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'Real World' Seeking Occupy Wall Street Protester to Join Cast

By DNAinfo Staff on October 20, 2011 1:46pm

The Real World is currently airing its 26th season, set in San Diego.
The Real World is currently airing its 26th season, set in San Diego.
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Facebook/The Real World

MANHATTAN — MTV's "The Real World" is looking to add a new archetype to its collection: Occupy Wall Street protester.

The groundbreaking reality show, now in its 26th season, placed an ad on Craigslist Monday announcing its search for a participant in the demonstrations.

"Are you a part of the OCCUPY WALL STREET movement?" the post asked. "If you are over the age of 20 and appear to be between the ages of 20-24, and the description below sounds like you, we want to hear from you!"

A spokeswoman for Bunim/Murray Productions, which produces the "Real World," along with other reality shows like "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," "Bad Girls Club," and "Project Runway," confirmed the post's authenticity in an email.

"We can confirm that Bunim/Murray Productions, the producers of The Real World, posted the Craigslist ad. We are currently casting for season 27," the spokeswoman wrote.

She directed interested parties to an online schedule of casting calls.

Asked whether the show would actually shoot at Zuccotti Park, the spokeswoman wrote, "There are no plans to film on Wall Street at this time."

Criticized in recent years for its focus on sex and alcohol-fueled antics, "The Real World" won praise during its earlier years for featuring cast members with unusual life-circumstances.

The show is considered to have helped humanize the AIDS epidemic through its decision to cast Pedro Zamora, an openly gay, HIV-positive AIDS activist, in the early '90s.

While the Occupy Wall Street protesters have been eager for media attention, it was unclear whether the group would be receptive to the advances of MTV, which is owned by corporate giant Viacom.