[James]

Posted on Thu, Apr. 08, 2004

'Big Brother' watches local hopefuls

Reality-show fans turn out for Tallahassee casting call

By Aetna Smith

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER



Lured by the potential for travel, stardom or money, about 25 hopefuls came out Wednesday for casting calls for the reality TV show "Big Brother."

The CBS program records the relationships of 12 houseguests who live with each other for 100 days without leaving the residence. As the contestants compete in mental and physical challenges, roommates vote each other off the show and one remaining guest wins $500,000, said Michael Creamer of WCTV 6, the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee.

Shade McMillian, 25, stopped by the call at All American Ford on West Tennessee Street. Like the other potential contestants, he completed a 12-page application and had two Polaroid shots taken. And for two minutes before a camera, he talked about why he would be good for the show.

McMillian, a document processor with the state Senate Office, said he wasn't attracted solely by the prize money. He would like exposure from the show to lead to a dream career in stand-up comedy. And for him, it doesn't hurt that the show's house is located in Los Angeles.

"I've only lived in Marianna, Gainesville and Tallahassee, and I want to go somewhere else, get to know other walks of life and meet other cultures," he said.

While McMillian said he's a fan of most reality shows, Mitsubishi car salesman Donald Hayden said most of them get on his nerves. But he tried out anyway.

"It's all about the money," he said, shortly after his videotaping. He said many reality TV show producers are looking for stereotypical characters to flesh out the programs.

"There's the geek, the angry black man, the loud sister, the pretty white girl. ..," he said. "But I am not an angry black man. I'd just go to have fun."

Mark Kang, who works with Hayden, said he's studied similar shows where there's one winner, like Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" show.

"You need to know how to build trust," Kang, 24, said. "The key to these reality shows is to get people to like you, and (you can't) seem like you're a threat."

Niki Wilkes, a self-described reality show "freak," watches "Survivor," "The Apprentice," "Big Brother" and "The Real World" programs. The 24-year-old works as an administrative assistant at Florida State University.

"This would be a once-in-a lifetime chance to take a break from life. I have nothing to tie me down - living with people 24 hours a day is really interesting to me," she said.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democ...al/8380702.htm

April 7, 2004


"Big Brother" and Baldwin


By Hailie Brook

BOISE -



Big Brother in Boise

Wednesday, there was a casting call for all outgoing and competitive people who are willing to be locked in a house with complete strangers. "Big Brother" came to town looking to cast people for the fifth season of the popular reality TV series.

Denise Rothermund drove nine hours from Salem, Oregon for a chance at reality TV. "You folks were the closest one doing "Big Brother," said Rothermund, "I figure I may never get a chance like this again."

Denise isn't the only one who traveled the distance for a chance at fame and fortune. "I'm from Seattle, Washington," said Shavette McGhee during her taped interview, "I should be on the show because you've never had a contestant like me, I can win the game."

Here's how the casting call works. The first step is filling out a 12-page application with questions like 'who's your hero?' and 'have you ever been to a nude beach?' After that they take a head-shot and then it's your turn in front of the camera. For two minutes you tell them why you should be on TV......

http://www.kbcitv.com/x5154.xml?Pare...dGroupID=x5154