Hundreds of reality TV wannabes took the first step in postponing the real world in favor of joining The Real World yesterday.

Hopefuls for the next season of MTV's flagship celebration of national voyeurism gathered at Tony's Big Easy Bar and Bistro, 129 S. Pugh St., to prove their worth as America's next favorite hedonistic slackers.

While some may not be fond of exposing every detail of their personal lives on national television, the Real World wannabes seemed unfazed.

"I don't give a s--- what people think about me," Rachel George (junior-marketing) said.

George, who said it has been a dream of hers to appear on the Real World, said even the likelihood that parents would be watching would not hold her back.

"My mom would just laugh and say, 'My daughter sucks,' " she said.

Jaleh Fassihi (senior-journalism) had similar feelings.

"If I was that worried about it, I wouldn't be here," Fassihi said.

The show, known for its ability to reduce people to mere stereotypes, drew a few characters willing to pigeonhole themselves.

George said she would take her role to the extreme.

"I would be the loud, crazy girl," she said. "I'd be the make-out whore. I love making out."

Mike Megrey (sophomore-economics) said any wild activities on the show would not be out of character.

"I don't need to go on a TV show to do something crazy," Megrey said. "They'd have some good stories to tell afterwards."

Despite the corrupt nature of the show, many at the casting call said the trade-off for national fame was worth the reputation that might come along with it.

Katie Ritchey (freshman-graphic design) said she would take the fame with the infamy.

"I don't think it'd matter if people were talking about me 10 years later," Ritchey said.

Blake Williams (junior-communication arts and sciences) said infamy could be a good thing for a person's career.

"That's marketable, a bad reputation," he said.

Fassihi also said a negative portrayal would still provide for some positive feedback.

"I'd watch what I'd do, but it's 15 minutes of fame," Fassihi said. "Shoot, it's more than 15 minutes of fame."

The casting call was not just for Penn Staters, either. The event drew people from all over the region, from as far away as New York and New Jersey. Aisha King and Sheba King, sisters from Staten Island, N.Y., drove four hours just for the opportunity.

"My sister kind of brought me along," Sheba said. "I'm into the Real World. If I get picked, I'll be happy."

Aisha was enthusiastic about the chance to be on the show.

"It's just fun; you get to live in a nice house free and just chill," she said.

Despite the reality TV genre's notorious reputation for dubious editing practices, Aisha said she would be unaffected.

"If that's what you see, that's what you see," she said. "I know who I am. I'm going to be me. I'm going to get real on the Real World."