Getting Real With The Real World DC Cast

Real World DC Cast at DC United Game (Photo: Kyle Gustafson)

I’m going to make a bold prediction.

One of the more buzzed about topics around DC (or at least around me) is the filming of The Real World DC around the city this summer.

Given the space and the time they’ll be here, there’s no doubt that everybody in this city will have run into the cast if not once, twice.

In fact this week my co-worker Kristen finally had her own run in at a work function.

If you live in the area there’s a good chance you’ll see them; maybe at a bar causing trouble, maybe at an shop on Georgetown or maybe on the sidewalk in Dupont Circle. The city is too small and they stick out worse that tourists in March.

Well I’ve already run into them once, and while I know there’s no way I did anything on camera that’ll make the cut- I am hoping that something that happened off-camera makes it.

It all started on the Friday after they moved into town. I was at Eighteenth Street Lounge with Wendi to celebrate her co-worker’s birthday. Amongst the chatter and small talk the topic of The Real World DC’s arrival came up. I brought up the role Twitter and blogs have played into tracking them during filming and I pulled out my phone to demonstrate. At the the top of the timeline was this tweet informing everyone that they are at Public Bar. As the group squeee’d with excitement I was told that was the bar next door to us. The birthday girl, Wendi, some friends, and I went next door to see if we could get a peek. Luckily there was no cover- otherwise I wasn’t too keen on paying to briefly gawk at some 21 year olds.

Real World DC filming at McFadden's (Photo: Metromix DC)

We found ourselves huddled in the middle of a crowded rooftop and no sign of The Real World cast. Suddenly a bright light caught my eye as a camera on the other side of the roof followed the cast down the stairs. There were more squees then some minor disbelief that we actually found them, but we then quickly made our way out of the place of douchebaggery bar.

At that point it was getting late and the night was winding down. We said our goodbyes and everyone went along their separate ways. Wendi and I originally wanted to go visit 2000 S Street earlier in the night but she decided to call it a night. I on the other hand wanted to see the house in person before I wanted to hopped on the Metro. So I begin to walk up Connecticut with my head buried in my Blackberry, typing about my encounter on Twitter.

I almost walked into a group of people in front of me due to my half attentive walking- I look up and it was the Real World girls sauntering down Connecticut in front of a camera. They were discussing who and who were not douchebags over at Public bar. I walked around them in an effort to not look like a stalker creep, and I ended up walking in front of the camera crew next to a guy and girl exchanging words in a rather loud fashion. I look to my right and I was walking with cast members Josh and Ashley, walking home off-camera and arguing about Josh’s pick up lines.

Josh and Ashley at Current

Ashley: “I cannot believe you picked up a girl by saying you work in a sandwich shop!”

I decided to jump in at that moment.

Me: “Really? That’s your line?”

Josh turned to me and said, “Ya that’s my line- hey do you know where’s a good place to go out here? That last place was terrible!”

So Josh and I begin talking about all the different neighborhoods in DC and the camera whips around and starts filming me and Josh walking towards Dupont Circle. (No I don’t think I’ll be on the show guys, my Video Producer skills say that: A) The conversation wasn’t interesting at all. B) I didn’t sign a waiver so the camera crew agreed with my opinion.)

At one point of the conversation Josh mentions that he wished he could grab some smokes. That’s where the 4th wall was broken and the sound guy says, “If you want to- now’s your time.”

Josh starts to turn towards the CVS on the circle. I made a split second decision and decided to go with him into CVS. We chat some more while in line (I decided to grab a bottle of water) and I learn some more about him. He is originally from Philadelphia and used to work at Pat’s (which explains why that line would work on the right girl.) He asks me what I do and I tell him I’m a video producer.

“Oh really? Dude you need to read my screenplay!”

I was getting pitched by a cast member on The Real World. Love it.

He gives me his e-mail address and we part ways after he buys his Marlboro Reds.

I walk out of the CVS and see the cast walk down 19th street. I decide to walk down 20th street so I don’t look like I’m creepy stalker- just wanted to peek at the house before going home. Walking up the street I stumble on a pothole and I hear two girls laugh at me from across the street. They run over to me:

“Hey where’s your hotel?”

I look at them in confusion.

“Oh I’m not in a hotel- actually I was just going to visit this house around here…”

“Well we are over on Florida Ave- we’re from Brazil!”

The accents pretty much confirmed they weren’t from here.

We walk down the street a bit and I decide to share my destination with them.

At turn on 20th and I see that the girls start following me- they catch up and say they want to see the house as well.

The Real World DC house at night

We arrive at The Real World House and we view it from across the street. I point out the exterior lighting and the hot tub and stuff. They don’t believe we were at The Real World House.

Then the cast rounds the corner from 19th and heads to the front door, cameras in tow. I point out the cast and one of the girls darts across the street.

Brazilian Girl #1: “Oh my god, where is she going!?!?”

Me: “She wants to be on TV.”

We watch from across the street as she proceeds to talk to Josh… and make out with him.

All in front of the cameras and the cast as they start to hoot and cheer for their fellow roommate. The two then parts ways as the cast goes back into the house and she trots across the street back to us, as if nothing had happened. Words quickly fly between the two girls on what just happened and they start to walk when I stop them.

The Producer in me knows they need to be cleared.

With one of Josh's many conquests

I explain that we should wait a minute to sign the waivers. When they ask what waivers and from whom a PA magically appears from a side door in the house

I help explain to the girls why they want to sign it and at first they seem hesitant:

“What? I don’t want to be on TV- I just wanted to say hi!”

I didn’t know make-out sessions was the customary greeting in Brazil.

Eventually the she does and we part ways, but not before we take a photo.

Brazilian Girl #2: “Why because I’m going to be famous?”

Me: “No, because nobody is going to believe this story unless I get a photo!”

UPDATE: This story generated a minor amount of buzz that led to a sequel encounter a few weeks later. I later found out that my blog was read by Josh’s girlfriend and ended up on a Real World episode.

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Related posts:

1. Getting Real With The Real World Part II
2. Getting Real With The Real World Part III (How This Blog Ended Up On The Show)
3. On Losing My Virginity This Weekend
4. The Real World Starts Now