Hollywood is learning that reality bites. Residents of a quiet area between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards are up in arms over the ongoing filming of The Hills at Lauren Conrad's residentce, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Hills producers and city officials say the neighborhood unrest (which has been building for some time) is overblown - and fanned in part by a resident of the same street who produces a competing reality TV show (!?).
The real-life drama has at times eclipsed that of The Hills. One incident involved a brawl between residents and producers, another an alleged knife fight between celebrity news photographers on a homeowner's lawn.
The recent controversy over The Hills comes amid debate over the practices of the celebrity news and gossip media in general, and what some suggest is disruptive filming taking place throughout Los Angeles County.


Security guards and cops are regular fixtures in Lauren Conrad's 'hood.
The Orange Grove Ave. dispute is unique in that many of those who live on the tree-shaded street are themselves part of the entertainment biz.
Residents describe their neighborhood as a kind of Mayberry tucked between the Sunset Strip and Hollywood's touristy area. Until this, they say, the street has been known more for its potluck block parties than celebrities.
That all changed when The Hills' leading lady purchased her three-bedroom, Mediterranean-style villa in the 1600 block of Orange Grove on February 1.
The weekend Lauren Conrad and friends Audrina Patridge and Lauren Bosworth moved in, a 15-person MTV production crew was there to film it.Continue Reading...