Metro Detroit's abuzz about future 'Real World' home

[hudkina]

Tuesday, November 1, 2005


Metro Detroit's abuzz about future 'Real World' home


By Adam Graham / The Detroit News


For weeks, rumors have been flying about MTV's "The Real World" coming to film in Metro Detroit, in the Main North Lofts in downtown Royal Oak. Viacom, MTV's parent company, leased 8,800 square feet of space in the building, which is currently under construction near the corner of Main Street. and 11 Mile.

Residents of Royal Oak, local radio stations, even the anchors of "Saturday Night Live's" "Weekend Update" are talking about it.

The only people who aren't talking are MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions, the company that produces "The Real World."

A contact at Beck Media and Marketing, which handles media requests for Bunim/Murray, said Monday the company doesn't comment on rumors and speculation, and gave no date as to when the next "Real World" city would be announced.

A real estate broker for the Royal Oak project said the MTV lease was for offices, but he added the space could be converted into residential use if needed.

WKQI-FM (95.5) and WKRK-FM (97.1) have both speculated on-air about "The Real World" coming to town, as did "SNL" on Saturday. "The next edition of 'The Real World' will be shot in Detroit, as will several cast members," Amy Poehler joked on "Weekend Update." Har, har.

One of MTV's highest-rated series, the show puts seven strangers in a house for several months and tapes what transpires to "find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real," as the show's intro states.

Since its 1992 debut, the show has filmed in 15 cities in the United States and Europe, but never in Detroit.

"The Real World" is currently filming its 17th season in Key West. Bunim/Murray is accepting audition tapes for the show's 19th season through Nov. 30, which likely means season 18 is in the works. "The Real World: Austin" is now airing on MTV.

R.J. King contributed to this report. You can reach Adam Graham at (313) 222-2284 or agra ham@detnews.com.

[teshadoh]

Are metro Detroitians really 'abuzz'? Why I ask is - of course I would expect some mania from a sunbelt city - but a city as large & established as Detroit? Is the interest in the Real World associated with some view that this tv program will provide a positive light to the metro, in a time when the overall perception is that the metro is declining?

I also noted that it will be in a suburb, Royal Oak & not in the city. Is that a streetcar-era suburb?

Just curious, news like this makes me uncertain if it is good or bad - it is a MTV show after all.

[NovaWolverine]

Yeah Royal Oak is one of the older suburbs, it's a nice place, there's some good stuff to do there and in the surrounding area, I would like for Detroit at least to be considered among the other cities that haven't had a real world yet.

[The anti-cheesehead]

"The next edition of 'The Real World' will be shot in Detroit, as will several cast members"

I'm surprised that came from SNL, because it's funny.

I wouldn't have expected Detroit to be a Real World location. I guess if it will be the 18th season, they must've ran out of trendy cities to film in.

[Soulbrotha]

maybe the cast will finally reflect the racial makeup of the city.

[skokster123]

Who the fuck cares.
BTW, I have'nt heard anything about the Real World Minneapolis. But why would MTV want to show a City were the most exciting thing is spoon with a cherry on it.

[JivecitySTL]

FUCKING BULLSHIT. Why would they shoot in a suburb? Detroit City is where it's at. This is not exciting news-- not only because it's a lame ass show like the Real World, but because it's a slap in the face for Detroit. Motown should lament this news.

[weill]

im sure SOME detroit people are abuzz

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by skokster123

Who the fuck cares.
BTW, I have'nt heard anything about the Real World Minneapolis. But why would MTV want to show a City were the most exciting thing is spoon with a cherry on it.

Why the dig on Minneapolis? Because that's what it says in my profile? That's original and clever.

For what it's worth, I would've guessed Minneapolis before Detroit for a Real World location, and it has nothing to do with me being from here or bias.

[teshadoh]

And I think spoons with cherrys on it are pretty exciting. But then again, I also think berries on forks are cool to.

No - I have no idea what we're talking about.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by TheBrad

And I think spoons with cherrys on it are pretty exciting. But then again, I also think berries on forks are cool to.

That really is the most exciting thing to do in Minneapolis. People come from all over to see it, from as far away as Detroit. If it weren't for the spoon and cherry, Minneapolis would be a total failure of a city because there wouldn't be anything exciting here and it would have no chance of ever landing a "Real World" gig.

[teshadoh]

^ Well at least you all have spoons & cherries. In Atlanta we only have toothpicks & vienna sausages.

Hey anti-cheesehead, I'll race you to 2500 posts.

[teshadoh]

Oh - you lose, I win, 2500th post. Wear are my fucking baloons?!?

[hudkina]

Royal Oak is an inner-ring streetcar suburb with a sizeable downtown known for its many bars and restaurants. It's along the Woodward corridor, which is basically the spine of Metro Detroit. It's definately the most suitable area of the Detroit metro for what the Real World wants to depict. Detroit is far too "real" for the Real World. Midtown would be a great spot for the Real World in about five or ten years, but right now it's still in the early stages of gentrification. And while, they may spend their off time in Royal Oak, maybe their "job" will bring them down into Detroit.

In any case, this will hopefully spin a more positive view of the Detroit region. As there are quite a few people out there like the anti-cheesehead who think that there is nothing but poor black criminals and abandoned houses...

[LouisvilleS]

I think a Real World Detroit would be great. There are a lot of clubs and bars strewn throughout the City of Detroit. Downtown, Midtown, Royal Oak, Bham, Pontiac, Dearborn, Windsor are areas with great bars and lots of clubs (Windsor is fucking madness lol)....

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by hudkina

As there are quite a few people out there like the anti-cheesehead who think that there is nothing but poor black criminals and abandoned houses...

It's not just me. You said it yourself in different words: "Detroit is far too "real" for the Real World"

Hudkina, why do you think MTV for the first time ever chose a suburb for a location? And be a little more specific than "Detroit is far too real for the Real World."

[hudkina]

Downtown Royal Oak is the type of district you'd find most Real World locations in. A gentrified, youth-oriented hotspot, with dozens of bars, shops and restaurants catering to self-important suburbanites and tourists. Detroit doesn't have any districts that cater exclusively to such a demographic. They could choose to live in a loft in Midtown or even a mansion in Indian Village but then they'd have to endure what it is truly like to live in the real world. You know, the one that isn't made up of fake plastic streets and fake plastic people.

Besides, Royal Oak is just an extension of the city of Detroit. If this were a sunbelt city, Royal Oak would just be Detroit's hipster/poser neighborhood.

Here's a satellite image of downtown royal oak.

[hudkina]

BTW, the Los Angeles and Paris seasons were shot further from the central city than if the Detroit season takes place in Royal Oak.

[Detroit_Mahn]

Originally Posted by The anti-cheesehead

It's not just me. You said it yourself in different words: "Detroit is far too "real" for the Real World"

Hudkina, why do you think MTV for the first time ever chose a suburb for a location? And be a little more specific than "Detroit is far too real for the Real World."

MTV has chosen suburbs before as Real World locations (Venice Beach instead of Los Angeles; Le Vesinet in lieu of Paris)

In all reality though, very few people will make the distinction between Royal Oak and Detroit. And there really isn't much of a reason, since it is a part of the area.

More importantly, it is a reality show. I couldn't care less where they put it.

[The anti-cheesehead]

Originally Posted by Detroit_Mahn

MTV has chosen suburbs before as Real World locations (Venice Beach instead of Los Angeles; Le Vesinet in lieu of Paris)

In all reality though, very few people will make the distinction between Royal Oak and Detroit. And there really isn't much of a reason, since it is a part of the area.

More importantly, it is a reality show. I couldn't care less where they put it.

Venice Beach isn't a suburb of LA, it is part of LA. I guess I don't really pay much attention to the Real World show, I just always thought they filmed in cities, not suburbs.

I should've never commented in here. I thought that the SNL comment was funny and Detroit was a surprising location for The Real World TV show, that's all. I guess I should've expected that certain extremely defensive forumers would childishly attack my city and imply that I'm a racist if I made any comment about Detroit.