anything related to this city. So far, the cast has been enjoying this town as much as I do, and there's so much to see and do in and around the valley. It's on anyone's bucket list to go to this town, try lady luck and enjoy the 24/7 excitement that this town is renowned for, and after you watch this season you might want to consider taking a trip.

 THE LOOK 

A MUSICAL HISTORY OF THE REAL WORLD (and the Trifecta)

Okay, so you might get on MTV for the first letter in the channel's original name not showing up as prominently much today as it was back in 1992. But over the course of its 25 year run as its longest-running show, The Real World has seen musicians move into the house and hone their craft, and for a moment put the M back in the channel's name.

   Sabrina of this year's class of seven strangers chose week 2, and the episode where she began the journey towards potentially meeting her biological mom, to drop her latest single, "If Only." I bought the single shortly after it dropped and also listened to her other work from her SoundCloud as well, and I believe she has a good future ahead of her thanks to listening to her good songs there. Along with that single and collaborations, she has covers of Christina Aguilera, Zedd, Ellie Goulding and Ariana Grande.

   Sabrina's the latest roommate with musical aspirations to move into the Real World house, and this history goes all the way back to the beginning: all the way back on season 1 in New York. We saw Heather B. be among that first charter class of seven strangers, and had been on MTV before as a rapper where one of her videos made it onto the legendary "Yo! MTV Raps." And we saw her do her thing in the booth on that groundbreaking season, and going on to a good career afterwards before becoming a radio host now.

   The next season in Los Angeles provided us with a harbinger of what the music industry would be like some 20 years later when a genre made its way from Nashville to the heart of the nation. Country singer Jon came from Kentucky to LA and found himself part of a house with a fellow reality TV icon in Tami, future Challenge staple Beth S. and first kicked-out roommate David, among others. Him appearing on that season was the start of country's move towards the mainstream and turning from regional genre into a national one: Taylor and Carrie having their videos air on MTV in addition to CMT, and all else that has come along since 1993.

   One of the most-famous moments of The Real World's first generation came in London, where we saw the native Englishman Neil get his tongue bit while performing at a club for his band. Then in Seattle, there were two music-related moments: the cast were given their own show on revolutionary alternative station 107.9 The End, and Rebecca had a chance to record her music with the man best known to us as Mr. "Baby Got Back" - Sir Mix-A-Lot. And on the Back to New York season, the roommates worked for Arista Records, while Lori got to record music as well.

   It wasn't until the entertainment-themed 20th season in Hollywood that musicians would again show up on Real World, and eventually there would be three of them. First, we saw Brianna, who used her experience of having been on American Idol to help broaden her music career, which spawned that single "Summertime." Will came to SoCal with aspirations of becoming a producer, and used that experience to become a club DJ. But after he moved out of the house on Sunset, Nick would have the more successful music career, having a number of singles and working with Breathe Carolina and The Voice alum Bryan Bautista.

   Most recently, we saw not one, but two singers in the D.C. house with Emily, Ty, Mike and co: Chicagoan turned Clevelander (and now radio personality) Erika and Philly guy Josh. We saw both do their thing there in the District, as did Sahar on Back to New Orleans. On the Back to San Diego season, we saw multi-faceted Alex who was also part of a musical trio when we saw her there. On RW Portland, we saw Marlon, aka "Jay Deezy," record music there in town, and had Jessica, Anastasia & Nia lend their voices to his tracks as well. And as we told you here previously, Davis from RW Denver is now a multi-faceted musician with covers and the like.

   As it turns out, Sabrina isn't the only person on this cast who has a musical background. Well before moving into the house, Jenna had done some musical work on YouTube in covering Paramore, Rihanna, T.I., Fun, Kasey Musgraves and Keith Urban. And if you've checked out his Twitter or Instagram, Dean has also posted clips or links to a rap track over a year ago called "Hotter Than Some Ham (Dean's Day Anthem)" which you can check out on YouTube. It won't be long before any or all three step into that recording studio.
   And if you throw in the two other shows of the Trifecta, Camila has done numerous covers on her YouTube channel (we'll have more on those on an ExtraTime post during Rivals III), Brandon has done musical stuff in the past and is now a Vegas DJ, and AYTO Season 3 perfect match Rashida & Devin have done musical stuff on SoundCloud and on Instagram. And we can't forget about LaMonte from Road Rules: Viewer's Revenge, member of pop group Aye It's IDK.

   Yes, music is not only in the background of the episodes on The Real World, but in the foreground as well as so many roommates have built up good musical resumes, and Sabrina joins those who've brought their musical talents to the show, and she is on her way to perhaps having a great career.

 #DCExtraTime 

ARIELLE IS TOMBOYISH

Just two years ago at this time, we came to an end of an eventful season in San Francisco that once again changed the game of The Real World. Of course, it was the Ex-Plosion season that saw the exes of the roommates take up residence in the Polk District and bring buzz back to this reality pioneer with more than our fair share of the explosive drama we come to expect.
   While the season was dominated by the exes, and seeing Jenny-Cory-Brian, Jamie-Thomas-Hailey and Jay-Jenna grab the headlines (as did Hurricane Ashley), something that was largely in the background while the season went on was the relationship of Arielle and Ashley C. They didn't have the big-time drama of all the other roommates in the house, and that was pretty much how they preferred it as they quietly became romantic once again amidst the drama in the house.
   Now, instead of following the rest of her Ex-Plosion castmates into Challenge world, Ari Fitz, as she now calls herself, is letting her budding fashion career - which we saw in her premiere introduction and then saw some of it during the season - take precedent in her post-Real World life. As I always say to the castmates, if you've got something you're passionate about outside of the MTV world, then go ahead and pursue it... You'll be happy in doing what you love and loving what you do in never having to work a day in your life in enjoying the things you love the most.
   After moving out of the RW house, Arielle began to pursue her passions of fashion, filmmaking and photography - all of which you can check out on her website. As of late, she's been devoting her energies to TOMBOYISH, a YouTube channel, Instagram account and blog devoted to tomboy style, fashion and lifestyle. The word's definition defines it as "a girl who enjoys rough, noisy activities traditionally associated with boys," and we've seen that definition in the bios with many of Team MTV, not only of the Trifecta but most especially identified with the girls of those short-but-sweet series Buckwild and Slednecks. And this past week, the YouTube Creators channel got the chance to catch up with Ari at a recent shoot as she discussed her latest venture.
   In a way, Arielle is following the lead of old school Real World'ers in doing the show just for the experience, living in a new city with strangers and building a resume for themselves towards pursuing what they want to do when the buzz for their season subsides while her fellow castmates are doing Challenges for the sake of staying on TV and in the spotlight. While six of her former roommates are gracing The Challenge stage - Hurricane Ashley the latest to join next month, Ari has quietly made a name for herself in pursuing a life-long passion and making a name for herself in the fashion industry. It's always good to see a MTV Trifecta alum do something fresh and career-worthy, and she has a great future ahead of her pursuing that sense of fashion and style.

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That's all for this EP3 edition of the WRAP. As you await tonight's proceedings, as well as a look at Love in the Real World that follows, check out these webcasts...
● In case you missed it, The Brain Candy Podcast with Susie Meister & Sarah Rice got to cold-call Challengers Cara Maria, Wes, Camila & Wes on their show last week, which you can listen here along with a chat with Road Rules/Challenge original Sarah Grayson. The ladies would also like your help in funding their upcoming Challenge coverage, and log on to KickStarter to make donations and to help support Back to Reality, which will sure to be a must-listen/must-view if they raise the right amount and are on their way to doing so, so send support their way there.
● Also ICYMI: Kailah got a chance to talk about the first two episodes with reality TV expert Murtz Jaffer (@MurtzJaffer) on SpreeCast and on the Bring Me Your Torch podcast. If there is a link to any webcast or podcast that interviews castmates from Real World or the Trifecta, you'll find those in the epilogue at the end of DC WRAP episode posts.

● Check out Reality Radio Podcast as they also cover this Real World season, Survivor, Idol and of course, the upcoming Rivals III season. Just recently, my colleague Andrew Kirk joined the duo of Whitney McGriff & Stefan Sanders, and follow them @RealityRadioPod, @CSUGradAKirk, @JanelMCG & @SandersCSS.
● And if you were with us at the beginning of our MTV coverage with our FORUM post on RW Portland in July 2013, one of the two subjects I had on was Kaitlyn Macisco (@KMacisco). Last week, she wrote a blog essay on The Odyssey on the topic of whether reality TV is making people stupid, and offers her thoughts on how this genre has actually made us more smarter than we think. Check out that post here, as well as the RWPDX post here.

Finally, in case you're asking, we are aware of the huge stretch that's coming up in the Trifecta, as on Monday just after we posted our SocialPulse post (for which it is published hours before it is actually posted on here and, in turn, the ensuing link on my Twitter due to work), the buzz kicked off for The Challenge: Rivals III. Of course, we'll be covering that in short order and surround it like no other blog can, but our principal focus remains on Real World with a special ExtraTime post looking back at the original Las Vegas season that comes your way here this weekend before our Episode 4 posts. Also next week, we'll tell you about the newest Team MTV baby as well.

   Bookmark DCBLOG for all your MTV Trifecta coverage and much more, and follow DCNOW @DC408DxNow for live tweets of tonight's episode, plus coverage of The Masters, the Pacquiao-Bradley fight and the MTV Movie Awards this weekend, as well as The Dude Perfect Show tipping off a week from tonight. And as always there's DC Instagram and @DC408Dxtr on Twitter too.

   Thanks for reading and until we talk to you on DCNOW later tonight and back here on the weekend, have a good one.

- I AM DC