This is the true story…of seven strangers…picked to live in a house…(work together) and have their lives taped…to find out what happens…when people stop being polite…and start getting real… On that note, Andre Comeau from the original grandaddy of them all, The Real World: New York, steps Behind The Rope. THE show that changed, introduced, formed and revolutionized Reality TV. We start at the beginning by asking the question, just how did Andre get cast on the first ever Real World in NYC and what was casting like way back when. With no prior reality show to look to, we discuss how he knew what to do when the cameras started rolling - he didn’t. With no predecessor to look to, we discuss how this makes the Real World, New York, Season One possibly the most authentic reality TV show ever. Andre discusses what he thought the show could do for his up and coming rock band, how he was able to get used to cameras around 24/7, the influence of producers back then, and what he thought of his edit once the show aired. Andre discusses what MTV was like back in the day when it was the channel that played music all day and how he thought the Real World would maybe be a little show that a few people watched. On that note, we talk about how life suddenly changed once the show aired and became a multigenerational blockbuster of supreme magnitude. We discuss his house mates Eric, Julie, Norman, Heather, Kevin, and Becky and the groundbreaking issues they dealt with way ahead of “their time” such as racism, sexuality, The AIDS crisis. Andre opens up about the aftermath of being in the spotlight, the identity crisis he suffered, the highs and lows of the entertainment business and how to navigate it successfully and come out the other side. Flash forward 29 years, MTV comes a’ callin’ and Andre finds himself back in the same loft for an epic 6 episode arc, The Real World Homecoming: New York. Andre chats about how much has changed, how much has stayed the same, what it was like to see everyone again, the re-heated confrontation between Becky and Kevin over the issue of racism, and just how much the original holds up in the world we live in today. @andrecomeaumusic @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef Bonus Episodes Available at - https://www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope Brought to you by Mint Mobile https://www.mintmobile.com/velvetrope Brought to you by Better HELP https://www.betterhelp.com/velvetrope Merch Available at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices