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“The Real World” Denver house at 1920 Market St. in LoDo.
We launched Get Real Denver in June, 2006 as a way to chart MTV’s longest-running reality show, “The Real World,” when it landed in Denver in the spring of that year. The show arrived to film its 18th season, using the Mile High City as a backdrop for the Lifestyles of the Young and Not-So-Famous.
Now that the crapfest is over, we’ve expanded this site to include all the best nightlife and entertainment news and reviews for the discerning Denverite and visitor. And we’d love your feedback, of course…
-THE BACKGROUND-
Bunim-Murray Productions wrapped production on “The Real World: Denver” on Aug. 31, 2006. For the previous three and a half months, the cast and crew of the show were spotted around town at numerous bars, restaurants and stores, often not paying or tipping (and in-turn pissing off lots of bartenders) and generally treating our city like an ashtray. Of course, MTV did its best to keep the whole thing hush-hush while they filmed.
Whether you were a fan of the show or a skeptical LoDo resident worried about wannabe celebs puking nightly on your doorstep, Get Real Denver brought you exclusive news and gossip about the seven-member cast, plus the juicy, behind-the-scenes realness you didn’t get to see on TV. And we brought it to you months before the show premiered in Nov. 2006, and months before any other local or national media outlet. We were the first to uncover all the cast members’ names, bios and jobs, despite the active impedement of MTV and Bunim-Murray Productions, which created the show.
Because we’re nice like that.
Was “The Real World” good for Denver? Why were they really here? Who are these people, and where in god’s name did they come from? We answered these questions and provided a forum for fans and haters alike to duke it out. Our interactive, multimedia blog allowed you to post comments, photos and feedback, chat with others, watch videos, and eventually, gain an unfiltered picture of the unfolding, manufactured drama long before it hit your video iPod. We also had our 24-hour webcam trained on the “Real World” house so you could check in whenever and see what was going on (it’s still up, actually).
“The Real World” Denver films at Jet Hotel in LoDo.
The show is over, but this blog is still a work in progress. We want it to grow and change with the feedback of our readers. We’ve expanded it into a destination website for entertainment options in our fair city. Dance, music, clubs, nightlife, movies — you name it. All the best shizz.
A big part of the continuing fun was your continuing feedback and messages about “The Real World: Denver” and other postings on this site. Why? Because MTV went way out of its way to restrict access to the show (especially to the media), by having cast members, bar and restaurant employees, cashiers at grocery stores and every on-camera member of the public sign confidentiality agreements. In other words, unless you were willing to keep your mouth shut until the show aired, they weren’t giving out any info. That meant no talking to the media, under any circumstances, under pain of legal action, and no divulging the movements of the sometimes huge crew of cast members, camera, lighting, sound, production and off-duty cops that acted as security.
The network would have rather controlled all information about the carefully arranged (but seemingly spontaneous) enterprise long before it ever airs. And if that meant intimidating you on the sidewalk (or threatening you to stop taking pictures) well, they weren’t above that either. Just know it was illegal for them to do that if you were on public property. This is our town too, right?
This only made our random sightings and hilarious stories all the more juicy. Watching “The Real World” crew as they traipsed through town provided insights into the nature of TV commerce, the motivations of TV execs and wannabe celebrities, and especially, the lengths locals went to in order to get a piece of the action. And partying. Don’t forget partying.
The cast members were essentially aspiring actor/models looking for a celebrity gig with MTV. “Real World” appearances can lead to other opportunities like “Road Rules,” celebrity challenges, reunion shows, and the like. We didn’t get everything about them exactly right on the first try, but hey — that’s the nature of a rumor-fueled, reader-driven gossip blog. Considering the fact that MTV did everything it could to prevent us from getting near them, I think we did a pretty damn good job.
In the months following production I was able to interview some of these cast members (like Brooke and Tyrie) and they turned out to be pretty average people. Looks like it was more the production crew that was so hysterical about controlling the way the “drama” unfolded.
In any event, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to suggest anything you want to see on this site. And please, for God’s sake, keep Denver real.
I live here in Denver and have to say, I am not happy that Real World is here, but at the same time find what you are doing unacceptable. I am working in a local law firm, and have to say that you cross the line by filming the crew, filming their cast. They own the rights to everything they do, and you are stealing from that. As well as spoiling things for the fans that truly love the show. I hope you die a thousand deaths
Comment by A. Arjunan — June 18, 2006 @ 7:28 am
Thank you for making the “Real World” in Denver experience all that much better. MTV should pay you.
Comment by Martha — June 18, 2006 @ 11:13 am
The webcam is really lame and is just proof of how far you would go just to catch a glimpse of the cast…you’re like a stalker and should be arrested. You stupid predator!
Comment by Ryan — June 19, 2006 @ 10:25 am
I love being able to get the inside info before it airs. I don’t want to wait until the show is done filming to find out what went on in Denver, I want to be in on the action now! Keep up the good work.
Comment by Jess — June 19, 2006 @ 10:37 am
There are a few harsh comments here, but I guess not everyone understands how this thing works.
If what the cast and crew are doing takes place in a public sphere they do NOT own the rights to anything we’re able to capture with our cameras or notepads. Anyone that works at a law firm should know that. MTV is all about intimidating locals into silence and we’re reporters, so we’re just doing our jobs.
Keep those comments coming…
Comment by John Wenzel — June 20, 2006 @ 9:10 am
^^But you’re pointing the webcam at private property, that’s like pointing it at a place where someone lives, and you don’t see anything wrong with that??
Comment by Ryan — June 20, 2006 @ 4:44 pm
We wouldn’t train a webcam on some random private citizen’s house, but let’s be honest here… the reason these cast members (notice the word “cast”) are on the show is to get famous. They want to be on camera all the time. They just don’t want any unplanned events interfering with whatever plotlines MTV is cooking up.
As I mentioned before, this blog is intended to look at what goes on behind-the-scenes when a show like this, on a network like MTV (part of Viacom, a huge, multi-national corporation) waltzes into town. We’re having a bit of fun with it, yes, but very few people know how relentless TV networks are when it comes to controlling the public.
And really, the public has the exact same rights as these networks, so why should we all cower in the face of a softcore porn soft opera? Seriously.
Comment by John Wenzel — June 20, 2006 @ 4:56 pm
I love porn! lol. Na I’m cool with it though, this site has lots of info, keep up the hard work! :)
Comment by Ryan — June 20, 2006 @ 9:03 pm
When did the cast members arrive in denver and when will they be leaving?
Comment by Rob — June 25, 2006 @ 7:38 pm
They arrived in late May and will likely be filming until mid-September (or about 15 weeks).
Comment by John Wenzel — June 25, 2006 @ 9:56 pm
Dear A. Arjunan,
GO BACK TO LAW SCHOOL BITCH!
Did u ever think about freedom?
Well…here is a little lesson for you:
Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to “speak in any way” freely without censorship. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. The right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, although implementation remains lacking in many countries. The synonymous term “freedom of expression” is sometimes preferred, since the right is not confined to verbal speech but is understood to protect any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
I can tell your mind works in terms of money and repression, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!
Comment by Sandra — June 27, 2006 @ 6:05 pm
[…] They impressed me when they launched rss feeds and podcasts. Now they have a new site running, getrealdenver.com. It’s a blog in which denver post reporters follow around mtv’s real world denver (currently filming). […]
Pingback by Greg Cerveny » Blog Archive » Denver Post runs new site web 2.0 style — June 30, 2006 @ 1:56 pm
I wouldn’t think this website would be spoiling at all since it cant really prove the chain of events that is happening within the cast. The casts of these series has always been predicted in any shape or form. Incredible work and keep it coming!
Comment by Gina — July 7, 2006 @ 11:33 pm
Article in today’s NYTimes outlines problems casts /neighbors are having with reality based shows filming in their cities and neighborhoods. There’s a situation similar to Denver happening on Fire Island (NY) right now. People are upset at how their hometowns are being reperesented and how their privacy and quiet is being invaded. Denver is used as one example of how irked some residents are. I don’t watch these types of shows. The News is enough reality for me, and I have enough going on in my life to not need that type of voyeurism. Keep up the good work — if they want to be watched all the time, let EVERYONE see!
PS: I’m coming to Denver as part of my vacation in mid-August. Thanks for the warning…..
Comment by Brooklyn pistol — July 23, 2006 @ 11:30 am
The locals are being invaded? HAHAHA! Remember when Downtown Denver was just one big ghetto? Remember how Coors Field revived the LoDo Area and brought in new life and tax revenue that has fueled the transformation of Denver from sleepy ghetto cow-town to cosomopolitan center of the Southwest? Remember how the bars were there BEFORE the lofts and residents? Remember how the Real World cast lives in a former bar and they go out in Denver just like everyone else? What is the problem… how are they “invading privacy and quiet”? Stop acting like LoDo is some quiet family neighborhood. It is THE nightlife district in what has become one of the coolest cities in the country. If you want peace and quiet move to the burbs!!!
Comment by JustCurious — July 24, 2006 @ 2:15 am
Hello Wenzel, Sandra, Greg, Rob, Ryan,Gina, Arjunan, Brooklyn Pistols,JustCurious…ALL OF YOU! …
If you guys really want to know about the REAL WORLD here is a link that would help you:
WWW.ABC.NET.AU/WORLDTODAY
I would like to know how much money MTV spends on making crap to “entertain” our future generation of superficial americans (Do we really need more of these?)
John Wenzel…Are u really having FUN doing this? Is this your JOB? Who pays you for doing this web-site? Are u also getting money helping advertising bars, clubs, retails, ect? Making people think real world cast is working here and there…come on be honest!
Write about that John! Where funds are coming from on both sides: on your side and on MTV’s side.
I would also like to thank SANDRA for her lesson about freedom. Right on!
FREEDOM is OK, SUPERFICIALITY IS NOT! (at least to me…)
peace out!
Comment by tired of superficiality — July 24, 2006 @ 11:01 am
That link above doesn’t seem to work. Do you have another?
I do this site because I was asked to (I don’t watch MTV or the show) but it’s definitely been an interesting experience thus far, although not sure I’d call it “fun.” My real job is as an entertainment reporter for The Denver Post, covering local music, dance, etc. This site is just something I do when I have time, although increasingly it demands a lot of it.
Of course I’m not trying to promote these places (JR’s, Wild Oats, etc.) but rather just report on them when it’s relevant. I don’t get any money from them and would never accept it anyway.
Comment by John Wenzel — July 24, 2006 @ 12:36 pm
Well, the show has left town but we’re still going to keep this site up, blogging after each episode, adding more behind-the-scenes stories, etc. Keep checking us out, and thanks for the incredible response so far…
Comment by John Wenzel — September 12, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
this is a col site. I bet it’s been fun for you. I imiagine they have people that dislike them in eve3ry city. Maybe you can find out which city they were worst to.
Comment by Zune — September 16, 2006 @ 8:58 pm
They were pretty harsh towards Chicago, arresting protesters outside the house and whatnot. I imagine they play hardball in pretty much every city they film in.
Comment by John Wenzel — October 12, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
I think it would have been awesome if some of them took a national stand on pot and toked up during the taping since it is legal in Denver if you are over 21.
Comment by Tucci — October 13, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
real world uses a lot of underground bands which is why it’s so hard to find the music.
Comment by Anonymous — March 5, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Darnell is soo hott!
Comment by emily — April 4, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Any other Colorado locals as upset as I am. Why must the show intro say “Denver, Colorado”. If someone in America doesn’t know where Denver is, they need to go back to elementary school geography class when we learned all the states and capitols.
Comment by Christina Jacobson — May 3, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
i lovee jenn shes my idol. i love her hair style and her style period she keeps it real and stay pretty jenn:) love da attuidue too hehe.
-britt
Comment by Anonymous — May 31, 2007 @ 1:41 pm