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'WORLD' PARTY MC Hammer will be among the ''Surreal World'' housemates

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Producers of upcoming WB reality series ''The Surreal Life'' were forced to change the name of their show from ''The Surreal World'' after MTV and ''Real World'' producer Bunim-Murray Productions complained that the title was too similar to the venerable reality hit about mismatched housemates. Of course, that was the whole point, since the WB show promises a cast of mismatched housemates who also happen to be famous (or at least formerly famous). Still, the show should live up to the ''Surreal'' part of the title, given the five semi-celebrities they've named so far as cast members.

Among the housemates, who will spend two weeks living and working together in a house in the residential San Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles, are early-'90s rap giant MC Hammer, ''Webster'' star Emmanuel Lewis, Mindy Cohn (''The Facts of Life'''s Natalie), ex-Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil, and ''The Lost Boys'' actor Corey Feldman. As on ''Survivor: Thailand,'' there's even a onetime soft-porn performer: Brande Roderick (''Life of a Gigolo,'' ''Stripper Wives''), who was also the 2001 Playboy Playmate of the Year and a ''Baywatch'' babe. Other cast members on the show, which is scheduled for a six-episode run in midseason, will be announced later.

In other minor-celeb reality news, Fox has ordered a third fight card of ''Celebrity Boxing,'' set to air Nov. 21, featuring three bouts between fighters yet to be named. Maybe the other Corey is available for that one.