RELEASES

693,082 FIGHTS 367,301 TEARS 20 SEASONS 1 UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT… “THE REAL WORLD AWARDS BASH” PREMIERING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 (10:00 – 11:30 P.M.)

03.20.08

MTV.com Offers Viewers All-Access Pass to the Big Party
with Exclusive Video and Photos

Santa Monica, CA, March 20, 2008 – MTV honors 20 seasons of its longest running series – and the pioneer of the modern reality program – with the first “The Real World Awards Bash” (http://realworldawards.mtv.com) premiering Wednesday, April 2 from 10:00 – 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.  Produced with Bunim-Murray Productions, MTV reunites roommates from 19 seasons and introduces the cast of the landmark season 20 for one glamorous, drama-filled, boisterous night in the Hollywood Hills. 

After seasons of talking amongst themselves about who are the hottest, funniest and nastiest, viewers were able to voice their opinions online and vote for their favorites in 13 different categories, including “Best Meltdown,” Best Fight,” “Hottest Male / Female,” “Best Phone Call Gone Bad” and “Favorite Season.”  Additional airings of “The Real World Awards Bash” will be two hours with an extra 30 minutes of colorful content. 

Hosted by comedian Jeffrey Ross and Susie Castillo, the unconventional awards show brings high-drama, lots of humor and plenty of déjà vu as the winners of each “The Real World Bash” award are revealed.  In true “Real World” fashion, roommates have the chance to gossip about other roommates and give their opinions on the winners and losers in the Confessional.  “The Real World Awards Bash” also focuses on how the series has influenced pop culture and created a trend in reality programming.  Retrospective packages highlight the funniest and most dramatic moments and show how “The Real World” has brought attention to socially-important causes, including AIDS, racism, homophobia, addiction and abortion.  A tribute will be paid to Pedro Zamora, who gained President Clinton’s support and died of AIDS after the last episode of “The Real World: San Francisco” aired, and to “The Real World: San Diego” cast member Frankie Abernathy, who lost her battle to cystic fibrosis last year. 

Viewers will have an all-access pass to “The Real World Awards Bash” with exclusive video content and photos at http://realworldawards.mtv.com.  In addition, the entire awards bash will be posted online for viewing.  For each award category, pictures and video highlights of the nominees are available for review.  MTV On Demand will offer original content from the wild and wacky event beginning April 3. 

“The Real World” launched the modern reality television genre and is the longest-running reality series in history.  Past seasons have taken place in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Miami, Boston, Seattle, Hawaii, New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas, Paris, San Diego, Philadelphia, Austin, Key West, Denver and Sydney.  The first season, set in New York City, debuted in 1992.  Each season, the show brings seven young strangers to live together in a new city and rolls the cameras 24-7, witnessing as their lives intersect, their ideas are challenged and their passions emerge. 

“The Real World” was created for MTV by Jon Murray and Mary-Ellis Bunim of Bunim-Murray Productions.  Jon Murray, Jim Johnston and Audrey Morrissey serve as executive producers of “The Real World Awards Bash.”  Scott Freeman is co-executive producer.  Jacquelyn French is the MTV executive overseeing the project.

About MTV
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture.  For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries—giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen.  On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years.  Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched ten dynamic online communities and six new virtual worlds.  On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space – delivering 90% more streams than in 2006.  And MTV’s successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else.  MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Wanna know more?  Come on in… www.mtvpress.com.