MJ is 23 years old from Nashville Tennessee. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. He has been an athlete all of his life. He hopes to gain new friendships and also a better understanding of the north and a diverse group of people.
Melanie is 21 and an education major at UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA. She has had numerous boyfriends and several serious relationships. She has never really done the "single thing," but she feels that she needs to get away from that and learn to be independent.
Karamo is a 23-year-old black male from Houston, Texas. He is a former student at Florida A&M. He is handsome, intelligent, athletic, down to earth, very motivated and very passionate.
Sarah is 23 years old and from Tampa Florida. She is a graduate of Emory University and has been accepted at the Florida Law School. Her life is pretty good right now. She thinks that it's hard for guys to understand her since she enjoys sexual relationships, but does not want the emotions
Landon is 24 from Riverfalls, Wisconsin. He is a student and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He can be a little crazy. He enjoys having fun.
Shavonda is 21 from San Diego, California. She is a student at Grossmont College. She works at Hooters. Her boyfriend is named Shawn and they have dated for about a year. He is white, She says it's hard having an inter-racial relationship and they have struggled with it, but you have to do what you have to do.
Willie is 23 from New York City. He is an inner city boy. He is gay. He hears that there is a sizeable gay population in Philadelphia and he is looking forward to it.
Arrival
To the theme music from Rocky, Southern boy MJ arrives at the Camden waterfront and meets Landon, the landscape architect student from Wisconsin. For both this is their first time on the east coast. They take the RiverLink Ferry to Philadelphia.
At Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, Sarah arrives by train. There she meets Willie, who currently works as a personal shopper in NYC but whose real goal is to create and direct Broadway plays.
Meanwhile, at Penn's Landing, MJ and Landon meet up with Shavonda whom they immediately describe as "hot." She describes them as looking like they just stepped out an Abercrombie and Fitch advertisement.
Sarah immediately realizes that Willie is gay, but that's fine with her since she loves gay guys. They make a pact to have each other's back if everybody else in the house turns out to be a "douche bag." MJ, Landon and Shavonda take a Philadelphia Trolley Works vehicle to the house during which Shavonda makes a point to tell them about her boyfriend back home. They arrive at the house located in the Merchant Seaman's Center at the corner of 3rd and Arch.
The building has been transformed into a beautiful house with a large kitchen, huge atrium with a tree, pool table, living room, basketball court, and huge fish tank. The bathroom is huge with lockers for each cast member. Landon describes it as the "ultimate bachelor pad." MJ and Landon decide to room together in one of the three bedrooms.
Willie and Sarah arrive next and meet the early arrivals. Sarah notes that MJ has one of the best bodies that she's ever seen in person; Landon immediately notes that Willie is gay. Sarah and Willie decide to room together.
At the top of the steps of the Philadelphia Musuem of Art stands Melanie. Karamo arrives by cab and comes up the stairs to meet Melanie. Karamo thinks Melanie has to be a model. Melanie sees Karamo as totally different from her - a very hip-hop black guy.
Melanie and Karamo take the cab to the house where they meet the rest of the cast. Karamo thinks Shavonda is gorgeous. Karamo immediately also notes that Willie is gay. Sarah, meanwhile, really likes the bodies of the guys in the house,
The first night falls on the house. They are decide to go out, but not before Sarah brags to everyone about her fake boobs, inviting them all to touch them. Landon backs away quickly from the invitation.
The cast all head to the local club Swanky Bubbles. MJ is amazed how quickly he is getting used to being around a gay guy. Meanwhile, Karamo reveals to Shavonda, in confidence, that he also is gay.