Nearly 40 colorful characters come to Sunday afternoon tryouts
Mitchell Jones really wants to be on CBS’s “Big Brother.”
The Key West, Fla., native drove to Columbia for a Sunday afternoon audition for the show, and it’s not the first time he’s done so. Last year, he tried out in Cincinnati.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Jones said, leaning in and whispering conspiratorially. “I made it to the top 20 last year.”
The Sunday casting call at JT’s Kia in Columbia allowed the public to audition to compete on the television show with an on-camera interview. Larger-than-life personalities are key to the show, and almost 40 would-be participants turned out, all eager to show off their quirks and colorful personalities.
Eying his competition, Jones, who prefers “Q-Mitch,” felt good about his odds.
“I’m confident I’m going to get even farther this time around,” Jones said with a wink.
Among his competition was Meegan Looper, of Fayetteville, N.C., who made her presence known immediately, decked out in leopard print clothes and furry boots. She drove three hours to make her pitch.
“‘Big Brother’ is my favorite show to watch, and it would be my dream come true to be on it,” Looper said. “It’s just so addicting.”
The show pits 16 contestants against each other by isolating them in a house for about three months with limited contact with the outside world. This year marks its 15th season in the U.S., which will premiere in June.
Looper said she thinks she’d be a good pick for the competition and jumped at the chance to show off her personality.
“There are a lot of good qualities about myself,” she said. “I can be a friend to anyone in the house, and I am funky and awesome. I can wow America and build a relationship with each and every contestant in the house.”
Contestants in the casting call were given a list of guidelines with tips on how to impress producers.
Among them: “Stand out,” “exaggerate your personality” and “be annoying.”
Asked for further information on the interview process, CBS network affiliates declined comment.
The audition marks the first time “Big Brother” has visited Columbia, and some locals took advantage of the opportunity to try out.
Among them was Emily Wade, who banked on her personality to land her a spot on the show. She kept her appearance simple and instead relied on her love of the show to help her advance to the next round.
“I think my bubbly personality will get America and the other housemates to love me,” Wade said. “I’ve been watching [‘Big Brother’] for a long time — about six years now. My mom got me started on it, and she’s so excited I’m here now.”
Natalie Williams, a first-year international business student, came out, too.
“I really just wanted to see who would come,” she said with a laugh. “There are some really colorful and interesting people here.”