Why Did 7 Strangers Picked to Live in a House Become 8?
The whole premise of The Real World was "Seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped." So that begs the question: Why did they start adding an eighth cast member?
You would assume it's because there was always such a strong pool of potential cast members auditioning for the show that they often couldn't just cut it down to 7. But every season with 8 cast members there is a clear cast member that just doesn't need to be there at all. I mean, some cast members you like, some you'll love, some you'll hate, some you'll hate to love... but then there are the cast members who you simply won't remember and the show could certainly go on without them.
The one who always comes to mind is Emilee from Real World 22: Cancun. This was a rather refreshing season in that everyone seemed to be having fun even when there was drama, and the casting was thoughtful enough.
I mean, Aiiiya was a unique cast member and I don't think we get enough Hawaiians on the show. She was loud, opinionated, but dangerously drunk at times. She was entertaining television and I totally understand why they put her on the show. We could learn from her in a Ruthie season 8 kind of way. Joey was perfect because he was not your typical cast member and anything could happen (and did, but I digress); CJ was actually a hottie and ambitious to boot; Bronne was also unusual casting in a refreshing way and was super lovable. Apparently the only argument he got into was with Emilee because she stepped on his comics because she was acting like an immature drunk girl... again, not fun T.V. at all. Just drunk college shit we blurred out of our memories when our friends acted that way in real life.
I don't usually like the idea of bringing on people who aren't strangers who knew each other prior to the show, but Jonna and Derek were an interesting enough pair and I liked Derek's openness and how he was an all around solid person despite having the potential to be outshined by the rest. Jonna was the lowkey star of the season, and we all grew to love her if we didn't already; and Jasmine was just funny. I can see why they cast her and ya know, she has some good one-liners ("A gift? You didn't give her a fucking gift. A gift is a day out in the spa. You didn't give her a fucking gift.").
So... What was Emilee's place in the house? No, I'm seriously asking. She was a Hooters girl, and that's kinda cool right? Well, so was Aiiiya. We already have that girl. And she's more fun.
My hypothesis: Emilee's dad works for MTV. I'll die on that hill. Fight me.
Sarah from Real World 21: Brooklyn was also an eye-roll of a cast member because she was super immature and just read as more of an insightful 14 year-old than a twenty-something like the rest of them. I would have just kept her out of the cast entirely. Now that would've re-shaped Challenge history now wouldn't it?
Otherwise, maybe JD was the replaceable one, but this season certainly didn't need to break the mold and have 8 people. Also, shout out to whatever this is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb4XF_ASzkQ
Real World 23: Washington D.C. had Ty who proved to be a liability on more than one occasion and wasn't safe to have on the show. The way he drank was uncomfortable to watch and unsuitable for what's supposed to be a fun and insightful environment. He knocked a roommate off a stoop and that really was just a literal inch from serious damage. Then when he went on The Challenge, he was always in the heat of arguments and, well... nobody needed Ty on their T.V. sets. Nobody.
Real World 24: New Orleans had some boring girls on it, and you can't explain how Sahar made it on the show. She said she wanted to be a professional singer, and you'd think that if casting directors wanted an aspiring musician to put in New Orleans, the heart of music in the U.S., then they would go with someone with more style; more swag; more personality. Sahar proved to be absolutely boring and even bombed on stage when she got her one shot. I find it hard to imagine how she got cast. I have no idea how this one happened.
Mackenzie on the same season was really boring and was really just a drunk college girl. There was nothing to her other than she would get black out drunk, which didn't feel safe or comfortable to watch. She probably shouldn't have been cast, because she was just not a T.V. character. We got nothing from her.
Ultimately, I'm asking: Why did they make this change and why does it bother me? I think it has to do with me being an old school viewer of the show and the original casting episodes showed a lot of people who they really shouldn't have passed up on. So when they finally add an additional cast member, it's like, is this really all we get?
What's with the 8th [pointless] cast member?