How an MTV Reality Star Fought an Epidemic
It’s the mid 90s and reality TV is in its infancy with The Real World. At first, many critics dismiss the show as trash — along with everything else about MTV. But one young man has a crazy dream … of getting on the show so he can use it for something nobody had ever tried. Saving lives. There’s just one problem — he might have a very limited time to do it. And when he DOES get on the show, he realizes his mission is even harder than he thought. This is the story of Pedro Zamora … and the year that transformed reality TV, and an epidemic.
The Pedro Zamora Scholarship: https://www.aidsmemorial.org/pedro-zamora-scholarship
Donate to the National AIDS Memorial and the scholarship: https://www.aidsmemorial.org/donate-now
Huge thanks to everyone who spoke to me for this video! Watch our full interviews here:
– Judd Winick from The Real World: San Francisco: https://youtu.be/y-CqCHKFu58
– Danny Roberts from The Real World: New Orleans: https://youtu.be/INPPPnaBaQ8
– Jonathan Holmes from Road Rules: https://youtu.be/8gJOLAqOvhQ
– Scott Flanary from The Amazing Race: https://youtu.be/xQdu5i-UYCk
And you can find all of those folks through their various projects:
Judd Winick:
– Pedro & Me: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805089646/pedroandme/
– HiLo Book 11: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741634/hilo-book-11-the-great-space-iguana-by-judd-winick/
Danny Roberts:
– History Unerased: https://unerased.org/
Jonathan Holmes:
– BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/tronknotts.bsky.social
– Nintendo Force: https://www.nintendoforcemagazine.com/
– Maximum Utmost: https://maxutmost.com/
– Talking to Women About Video Games: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jonathan-c-holmes
Scott Flanary:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottflanary/
Join me on Patreon for lots more bonus videos about MTV & The Real World: http://patreon.com/mattbaume
@deedramcconis1763
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I remember watched all of this in real time and I am in tears watching.Pedro helped so many people ❤. Love Pedro
@JasonDavis103
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
This show was HUUUGE at that time for HIV/AIDS awareness. A massive step forward to educate people about HIV and gay information.
@RLS-bu4bj
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
This was amazing. I was 18 when this season aired and I cried when he passed. He seemed like such a decent person whose light in the world was taken too soon
@harlandted
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
This segment is so well written and executed
@dianagreen966
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
The right wing Cuban girl who loved Dr. Teller was so gross that Pedro brought so much light I continued to watch.
@MmeJCC
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
DISLIKED for your take on Cuba
Cuba is the victim of the USA.
@J-god1123
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I miss Pedro wish he was here ❤
@J-god1123
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I didn’t like Rachel or puck 😬
@LDrosophila
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
And yet Rachel Campos still votes Republican and supports the Trump Regime which has defunded AIDS research
@BenFletcher7530
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
@15:16 Whoa… That is, hands-down, the darkest commercial I've ever seen.
@PopulrMnstr
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Puck is a long time meth addict now living in Phoenix taking advantage of woman after woman until they get smart. Living out of a van and cars, or where ever if his van or what ever is impounded. Still living off being "puck from real world" as best as he can. Which is not much of a living at all obviously.
Apparently right now he's taking advantage of another woman and making a "farm to table cooking" thing on tiktok out of her house.
(A close friend of mine had pitty on him for a few months. Naturally he took advantage of her as soon as they started talking until she ditched him a few months later realizing he was definitely never going to do anything for himself.
@DJMichaelKks
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I remember watching the show when it aired and the memorial on MTV. It was very touching. He was a special guy and his story is something I will always remember. Bless the family and his friends who continue his work!
@dpaulsen2
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
This was an absolutely beautiful video and tribute. It's been so long since I have heard a story with so much positivity and heart from so many directions. It almost melts my cynicism enough to… no YOU'RE crying.
@ivonna.tinkle
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I’m getting teary.
Toxic Trump is literally going to kill people and I wouldn’t put it past Trump to deport the Zamora family back to Cuba.
@Edwindeleon-gi8os
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
BUDDHA SAID PLANT HAS CURE FOR HIV
@evilkep7390
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Man i remember watching and how much of a pos puck was
@St.Osiris
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Thank you so much for this video <3
@Suzella2026
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I started tearing up during this video. I was a baby when this season aired. I had no idea that President Clinton called him in the hospital & spoke at his funeral. Truly amazing 🩵💙💜💛🧡🩷❤️
@firstnamelastname6926
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I'm crying watching this. I used to be so ignorant about gays everybody should have to see this video
@tesstikles3225
June 13, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I'm one year younger than Pedro. I lived in SF all my life. When RW came out on MTV and we found out that the 3rd season the city chosen was SF everyone i knew my age were watching. The 90's were alive from Grunge and Hip Hop to RW and MTV to Clinton in office it was wild but fun times. Pedro was amazing he really did open people's minds and hearts. The way he was a well spoken, passionate young man. The SF cast of the RW was the best just organic. I a straight married man still think about the cast but specially Pedro Zamora he made such an impact on the world and humanity at such a young age. Rest in Paradise Pedro you may be gone but never forgotten 🙏