I Was Almost a TV Star

A year ago this week, I submitted an audition video for My OWN Show:  Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star.  Read on to see what happened and watch the video to see how it's effected my life since then. 

Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Not in becoming Oprah’s next big TV star. But out of 10,000 online contestants and 10 national casting calls, I made it really far in the competition. And that feels pretty darn good!

Last year in mid-June , I submitted my audition for Oprah’s OWN show competition. The idea I pitched was for a show that followed moms, like me, pursuing their passion later in life.   I found out about the contest just two weeks before submissions were closed so my husband and I worked feverishly to get my audition tape together. I wrote the script and performed and he filmed, edited and uploaded it. The end product was pretty good, not exactly professional, but not too shabby for a quick turn-around.

On June 17th, 2010, the day before our family vacation, I was contacted by a casting director from Mark Burnett Productions. He told me that “a handful” of people had been selected to have a pitch package put together to go in front of the decision makers…and I was one of them. Well, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather – I totally didn’t expect to hear anything at all (eternal pessimist that I can be). Said casting director went on to tell me that I would hear back in the next 2 to 3 weeks if I made it through to the next round.

Fast forward a week and a half. Lo and behold, another shocking phone call, I made it through to the second round! This stage was a bit more involved. I had to fill out an extensive background history and sign a contract agreeing to be sued for $5 million in damages if I interfered with the making of the show in any way. Sweet. This was serious. This time I was told that if I made it through to the top 35, I would be flown to L.A. the week of July 12th for the finals.

Well, I didn’t get the call to go to L.A. that week. Bummer. But I did “almost” make it to the finals which means someone either liked my show idea, liked me or both of the above. Whatever it was, I’ll take it.

It was my closest brush with fame to date and an enormous confidence boost too.  Just further motivation to keep on keeping on.