'The Real World' Star Eric Nies Says the Reality Show Saved His Life
It's been nearly 29 years since MTV's The Real World: New York first debuted, and while it had a huge impact on reality television, the experience greatly affected one cast member on a personal level.
The reality series premiered on May 21, 1992, and followed seven strangers who were picked to live in a house and have their lives taped.
"If the Real World didn't happen and my life didn't go the way it did, I might have been dead," says Eric Nies in a teaser for the For Real: The Story of Reality TV's Real World reunion, headed up by Andy Cohen.
"There were a lot of wounds that I was suppressing from my childhood and I was on a self-destructive path. I started using drugs at a young age," the 49-year-old former reality star, who went on to host The Grind on MTV, continues. "I was able to look at myself and see the things that I didn't like about myself that I wanted to change. In a way, The Real World kind of saved my life."
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | February 24, 2021 7:59 PM
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ANDY COHEN is hosting?.....Fuck that. I am not watching this queen. I do think it's hilarious that Andy is now aging in DOG YEARS...
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | February 23, 2021 3:13 AM
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I hate to say it, but I’m getting a bit jaded when it comes to talking about abuse. I’m sure a lot of it happened, but it seems like dredging up abuse stories is the way to become a media darling these days.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | February 23, 2021 3:15 AM
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I believe Eric and his brother posed full-frontal for Bruce Weber, in a woodsy setting. Right?
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | February 23, 2021 3:18 AM
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Poor Eric. His attempt to launch a career after The Real World went absolutely nowhere. He must be homeless by now
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | February 23, 2021 3:22 AM
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He used to be so beautiful
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | February 23, 2021 3:23 AM
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He looks like Francis in Stripes now.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | February 23, 2021 3:28 AM
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Wait and see---this reality show "series" is going to turn into Andy Cohen bragging about how HE "created" reality television. Just like the ABC Soap Opera Special where he bragged about himself..
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | February 23, 2021 3:28 AM
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I loved the relationship between Julie & Heather.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | February 23, 2021 3:31 AM
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Andy Cohens part of this ? Fuck that I’m out. Cant watch his wonky eye and “look at me” hosting. He’s insufferable and makes it about himself.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | February 23, 2021 4:05 AM
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So Andy Cohen? Not Martha Quinn or Tabitha Soren or John Norris? Anybody affiliated with MTV?
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | February 23, 2021 1:00 PM
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[quote]headed up by Andy Cohen
I know what I'm not watching.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | February 23, 2021 1:07 PM
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AC is morphing into Wilford Brimley. Poor dear. His world is youth and beauty and she’s NEITHER.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | February 23, 2021 1:19 PM
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What's up with his hair? He can't afford a decent cut?
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | February 23, 2021 1:26 PM
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He needs to embrace fis thinning hairline and get a close cut.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | February 23, 2021 1:51 PM
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Eric still looks great, except for that awful wig on his head.
Julie looks good, too. Just a more mature version of her 90s self. Heather looks EXACTLY the same. Norm is...larger.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | February 23, 2021 1:51 PM
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Even though this show was a low point of 90's culture, it still pings massive nostalgia.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | February 23, 2021 1:53 PM
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Christ, I used to drool over him back in the day...
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | February 23, 2021 2:21 PM
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r21 Same, girl. Same. The dad jeans and flannel are making me horny.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | February 23, 2021 2:36 PM
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R20 I agree on the nostalgia. I wouldn't mind occasionally rewatching the 90s seasons of RW,
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | February 23, 2021 4:47 PM
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Is he wearing a Caesar cut to remind us that he too was really popular for about 10 minutes in the early 90s?
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | February 23, 2021 5:04 PM
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Holy shit Norman looks so old and fat now!
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | February 23, 2021 5:17 PM
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Don't worry R14, I'm sure Uncle Andy will ask. Along with... so were you sodomized? Tell us about that. Did you like it? Did they touch your penis? Please show us your penis for reference.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | February 23, 2021 5:22 PM
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I think it is hysterical that Cohen is trying to entrench himself as the father of reality tv when he hates being associated with it.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | February 23, 2021 5:33 PM
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Eric has a nice big penis. Yum!
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | February 23, 2021 7:04 PM
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R29 I wouldn't say it's "big," but it's certainly adequate.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | February 23, 2021 7:39 PM
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That is his brother John actually, who was also In the same book. This is Eric.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | February 24, 2021 1:50 PM
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He used to be so hot.
Now I think he wears a toupee.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | February 24, 2021 5:36 PM
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He tried so hard to use his attractiveness to launch a showbiz career. He was always talking various plans (I think involving dancing).
Nothing ever panned out and he remains a nobody
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | February 24, 2021 6:12 PM
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I feel bad, I'd watch this if Andy wasn't hosting.
And it's not even that I dislike the guy, I just don't think this is right for him.
These are people in their late 40s/early 50s who aren't going to be yelling at each other like the Housewives.
Since these people have had to live in the actual real world for decades they should have gotten someone more serious, kinder or more sympathetic.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | February 24, 2021 7:59 PM
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