You Want a Piece of the Real World DC—They’re Yours for the Taking
From left to right: Chris Wiggins, Beth Ploger and cast members Callie, Emily and Ashley.
So I mis-tweeted last night.
After arriving at Metromix's Real World DC premiere party, I called the event the "official RWDC party."
For the event to be official, it would probably need to be thrown by MTV. And no one from MTV was around that I saw at least. Instead of watching the first episode with network publicists, the four cast members at BlackFinn last night sat with Chris Wiggins and Beth Ploger, two of the cast's certainly unofficial, most devoted local followers during filming.
Wiggins funneled cast member gossip through his RWDC tweets all summer long, while Beth "Elizabethany" Ploger recorded frequent videos of her and her friends on the hunt for cast members, posting them to her pop culture blog.
For months, they were the "stalkers," showing up wherever the cast might be partying and ticking off producers and crew members. You would think the former housemates would disdain Ploger and Wiggins after a certain point—after all, they only signed up for a certain kind of attention. Official cameramen: Yes. Random girl with camera constantly in hand: No.
But I was mistaken.
They were chatting with the cast, and shared front row seats with them before one of Blackfinn's biggest TVs. Wiggins helped organize the event (his name was on the press invitation), and Ploger was a co-host.
...I am naive about this stuff.
They weren't the only ones there to reunite with old "friends." A lot of the people I met proclaimed to have a connection to the cast—some more tenuous than others.
Toward the front of the bar, Ashley Gum and Barbara Moorman–sorority sisters, both graduated now, from George Mason University–sat in a booth eating dinner around 8:30 when I arrived. They said one of their friends, Krystal, was going to be in the first episode. She met the cast out at a club and then went back to the house. Krystal was apparently not concerned about how she would be portrayed. "She wanted it," one girl told me, "She just went in the hot tub and the confessional and bitched about her ex boyfriend." (If Krystal was in the first episode, I missed it.)
Then, there was Tim Hanlon, who I met on a step near the kitchen overlooking where the cast was seated and talking to reporters. He said he met Mike—the bisexual jock from Colorado—and Callie—the sweet photographer girl from Texas—during the season.
"I'd like to touch base with Callie," he says. "She looks like she lost at least 20 pounds." It soon became clear that Mike has maintained his friendships with the cast in the same way thousands of others can: By Facebook.
Tim and Callie reunited.
Then there was the girl who said she knew Emily—the former religious fundamentalist from Missouri—but wouldn't say how other than to mention that they had dinner that night.
And for the record, the lack of MTV oversight didn't stop Ploger or Metromix from dubbing the party the "Official Real World DC Premiere Party" on their own.
3:48 pm
“Krystal Leigh Cunningham,” is the 27/28 year old woman that hooked up with DC’s Real World cast member Andrew in the hot tub on the 2nd episode. Little history on Krystal; she is the girl that needed attention growing up. After her mother paraded her around in pageants before she could walk who wouldn’t? Her childhood bedroom was plastered with ribbons and awards from her forced 80’s brush with “Toddlers in Tiaras,” that she would brag about to “friends” growing up which consequently made her a laugh! She was the girl throughout elementary, middle and high school that tried oh so desperately to make friends, but NO amount of money or make-up allowed her to do so. She was a very prude sheltered girl that unfortunately turned her into a “freak of a socialite.” Once she graduated from high school her history was unknown so she was able to start over, found herself some fake friends that accepted her…FINALLY! Krystal bought her fake boobies after spending many years working for Abercrombie & Fitch. Now she is a event promo girl in the DC area flaunting her body and being molested by men while offering free shots. No matter how much you; “fake and bake,” spray, purchase knock off designer studs, plaster your face with make-up and grind your flat ass with men on grungy DC dance floors you will never find true love…So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Krystal Leigh Cunningham put out the fire following your 15 minutes of fame from your hot tub cameo on DC’s Real World and get with the real world and stop dressing up in nasty outfits. Save your skin from cancer and get a REAL LIFE and a REAL job! Oh, but don’t worry your appearance will be syndicated forever…which includes your “granny panties,” that really, really need to be explained!
7:35 pm
Sounds like sombody has issues. Maybe Krystal got the better looking football players or something. This girl spent a whole day writing about her, what a psycho. Maybe the poor girl who wrote this about her was beat by the ugly stick, or was jealous of my friend Krystal's natural great cleavage. Sucks to be ugly - while Krystal is out partying with the good looking crowd. Seems to me like the girl here probably couldnt even be allowed to stand in line where Krystal goes.
8:13 pm
WOW watch out Krystal it looks like you have a JEALOUS STALKER......with a lot of time on their hands to watch your every move!! SCARY
9:26 am
It's funny how the article introduces Ashley Gum and Barbara Moorman as Kystal Cunningham's "friends." If my friends were telling a journalist that I went back to the house because I "wanted it" I'd pe pissed! Krystal, obviously these girls are not your FRIENDS. If I were you, I'd re-evaluate the people around you.
5:27 am
The bigger question is- How the heck did Andrew get her in the hot tub with all her cheapy hair extension, faux jewelry, fake eye lashes, bra inserts, dirty spray tan? Yikes! That explains why he threw her icky butt on the street where she belongs. Gloriously Nastylicous!
11:05 am
The tanning salons usually have some instructional videos which you will be allowed to watch. These videos emphasize the tan spray rules and will explain to you every single detail about the method. Among the important rules that the videos focus on are the need to contain your breath while the spray tan is about to go off, turning around as the spray stops, and the spots to apply the lotion in order to hinder the spray.
1:56 pm
There's nothing wrong with spray tans. They make a heck of a lot more sense that frying your skin or exposing it to the dangerous effects of UV rays. Spray tans make you look healthier and thinner and I see absolutely no harm in a girl trying to look her best.
12:32 pm
The best self tanners have come a long way in the last 5 years. There are now plenty of choices for everyone out there regardless of skin tone. Healthy and golden makes us all look and feel better.