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Television host and producer Andy Cohen announced a special weekly event in which he will give a “deep dive” into staple reality television shows. The Challenge star Johnny “Bananas” Devenanizo called out Cohen as he thought the documentary excluded MTV shows. However, Cohen responded, correcting the multi-season champ.

'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen' -- Episode 18026 -- Pictured in this screen grab: Andy Cohen
‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen’ — Episode 18026 — Pictured in this screen grab: Andy Cohen | Bravo

‘The Real World’ is one of the first reality television shows

Inspired by the popularity of shows centered around young adults, production company Bunim and Murray tried to develop a similar scripted series.

After realizing how much it would cost to pay the actors, they decided on casting several “regular people” to live together in a house where they would tape their day-to-day interactions. Therefore, the company selected seven people from a pool of 500 who went on to create the cast of the first season, The Real World: New York, which premiered in 1992.

The series pioneered several conventions of the reality television genre, including bringing strangers together and using “confessionals” as the show’s narrations.

Following the success, Bunim and Murray released more reality shows, including Road Rules (1995), in which contestants traveled completing missions. Along with spinoff The Challenge, the show is considered a pioneer in the travel/adventure reality genre.

Andy Cohen making a documentary examining reality shows

Talk show host and producer Andy Cohen has also been deemed a big name in the reality television genre due to iconic content he’s helped develop on the Bravo network, including the longstanding Real Housewives franchise.

In Feb. 2021, he announced a special weekly series premiering on E!, For Real: The Story of Reality TV. As the host, Cohen explained he would give viewers a “deep dive” into the world of reality television where they can hear “untold stories” from the stars.

Additionally, the host noted he would have “candid conversations” with the reality icons, including one where someone admitted to spending over $600,000 on drugs. He also hinted at a reunion with the original cast of The Real World.

While he didn’t name the shows, the trailer included clips from staple reality shows including Survivor, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Real Housewives, Big Brother, The Osbournes, American Idol, Fear Factor, Jersey Shore, The Biggest Loser, Project Runway, and Bad Girls Club.

Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio calls out Cohen for excluding MTV, Cohen responds

The most winningest competitor and recognizable face from The Challenge, Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, noticed the trailer and felt Cohen slighted MTV shows from the documentary.

He tweeted, “Creating ‘The Story of Reality TV’ and excluding ‘The Real World’ and ‘The Challenge’ is like re-writing the Bible and excluding the first two chapters,” with a mind-blown emoji. The reality star also tagged Cohen and E! News.

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The Bravo executive responded, explaining they did include MTV, which he says “is a huge part of the show,” and pointed out that he hosted a reunion for the original Real World series during the documentary. Devenanzio admitted he stood “corrected” when it comes to the Real World but noted it still didn’t include The Challenge.

He likened the exclusion to “opening a petting zoo and forgetting to include the goat.” For Real: The Story of Reality TV premieres Mar. 25 on E!

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