The Greatest MTV "True Life" Characters of All Time

Since 1998, MTV's True Life has sent viewers into the strange and oftentimes heartbreaking lives of regular people with sometimes irregular habits. To this day, the TV series continues to cover an array of topics, including Internet addiction, entrepreneurship, and pet problems, through compelling characters you probably wouldn't encounter in your day-to-day life. While some characters are memorable for their antics and behavior, others are remembered for overcoming adversity or achieving a goal they worked hard for. 

From guys with implanted horns on their heads, to people who can't keep their sexual urges at bay for even a few minutes, these True Life characters are the ones we will continue to talk about for years to come. These are the Greatest MTV True Life Characters of All Time.

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Air date: November 5, 2011
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Fifteen-year-old Tori has been overshadowed by her outgoing, attention-seeking mother, Lacey, ever since she can remember, and the situation gets even worse after her mother's double-enhancement breast surgery. (See the photo above. Sorry.) Now, Tori feels embarrassed to even be seen with her mother.

The two are the topic of conversation wherever they go. During a visit to the beach, men of all ages stop to take photos of Tori's mom and ask her what size she wears (because these guys are the worst).

Fortunately, Lacey, by the end of the epiode, hears her daughter's pleas and goes shopping for more clothes. As in, clothes that contain more fabric. So that she doesn't look quite like she does in the above photo.

Air date: Apil 11, 2012
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Afflicted with sex addiction, Isaax struggles with loneliness, commitment trouble, and lack of self-confidence. He only feels good about himself when he's having sex. Boning offers an escape from the reality he doesn't want to face, and so he visits a sex therapist in an attempt to reconstruct himself.

Ultimately, Isaax works hard to improve his health by dieting and exercising. He even has a two-month relationship and believes that it changed his outlook on romantic relationships and sex (don't get ahead of yourself, bud). Though descouraged by his short experience with love, he continues on the path towards a healthier lifestyle.

Air date: December 27, 2010
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Have you ever eaten your emotions away after a bad day? Maybe picked up a few Big Macs on the ride home from work? That is exactly how Jennifer lives. Every day. Her mind dwells constantly on the food that she craves, and she can't seem to control herself. And—whoa—it's seriously affecting Jennifer's dreams of becoming a singer. Can she fulfill her dreams if she can't say no to burgers and fries?

Unfortunately, Jennifer refuses to believe that her food addiction is a serious problem and stops going to therapy. She says she feels confident and happy about herself and her music and doesn't find it necessary to change her habits. Oh, OK.

Air date: January 19, 2013
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Caleb is a California-based Tea-Party supporter who describes himself as a "political junkie." (Red flag: He'd never been very interested in politics until Barack Obama was elected as president.) According to Caleb, the Obama administration has made the government more "socialist," and a rebellion is therefore in order. Good luck with that...

Air date: September 19, 2009
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Most people would classify Jason as the typical, quirky high school nerd, what with his overwhelming passion for the Power Rangers. He's never had a girlfriend, as his fanboy pursuits have kept him quite occupied. Now he believes that he's ready for some sort of commitment and believes that he has met his match in Gemma, the equally unconventional girl he meets at a Power Rangers meet-up.

Jason decides to man-up and confess his feelings for Gemma to Gemma. However, Gemma doesn't feel ready for a relationship and would rather be "just friends." No one is safe from those words.

Air date: September 4, 2003
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Eugene's got a one-track mind about the pursite of street racing. He spends nearly all of his free time working on his car engine, modifying and enhancing the components that will give him that extra advantage when closing in on the finish line. Despite the risks of being caught, Eugene is determined to continue racing and living out his dreams. There is nothing that can stop him. He is constantly looking for his next race, the next chance to prove himself.

Turns out Vin Diesel's character in the Fast & Furious movies was inspired by this guy.

Air date: April 4, 2005
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Unique's story is a painful one to watch. The 21-year-old takes up the responsibility of raising her three sisters (one of which has a baby on the way) after their mother commits suicide. She begins stripping to support her family. By the end of the episode, Unique goes on her first date in three years, and welcomes a niece into the family. Whenever you think your life is hard, just remember what Unique endured. #QUEEN

Air date: September 29, 2007
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Tony is a 22-year-old illegal immigrant living in the United States. Intelligent and hardworking, he's won a couple of scholarships while in high school. He has lived in the U.S. for most of his life, and yet he does not have the same opportunities as most. Tony's goal is to attend college and obtain a secure future for himself and his family, but these dreams have long-ago been dashed by his lack of a citizenship. This is where you're supposed to get angry, get up from your couch, and make some kind of change in the world.

Thankfully, Tony's able to enroll in a college in San Francisco. Still, as he cannot qualify for financial aid, he gets a job on the side, working at a hotel.

Air date: January 18, 2012
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At first glance, Terry seems like your average guy. However, life for Terry is far from normal. Because he's a registered sex offender, Terry has had to move from his parents' house because it's too close to a school bus stop and he cannot be anywhere near children.

Terry was charged at 18 for having sexual relations with his underage girlfriend. In one bright spot of hope, the episode eventually finds him going to court with his ex, who clears his name and gets him off the incriminating list.

Air date: January 19, 2013
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Louie's a man that craves attention, so much so that he gets horn-like implants on his head. Unsurprisingly, he ends up regretting the procedure years later, annoyed by people making fun of him and constantly asking why he went through with such a thing. So, he goes through a procedure to get rid of them, and it turns out to be a success—for the most part.

Now, Louie can live a rather normal life again and be the father/adult he wants to be. (And shout out to that doctor that removed Louie's horns. One of the horns nearly took out the doctor.)

Air date: May 3, 2008
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You can always have a good laugh at Candy's house—both her parents are professional clowns. But sometimes they take their jobs a little too seriously—to the point of madness and chaos. Welcome to the sequel to "I Have Embarrassing Parents."

Naturally, their attempts to entertain Candy's friends backfire. The boiling point comes when Candy's dad decides to interview her potential boyfriend while wearing his clown costume.

But everything turns out just fine in the end. Candy and her potential boyfriend become "official" and Candy decides that her parents are fun rather than embarrassing. (But really, though—what kind of drugs did they give her?)

Air date: March 13, 2003
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On the outside, Billy is just some Peter Dinklage lookalike. (Documentary lovers will recognize him as the supervillain in The King of Kong.) Turns out that Billy is the Pac-Man World Champion, having won the title back in the day when arcade game was the game to play.

Now, Billy has turned some of his gamer passion into more practical pursuits: working in his family's chain of restaurants. His new goal is to develop the perfect chicken wing hot sauce. Oh, sure.

Air date: June 27, 2002

In this GLAAD award-winning episode, 19-year-old Joel, a closeted gay man from a conservative Catholic Filipino family, struggles with coming out to his parents. At first, he comes out to his father, who welcomes his confession with a warm hug. However, his mother is not so understanding; she bluntly asks, "When did you realize you were like that? I mean, your kind.” The episode doesn't see a resolution to the tension between Joel and his mother, though it shows them taking the first steps.

Note: Joel wrong a piece for the Advocate in 2011, chronicling his experience on the show and his life after. His story has a real happy ending.

Air date: October 22, 2007
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For his entire life, Tim has been an outcast. His speech disability has been a constant reminder that he's different. Now, he must face his greatest challenge yet: finding a job that will allow him to be independent and pay his own bills. Like so many of us, he finds a job at a bar. (Actually, when we decided to get independent, we just drank at the bar, but same difference.)

Though he becomes frustrated with this stuttering, Tim demonstrates great patience. Everything pays off when he recieves encouragement from his manager. (Remember, this is a show about small victories.)

Air date: January 5, 2008
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Casey can't get right. As soon as she sobers up, she hits one of the many bars in Las Vegas; there seems to be no end to her drinking problem. She goes through several different jobs and ruins a friendship all because of her addiction, which by the end of the show she claims, "isn't that bad."

Thankfully, it seems that Casey has finally received help. If you view the comments section below the "I'm An Alcoholic" episode on MTV's website, there's a comment left by Casey (or someone claiming to be Casey) that states she's "not the same person" she was when she was 21, and is "pursuing a degree in drug and alcohol abuse counseling." If this is the real Casey, kudos to you.

Air date: February 9, 2000
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Because of Breaking Bad, we all think we know everything there is to know about meth. But True Life painted a harsher picture of the dangers of the drug. Enter: Bryan. There were moments during this grueling episode where feared not only feared for Bryan's life, but for the lives of the folks behind the camera.

At one point, True Life producer James Huang stopped recording, and told Bryan that he would not continue filming him unless he surrendered his weapon for the rest of the filming process. Bryan gave up his weapon and once filming was over, he didn't take it back. This has to be one of the most harrowing episodes of the show ever produced.

Air date: July 13, 2003
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A typical high school student who loves to skate, Chris is a sixteen-year-old kid who was born deaf. He's never heard the sound of the music his friends blast, nor the whisper of his mother's voice.

To finally experience the joys of hearing, he undergoes a surgery for a cochlear implant. It turns out to be a success, much to the overwhelming excitement of his family and friends. His challenge then becomes learning to recognize the sounds around him, including the voices of the people he loves. Not the worst problem to have.

Air date: May 22, 2008
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Unlike the other subjects of this episode, Josh embraces his schizophrenia. In fact, he enjoys talking to animals and the voices in his head. Reluctant to take pills that could control his impulses, Josh smokes a lot of pot, which only increase the volume of voices he hears.

Despite pleas from his mom to get help, Josh still refuses. Ultimately, his mom kicks him out of the house, only for him to return again. She takes him back in fear of him ending up homeless on the street. Weeks later, an aid organization that supports people with mental illness helps Josh move into his own apartment. If Josh is still out here expressing all this positivity, might we suggest he work with Lil B?

Air date: August 25, 2007
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly known as "OCD," comes in many forms. As we see with Ryan, it can come in the form of a man who constantly checks his car doors, huffs habitually, and performs rituals in bathrooms so that his hands won't get dirty. This—surprise—takes a toll on Ryan's life as a musician, as well as his relationship with his girlfriend.

By the end of the episode, Ryan, still resistant to therapy, has cut down on the number of rituals. However, this proved temporary, as he appeared in another docu-series two years later, entitled Obsessed.

Air date: March 29, 2009
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Adam, his wife, and their four children seem like the perfect American family in all the group photographs displayed around their home. The couple had been high school sweethearts and their relationship blossomed into something much greater after graduation. However, in this episode, Adam's growing obsession with porn places a heavy strain on the rest of the family. Realizing his addiction is costing him his family, Adam slowly weans himself off his vice, which he says he used to escape the drama of his real life. Beyond all those smiling photos, endless pain only bikinis and big booties could relieve.

Air date: August 7, 2003
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How many viewers have been scarred by Anthony Monetti's bare ass? But hey, the guy was striving for perfection, and as much as we can knock him for that, Monetti's perseverance paid off in one way or another. Although he's now become something of an inspiration to people across the country for his bodybuilding, he'll always be known as the guy who made his father shave his ass. The road to perfection is frought with struggle. But peace to Mr. Monetti. You, sir, are a soldier.

Air date: October 10, 2006
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Some True Life episodes are straight jokes. Not this one. Alyssa, a young girl with Tourette's Syndrome, is preparing to have "deep brain stimulation" surgery to cure her impulses. Watching the grim realities of Alyssa's day-to-day life coping with her disability is heartbreaking (especially when you imagine what her grandmother is going through). In the most famous moment of the episode, she snaps about her hair and screams on her grandmother while they prepare to leave for Disneyland. It's the best Six Flags advertisement ever made.

Since the episode's airing, and her brain surgery, Alyssa has become better at controlling her outbursts.

Air date: August 7, 2003

Luke will forever be known as the "calf implants" guy. In his quest for the perfect body, Luke underwent surgery on his calves, and man, that was torture not just for Luke, but for everyone watching. (SO MUCH BLOOD.)

He went on to do gay porn under the name Tony Cage, and even made an appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, claiming that he was no longer gay and happily married. And get this—he's married to a real person. Not his reflection in the mirror, or his calves.

Air date: August 5, 2008
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Charlie and then soon-to-be wife Sabrina both have their crazy moments in this episode of True Life, making them one of the most entertaining couples in the history of the series. But Charlie ends up taking the cake with just one scene, when his ride is running late. Earlier in the episode, a priest had warned Charlie not to be tardy to his own wedding party, so, in a moment of panic, he does what any man about to get married would do: attacks his limo driver.

Fortunately, despite all of the arguments and freak-outs, the couple is still together. Love conquers all, folks.

Air date: November 20, 2003
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There can be only one.

Tommy "Cheeseballs" Perna is that tough, macho guy you take notice of when first walking into the bar. His personality is as loud as his silly-ass hat. His voice is as big as his biceps (no implants—peace to the calf guy). He thinks he runs this town. But he does not run this town.

At heart, Tommy is a softie who just wants to have some summer fun at the Jersey Shore, maybe find love again. He'll fight you at the urinal while you piss. He'll try and mob the pizzeria, only to be denied. He just wants someone to wipe him down after a sweaty night at the club. Will you wipe down Tommy Cheeseballs?

It's because of these antics that MTV introduced Jersey Shore. Thank Tommy every day.