The Real World: Key West

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The Real World: Key West

Cast of The Real World: Key West
Format Reality show
Created by Jonathan Murray
Mary-Ellis Bunim
Starring Svetlana Shusterman
Janelle Casanave
John Devenanzio
Jose Tapia
Zach Mann
Paula Meronek
Tyler Duckworth
Country of origin United States
Production
Producer(s) Ted Kenney
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel MTV
Original run February 28, 2006 – August 15, 2006
Chronology
Preceded by The Real World: Austin
Followed by The Real World: Denver

The Real World: Key West is the seventeenth season of MTV's popular reality television series The Real World, which focuses on seven diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. This season was shot in the Key Haven neighborhood of Key West, Florida in late summer and fall 2005, and debuted February 28, 2006. It is the second season of The Real World to be filmed in southern Florida (The Real World: Miami was filmed 10 years prior in 1996); and the fourth season to be filmed in the southern United States (Miami in 1996, The Real World: New Orleans in 2000 and The Real World: Austin in 2005.)

The season was filmed during the busiest Atlantic hurricane season ever; filming was scheduled to start the week Hurricane Katrina made landfall but was delayed as several castmembers were stuck in Miami. Later in the season Hurricanes Rita and Wilma made landfall forcing the cast to evacuate to West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, respectively. During Hurricane Wilma, the cast was forced to evacuate again, this time to Orlando after the Ft. Lauderdale-area hotel they sought shelter in was damaged by the storm. Conflicts incurred by the production included an unsuccessful lawsuit by tourism mogul Ed Swift III, a neighbor to the Driftwood Drive house, who sought to stop filming at the location. After MTV threatened to cancel The Real World: Key West in light of the lawsuit, a judge threw out the lawsuit and allowed Bunim-Murray Productions to continue filming the season, with some minor production restrictions put in place.

Contents

[edit] Assignment

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. The Key West housemates were assigned to assist in starting a Mystic Tan franchise at the Pineapple Gallery. It closed briefly after Hurricane Wilma had devastated the store. Shortly thereafter, the store reopened and the roommates were back in business. Despite the struggles the cast encountered, they successfully provided state-of-the-art tanning services to the residents and tourists of Key West.

[edit] Cast

Cast Member Age1 Hometown Biography RW/RR Challenges
Zach Mann 22 Vashon Island, WA A communications grad from Lewis and Clark College, Zach comes from a Jewish family. Zach was at one time overweight, but has since transformed himself and emerged as an energetic, confident young man. He angers Svetlana when he informs her that he would also like to apply for team leader of Mystic Tan. At the reunion show, all of the castmates laughingly point to Zach when asked who "got the most booty." The Gauntlet III
Jose Tapia 20 Brooklyn, New York Known to his friends as "The Don." He was raised in Brooklyn surrounded by drugs, violence and the influence of "the wrong crowd". During the season, viewers learn that while living in Key West he is in the process of moving out of an apartment he shares with his former girlfriend. He attended Florida State University, and is the owner of multiple rental properties and the holder of a real estate broker license.[1] None
Paula Meronek 24 Meriden, Connecticut Since her graduation from Quinnipiac University, Paula is a corporate employee by day, and parties at night. Paula is still experiencing problems with an abusive ex-boyfriend, and with her body image. The Duel, The Inferno III, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2
John Devenanzio 23 Fullerton, California[2] A recent graduate of Pennsylvania State University, his casting made headlines in the Daily Collegian, PSU's student newspaper. He initially flirts with Svetlana but she remains faithful to her boyfriend at home. At one point during the season, he jokingly removes Janelle's bikini top in the ocean. Concerned about being asked to leave the house, he apologizes to Janelle and she accepts but not without reprimand. He and Tyler share relationship characterized by numerous practical jokes they play on one another. The Duel,The Inferno 3,[3]The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2
Janelle Casanave 23 San Jose, California Friends describe her as "independent." She was accepted to the University of San Francisco School of Law, but before becoming a lawyer, is launching a career as a makeup artist. During the season her boyfriend comes to visit her, but during his stay he angers her when he meets strangers at a club and attempts to bring them back to the house. They fight and she refuses to allow him into the house when he discovers that he will be unable to fly back home that night.[4] The Inferno III,The Gauntlet III
Tyler Duckworth 23 Minneapolis, Minnesota A gay gymnastics and figure skating enthusiast describes himself as "manipulative" and "mischievous". He was at one time was on track to becoming a world-class swimming champion. He was devastated when a freak accident shattered his Olympic dreams. Although doctors told him he might never walk again, he proved them wrong. A recent graduate of Tufts University, he must decide what to do with his life. In the show, he admits to feeling the closest to Jose in the house.[5] The Duel,The Gauntlet III
Svetlana Shusterman 19 Richboro, Pennsylvania (b. December 1, 1985[6]) A pre-med student at Temple University who was born in Odessa, Ukraine. A first generation immigrant with a reputation for being the "crazy Russian chick," she is torn between her dependency on her family, and the need to venture out and experience life.[7] In 2007, her 21st birthday was featured on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. The Duel,

Note 1: Age at the time of filming.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Biography page for Jose Tapia at mtv.com
  2. ^ Biography page for John Devenanzio at mtv.com
  3. ^ John Devenanzio at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ^ Biography page for Janelle Casanave at mtv.com
  5. ^ Biography page for Tyler Duckworth at mtv.com
  6. ^ Svetlana Shusterman at the Internet Movie Database
  7. ^ Biography page for Svetlana Shusterman at mtv.com
  8. ^ Cast Page for The Real World: Key West at mtv.com

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Real World, Road Rules, and Real World/Road Rules Challenge
The Real World seasons
Road Rules seasons
RW/RR Challenge seasons
Related