| Season Number: | 18 |
| Starring: |
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| Num Episodes: | 28[1] |
| Network: | MTV |
| Prev Season: | The Real World: Key West |
| Next Season: | The Real World: Sydney |
The Real World: Denver is the eighteenth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. It is the second season to be filmed in the Mountain States region of the United States, specifically in Colorado.
The season featured seven people who lived in a two-story building in the Lower Downtown area of Denver, Colorado, which production started from late May to September 2006. It premiered on November 22 of that year and consisted of 28 episodes, which along with the twelfth season, is the highest number to date. The season premiere was watched by 4.3 million viewers.[2] [3]
Almost every season of The Real World, beginning with its fifth season, has included the assignment of a season-long group job or task to the housemates, continued participation in which has been mandatory to remain part of the cast since the Back to New York season. The Denver cast worked for Outward Bound. They were trained on wilderness courses and later guided New Orleans teenagers displaced by Hurricane Katrina in hiking treks.
The 21927square feet, two-story building is located in Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver, a historic district and mixed-use neighborhood. Constructed in 1963, the building was sold in late April for $2.7 million to 1920 Market Street, LLC, a holding company that included the producers of the series. The Denver LoDo building was the first property in the 18 seasons of The Real World that Bunim-Murray Productions purchased for the filming of the series. Bunim-Murray had to seek permission from the city to temporarily rezone it from its commercial status to residential. The purchase of the building included extensive renovations. On December 1, 2006, the building was sold for $3.3 million to Steve and Shane Alexander, partners in The Alexander Group, LLC. The sale included all of the furnishings that were used for the filming of the series, except for the artwork, which had been on loan.[4]
| Cast member | Age | Hometown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Smith | 22 | Houston, Texas | |
| MTV.com describes Alex as cocky, street smart, and sensitive, with an overconfident loud mouth. He is a Division I swimmer at Arizona State University, has multiple paramours, is close to his family, and is constantly partying, but hopes to grow into a mature man.[5] In the beginning of the season, he is caught in a love triangle between his roommates Colie and Jenn, the latter whom he has sex with in the season premiere. | |||
| Brooke LaBarbera | 24 | Nashville, Tennessee | |
| Brooke is a southern woman raised by two clinical psychologists and recent graduate of Belmont University. Though she grew up in a sheltered environment, she admits to being a very sexual person. She ended a long-term interracial relationship just prior to joining the cast, and harbors dreams of stardom.[6] In episode 16,[7] during the cast's planning of a day trip, Brooke and Jenn have an argument in which Jenn calls Brooke a "whore". As a result, Brooke, who concedes to having a temper, is enraged, screaming at Jenn and storming out, a scene that was named #5 on the 2007 VH1 program 40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2.[8] | |||
| Colie Edison | 22 | East Brunswick, New Jersey | |
| Colie is a disciplined, principled sorority president from Tulane University[9] in New Orleans where she was part of the first class to graduate after Hurricane Katrina. MTV.com describes as the strongest personality in the house. She is described as having a need for attention, especially from men, and a free spirit. She states she's "not that good at baseball, but I'm good at kissing." when it comes to describing her sexual endeavors. She is in an open relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Corey.[10] | |||
| Davis Mallory | 23 | Marietta, Georgia | |
| MTV.com describes Davis as a typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed frat boy. Despite his southern conservative Christian upbringing, he is gay, something he first realized in the sixth grade, though his family was not pleased with his coming out. Being on The Real World represents a major change in his life, as he has long been afraid to show his true self to the world.[11] In episode 4, Davis and Tyrie have a heated argument that nearly comes to blows, and requires the physical intervention of producers. An emotional Davis then phones his family, telling them, "I'm going home tomorrow because some nigger wants to kill me | " Davis later apologizes to Tyrie for this, and the two make amends. The incident was cited on VH1's 40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2.[12] He has a boyfriend named P.J. | ||
| Jenn Grijalva | 22 | Martinez, California | |
| Jennifer was a popular girl in school, an Oakland Raiderette cheerleader, and, as mtv.com describes her, a party animal. However, she yearns for emotional attachment, which stems from her inability to allow herself to be vulnerable.[13] In the season premiere, despite becoming close friends with her roommate, Colie, who had been showing interest in Alex, she drunkenly has sex with Alex, much to Colie's displeasure. | |||
| Stephen Nichols | 22 | Sacramento, California | |
| Stephen is a deeply religious Black conservative Republican student at Howard University. He is very ambitious, and outspoken in his views, including his stance against gay marriage. His opposition to homosexuality causes tension between him and his gay roommate, Davis. He is also described as an expert persuader and salesperson who loves to be the center of attention.[14] He has a girlfriend named Mercii.[15] | |||
| Tyrie Ballard | 23 | Omaha, Nebraska | |
| Tyrie was raised in a strict and aggressive manner by a military father. As a consequence, he never developed a strong rapport with him, and ended up with a gang, but is trying to leave that past behind him. He has developed a reputation on his campus for his sharp wit, his interest in politics, and for having a big heart.[16] | |||
Age at time of filming.
After the cast left the Real World house, all seven of them appeared to discuss their experiences both during and since their time on the show, Welcome to the Mile High Club: The Real World Denver Reunion, which premiered on May 23, 2007, and was hosted by Susie Castillo.[17]
At the 2008 The Real World Awards Bash, Davis and Tyrie won "Best Fight", Colie won "Biggest Playa" and Brooke won "Best Meltdown" (for which she was nominated twice. Other nominees included Alex and Jenn, as well as Brooke and Jenn (and Tyrie) for "Steamiest Scene", Tyrie for "Best Brush with the Law", Jenn for "Hottest Female" and "Best Dance-Off", and Alex for "Hottest Male".[18] [19]
In 2016, Tyrie Ballard welcomed his first daughter, named Elyssa Diem in honor of the late Diem Brown.[20]
Davis Mallory has been sober since 2017. That same year, he released his first EP, Loud.[21] In 2018, he dropped a video for his single "Sun & Moon".[22] His discography also includes a song he wrote in memory of Diem Brown titled "Beautiful Girls".[23]
In 2019, Colie Edison started serving as the CEO of the Professional Bowlers Association[24] and later appeared on season 10 of Undercover Boss.[25]
Jenn Grijalva's first son, Thiago Angelo Diaz was born in January 2021.[26]
| Alex Smith | The Gauntlet III | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gauntlet III, The Duel II | |||
| Colie Edison | The Inferno 3, The Island | ||
| Davis Mallory | The Inferno 3, The Duel II, Rivals | ||
| Jenn Grijalva | The Inferno 3, The Island, The Duel II, Fresh Meat II, Cutthroat, Rivals | ||
| Stephen Nichols | |||
| Tyrie Ballard | The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, Rivals, Battle of the Exes, Rivals II | The Challenge: All Stars (season 4) |