The Real World: Austin

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The Real World: Austin was the sixteenth 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. The Austin edition of the show premiered on June 21, 2005, and featured the cast living in a converted warehouse in downtown Austin, Texas right next to the locally famous, pink Railyard Condos. The building was converted to a Mexican Restaurant upon conclusion of the season. This was the first of two consecutive seasons to be filmed in the south, and the third season of The Real World to be filmed in the south, after The Real World: Miami and The Real World: New Orleans.

[edit] Cast

• Johanna Botta
• Lacey Buehler
• Melinda Stolp
• Nehemiah Clark
• Rachel Moyal
• Wes Bergmann
• Danny Jamieson

Danny Jamieson (b. May 23, 1983) is a 22-year-old carpenter from Billerica, Massachusetts who "bangs nails" with his father, as he has been doing since he was 14. He has aspirations to be a lawyer, but fears that if he stays in Billerica for too long, he will be doomed to "banging nails" there forever. During the first episode of the season, Danny gets punched in the face by some street revelers. As a result, several bones in his face were broken and required surgery. His father, Jim travels to Austin to be with his son during the operation. In that episode, Danny talks of his father being his best friend. It is evident that they have a close relationship as seen throughout the show. His father calls him a few episodes later to tell him of some devasting news about his mother. Danny's mother, Dorothy (Dottie) suffered from a lengthy illness prior to the season's taping. She died on Valentine's Day during filming of the show, causing him to leave the house for two episodes. Upon learning of his mother's death, the song "Acoustic Song" by the band Endway plays in the background, Endway being one of Danny's favorite bands. Danny returns home and is greeted by his father and sisters, Kristin & Janie, at the airport. The episode ends with a somber Danny saying goodbye to friends at his mother's burial. In the next episode, Danny surprisingly returns to Austin to finish taping of the show. He continues to struggle with his mother's death throughout the rest of the season, but finds comfort in Melinda and the rest of the cast members. In the very last episode, Danny breaks up a fight between Nehemiah and Rachel, holding Nehemiah back as he screams in her face and attempts to hit her. Following this season Melinda and Danny moved in together, and they are engaged to be married.

Nehemiah Clark (b. November 21, 1985) is a 19-year-old student from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who has struggled with his mother's drug abuse problems since his early childhood. Currently in college, Nehemiah is involved in film and broadcasting. Nehemiah is also a liberal and often questions the Bush Administration's motivations for, and handling of the Iraq War. This causes inevitable conflict between him and his roommate Rachel--who served as a U.S. Army medic in the war.

Melinda Stolp (b. August 17, 1983) is a 21-year-old originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, moving to Germantown, Wisconsin. Despite having a boyfriend and a promise ring, she quickly finds love with housemate Danny. She is willing to act wildly, even making out with a female roommate and walking around in her underwear. Following this season she moved to New Hampshire with Danny and they are currently engaged, and are to wed soon.

Lacey Buehler (b. 1981) is a 24-year-old hairdresser from Tallahassee, Florida. Her "hippie" parents ran away and had her and her sister, but were told that they and their babies would go to hell. They "moved to the other end of the spectrum" and became Christian right-wing Republicans. As a child, Lacey says that she and her sister were not allowed to watch TV and were only allowed to listen to Civil War ballads and hymns. She "turned out well" and is described as someone who is "easy to talk to" but admits to enjoying gossip. She is also the virgin of the group. Her boyfriend Ryan is a paraplegic due to a car accident, but he still managed to make several trips to Austin to visit her during filming.

Rachel Moyal (born November 17, 1982) is a 21-year-old Jewish girl from Valencia, California. She joined the army as a medic because she couldn't find the money for college. Rachel served in the 41st Engineer Battalion, 642nd Engineering Company, at Fort Drum, NY (10th Mtn. Div.) as a medic with the Army's Nurse Identifier. After returning from a year in Iraq, she "looks down on guys not in the military." During the filming of the show, Rachel sought help for what she considered to be Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She now attends the State University at Albany.

Wes Bergmann (b. 1984) is a 21-year-old student at Arizona State University originally from Leawood, Kansas. He "has never really experienced living with an African-American," and wants to start his own business when he leaves college. Wes has been attacked for the way he treats women (most notably girlfriend Johanna, and partner Casey) on the newest Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

Johanna Botta (b. April 16, 1983) is a 22-year-old from Riverside, California who describes herself as "spicy." She was born in Lima, Peru and moved to the United States when she was 11. She attended the University of California, Riverside for her undergraduate education and deferred her admission to Columbia University's Master's Program to be on The Real World.