Hundreds vie for spot on "Biggest Loser"
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Several hundred people vying for a shot at losing weight on a television reality show lined up for hours this morning outside Station Square, as NBC's "The Biggest Loser" held open auditions.
The show's producers, hoping to cast contestants for the show's 11th season, plan to meet from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with those who want to shed at least 100 pounds and have compelling stories of why their cases deserve national TV treatment.
Prospective contestants -- some who waited as long as almost 24 hours -- were ringing the building that houses the bar Saddle Ridge even before the doors opened. By 11 a.m., canvasers for the show who were working the line counted nearly 600 applicants, said Barbara Wulff, the casting director from Los Angeles.
"We're looking for people with a positive outlook on life, someone who is going to [lose weight] no matter what," she said. "They tried every other diet and nothing has succeeded but they're not ready to give up."
She also said they're looking for people who can make a connection with the show's audience: "Would I want to watch this person on television?"
Staff with the show pointed to one man who clearly had that strong desire -- Larry Culley, 58, a lawyer and aspiring voice artist from Staten Island, N.Y., who drove into Pittsburgh and arrived at 11 a.m. yesterday. Mr. Culley, who weighs 366 pounds and wants to get down to about 200 pounds, said this is his fourth audition attempt.
He said he wants to be selected for the show because his weight is interfering with his life and his health. He said he believes he has what it takes to connect with the audience.
"If I get on the show, I'll knock them dead," he said.
First Published August 7, 2010 12:13 pm
