Jun 19, 2009  |  By: Joe Rendeiro  | COMMENTS     

MTV’s latest crop of 20-somethings invades the District later this month to film the newest season of “The Real World,” but who they are and when they’ll be moving in is still being kept secret. And some locals aren’t happy about being left in the dark.

“I’m not anti them coming to D.C.,” says Tracy Sherman, contributor to an anti-Real World D.C. blog. “And I’m not anti-reality TV. What I’m most upset about is that they’ve done no outreach at all … Nothing has been confirmed.”

In a press release sent June 10, MTV announced that the 23rd season of “The Real World” will take place in D.C.

MTV representatives told the Blade they could not confirm any other details, including whether there will be a gay cast member. But at a recent ANC meeting, a representative from the mayor’s office gave residents more information. It was the first time the mayor’s office notified residents of filming which, they said, will begin in late June.

“Letting an ANC know less than a month before shooting that a destructive show like ‘The Real World’ is going to be filming in the neighborhood, that’s not being proactive. It’s too little, too late,” says Sam Nitz, a local gay resident who works near the presumed filming location.

Many blogs and residents have speculated that “The Real World” will be filming at 2000 S Street near Dupont Circle ever since vans began taking up parking spaces outside the residence and a security guard was stationed at the front door. Although the spokesperson at the ANC meeting did not confirm that address, he did say that MTV crews would be reducing the number of parking spaces being used near that location when filming begins.

ANC Commissioner Mike Feldstein has mixed feelings about his new neighbors. According to Feldstein, MTV has said it will hire locals for the crew, which he says could generate income for the city. He also sees it as an opportunity to put the spotlight on Dupont.

But he adds that many residents are worried about being caught on camera. MTV is only allowed to show a person’s face if they are in a public space or the subject gives permission. They also need permission to shoot in businesses.

“That’s how the law is set up and we can’t do anything about it,” Nitz says. “My goal is to try and figure out where ‘The Real World’ is taking its cast and to avoid those spots.”

Avoiding those venues could be difficult, because rumored filming locations are keeping tight-lipped. For instance, Babak Movahedi, owner of Halo, a D.C. gay bar, declined to comment about being contacted by “The Real World.” EFN Lounge owner William Gray also would not confirm whether MTV had contacted him, although he says that he has given two reality shows permission to film in the venue. A number of other bars and clubs in Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are also rumored to be potential filming spots.

“Just the fact that it’s so close to Adams Morgan … I just have a bad feeling,” Nitz says. “It’s the perfect storm for drunk hooligans at night.”

Matthew Beck, a gay student at George Washington University, says locals should be excited about seeing D.C. on television and doesn’t think “The Real World” will become a problem because the city is already filled with college kids. But he acknowledges the likelihood of bar fights.

“I’ve seen it on other seasons and it’s probably going to happen again. There are going to be drunk kids who want to get on TV and the best way to do that is to punch or throw a drink at a cast member,” Beck says.

Others remain positive. A representative from a pro-Real World D.C. blog, who declined to be named, wrote in an e-mail that the show will not be disruptive to the neighborhood and could bring more publicity to the area. The contributor says members of the anti-Real World D.C. blog seem like “reality TV junkies” pretending to be outraged so that they can be on television and meet the cast.

Contributors to the Anti-Real World D.C. questioned whether this blog was run by MTV and pointed out that all four of its contributors have only been blogging since June 2009, when the site became active.

“It looks a little fishy in my opinion,” Sherman says. “I honestly don’t know, but I’d love to find out who they are.”