MTV’s hit reality show “The Real World” continues to be a standout even after 13 years on the air. The 16th season in Austin, Texas, is now airing Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m., and production recently began for the 17th season in Key West, Fla. Casting for the 18th season of “The Real World” is in its early stages, despite not having a location solidified, and an open casting call takes place this Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Pacific Beach Bar and Grill. Casting directors from Bunim/Murray Productions, who initially created and currently produce the “The Real World,” said they hope San Diego will produce more unique personalities to add to the mix of outspoken and sometimes controversial housemates.

Since its inception in 1992, “The Real World” has thrown a diverse and dynamic group of seven young people to live in a house together for a five-month period. The recipe has been one of success, as season after season the show has produced stellar ratings for MTV.

More recently the perception and path of the show has changed. Current cast members simply can’t compete with the outrageous antics and complex personalities we saw earlier. The season that took place in San Francisco featured the out of control and offensive Puck, as well as Pedro, a pensive and outspoken HIV/AIDS educator who later succumbed to the deadly disease, in 1994. The New Orleans season featured the hyperactive and hilarious firecracker Melissa; and who can forget the in-your-face attitude of the Russian princess Flora from the Miami season?

Cast members now seem less on the serious side and more “easy on the eye.” Their priorities seem to be rooted in alcohol, partying and hooking up. Is the “The Real World” now focused on physical appearance rather than personality? Have substance and thought-provoking storylines been abandoned for more frivolous fare?

Damon Furberg, supervising casting director for “The Real World,” doesn’t think so. He said it really depends on each season and who they cast, and said the casting crew hopes to find a diverse group for the 18th season. Production for season 17 in Key West just started and Furberg said the cast members contrast with “The Real World: Austin.”

“I feel like as a casting department we made more of an effort to make that be a little bit more – ‘intellectual’ wouldn’t really be the word – but deeper,” said Furberg. “I think we made an effort to cast kids who were more concerned with the world around them. I think that for every season that is going to be deeper and going to be more political, and have more serious issues going around, there is always going to be a more party season to counterbalance it.”

Furberg admitted that since the show’s inception the type of people cast are quite different now.

“I think if you look at season one and compare it to what’s happening today, I’m not going to lie, certainly the people have gotten more attractive, but I think that’s just sort of a natural outgrowth of a show that’s been on so long,” he said. “You’re always trying to up the ante and everything’s got to be bigger, better and flashier. I wouldn’t say it’s a conscious choice.”

Most seasons usually have at least one gay person in the household. Willie Hernandez was cast on “The Real World: Philadelphia,” which taped in the spring and summer in 2004 and aired earlier this year. Hernandez was one of two gay male cast members, which was the first time there were two gay people of the same sex on the same show. Prior seasons featured a gay man and a lesbian in the same household.

“I was completely, completely dumbfounded. Initially I was completely shocked,” Hernandez said. “It definitely was not something I saw coming and I’m pretty savvy in terms of casting and show business in general.”

Although there were two gay cast members in the same house, that didn’t guarantee the pair would get along. Hernandez said he hoped it was going to be a great learning experience to live with another gay person of a different race and background. He’s Latino while the other gay cast member, Karamo, is African-America. Unfortunately, Hernandez said they didn’t quite click and it had a lot to do with Karamo’s inability to be comfortable with his sexuality on and off the camera.

“I was really disappointed with the type of gay guy that they cast, not because I don’t like him or respect him…. With him and I, me being comfortable with my sexuality. I’m just a little bit more evolved in general in terms of life experience,” said Hernandez.

Karamo had issues with his sexuality, among other things, and was perceived by some as somewhat homophobic, Hernandez said.

“Initially I thought that I’d be able to help him out of that. I thought that there would be a lot of verbiage. I thought there would be a lot of conversation,” Hernandez said.

In terms of the rest of the household, Hernandez said he felt he got along, but at the same time it seemed he never developed any true, deep connections or long-lasting friendships.

“In general, even though I felt like I was a very inclusive part of the household, nobody really sat me down and wanted to know about me. Everyone just thought I was this funny gay guy from New York who keeps it real,” he said.

Hernandez, a Manhattan native, recalled his casting process, which took longer than most people since he had gone to a casting call in Connecticut and had several meetings in New York City before getting picked. Overall he said his experience was a positive one on the show.

Hernandez said the Bunim/Murray casting staff is a “well-oiled machine” with extensive experience. He offered some valuable advice for those hoping to be the next stars of one of television’s oldest reality shows: “Regardless of whether you think you’re an interesting personality or charismatic, or whether you have a lot to offer – it doesn’t matter who you think you are or how you think. They can see right through you. Just be honest and be yourself.”

Bunim/Murray Productions typically receives over 30,000 audition tapes per seasons in addition to seeing about the same amount of people during the open casting calls in cities across America. Furberg said that the chances are about the same if you audition in person or send in a tape, and emphasized that they do watch every single audition tape they receive.

“My directives to the people who work under me [have] always been [to] err on the side of making too many call-backs than too few,” he said. “I would rather have to interview more unsuitable people rather than miss that diamond in the rough, so to speak, or have somebody that’s good fall through the cracks.”

“The Real World” applicants must be between 18 and 24, and are asked to bring a recent picture of themselves (which will not be returned) and a photo ID. The Pacific Beach Bar and Grill is located at 860 Garnet Ave. Call (858) 272-4745 for more information about the Sept. 17 casting call.