The Real World: The tension in the house is diminishing these days, except between Nicole and Malik. They still aren't speaking, although Malik hopes that they can all be friends someday. Most of the roommates seem to think that Nicole should just let it go. Meanwhile, Malik and Mike are expecting visits from their families. Mike is surprised to learn that his separated parents are coming to visit him "together." The roommates find that Mike's parents are different than they expected. Coral describes Mike's mom as "a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader." As Kevin joins them for dinner, Mike gets embarrassed by his dad's comments about black culture in Cleveland. It is obvious that Mike is experiencing a tremendous amount of growth during his stay in New York. Meanwhile, Malik prepares to meet his father's family for the first time. Malik explains to Mike that he never knew his father, who left the family when Malik was just six months old. Malik is anxious to meet his new extended family but wonders whether they will accept him. His fears quickly diminish as he discovers that they are warm and embracing. Malik also celebrates his birthday with visiting friends from California. Mike admires Malik because his friends are so diverse. Nicole still won't speak to Malik, even though it's his birthday. She chooses to stay home alone rather than attend his birthday party. But it is obvious that she has some feelings towards him, because she gets emotional when she talks about the situation.

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Reality-TV