Are You Hot? On ABC 02/13

[John]

"Are You Hot? The Search for America's Sexiest People "

(ABC, Thursdays from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET)

The six-episode "Are You Hot? The Search for America's Sexiest People," the latest show from executive producer Mike Fleiss ("The Bachelor" franchise), will premiere THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET). Following a nationwide search, seen in the early episodes, finalists will be evaluated personally - and mercilessly - by a panel of experts who have their fingers on the pulse of American pop culture, beauty and style. They will also be featured on the "Are You Hot?" website so viewers can vote for their favorites. Sixteen finalists will be flown to Los Angeles for high-end makeover treatments and more extensive and intense judgement of their physical beauty. Tensions will rise to a fever pitch as the group is whittled down and two winners - one man and one woman -- are crowned "The Sexiest People in America."


"Are You Hot? the Search for America's Sexiest People" will be produced by Next Entertainment in association with Telepictures Productions for ABC. The show was created by Mike Fleiss and developed by him and "The Bachelor's" co-executive producer, Lisa Levenson. Mike Fleiss, Scott Einziger and Mike Nichols are the executive producers.

[John]

TV hopefuls brave cold to see if they're 'Hot'
By Will Ryan
Special to The Denver Post

Sunday, January 19, 2003 - The line of scantily clad hard bodies stretching around the block from the front door of The Church dance club was not anything out of the ordinary, except for the time of day.
When many of the Denver dance club's patrons were likely sleeping off hangovers from the previous night, about 350 fame seekers shivered in the Saturday morning air to take a shot at being America's next sex symbol.

The self-proclaimed hotties sported platform shoes, super- short skirts, muscle shirts and multitudes of piercings to woo the producers of ABC's newest reality show "Are You Hot? The Search for America's Sexiest People."

"In the clubs I go to, people are always telling me I have it going on," said 23-year-old David Darling, a University of Denver psychology student wearing an orange vest and designer jeans.

Brandi Wolf, 19, stood in a thin black blouse and tight black pants, knees shaking. Lavender polish covered her toenails, which poked from platform sandals.

"Not trying to act like some ditsy girl is what's going to help me win," Wolf said.

Casting director Doron Ofir said the show, which premieres Feb. 13, is gathering a cross-section of America's sexiest and letting viewers call in to decide who will be crowned hottest of the hot.

"We're taking the power from the modeling agencies and giving it to the people," Ofir said.

The format, based on Fox's hit "American Idol," will feature judges firing comments at the contestants based on their sex appeal, or lack thereof. The hottest man and woman left standing at the end of the six-show series will each take home $50,000.

"I won't know what is going to make someone stand out until I see them on camera," Ofir said.

After standing outside for about an hour, contestants were thankful to be herded into the basement, where they mingled while waiting their turns to be judged.

In groups of 30, they were taken into a private taping room, where they strutted their stuff while answering questions like, "Why do you think you are sexy?" The judges eventually narrowed the group down to 20 men and 20 women who will be flown to Los Angeles to compete with other finalists from around the country.

Aaron Christensen was one of the first to be rejected. He said only two people from his group - both of them Denver Nuggets cheerleaders - made it through the initial selection process.

"They told them to do their signature move, and they shook their butts together," Christensen said. "Right then, I knew it was over, but I got their (phone) numbers and we're going to go out later."

[John]

Think you're hot? Prove it

By ERIC DEGGANS, Times TV Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 17, 2003

In case you're wondering just who might qualify for the new ABC reality series Are You Hot: the Search for America's Sexiest People, Tampa area casting director Scott Steel has a suggestion.

"Look, we've all had dates before with that guy or girl who looks really hot, but when they open their mouth, you wind up saying, "Just shut up and sit there,"' said Steel, a Tampa native who will supervise the search for candidates from the area for the next few days. "Call that person and tell them to come down."

Steel, a former WFLZ-FM 93.3 employee, will videotape prospective contestants, age 18 and older, for Are You Hot from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Twilight nightclub, 1507 Seventh Ave., Ybor City.

Producers in Los Angeles will judge hopefuls solely for their looks. No dancing, acting or singing required.

ABC will fly 16 people from across the country to Los Angeles for the show, developed by The Bachelor producer Mike Fleiss (Hollywood madam Heidi's cousin). Contestants in the show, which debuts Feb. 13, get makeovers and a close look from judges, with one man and woman crowned the "Sexiest People in America."

And just how can hopefuls make an impression on the show's judges? "Be yourself," said Steel, who will cruise the Tampa Bay area tonight to tape hopefuls in places such as Channelside and Ybor City. "If you've ever invested in plastic surgery and think that makes you sexy, here's a chance to recoup that investment."

[Wayner]

Thanks for posting this John!

But I'm confused. The Denver article says that 20 men and 20 women were selected to fly to Los Angeles. But the St. Pete article says that ABC will fly 16 people from across the country to Los Angeles. Maybe they're taking 40 from each place they hold auditions and narrowing it down to 16?

[John]

Yeah, who knows. I'm confused, too. All I know is the people are Hot!

[Wayner]

I may need to change to a Wayne Campbell avatar soon. Schwing!