The Real World is een Amerikaanse realityserie van de zender MTV. De serie ging in première op 21 mei 1992.
The Real World gaat over zeven verschillende vreemden die samen voor een aantal maanden in een huis wonen, waarbij camera's hun leven registreren. Ieder seizoen verhuist het programma naar een andere stad binnen de Verenigde Staten. De enige vier seizoenen die zich buiten de Verenigde Staten afspeelden, waren The Real World Londen, The Real World Parijs, The Real World Sydney en The Real World Cancun. De introductie wordt elk seizoen door de zeven of acht huisgenoten voorgelezen:
"This is the true story, of seven strangers, picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite, and start getting real. The Real World."
David takes a lonely stroll to a phone booth where he makes a call that includes the words, ""When you stole my heart, you stole my sexual desire. For the first time I'm giving my heart to another woman."" When David returns home, he refuses to answer questions about his whereabouts. After a shift at the radio station, David has a relaxing dinner with their boss, Aubbie. Could she be the mystery woman? The next day, David buys his lady a necklace, and the rest of the gang grows more curious. The roomies celebrate Irene's birthday with drinks, burgers, and a cake with ketchup. At a club later, Nate gets upset because he hasn't heard from Stephanie, and takes it out on Irene with some mean teasing. The two talk the next morning, and Irene blames the alcohol. He blames his girlfriend. David finally reveals his mystery woman--Kira, the casting director for The Real World. During an emotional phone call to David, she makes her feelings known: