‘Real World’ casting in Philadelphia

At this point in the reality TV game, ‘Real World’ seems almost quaint: People simply live in a house together. They don’t have to survive on a remote island or swap family members or hunt each other for food. They just need to share a fridge.

But there’s a reason they’re currently casting for Season 28 (28!) — the strangers who live in the house are, indeed, strange. They’re hitting up Philly for auditions, and the producers aren’t shy (nor do they seem to have a capacity for shame):

This season casting directors will be on the lookout for applicants who have challenges living an everyday life that most take for granted, struggling with weight issues, affected by a natural disaster, products of home or alternative schooling, followers of unrecognized or non-mainstream belief systems, elite athletes, recent graduates affected by the economic downturn, those involved with goth, emo, or punk subculture, members of a pro-abstinence organization, those who are recently single due to a tragedy, someone who has recently gotten out of the foster care system, and individuals who want to bring the spotlight of “The Real World” to a cause, condition, or social issue they care deeply about or are personally affected by. We are also particularly interested in cast members who have had to work hard to support themselves and move ahead in their lives.

Is emo even a thing these days? We’ll let you find out. They’ll be at McFadden’s on April 14 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) if you’re interested in auditioning — or picking up a vulnerable, attention-craving date for Saturday night.