It was a new feeling. Before the news of The Real, I couldn’t have cared less about daytime TV. When I thought about shows in that category that were dominating the space —The View, The Talk, Good Morning America, Today, to name a few — they didn’t feel like they were for me. Not only was there a lack of diversity on these shows, both behind and in front of the screen, but these shows also felt like they hyper-targeted a demographic I was not in.

The issues and topics discussed on daytime TV seemed to be ignorant of what young Black people think and care about. And the perspectives reflected on these shows did not represent my voice. I quickly learned that to consume the news I cared about, from a perspective that I could identify with, I had to turn to podcasts or late-night TV.

The Real couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I was newly 18, and as a new adult, I was ready to interact with the world. I craved programming that saw me, challenged me and educated me. And in the beginning, the show was absolutely that for me.

There was a freshness and fearlessness to the show in the beginning. The hosts felt balanced — Bailon was the 20-something and as a former Cheetah Girl, was clearly plucked for Millennials like myself. Mowry was the 30-something mommy with a more conservative perspective. Plus, she was (and still is) an icon. As was Loni Love, who represented a different generation and a lifestyle that was different from that of her co-hosts.

Braxton was easily my favorite host. She was the most exciting element of the show in its infancy. She was unhinged and hilarious and really felt like a friend. Last but not least, Mai, who I grew up watching on How Do I Look? Her storytelling (most notable about her mother, affectionately known as Mama Mai) approach to discussing issues made her a standout addition to the panel.

The Real had the magic new shows often have during a time when it’s uncorrupted by public opinion and somewhat unsure of what it was trying to be. The show was adventurous, playing games like Tug-o-Weave and musical chairs with guests. I loved how jovial the show felt. It was the perfect compliment to the part that I loved the most about The Real — when the ladies showed their vulnerability.

The most impactful aspect of The Real was when the hosts opened up about what they struggled with. I’ll never forget when they talked about being bullied, or when Mai talked about fearing that one day she won’t be able to take care of her family. One conversation that stands out to me is when Bailon discussed her relationship with her father. It hit home. I knew that struggle and that pain, and I couldn’t recall ever seeing that on TV before.

The Real hit its first big roadblock in 2016 when Braxton was abruptly fired before the show’s third season, as ET Online reports. At the time, as well as the few years that followed, Braxton alleged that it was due to a betrayal on behalf of her co-hosts. In 2018, the remaining hosts shared their side of the story on The Breakfast Club, telling the radio show hosts that the decision to terminate Braxton was made by network higher-ups.

The show lost its footing for a while but eventually settled into a new dynamic with Bailon, Love, Mowry and Mai. Over the years, they welcomed several celebrity guest hosts to change up the vibe and potentially figure out who could be a new panelist. They finally settled on Amanda Seales when she joined the show in 2020.

Seales was the breath of fresh air the show desperately needed. The Real was starting to feel settled and not in a good way. That adventurous, real element was starting to dissipate, and it felt like the show was getting more white-washed as its ratings continued to rise.

Seales kept it real — pun intended. She was unapologetic, so incredibly informed about issues, especially those in the realm of Blackness and race relations. Seales had that fearlessness the show once had, and the way she challenged the hosts was what The Real needed at the time.

Sadly, it didn’t last. Seales left the show six months after joining, saying that The Real was a “toxic work environment” and that she felt like being on the show was a “betrayal to my people,” People reports. Not long after, Mowry left the show to pursue other ventures.

This left the show reeling after Seales and Mowry’s departure. The Real found itself in the middle of an identity crisis, and it craved stability. Garcelle Beauvais was brought on as the newest co-host ahead of the show’s seventh season, as Variety reports. I love Beauvais, but I didn’t think she was what the show needed. It felt like a predictable, safe choice. One I believe was encouraged by her joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

I believe the show needed to branch out and invite someone to join the panel who offered something new and different. I was starting to feel like the show was no longer seeing me as a viewer. I would have loved to see someone like Keke Palmer join the panel, or someone who could have injected something fresh and for the culture.

Now that The Real is over, that’s what I hope to see on the next BIPOC daytime talk show. The Real was a groundbreaking show that did so much for the Black community both in front of and behind the scenes. Their legacy is a great one, and I’m confident another show led by women of color will reach syndication thanks to the success of the show.

I want to see a show that’s brave and bold and unafraid of Blackness and all that existence entails. I want a show that has a strong Gen Z presence — their perspective on the world is invaluable, and I’d love to see that reflected on daytime TV.

And ultimately, I want the same things I had when I was 18 — to laugh, to learn, to feel and for my truth to be seen.