The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally executive produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray and produced and directed by George Verschoor. First aired in 1992, it is one of the first reality television shows to gain a national audience, and continues to be the longest running program in MTV history. The show is currently in its seventeenth season. Following Bunim’s death from breast cancer in 2004, Bunim/Murray Productions continues to produce the program.