Cast and crew of “Real World: DC” on the sidewalk, 1400-block of P Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Luis and I went for a late supper last evening and ran into crew and cast from MTV’s “Real World: DC” on the sidewalk in front of Stoney’s and Halo Lounge. My only impression was that these were a bunch of kids who looked tired and bored. People around them seemed nonplussed. So much for the glamor and excitement of reality TV.
Oy. Silliness at The Real World: DC house at 2000 S Street NW. Here’s the video from WUSA-Channel 9.
I started laughing, loudly, whenI watched the RWDC cast member in the video complain about people standing on the sidewalk and listening in. The 20th Street patio (with a BBQ grille normally not seen outside Loudoun County) sits right next to the sidewalk. And the producers thought what, exactly, would happen?
Councilmember Jack Evans (Ward 2) even has an appearance at the end of the video, explaining the legalities of public spaces, sidewalks and such.
Thursday night: Snaps to “The Anti-Real World DC” for this photo of the RWDC house at 2000 S Street NW with lights ablaze following the arrival of the first two cast members.
Yes, Borderstanians, yesterday was the first of many momentous days for “The Real World:DC” with the arrival of the first two cast members to much fanfare; a young lad with lots of tattoos and a young lass with a fab light-blue travel bag. Well, maybe not that much fanfare, but there were camera crews following them and, according to dcist, one local stood across the street and yelled, “Go home!” (more…)
Look for MTV crews shooting B-roll at the Capital Pride Parade this Saturday. (Map: Capital Pride Web site.)
The Capital Pride Festival starts at 11 a.m. this Sunday. (Map: Capital Pride Web site.)
Look for the MTV crew shooting B-roll for use in episodes of The Real World: DC… at the Capital Pride Parade (Pride info here at official Web site) and events this weekend in the Dupont–Logan-downtown area. No crew, just the basic B-roll stuff. The parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Pride Street Festival opens at 11 a.m. on Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. between 3rd and 7th Streets (map).
First, a reminder that the June meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B/Dupont Circle is tomorrow night, June 10. Same time, same place: 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 16th & Q NW.
Second, it is my understanding that a representative of the mayor’s office will be on hand to address concerns about MTV setting up shop to produce “The Real World: DC” in a house at 2000 S Street NW. Will there be an MTV rep or lawyer on hand as well? Don’t know.
Third–as a tax-paying resident of ANC 2B, thank you, very much–I would like to offer six pieces of unsolicited advice for ANC 2B:
- Please do pressure MTV to be a good neighbor during the production of Real World: DC. If I lived in the vicinity of 2000 S, I would demand it, too.
- MTV is here to make money. I know this may be offensive to some people in the neighborhood. But remember that some of our own citizens will probably make some hard-earned dollars in the process.
- The Real World is a silly show. Very silly, in fact. It is not “Frontline” on PBS, nor will Bill Moyers be involved with the production. We cannot do anything about that, much as we might like to force the producers to change their scripts.
- You will probably have to explain the concept of “voluntary agreements” to the MTV lawyers.
- Remember: We do not live in Hooterville. Moreover (and yes, I am mixing sitcoms here), we cannot make Dupont Circle into a real-world version of the village in “To the Manor Born.” (Let’s not confuse 2000 S Street with Cricket House.) Living in a densely populated, large city involves some unpleasantness and requires compromises from time to time.
- Have you looked at the crime stats for our neighborhood and our city lately? We’ve got bigger things to worry about than a reality show setting up shop in our neighborhood. If DC does not manage to lower its crime rate, we won’t have to worry about silly reality TV shows in our midst: No one will want to come here.
- YTD Borderstan Crime Up 21%; May Numbers Better
- Two Weekend Robberies, N and R Sts NW
- PSA 208: “Swarming” Assault Downtown on May 31
- Three Gun Robberies on R Street this Week
- Video: Daytime Robbery of Universal Gear, 1529 14th St NW
- DC Crime Bill Hearing… Local Coverage of Violent Crime
- Jack Evans: Pass Mayor’s Omnibus Crime Bill
- Borderstan: YTD Crime Stats, January-April
- PSA 208: YTD Crime Stats, January-April
Well, duh! Of course there is a Facebook Group for Real World DC. Besides, I cannot write anymore about this anymore until something actually starts happening, which should be around the 20th when production starts.
The setting for “The Real World: DC” will be this house at 2000 S Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez, Luis Gomez Photos.)
An update from this morning’s posting… Luis and I wandered over to 20th and S NW late this morning to get a photo of the rumored house-to-be for the DC version of “The Real World: DC.” We heard sounds of workmen inside and, just by chance, saw a couple of guys outside (not workmen). One had a camera and the other one was taking notes. Without identifying their affiliation, I will say that they confirmed that 2000 S Street NW will be the house for The Real World.
Moreover, at least one of the cast members will be a gay man and apparently one of the local venues for the drama-to-come will be Halo Lounge at 1435 P Street NW–across from Whole Foods and located right here in Borderstan. We will try to have more details for you later.
As noted before, I think DC needs some vapid drama with pretty kids doing faux-dramatic stuff in an unreal world setting. Way too many people here who want to save the world (but God bless them). We need some silly balance.
An anonymous commenter on an earlier posting said the same thing that I heard from a source yesterday: the DC cast of The Real World will be living in a house at 20th and S NW. I am trying to determine exactly which propoerty and whether the exact address is 2000 S NW. Anyone out there have any additional tips?
Of course, the Greater Borderstan Cultural Area extends to 20th Street. Or is 21st?
