by John Wenzel on December 8, 2006
“Real World: Denver” cast member Davis leaves the house for a better life in America. Photo from MTV.com.
– Jon Murray, creator/executive producer of “The Real World,” has given a lot of interviews to TV Week lately, probably because they don’t turn the screws too hard. But this week they actually got some interesting quotes out of him about this week’s episode, in which producers break the fourth wall by stepping in — on camera — to defuse a fight between Tyrie and Davis.
“…it would destroy our show if we were always to step in and resolve things for them. Yet at the same time we have a responsibility to make sure no one gets hurt,” he told interviewer Melissa Grego (emphasis added). That’s a fine line he’s skating there, considering how the producers allow (encourage?) the cast to get wasted frequently, a well from which much of the sex-and-race drama springs. Read the original interview right here…
MTV stood by and let a drunken, angry linebacker threaten and intimidate a man half his size, to the point he became self-destructive. By MTV’s standards, anything goes. In their quest for shock value and ratings at any cost, they’re flouting ethical considerations and inviting legal scrutiny. No good came from Episode 4. Will MTV make amends for enabling an anti-gay assault?
Comment by Don — December 14, 2006 @ 4:11 pm
I was absolutely blown away at Tyrie’s behavior. He is a fuse that is about to blow. He has major anger issues!!! People are making such a big deal about one word when a peorson was literaly assaulted vebally and physically!!
Comment by Jacqueline — December 14, 2006 @ 10:23 pm
Jacqueline,
You obviously have no idea what it’s like to be a minority in this country! You’re priviledged, so it’s easy for you to say one word is no big deal. Not only can that “one little word” give you a burst of anger, but it is also very hurtful. However, you would not know that. Wake up and smell the coffee girl!
Comment by JL — December 15, 2006 @ 8:37 am
This is so typical! Tyrie started the fight. He is twice as big as this kid. But yet in still, it get’s turned into a racial thing. Tyrie is a hot head! One day he will bark up the wrong tree and get what he deserves.
Comment by Mike — December 16, 2006 @ 1:32 pm
In this poorly edited episode, it is Davis who is originally attacked without cause. Here we have the gay housemate, already attacked by Stephen over his sexuality in earlier episodes, being berated and threatened over an incident of which he possesses no knowledge. While Davis should take responsibility for using the word, it’s preposterous how the instigators of the entire incident get off scot-free. Do Tyrie and Stephen apologize? Don’t bet on it. Stephen even manages a “Well, he’s from the South, and they’re all racist anyway,” without anyone blinking an eye. Tyrie takes no responsibility for his utter over-reaction. Stephen is portrayed in some holy, forgiving light when he’s the one who instigated the entire thing in the first place. The lesson here? You can pick a fight, you can approach someone in a physically threatening manner, you can yell and scream at them, you can have problems with their sexuality and say so openly (and soberly), but if the n-word ever comes out, you’re automatically the victim and absolved of all sin.
Comment by Derick — December 18, 2006 @ 10:53 am
I think that Tyrie is a terrible person and his behaviour cannot be condoned in any way. This is the problem with Americans, you think you can do what ever you like and your always in the right.
Comment by mousematt — April 15, 2007 @ 11:41 am