Everyone knows that television rarely reflects real life — certainly no

one has as much drama as Dawson, as much tragedy as the Salingers or as

much sex as the Melrose Place gang. In fact, many of us tune in just

to be whisked away from our drama-less, sexless reality.

But when The Real World debuted in 1992 and viewers were told, “this

is what happens when we stop being polite and start getting real,” the

interest of millions was piqued. Generation Xers began tuning in,

captivated by the “seven strangers picked to live in a house” and have

their lives taped for all of us to see.

Despite its name, however, The Real World is not as real as it seems.

On Wednesday, March 3 four members of previous casts will share some of the

secrets that have surfaced since the cameras stopped rolling.

“They’re gonna air a lot of dirty laundry,” said Dana Miller, program

advisor to UT’s Campus Entertainment Board which brings national acts to

Knoxville every semester.

The event, beginning at 8 p.m. in the UC Auditorium, will reunite David

Burns and Irene McGee from the Seattle cast, and Montana McGlynn and Jason

Cornwell from the Boston cast for a loosely-formatted question and answer

session.

“We want it to be intimate,” Miller said of the laid-back setting, which

will have the guests sitting on couches on the auditorium stage. The

national program, Behind The Scenes with MTV’s Real World, will

highlight happenings that never made it on air, and offer fans a chance to

see what life is like after the show.

“We are totally psyched,” CEB member Bianca Bianconi said of Wednesday’s

event, “absolutely positively psyched.”

Bianconi’s enthusiasm reflects that of many Real World fans who have

been affected by the show’s seven-year run. We have loved some cast members

and hated others, but continued to tune in. While events were definitely

staged and manipulated, the show’s undeniable reality is the people who are

indeed real.

If we like a cast member, it is because we identify with who they really

are — not some character they portray. We have seen them in their pajamas;

we have shared their most intimate moments, their joy and tears; we have

rooted for them — or against them — in the endless roommate conflicts. We

have truly gotten to know these people, yet to them, we are complete

strangers.

“I can’t say I would have the patience or courage to to be exposed like

that,” Miller said.

Now that the cameras have stopped rolling, and the casts have left MTV’s

show and entered the real real world, they continue to let us into

their lives. While they may not be Madonnas or Michael Jordans, television

has given them a platform from which to be heard. And Wednesday night there

will be plenty to hear, and plenty of people coming to hear it.

“I think we will probably sell out by Monday, ” Miller said.

Though the UC auditorium seats 532, the CEB plans to have an “overflow”

room where more people can enjoy the night, via television monitors. The

show is expected to run until 9 :30 p.m. and lucky audience members will be

invited to a reception following the discussion; 100 invitations will be

randomly placed under the seats in the auditorium.

The $5 tickets go on sale today at the UT Ticket Office, Thompson-Boling

Arena, and all Ticket’s Unlimited Outlets.