It’s back! MTV’s ridiculously addictive series True Life returned last night with a somewhat somber edition: “I Need a Transplant.” But the show isn’t always so serious — Following young adults as they navigate through life, True Life episodes have ranged from funny (“I Have Embarrassing Parents”) to strange (“I’m Obsessed with My Dog”) to depressing (“I’m Dead Broke”). It’s a reality show that actually, for once, feels real.
Because I’m fairly sure I’ve seen every episode ever — I could star in True Life: I Have Too Much Time On My Hands — I’ve comprised my five most memorable True Life moments. (See them after the jump!)
“I’m Addicted to Crystal Meth”
As someone who is terrified of needles, the shows revolving around drug use are hard for me to watch. But dang, are they powerful. Everything’s shown, from injections to withdrawals. Want to make kids stay away from drugs? Make ’em watch five minutes of this.
“I’m Looking for My Mother“
Watching Debra, a soon-to-be college grad, look for her drug-addicted homeless mother in overgrown fields and underneath freeway overpasses was heartbreaking. If that didn’t make you want to hug your mom I don’t know what will.
“I’m Getting Plastic Surgery“
There have been a few episodes on this subject matter, but the original sticks in my mind, thanks to the dude who kept whining about how he was sooooo perfect except for his calves (or lack thereof). He got implants, but remained a jackass.
“I Live in the Projects”
This was one of those compelling episodes that sucked me in because it was about a world I’ve never really seen before. Watching Dino try to keep his young nephews on the straight and narrow and Vikki work to move out of the neighborhood where her boyfriend was murdered was inspiring.
“I’m Getting Married“
Before Snooki and Pauly D, there were Charlie and Sabrina. Two other couples were featured on this classic True Life episode, but these guidos in love stole the show. You know you remember Charlie pacing up and down the street, screaming into his cell phone at the tardy limo driver, “I will hunt you down like f—ing cattle! I will gut you!” That still brings a smile to my face.
True Life has had many memorable moments, and my list is nowhere near complete. What are your favorite True Life episodes?
Was it True Life that followed the kids going to the prom? And that one girl had a pink dress made for her that exposed way too much.
Jenn, that might have been a True Life: I’m going to prom or something. I definitely saw that! MTV has had some prom specials in the past though.
Since I don’t expect too many people to bring this up, the video game related ones. “True Life: I’m a Gamer”, and “True Life: I’m in Competitive Gaming”, I believe. I prefer the first one, since it showed a wider array of gamers, but both versions did a pretty cool job of portraying gamers beyond the stereotypical image of Dungeons and Dragons basement dwellers. The 20-somethings huddled in the apartment with multiple consoles reminded me of far too many hardcore gamers I encountered in college dorms.
I remember one where the guy was getting plastic surgery to look like Brad Pitt..was that a True Life episode?
I remember that “Perfect Body” episode! That dude with the calf implants was soooo annoying. Another good “body” episode was the one with the musclehead who was trying to become a pro bodybuilder, and the kid who was trying to bulk up so he could make a college football team. The bodybuilder dude was hardcore, and I remember he carried around a gallon jug of water everywhere he went.
I adore this show; I think I’ve seen nearly every episode too!
The guy who was trying to go pro had his mom oiling him up before the competition. shudder.
The kid that wanted to bulk up to become a college football player was named Ryan Harris and he started at Notre Dame for 4 years and is now in the NFL.
Wow, that’s awesome! Good for him.
I loved jonny drama, meetpetlovers
True Life: I’m Going to Fat Camp!
Yes! This is one of my favorites!
Where’s Tommy Cheeseballs? “I Have a Summer Share” was the Jersey Shore before Charlie and Sabrina were before the Jersey Shore. Tommy was one of the most pathetic lunks in history, and he is always number 1 on these lists.
I knew exactly who you were talking about when you said “Tommy Cheeseballs.” Then I spit my drink all over my monitor. Hilarious!
Is there anywhere we can go to watch full episodes?
MTV.com has quite a few episodes up.
The “Perfect Body” one sticks out for me, too. Wanting calf implants. I still get grossed out. Ughhh.
Remember that the doctor was all dressed in black and his “nurses” looked like Victoria Secret models? It didn’t seem like a legit place at all!!
Oh, and let’s not forget the “I Have Tourettes” episode.
oh yeah, I remember that one.
Yup. The girl of the trio shown had it really rough compared to the other two. She may have acted bratty, but when your body goes hawyire arbitrarily at any moment, you can’t blame her.
My favorite moment was in the episode called “I Have Embarrassing Parents.” This one guy had a dad who was into Star Wars, and it broke the dad’s heart that his son didn’t share the same interest. But to his surprise, he took his son to a Star Wars convention and the son remarked how he thought the Dark Side was cool and even dressed up as a Storm Trooper. The dad was so touched that he started crying at the sight of his son as a Trooper. Great stuff…
Didn’t that episode also feature a kid who’s parents were clowns? They were intense.
yeah and it also had a kid whose parents were nudists
Hearing all those options, Star Wars doesnt sound so bad.
Charlie and Sabrina were hilarious…I must have watched that episode ten times. I loved the Godfather style wedding with big envelopes of money. It was so gaudy. But I agree that the best part was when Charlie was threatening the limo driver.
Don’t dis hunting cattle. It’s really hard. It takes years just to perfect the cattle call.
Mooooo
I remember the True Life: I’m a compulsive shopper. I thought that I loved to shop, but these girls…wow! They were out of control. Especially the girl who’s mom had osteoporosis(sp?) and she maxed out her credit card
Yeah, and she wanted her dad to buy her boobs. That was pretty wacky.
Plushies and Furries was by far the weirdest and greatest episode ever. I never felt so naive in my whole life.
That one is the one that sticks out the most to me 2. It’s weird how many people saw that episode. Still haunts me!