The Surreal Life
Encyclopedia
The Surreal Life is a reality television
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
and Road Rules
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
.
, MC Hammer
, Corey Feldman
, Emmanuel Lewis
, Jerri Manthey
, Mötley Crüe
vocalist Vince Neil
, and Brande Roderick
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
, Trishelle Cannatella
, Erik Estrada
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
, and Vanilla Ice
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
and transgender
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
, Dave Coulier
, Flavor Flav
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
, Brigitte Nielsen
, and Ryan Starr
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy.
The Surreal Life is a reality television
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
and Road Rules
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
.
, MC Hammer
, Corey Feldman
, Emmanuel Lewis
, Jerri Manthey
, Mötley Crüe
vocalist Vince Neil
, and Brande Roderick
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
, Trishelle Cannatella
, Erik Estrada
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
, and Vanilla Ice
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
and transgender
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
, Dave Coulier
, Flavor Flav
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
, Brigitte Nielsen
, and Ryan Starr
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy.
The Surreal Life is a reality television
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
and Road Rules
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
.
, MC Hammer
, Corey Feldman
, Emmanuel Lewis
, Jerri Manthey
, Mötley Crüe
vocalist Vince Neil
, and Brande Roderick
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
, Trishelle Cannatella
, Erik Estrada
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
, and Vanilla Ice
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
and transgender
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
, Dave Coulier
, Flavor Flav
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
, Brigitte Nielsen
, and Ryan Starr
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy. Throughout the two weeks, Nielsen and Flav began a relationship which would have a dramatic influence on VH-1's programming over the next five years, as it indirectly spawned 14 spinoffs and sequels to date. The romance first continued in Strange Love
and snowballed from there, after the success of the Flavor of Love
series.
The fourth season (2005) starred Da Brat
, Adrianne Curry, Christopher Knight, Chyna, Marcus Schenkenberg
, Verne Troyer
, and Jane Wiedlin
. Among notable moments included conflict between Da Brat and Wiedlin that stemmed from comments made by Da Brat about Wiedlin that were shown during Dirty Laundry, and the strained relationship between Laurer and her now-ex-boyfriend Sean Waltman
. More memorable moments included Troyer getting drunk on the first day and urinating in the weight room and Wiedlin getting upset about the group being asked to brand a cow. Like the season prior, another romance-themed spin-off, My Fair Brady
was developed around the romantic escapades of Curry and Knight.
Season five (2005) played up on the show's namesake surreality by having the house decorated with a circus/carnival theme and the cast was given circus-style taglines during the introduction: Caprice Bourret
("See Britain's Most Beautiful Woman"), José Canseco
("Face the Fantastic Strongman"), Sandy "Pepa" Denton ("Meet the Mystical Musician"), Janice Dickinson
("Behold the World's First Supermodel"), Carey Hart
("Witness the Death-Defying Daredevil"), Omarosa Manigault
("Fear the Ultimate Reality Villain") and Bronson Pinchot
("Marvel at the Man from Mypos"). This was enhanced with the introduction of a three-legged dog named Lucky. An ongoing feud between Manigault and Dickinson was a key focus point in the season, which ended with Dickinson leaving the house during the final dinner.
, Poison
guitarist C. C. DeVille
, Steve Harwell
, Sherman Hemsley
, Maven Huffman
, Tawny Kitaen
and Andrea Lowell
. Florence Henderson
("Dr. Flo") assisted the cast as the house therapist. Throughout the two weeks, the cast shot a music video, produced and broadcast a live news program, booked and hosted their own talk show pilots, and participated in a "battle of the bands" competition. During the talk show episode, Marla Gibbs
makes a cameo appearance with Hemsley, and the two recreate their retorts and putdowns as Florence and George from The Jeffersons
. Arquette brings the transgender
community increased visibility and awareness with her appearance in the series. And, struggling with memory and enunciation problems that grow worse, Kitaen is inexplicably left crawling on the floor of a closet by the final episode.
from The Surreal Life was Strange Love, starring Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen, both of Season 3. It premiered in January, 2005 and ran for 11 episodes. The second spin-off, My Fair Brady, starred Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight. It ran its first season in 2005, concluding with the couple's engagement. The second season debuted in the spring 2006, concluding with a wedding. The third season premiered on January 20, 2008 and detailed the newlyweds' lives as they prepared to expand their family.
The Surreal Life: Fame Games
reunited cast members of the original Surreal Life series in a competition for cash and prizes.
Pepa received her own two shows stemming from her popularity on VH1. She teamed up with her old partner Cheryl "Salt" James
for The Salt-N-Pepa Show
which showcased the two distinct personalities clash on many issues from their break-up as a group in the 90s to their current reformation. The series spanned two seasons. In 2010, Pepa also received her own show on VH1 that documented her search for her Mr. Right entitled "Let's Talk About Pep".
, which lasted for 3 seasons, ending with Flav's announcement that he had found his one true love. Due to the show's great success, it spawned a successful franchise.
's Tiffany Pollard
aka New York with I Love New York
(2 seasons). Three of her suitors got their own show brothers Kamal "Chance" and Ahmad "Real" Givens starred in Real Chance of Love
(2 seasons), and Frank "The Entertainer" Maresca starred in Frank the Entertainer... in a Basement Affair.
, which lasted 3 seasons, with the premise of bettering themselves and a chance at a cash prize.
Contestants from Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, I Love New York, Real Chance of Love, For the Love of Ray J, Rock of Love Bus, Daisy of Love and Megan Wants a Millionaire were allowed to take part in I Love Money
, a Survivor
elimination-style show held in a Mexican mansion. Four seasons were produced but the 3rd one never aired due to Ryan Jenkins' involvement.
followed Pollard's attempt at becoming an actress, New York Goes to Work
saw her perform various jobs as voted by the viewers on a weekly basis, Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters
followed the Givens brothers in their quest to find legendary monsters such as the Big Foot.
.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
and Road Rules
Road Rules
Road Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Season 1
The first season (2003) starred Gabrielle CarterisGabrielle Carteris
Gabrielle Anne Carteris is an American actress known for her role as Andrea Zuckerman on the early seasons of the 1990s television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Personal life:...
, MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
, Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
, Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis is an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the 1980s television sitcom Webster. He is tall. Lewis graduated from Midwood High School in 1989 and then Clark Atlanta University in 1997...
, Jerri Manthey
Jerri Manthey
Jerri Lynn Manthey is an American actress who is best known for her appearances on reality television.- Early life :Jerri Manthey was born in Stuttgart, Germany and attended both high school and college in Germany. Manthey's father, Cyril, was a career member of the United States Army and served...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
vocalist Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, and Brande Roderick
Brande Roderick
Brande Nicole Roderick is an American model and actress known for her appearances in Baywatch and Playboy.-Personal life:...
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Heather Cohn is an American actress, comedian known for her role as Natalie Green, the smart, overweight student of Edna Garrett , on the TV show The Facts of Life, and also being the current voice for Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which she has held since 2002.She currently...
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
Season 2
The second season aired in early 2004 starred Traci BinghamTraci Bingham
Traci Bingham is an American actress, model and television personality who is best known for playing Jordan Tate on the television series Baywatch between 1996 and 1998.-Personal life:...
, Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella is an American reality TV contestant, Playboy model, and actress.-Early life:Cannatella was born on November 4, 1979, and raised in Cut Off, Louisiana. She is of French and Italian ancestry...
, Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
, and Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
Todd Bridges
Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He is best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and for his recurring role as Monk on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris...
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
Sally Jessy Raphaël
Sally Lowenthal , better known as Sally Jessy Raphael, is an American talk show host, known for the eponymous Sally talk show she hosted for two decades.-Early years:...
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
Season 3
The show's third season began in September 2004 and starred CharoCharo
María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
, Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
, Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
Jordan Knight
Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block , and actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his distinctive falsetto style of singing, influenced by The Stylistics. After New Kids On...
, Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
, and Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr is an American female singer, songwriter and actress. She ranked seventh on the season 1 of the talent search television series American Idol...
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy.
The Surreal Life is a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
and Road Rules
Road Rules
Road Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Season 1
The first season (2003) starred Gabrielle CarterisGabrielle Carteris
Gabrielle Anne Carteris is an American actress known for her role as Andrea Zuckerman on the early seasons of the 1990s television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Personal life:...
, MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
, Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
, Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis is an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the 1980s television sitcom Webster. He is tall. Lewis graduated from Midwood High School in 1989 and then Clark Atlanta University in 1997...
, Jerri Manthey
Jerri Manthey
Jerri Lynn Manthey is an American actress who is best known for her appearances on reality television.- Early life :Jerri Manthey was born in Stuttgart, Germany and attended both high school and college in Germany. Manthey's father, Cyril, was a career member of the United States Army and served...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
vocalist Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, and Brande Roderick
Brande Roderick
Brande Nicole Roderick is an American model and actress known for her appearances in Baywatch and Playboy.-Personal life:...
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Heather Cohn is an American actress, comedian known for her role as Natalie Green, the smart, overweight student of Edna Garrett , on the TV show The Facts of Life, and also being the current voice for Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which she has held since 2002.She currently...
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
Season 2
The second season aired in early 2004 starred Traci BinghamTraci Bingham
Traci Bingham is an American actress, model and television personality who is best known for playing Jordan Tate on the television series Baywatch between 1996 and 1998.-Personal life:...
, Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella is an American reality TV contestant, Playboy model, and actress.-Early life:Cannatella was born on November 4, 1979, and raised in Cut Off, Louisiana. She is of French and Italian ancestry...
, Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
, and Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
Todd Bridges
Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He is best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and for his recurring role as Monk on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris...
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
Sally Jessy Raphaël
Sally Lowenthal , better known as Sally Jessy Raphael, is an American talk show host, known for the eponymous Sally talk show she hosted for two decades.-Early years:...
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
Season 3
The show's third season began in September 2004 and starred CharoCharo
María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
, Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
, Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
Jordan Knight
Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block , and actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his distinctive falsetto style of singing, influenced by The Stylistics. After New Kids On...
, Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
, and Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr is an American female singer, songwriter and actress. She ranked seventh on the season 1 of the talent search television series American Idol...
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy.
The Surreal Life is a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks. The format of the show resembles that of The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
and Road Rules
Road Rules
Road Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
, in that the cameras not only record the castmates' participation in group activities assigned to them, but also their interpersonal relationships and conflicts. The first two seasons aired on The WB, and subsequent seasons have been shown on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Season 1
The first season (2003) starred Gabrielle CarterisGabrielle Carteris
Gabrielle Anne Carteris is an American actress known for her role as Andrea Zuckerman on the early seasons of the 1990s television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Personal life:...
, MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
, Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
, Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis is an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the 1980s television sitcom Webster. He is tall. Lewis graduated from Midwood High School in 1989 and then Clark Atlanta University in 1997...
, Jerri Manthey
Jerri Manthey
Jerri Lynn Manthey is an American actress who is best known for her appearances on reality television.- Early life :Jerri Manthey was born in Stuttgart, Germany and attended both high school and college in Germany. Manthey's father, Cyril, was a career member of the United States Army and served...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
vocalist Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, and Brande Roderick
Brande Roderick
Brande Nicole Roderick is an American model and actress known for her appearances in Baywatch and Playboy.-Personal life:...
. Throughout the two-week production, the cast participated in a Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
-inspired camping trip, a trip to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and a drama-creating Corey Feldman, who got married to his girlfriend in the season finale. Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Heather Cohn is an American actress, comedian known for her role as Natalie Green, the smart, overweight student of Edna Garrett , on the TV show The Facts of Life, and also being the current voice for Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which she has held since 2002.She currently...
was scheduled to be a cast member, but dropped out before taping began. Robin Givens
Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
was also offered a slot on the cast, but declined.
Season 2
The second season aired in early 2004 starred Traci BinghamTraci Bingham
Traci Bingham is an American actress, model and television personality who is best known for playing Jordan Tate on the television series Baywatch between 1996 and 1998.-Personal life:...
, Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella
Trishelle Cannatella is an American reality TV contestant, Playboy model, and actress.-Early life:Cannatella was born on November 4, 1979, and raised in Cut Off, Louisiana. She is of French and Italian ancestry...
, Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
, Tammy Faye Messner, Ron Jeremy
Ron Jeremy
Ronald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
, and Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
. Some memorable moments involved Ron Jeremy's topless porn-star pool party, Tammy Faye's book signing with members of the gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
community, and a cameo by Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman
Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
. As the cast works at a local retro diner under Coleman's management, Vanilla Ice sticks a banana down his own pants, hoists Coleman above the deep-fryer, and insists on having the former child star say his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" in public when Coleman's Strokes co-star Todd Bridges
Todd Bridges
Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He is best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and for his recurring role as Monk on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris...
shows up. These acts led the diminutive sitcom star to "fire" Ice and then quit. The season also introduced "Dirty Laundry", the Surreal Life talk show hosted by Sally Jessy Raphael
Sally Jessy Raphaël
Sally Lowenthal , better known as Sally Jessy Raphael, is an American talk show host, known for the eponymous Sally talk show she hosted for two decades.-Early years:...
. Raphael focused on Cannatella and made several unflattering remarks about her drinking problem, and in turn, said she was acting like a slut. Other memorable moments included a surprise stop at the Desert Shadows Inn, a nudist resort, from which Tammy Faye fled in tears, and the production of a children's play. Danny Bonaduce
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
was scheduled to be a cast member but dropped out before taping began.
Season 3
The show's third season began in September 2004 and starred CharoCharo
María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
, Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
, Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav
William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
of Public Enemy, Jordan Knight
Jordan Knight
Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block , and actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his distinctive falsetto style of singing, influenced by The Stylistics. After New Kids On...
, Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
, and Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr is an American female singer, songwriter and actress. She ranked seventh on the season 1 of the talent search television series American Idol...
. Memorable moments included Date Night, an agonizing recording session for the group to produce an original song, and Flavor's insistence that he drive the group's RV despite not having a license. Flavor also caused a brief disconnection with the cast, when it was revealed during Dirty Laundry that he had hit the Surreal Life puppy. Throughout the two weeks, Nielsen and Flav began a relationship which would have a dramatic influence on VH-1's programming over the next five years, as it indirectly spawned 14 spinoffs and sequels to date. The romance first continued in Strange Love
Strange Love
Strange Love is a reality series featuring Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav that aired on VH1. Sparked by their on-screen romance in the third season of VH1's The Surreal Life, it is a spin-off that focused solely on Brigitte and Flav...
and snowballed from there, after the success of the Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
series.
Season 4
Da Brat
Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:...
, Adrianne Curry, Christopher Knight, Chyna, Marcus Schenkenberg
Marcus Schenkenberg
Marcus Lodewijk Schenkenberg van Mierop better known as Marcus Schenkenberg, , is a Swedish model of Dutch and Indonesian descent. He was born in Solna and has dual citizenship of both Sweden and the Netherlands...
, Verne Troyer
Verne Troyer
Verne J. Troyer is an American stand-up comedian, actor, stuntman and performer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series...
, and Jane Wiedlin
Jane Wiedlin
Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
. Among notable moments included conflict between Da Brat and Wiedlin that stemmed from comments made by Da Brat about Wiedlin that were shown during Dirty Laundry, and the strained relationship between Laurer and her now-ex-boyfriend Sean Waltman
Sean Waltman
Sean Michael Waltman is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE in their developmental program. He wrestled there under the ring names 1–2–3 Kid and X-Pac off and on from 1993–2002, World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Syxx, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ...
. More memorable moments included Troyer getting drunk on the first day and urinating in the weight room and Wiedlin getting upset about the group being asked to brand a cow. Like the season prior, another romance-themed spin-off, My Fair Brady
My Fair Brady
My Fair Brady is a celebrity reality television show on VH1 that follows Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch, and Adrianne Curry, who won the first season of America's Next Top Model, a year after they met and fell in love on the reality show The Surreal Life.The show...
was developed around the romantic escapades of Curry and Knight.
Season 5
Caprice Bourret
Caprice Bourret is an American supermodel, actress, television personality and businesswoman. She currently resides in the United Kingdom where she runs her company By Caprice Lingerie Ltd.- Early life :...
("See Britain's Most Beautiful Woman"), José Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
("Face the Fantastic Strongman"), Sandy "Pepa" Denton ("Meet the Mystical Musician"), Janice Dickinson
Janice Dickinson
Janice Doreen Dickinson is an American actress, author, fashion photographer, model and talent agent.Initially notable as a model, she has described herself as the first supermodel. One of the most successful models throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she expanded her profession to reality television...
("Behold the World's First Supermodel"), Carey Hart
Carey Hart
Carey Jason Hart is an American freestyle motocross motorcycle racer and off-road racer. He and singer Pink have been married since 2006.-Early years:...
("Witness the Death-Defying Daredevil"), Omarosa Manigault
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Omaroseonee Manigault-Stallworth , usually known simply as Omarosa, is a two-time participant on Donald Trump's television reality show The Apprentice.-Early life:Manigault-Stallworth was born in Youngstown, Ohio...
("Fear the Ultimate Reality Villain") and Bronson Pinchot
Bronson Pinchot
Bronson Alcott Pinchot is an American actor. He has appeared in several feature films, including Risky Business, Beverly Hills Cop , The First Wives Club, True Romance, Courage Under Fire and It's My Party...
("Marvel at the Man from Mypos"). This was enhanced with the introduction of a three-legged dog named Lucky. An ongoing feud between Manigault and Dickinson was a key focus point in the season, which ended with Dickinson leaving the house during the final dinner.
Season 6
Season six (2006) had a retro motel theme and starred Alexis ArquetteAlexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.-Early life:...
, Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
guitarist C. C. DeVille
C. C. DeVille
C.C. DeVille is the lead guitarist of the American glam metal band Poison. He has also acted in both reality television and television drama shows. He starred in The Surreal Life season 6 and the The Surreal Life: Fame Games...
, Steve Harwell
Steve Harwell
Steven Scott Harwell is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist for the band Smash Mouth. Greg Camp formed Smash Mouth with Harwell, Kevin Coleman, and Paul De Lisle...
, Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Alexander Hemsley is an American actor, most famous for his role as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen. He also played Earl Sinclair's horrifying boss, a Triceratops named B.P...
, Maven Huffman
Maven Huffman
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network.-Early life:Maven was born to an African-American...
, Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
and Andrea Lowell
Andrea Lowell
Andrea Lowell is an American actress and model most recognizable from her Playboy magazine nude pictorials and on air work for a variety of Playboy TV programs....
. Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
("Dr. Flo") assisted the cast as the house therapist. Throughout the two weeks, the cast shot a music video, produced and broadcast a live news program, booked and hosted their own talk show pilots, and participated in a "battle of the bands" competition. During the talk show episode, Marla Gibbs
Marla Gibbs
Marla Gibbs is an American television and film actress and singer. She is best remembered for playing Louise and George Jefferson's sarcastic maid, Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons and spinoff Checking In...
makes a cameo appearance with Hemsley, and the two recreate their retorts and putdowns as Florence and George from The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
. Arquette brings the transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
community increased visibility and awareness with her appearance in the series. And, struggling with memory and enunciation problems that grow worse, Kitaen is inexplicably left crawling on the floor of a closet by the final episode.
Spin-offs
The Surreal Life is one of VH1's most spun off shows, with a complex web of reality series that have, themselves, had spin-off shows. The first spin-offSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
from The Surreal Life was Strange Love, starring Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen, both of Season 3. It premiered in January, 2005 and ran for 11 episodes. The second spin-off, My Fair Brady, starred Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight. It ran its first season in 2005, concluding with the couple's engagement. The second season debuted in the spring 2006, concluding with a wedding. The third season premiered on January 20, 2008 and detailed the newlyweds' lives as they prepared to expand their family.
The Surreal Life: Fame Games
The Surreal Life: Fame Games
The Surreal Life: Fame Games is a reality television series that was originally broadcast on the VH1 cable network. A spin-off of the VH1 show, The Surreal Life, the show assembles ten alumni of the show's 6 prior seasons to compete in a ten-week competition that takes place in Las Vegas, with the...
reunited cast members of the original Surreal Life series in a competition for cash and prizes.
Pepa received her own two shows stemming from her popularity on VH1. She teamed up with her old partner Cheryl "Salt" James
Cheryl James
Cheryl R. James , better known as Salt, is an American rapper and actress. She is a member of the rap trio Salt-N-Pepa, which also includes Pepa and Spinderella...
for The Salt-N-Pepa Show
The Salt-N-Pepa Show
The Salt-N-Pepa Show, which premiered on October 14, 2007 on VH1, is a reality show documenting the events from the life of Salt-n-Pepa, several years after their breakup.-Season one:...
which showcased the two distinct personalities clash on many issues from their break-up as a group in the 90s to their current reformation. The series spanned two seasons. In 2010, Pepa also received her own show on VH1 that documented her search for her Mr. Right entitled "Let's Talk About Pep".
Of Love Series
Strange Love itself had a spin-off show, titled Flavor of LoveFlavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
, which lasted for 3 seasons, ending with Flav's announcement that he had found his one true love. Due to the show's great success, it spawned a successful franchise.
Contestant dating shows
Some notable contestants also managed to receive their own dating show. The first was Flavor of LoveFlavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
's Tiffany Pollard
Tiffany Pollard
Tiffany Pollard is an American reality television personality and actress. She is best known as New York and for her participation in VH1's Flavor of Love and I Love New York television series. Pollard was given the nickname by rapper Flavor Flav, whom she dated on both season 1 and season 2 of...
aka New York with I Love New York
I Love New York
I Love New York is both a logo and a song that are the basis of an advertising campaign and have been used since the mid-1970s to promote tourism in New York City, and later to promote New York State as well. The trademarked logo appears in souvenir shops and brochures throughout the state, some...
(2 seasons). Three of her suitors got their own show brothers Kamal "Chance" and Ahmad "Real" Givens starred in Real Chance of Love
Real Chance of Love
Real Chance of Love is an American reality television dating game show featuring two brothers Ahmad Givens and Kamal Givens , of the rap group The Stallionares, and former contestants on I Love New York, who are looking for love....
(2 seasons), and Frank "The Entertainer" Maresca starred in Frank the Entertainer... in a Basement Affair.
Game shows
Contestants from Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, Real Chance of Love and Rock of Love Bus were offered to participate in Charm SchoolCharm School (TV series)
Charm School is a reality television series airing on VH1; a spin-off of Flavor of Love created by executive producers Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin. The first season, called Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, is hosted by comedian Mo'Nique and features thirteen contestants from the first two...
, which lasted 3 seasons, with the premise of bettering themselves and a chance at a cash prize.
Contestants from Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, I Love New York, Real Chance of Love, For the Love of Ray J, Rock of Love Bus, Daisy of Love and Megan Wants a Millionaire were allowed to take part in I Love Money
I Love Money
I Love Money is an American reality television series airing on VH1, and is a spin-off of Flavor of Love, Charm School, I Love New York, Rock of Love, Real Chance of Love, For the Love of Ray J, Daisy of Love and Megan Wants a Millionaire. Former contestants on these shows compete in physical and...
, a Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
elimination-style show held in a Mexican mansion. Four seasons were produced but the 3rd one never aired due to Ryan Jenkins' involvement.
Unscripted shows
Contestants New York, Real and Chance later starred in additional unscripted shows. New York Goes to HollywoodNew York Goes To Hollywood
New York Goes to Hollywood is a reality VH1 series that consists of eight, 30-minute-episodes. New York Goes to Hollywood premiered on August 4, 2008. This spin-off of the I Love New York series, features Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find an acting job in Hollywood, California...
followed Pollard's attempt at becoming an actress, New York Goes to Work
New York Goes to Work
New York Goes to Work is a reality VH1 series that first premiered on May 4, 2009. This follow-up of New York Goes to Hollywood stars Tiffany "New York" Pollard as she tries to find a regular job. The jobs are selected by fans from a list of three possible jobs for each individual episode...
saw her perform various jobs as voted by the viewers on a weekly basis, Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters
Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters
Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters is an American reality television that follows brothers Ahmad Givens and Kamal Givens , from VH1's Real Chance of Love, as they hunt for mythical creatures such as: The Mega Shark, Bigfoot, and Hogzilla...
followed the Givens brothers in their quest to find legendary monsters such as the Big Foot.
DVD releases
Seasons 1, 2 and 5 were released in the US, but have since been discontinued. All six seasons have been released on DVD in Australia by Shock RecordsShock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
.
| Season | Release dates | Discs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... <-- Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... --> |
Region 0 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
||
| 1 & 2 | 1 December 2004 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 November 2008 | 2 | |
| 2 | 10 January 2009 | 2 | |
| 3 | 10 January 2009 | 3 | |
| 4 | 14 March 2009 | 3 | |
| 5 | 18 September 2005 | 12 June 2009 | 3 |
| 6 | 14 August 2009 | 2 | |