MTV isn’t talking about where it will film the 21st season of its “Real World” reality show, but in Red Hook, everyone knows the real deal.
The hardscrabble home of Fairway and the hot new Ikea is clearly ready for its close up now that MTV has confirmed that it had abandoned the BellTel Lofts building Downtown.
As The Brooklyn Paper reported last Thursday, sluggish renovations of the luxury condo led MTV to seek a new spot, this one on Pier 41 at Van Dyke Street. Greg O’Connell who owns Pier 41 admitted that he had “signed some papers,” but wouldn’t say more.
Others in the neighborhood gave far juicier details.
“They came in to ask us to sign a waiver last night,” said barista Claire Moore from the popular coffee hangout, Baked, on Van Brunt Street, adding that the producer was excited to find such a “cute” place to set a scene for laid-back Red Hook life.
If this installment of “The Real World” follows the example of prior seasons, the cast will be hanging out at one or two restaurants. Getting waivers in advance means that producers don’t have to get clearance from several establishments once filming starts — another indication that Red Hook will shortly be dubbed “Real Hook.”
Red Hookers grumbled at the thought.
“I’d rather have another Ikea,” said John Varonian, who has lived in Red Hook for two years, and would prefer that MTV reopen and run the Laundromat down the street.
Most likely, the cast will be airing their dirty laundry in their home at the upstairs portion of 204 Van Dyke St., the address reported by the Web site Curbed, which cited an unidentified source.
Pier 41 is home to several artists and crafts studios, a view of Lady Liberty — and just down the street from Fairway.
The area is not immune to camera crews.
Lifetime resident and owner of a truck insulation company on Van Dyke St., Greg Iovine, Jr., said his father has rented out several of his properties for TV, including “The Sopranos.” A few years ago, 204 Van Dyke St. was built out as a nightclub for the Will Smith movie, “Hitch.”
Despite all the Hollywood buzz bouncing around the neighborhood, many of course still didn’t know what the “Real World” even is.
This time around it will be the true story of seven strangers, who got picked to live in a converted warehouse, have their lives videotaped as they shop at Fairway, go to work, and hook up for meaningless casual, TV-friendly sex.
