After squabbling with local unions, the producers of the MTV series The Real World yesterday gave up on Philadelphia as the site of its 15th season. Taping was to begin in three weeks.

"After considerable evaluation, we are disappointed to announce that Bunim/Murray Productions has decided not to shoot The Real World in Philadelphia," a spokeswoman for the company said yesterday afternoon. She declined to elaborate.

However, The Cynics has learned that Philadelphia residents were mostly upset because there were no written guarantees that a hot-tub orgy would be part of the first show.

"We've watched Las Vegas and I remember Steven and Trishelle and that other bitch in the tub doing a three-way," said one resident. "If its good enough for Vegas it's good enough for us!".

It's a matter of "preserving the way of life in Philadelphia," said Pat Gillespie, business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council.