That's right everyone, it's the 21st season of The Real World and this year, it's set in Brooklyn. Ryan, 23, who comes from Ghettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a 3 ½ year veteran of the United States army. He smashes his guitar after singing a rendition of “You suck Iraq.” Next, we have Katelynn, 24, who greets us from Missula, Montana but she was originally born in West Palm Beach, Florida. She was originally born a lot of things, because evidently she was born male.  Chet, 23 joins us from Salt Lake City, Utah. He's an aspiring fashion designer? He also profoundly remarks, “I just don't want to get shot down here.” Isn't he a nice boy? Devyn, 20, introduces herself and tells us she's from Kansas City, Missouri – that's going to confuse some of the housemates later. Ten bucks within 3 episodes, they tell her she's from Kansas. Anyways, she was Miss America Teen 2005 and evidently we all have more of a chance of getting into heaven than getting into Devyn. I really admire people with catchphrases so I'm guessing Devyn's my girl. Devyn and Chet meet and hug and Chet proves me wrong by telling Devyn his dream job would to be to host MTV's TRL. Sorry Chet, but I think they canceled it. That's gotta sting, to have someone cancel your dream. He then tells us that he's Morman and he's here to show us all Mormans are fun. I can't wait.


Chet will soon be joined by Baya, 21, who is also from Salt Lake City, Utah and an aspiring dancer. Ryan meets up with Baya and they hug, etc. She giggles, he tells the cameras that he can already tell the two of them are going to get along, which probably means a future hook-up. That is, unless Sarah, 22 from San Francisco gets in the way. I kind of doubt it though, seeing as Sarah's the “weird girl” covered in tattoos. She meets up with JD, 22, who hails from Miami Beach, Florida who immediately reveals via interview that he's here to “come out with a family that he's never had before.” That's sweet. What's cuter is that he trains dolphins and whales. Awwww. After initially dodging the gay question, Sarah reveals that her boyfriend back at home is the first guy she's ever dated because she previously only date women. So, JD finally tells her that he doesn't like chicks and she squeals and hugs him. Last, we have Scott, 23, the personal trainer/ aspiring actor and model from Salem, New Hampshire.

Scott is the first to meet Katelynn and he calls her a cute girl, though not his type. Devyn and Chet pull up to the house first and it's just huge. It's right on the water, absolutely gorgeous, with a dock and a killer view of the Statue of Liberty. Chet clarifies that he's straight. Baya and Ryan are next to enter and meet the crew, followed almost immediately by Katelynn and Scott. Devyn instantly comments how attractive Scott is. Finally, they all meet Sarah and JD and realize that there are eight cast members this season. Everyone is confused.

Roommate pairs: Chet and Ryan, Katelynn and Devyn, Sarah and JD, and Baya and Scott. The most interesting piece of information revealed during unpacking time definitely had to be that Chet is a virgin due to his “religious background.” Ryan is the first to ask if Katelynn's transgender, but he asks Sarah, JD and Scott instead of asking Katelynn herself and they shoot him down telling him there's no way she was born a guy.

Next topic of conversation is Devyn's boobs. But, it's a short lived conversation before it goes back to Katelynn being transgendered. The girls trump that conversation with Scotts abs. But, right away, we're back to Katelynn who reveals that she's had a 5-some (and hated it). Most of the house look disgusted, especially Ryan and Baya.

An interesting contrast is set up when Ryan reveals to his girlfriend Bella that he hasn't told anyone that he's in the military. Katelynn had just mention to us that she hadn't told anyone about being transgendered.

Club night number one. Devyn admits she has a crush on Scott. Ryan gets wasted. The next morning Ryan tells Sarah first about being in the military and going to Iraq. He even tells her that one of his buddies shot himself last month. Ryan deals with things through his writing. He pulls out this huge manuscript and shows Sarah and she jokes about getting the first signed copy of his book. He then tells everyone else that he joined up because of 9/11. He sings Chet a song and decides he wants to record an album while in Brooklyn. During one of his songs, Ryan calls Chet gay and Chet clarifies that he's metrosexual, which isn't a “sin.”

JD asks Katelynn to dinner and she finally reveals that she's a transgender. Before the dinner, Ryan calls JD out for separating him and Katelynn from the rest of the group and JD says, “well, we are different from the rest of the family.” It's cute for a second until Ryan calls Katelynn an “it” and JD has to defend her while Ryan and Chet say, “I don't get it,” over and over again. Chet insantly goes inside to tell Scott and Scott argues saying Katelynn is definitely a girl and then notes that he would never tell Chet anything personal about his life. Overall, no major fights, but I feel there are some interesting characters this season. And besides, there are plenty of fights in the previews for the rest of the season!



-Kim Wetter, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of MTV)