"Real World," Really Dumb

JUNE 28--Another season of the 'Real World' has just started, and you know what that means: Bunim-Murray, producer of MTV's flagship reality show, has stocked the Austin, Texas cast with dumb, booze-loving louts who always seem ready to brawl or expose themselves. So meet Johanna Botta. According to her MTV bio, the 22-year-old Californian wants to be a clinical therapist, and realizes that 'the combination of her looks and intellect can get her just about anything she wants.' That shining brilliance, however, abandoned her on March 7 during the 'Real World' taping. That's when Botta and her cast mates went on a typical evening bender in downtown Austin and the 'fiery Peruvian' expat ended up busted for public intoxication. She also swiped roses from a street vendor and then got into a 'verbal disturbance' with the vendor (no surprise there, since Botta's bio notes that she is 'highly opinionated and argumentative'). Botta, whose mug shot is below, pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor count and was fined $150, sentenced to 16 hours of community service, and ordered to complete an alcohol education class. Luckily for viewers, MTV cameras were rolling as Botta was cuffed and stuffed into an Austin Police Department cruiser. In response to a question about what she wants fans to know about her after watching the show, Botta told the MTV web site, 'I want people to know that there's more to me than just partying and drinking.' Now that's a lofty goal. (3 pages)