I love hearing stories about how certain stars auditioned for certain roles and didn't get them. What would the show/movie have been like if they were cast in it instead of the person who eventually got the role? For example, did you know that Danny DeVito was almost cast as Serena on Gossip Girl?

Here's another tidbit: Ugly Betty star Eric Mabius auditioned for the role of Peter Petrelli on Heroes. It's not really clear whether he didn't get the role because Milo Ventimiglia got it or if producers of Ugly Betty grabbed him for the role of Daniel Meade before Heroes producers could sign him up. Whatever happened, he's now playing the head of Mode magazine while Ventimiglia is absorbing people's superpowers.

The interview above is rather interesting. Mabius has moved back to Massachusetts with his family (he met his wife here while in college and wants to raise his kids here). He says he doesn't have a plan for his future, though he might have to get one. I have a feeling this might be the last season for Ugly Betty.

Answer: probably.

This is video (can't embed it, unfortunately) of Danyl Johnson's first performance on The X Factor. Simon Cowell actually called it the best first audition he's ever heard in almost nine years of doing judging. Really? The guy is definitely good, but I think 58% of it is the audience reaction and the background vocals.

[via TV Tattle]

(S04E10) "We've saved the best for last." - Nick about this being the last audition episode

The last America's Got Talent audition episode not only featured loads of good performances -- sadly, most shown in a quick montage -- but also an interview with Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle. The "Susan Boyle - Daring to Dream" interview with Meredith Vieira depicted well Susan's path to fame and her life struggles, but I would have preferred to have seen Boyle perform live on the show during one of the performance episodes in August. Then the contestants could have interacted with someone who went very far in the competition and be inspired by her story, as well as show that everyday people who truly have talent can become stars.

Before we get to my two cents about tonight's performances, I wanted to point out that contestant Shaunie, who performed a unique singing number in last night's episode, dropped by the comments section in my review of Audition show 9 to share the link to his YouTube channel so you can watch more of his talent.

I'm not a parent, but aren't all kids "always performing for people?" That's what Teresa says about her 7 year-old daughter Gia in this clip from Real Housewives of New Jersey. She takes the kid to audition for a role in a movie starring The Rock. I guess the road to stardom these days starts on reality shows.

I think we can totally forget about Star Jones and Barbara Walters exchanging Christmas gifts this year.

The former View host/Court TV host is quite angry at Walters for various things that Walters says in her new memoir, Audition. Among the many reveals in the book is the fact that Walters had an affair with a married Senator back in the 80s. This doesn't please Jones at all, and she's also upset at Walters' version of the events that led to Jones being axed from The View. Walters reveals that they all knew that Jones lost a lot of weight by having gastric bypass surgery and that the other hosts were ticked that they had to lie about how Jones lost the weight on the air.

As you may or may not know, I have been on many game shows. I won $40,000 on Greed. I won a car, seven televisions and a buttload of other stuff on TV Land's Ultimate Fan Search. I won over a grand on To Tell The Truth and of course, I was on every episode of Beat the Geeks. Suffice it to say, I have plenty of experience with this game we call show. Recently Joel Keller wrote a piece chock full of information on where to apply to be on a gameshow, and while this information is certainly helpful, you should know that it's only the beginning. There are a multitude of Do's and Dont's to remember.

Let's start with the Do's...

Casting for the 20th season of The Real World is underway, and get this, they're looking for people with ambitions and career goals. Apparently, the drinking, whoring version of The Real World is on the way out. They're looking for "aspiring actors, models, dancers, filmmakers, musicians, athletes, artists, journalists, stylists and fashion designers" or any youngin' with "interesting career goals." The Real World's producers don't have a contract with MTV beyond the 20th season. That's not to say that they won't eventually strike a deal, but it looks like Bunim-Murray is trying a return to form by assembling a cast of literate people whose desires include more than a pitcher of Mega-ritas and a hot tub threesome.

So, if you're between the ages of 18 and 24, this may be your last chance to live in a house with a bunch of strangers, have your life taped and humiliate your parents. (Just kidding, you're young. You'll have plenty of more chances to disappoint your parents.) Casting news is available online at Bunim-Murray's casting website.

[Via Reality Blurred]

HGTV has put out a call for men who have a special place in their home designed just for them. You know, that section of the house with a pool table, dart board, beer steins and several stuffed animal carcasses on the wall? These men and their men spaces will be featured on a new series called Man Land that apparently aims to celebrate stereotypical manliness. Other men like myself whose "man space" consist of nothing more than a Debbie Gibson album and a small tin of ginger snaps have been woefully overlooked. If I hadn't just come back from a manicure and didn't want to ruin the finish on my nails I'd be dialing up HGTV right now to complain.

We'll have to wait and see if this new series has anything worthwhile to offer. At the very least, it could be a nice change of pace from Queer Eye by actually celebrating the conditions these men choose as opposed to trying to change it.

If you've ever wanted to be immortalized in comic book form or just enjoy the feel of spandex, than you're in luck. Nationwide auditions are currently being held for the second edition of Who Wants to be a Superhero? The surprise SciFi Channel hit pits eccentric, homemade superheroes against one another to see who catches comic industry legend Stan Lee's eye.

The application form for the show is intense. They need to know your backstory, your weaknesses, your powers, the "noble code" by which you live, your catchphrase, your weaponry, your motivation, your secret identity, etc. If you don't show up in costume, they want you to draw it. ("Feel free to label any props or weapons.") This "superhero" thing is serious business. I can't even decide if I'd rather have the gift of flight or invisibility.

You can check out the audition schedule after the jump. The show's website also gives you a way to audition if you can't make the casting caravan's ten-city tour. Good luck, heroes. We need you now more than ever.

CMT (Country Music Television) is gearing up for a second season of The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search. Auditions are currently underway to find the next group of potential coyotes. They've already stopped in Nashville and Memphis, but if you are a female bartender between the ages of 18 and 30-something, you still have a few chances. Upcoming auditions include Charlotte, N.C. (Dec. 9), New York City (Dec. 11) and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Dec. 14). The show will air in the spring of 2007.

For those unfamiliar with the show, the girls are put through the paces by Coyote Ugly founder Liliana "Lil" Lovell and her team. They have to sing and dance on the bar, work the crowd with the microphone, and most importantly, they have to tend bar. Being a cute girl certainly doesn't hurt, but Lil has no patience for girls that can't count money or mix drinks. The winner gets $25,000 and a job at the bar, along with a lot of exposure. Last season's winner, Kassie Miller (pictured), is currently working on an album, and was in Steve Holy's video for "I've Got A Brand New Girlfriend." Find out more about the show at the official CMT site, and hear some of Kassie's songs on myspace.

[ via cynopsis ]

To hell with the airwaves, NBC is creating a web-only show called Star Tomorrow. It's your basic talent contest, where solo singers and bands will perform and viewers will vote. The winner gets a record deal with Tommy Motola. The only difference is that this will never air on the NBC network.

NBC is currently taking applications in the form of VHS tapes from singers or bands. Producers will narrow the contestants down to 100 and present them in small groups each week this summer. Viewers will have a week to vote on their favorite performer(s) and the winner will move on to the next round.

[Via Lost Remote]

CBS found such huge success with Rock Star: INXS last year that it is launching another series. Obviously, it won't be exactly the same since the search landed INXS with a new lead singer. And, CBS hasn't announced which band will be participating in the next round. What bands need a new lead singer? Blind Melon?

Here are a list of audition dates and cities, if you rock: