MTV created a new program called "The Real World," a real-life soap opera that documents what happens when several young men and woman live together in the same house, but the concept of reality is stretched a bit thin. The cast of characters includes an aspiring rapper, a country singer, and a stand-up comedian who, along with their multicultural friends, live in a 5,000-square-foot Venice Beach home, with a rent estimated by the Los Angeles Times at $5,000 a month. The house includes $100,000 worth of furniture and amenities, including a $2,800 pool table, a $1,200 saltwater aquarium, and a $6,395 hot tub. MTV also hired a muralist at $400 a day to create a Matisse-like ambiance. Each member of the household received a $300-a-month stipend just for being there.

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