So you wanna be a star?

Reality TV show looking for adventuresome Presbyterians

by Jerry L. Van Marter

HOLLYWOOD — The Learning Channel (TLC) is looking for everyday Presbyterians who want to fake it for season three of its award-winning TV reality series “Faking It.”

      The show’s casting producer, Shana Kemp, describes the opportunity this way: “Do you ever wish you had taken a different path? Do you fantasize about your dream job? Do you ever wonder who you would be if you had a different career? Would you like to be given the opportunity of a lifetime? Here is your chance…”

      Kemp is looking for Presbyterian pastors, Sunday school teachers or other church workers who are interested in spending a month learning another skill well enough to fool a panel of expert judges. During the month of intensive training, top practitioners, famous in their field, mentor the fakers and try their best to help them succeed.

      “Faking It” is looking for candidates who have always wanted to be one of the following but do not have any prior experience:

      Catwalk model (female)
      Interior designer (female)
      Swimwear model (female)
      Las Vegas casino hostess (female)
      Biker chick (female)
      Fashion designer (female)
      Personal trainer to the stars (male)
      Flair bartender (male)
      Stand‑up comic (male)
      Martial artist (male)

      “At the heart of the show,” Kemp says, “is the journey the fakers take into an unknown world and the relationships that develop between the fakers and their mentors.” 

      Kemp asks interested Presbyterians to e-mail a JPEG photo of themselves and a short paragraph that provides the following information: name, gender, age, weight and height, address, job, which job from the list they want to fake it as and why, and their availability to take a month away from their job/life at short notice. 

      Candidates must be 21–35 years of age. Travel, accommodations, per diem expenses and minimum wage will be paid.

      In the subject line of your e-mail, please put the following information, in the following order: YOUR OCCUPATION(S), AGE, STATE. (For example: Nurse, 35, Texas or Plumber, 42, Kansas, etc.)

      E-mail to Shana Kemp at shana.kemp@rdfusa.com.

      Information about the series “Faking It” can be found on the Web site http://rdfmedia.com/reality/FakingIt.asp or on the TLC Web site, http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/fakingit/fakingit.html.