SHOOTING STARS: ‘Real World’ returns, checks into Hard Rock Hotel

Las Vegas has changed considerably since 2002, when “The Real World” invaded the Palms for its 12th season.

But that’s not stopping MTV’s pioneering reality series from doing a Vegas turnaround, celebrating its 25th season right back here in Glitter City.

This time around, a Hard Rock Hotel high-roller suite serves as the residential party loft for the show’s seven camera-ready cast members.

Las Vegas remains “a city that MTV’s viewers love,” notes Jon Murray, “Real World” creator and executive producer. And with the Hard Rock “a fantasy destination,” Las Vegas will “undoubtedly serve as the eighth roommate,” he adds, during the show’s silver-anniversary season, which debuts in early 2011.

That should echo what happened during “The Real World’s” first Vegas go-round, predicts Nevada Film Office director Charles Geocaris.

“The first one for the Palms was interesting,” he says. “It really did bring a lot of attention” to the Palms — and to Las Vegas.

This year’s “Real World” shoot is expected to continue through 2010 in and around the Hard Rock, which also hosts truTV’s “Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Pool.”

Although “Rehab” has ended its current shoot, the show’s poolside antics recently prompted officials from the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain — with more than a hundred worldwide locations — to sue the Hard Rock Hotel, alleging that Rehab’s scenes of “drunken debauchery” are “offensive, depraved, and deeply damaging” to the Hard Rock name and trademarks.

And if this year’s “Real World” is anything like the previous Vegas version, look for plenty of drunken debauchery — and more — to spice up the MTV airwaves.

Zombie stop: It takes time to create a post-apocalyptic atmosphere on screen.

Just ask the folks at Las Vegas-based First Earth Films, who have postponed the start of principal production on their futuristic zombie comedy “First Platoon.”

Although the shoot was supposed to be under way by now, the start of filming has been pushed back to Nov. 5.

“We have to have more time for the (special effects) guys to get their prosthetics work done,” explains producer Michela Angelini. “We are using the extra time for additional prep work and are able to add in some extra effects shots because of the bonus time, so we are happy about having it.”

Musical ‘Nature’: Human Nature, whose Imperial Palace musical revue salutes Motown’s greatest hits, may headline on the Strip.

But they haven’t forgotten their Australian roots — they’re shooting a music video for Sony Australia this week, featuring songs from their upcoming album, appropriately titled “Vegas: Songs From Sin City.”

Locations range from driving shots on the Strip to the Imperial Palace showroom where they perform, along with the casino’s craps tables.

“With their living here and the success of the show here, it made sense” to shoot the music video here too, according to Sony Australia’s Dane Butcher.

Quick takes: E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” is expected in town at Palazzo and Tao, where Kim Kardashian celebrates her 30th birthday Friday. The Latin Grammy Awards are scheduled here Nov. 11, but a crew from Univision will be in town this week to shoot background footage. And History’s reality hit "Pawn Stars" keeps on rolling; a spin-off featuring Rick Dale of Rick’s Restorations, tentatively titled “Rusty Nuts,” begins a four-week, eight-episode run later this month.