11:43 p.m. - 2007-08-11
MORE important Real World news
"Real World 20, the twenieth anniversary season of the series is officially going back to Los Angeles. However, this time around, the series will not be titled Real World: Back to Los Angeles, the series will be titled Real World: Hollywood.
This 20th season of the Real World will be crucial for the series. The network renewed the series during the filming of the Austin series up until the 20th season. MTV has yet to decide whether or not to continue the series after Hollywood, but with recent major changes in the network, the fate of the series is definitely up in the air. In 1998, the series was once close to being off the air, when MTV executives had decided that the 10th season would be the last. After the surprising ratings of the Hawaii season, MTV continually renewed the series. It's sister show, Road Rules, had been in limbo for three years, been labeled as "on hiatus", only to come back this past winter to a poorly received restructuring that featured MTV's new strategy of viewer interactivity of its centerpiece.
The 20th season, even in its early pre-production stages, is showing major changes. The show will be based in Hollywood. This is the second time the show will be in Los Angeles and the fourth time in the state of California. Season 2 filmed in Venice, CA; Season 3 filmed in San Francisco, CA; Season 14 filmed in Point Loma, CA. During the casting process, producers advertised for people with ambition, looking to live in a city that would foster that ambition. Presumably, that was a cry for Real World's early days in which Julie (New York) aspired to be a dancer on Broadway, Jon (Los Angeles) aspired to be a country music artist, and Pam (San Francisco) aspired to be a doctor. Also peculiar for this casting process is the casting of a seventh roommate via internet voting. Greg Halstead, from Daytona Beach, FL will be living in the Hollywood house this Fall.
In addition, MTV has revealed that this house will be "green". The concept is intended "to introduce ways in which today's youth can incorporate environmentally-friendly household items and make eco-friendly lifestyle choices."
The house "will include everything from solar energy solutions to bamboo flooring, recycled glass counters, some sustainable furniture and recycled vintage décor, energy star appliances, a solar heated swimming pool and energy efficient lighting."
The house is located in Los Angeles' 13th District, which is smack in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles. You can check out a profile of the 13th District here. This season will definitely be in the heart of Hollywood. What remains to be seen, however, is whether or not this season will continue the tradition of recent seasons where the cast gets drunk and parties at nightclubs (which Los Angeles has no shortage of), or will actually revitalize the series in some way by returning it into its roots.
Nevertheless, it may be interesting to see the cast on TMZ at Les Duex cavorting with the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan months before the season airs on MTV. More to come as we get it."
*crossing fingers* I really hope that this upcoming season doesn't mark the end.
