Real World

REAL WORLD’S NORMAN KORPI: GAY ICON TO INVENTOR

If you happened to be alive in 1992 and watching THE FIRST DOCUMENTED REALITY SHOW – MTV’s Real World, then surely you fondly remember Norman Korpi. He was one of a group of seven twenty-somethings who had never met, but were set up to live together in a loft in New York. Their interactions were filmed for 13 eye-popping weeks and – guess what – they were only paid $100 per episode! In case you missed the series, MTV has resurrected the Real World New York on their new channel called MTV Classic. Back to Norman – he WAS the first person to come out as gay on TV, YEARS before anyone else had the courage. (Elton John still claimed to be straight back then.) Gay pioneer Norman was an artist in the 90’s, but now he’s also an inventor and we LOVE his invention: the A/Stand! It’s something EVERYBODY needs! You can check it out on normankorpi.com or Indiegogo.
(Above the real World cast in 1992 – Norman is in front. MTV didn’t take many photos then because they didn’t think the show would be a success. Below, Norman today with the A/Stand.)

http://normankorpi.com/

REAL WORLD STARS DID SOMETHING WORTHWHILE!

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Two of the most memorable MTV Real World alumni, inventor/artist Norman Korpi (Real World New York) and Puck (David Rainey the bike messenger– Real World San Francisco ) turned up on Capitol Hill to support their buddy, Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy (Real World Boston.) Imagine that – a Real World star is now in politics! Duffy launched the Ovarian Cancer Caucus in honor of their MTV costar Diem Brown who died from the disease last year. Duffy gathered his MTV friends to help promote the cause. Naturally the talkative Puck had a lot to say- he mentioned that he now makes a living selling his sperm to lesbians in Los Angeles, and claims to have 7 children so far! Oh, and he was so impressed with Washington DC that he wants to run for office!

REAL WORLD’S PUCK SAYS HE’S HOMELESS

Real World fans might be interested to know what the unpopular bike messenger Puck (David Rainey) is up to these days. Just this week he was seen looking nearly unrecognizable (thrashed and unshaven) in the parking lot of the West Hollywood post office. He was talking a mile a minute to anyone who’d listen. While eating supermarket sushi, he blurted between bites “My wife threw me out! Can you BELIEVE it?” Next to him was an oversize gym bag and a box of records. He pointed over his shoulder and said “I’m living in my car! I have nowhere to stay!” (Keep in mind, Puck has had problems with domestic violence in the past.) He was last heard asking a guy if he could go home with him – without success….

GOOD NEWS: THERE’S A GAY-FRIENDLY REALITY STAR (SEAN DUFFY) IN THE HOUSE!


Real World: Boston 1997 star Sean Duffy, 38, (above left) was elected to the House of Representatives in Wisconsin despite his colorful TV history. Sean, a conservative Republican, did not play up his reality star past in his campaign, but his opponent tried to use it against him. In fact, that opponent, Dan Mielke, used a Real World gay oriented mockumentary “The Wedding Video (made by another Real World star Norman Korpi) (above right) that Sean appeared in as ammo against him. Norm, the first openly gay MTV star, filmed the tongue-in-cheek gay wedding video with Sean, his wife Rachel (another Real World star) and other Real World alumni. His opponent questioned Duffy’s morals and blasted the video as obscene. Happily, voters preferred the gay-friendly Duffy.