By
Aaron Cowman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA students flock to open casting call at O'Malley's
During the next few weeks, thousands across the nation will have the opportunity to become one of seven people who "stop being nice and start getting real."
Yesterday, Tucsonans had their chance.
MTV's "The Real World" held an open casting call for the reality-based program's 11th season at O'Malley's, 247 N. 4th Ave. all day yesterday. Nearly 1,000 hopefuls, including many University of Arizona students, flocked to the bar for their chance to join the show.
Sasha Alpert, supervising casting director for "The Real World" and "Road Rules," said more than 30,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 attend casting calls like this one in more than a dozen cities across the nation. This is the first time the show has traveled to Tucson to cast.
"We always choose a variety of places that are very diverse," Alpert said.
Past seasons have taken the seven cast members to locales like London, Hawaii, San Francisco and, most recently, New Orleans. The location for this season is still undetermined, but that is not turning hopefuls away.
For many, the site of the house is the least important factor.
"You get to live in a really cool house, and you get to meet six new people," said Kelly Soto, a communication freshman. "Who wouldn't want to be on it?"
Finance sophomore Ben Loder said he would not mind if they kept it close to home.
"It should be at my house so I don't have to leave," Loder said.
Free rent at a luxurious house in an exotic location may be incentive enough for most college students, but the opportunity to be on television is often the true appeal for potential cast members.
"I think it would be fun," said business freshman Regan Scheiner. "You get to meet new people and you get to be on TV."
For the first time, the show will be shot over the summer, from June to October. Students said, however, that missing the upcoming fall semester would not deter them from going.
"I would definitely miss a whole semester of school for it," said undeclared freshman Jessica Bonham.
Characters from past seasons are still popular to loyal viewers, and many continue to receive coverage from MTV.
"I've always been fascinated by the show and I've wanted to be a part of it ever since Puck," said media arts senior Shane Deegan. "I want to be the next Puck."
Puck, the infamously crude San Francisco cast member, could be one example of the uncommon personalities casting directors generally look for.
"We look for people that are real people," Alpert said. "We look for outgoing people."
Finding qualities that separated her from the rest was a dispiriting task for one student hoping to get accepted.
"My chances are not good," said biology freshman Emily Hirleman. "I'm average in every way possible."
"The Real World" is notorious for arguments between members of the house. The key to making the show work is diversity, Alpert said.
"We would never have seven frat brothers or seven sorority sisters," she said.
The open casting call was enough to attract people who were not even interested in participating in the show.
"I don't want to be on it," said political science freshman Leigh Wolinsky. "But I didn't want to say the auditions were down the street and I didn't go."
Marketing freshman Katie Foos said she was hoping this might be an opportunity to make it on one of MTV's other reality-based programs.
"I don't really want to be on 'Real World,'" Foos said. "I want to be on 'Road Rules.'"
The O'Malley's parking lot was filled with applicants for hours yesterday including some who came to tag along and found themselves trying out.
"I was here for moral support and I figured I'd try out," said chemistry junior Daniel Honda.
Some students look just for the experience while still others seek fame.
Journalism senior Rachel Norton said she sees the show as a stepping stone into life after college.
"I'm graduating and I have nothing planned for my life," Norton said. "This would be a 'Real World' before the real world."
