A fabulous fellow named Iain Alexander interviewed me about my career as a reality TV casting director for his equally fabulous website, Film Industry Network.
It’s a great resource for any and all who want to get into the film and TV biz, or are already actively pursuing their dreams in the entertainment industry. I highly recommend you check them out and join! When it comes to getting ahead in Hollywood, it’s all about who ya know.
Networking is king, and this site is Lancelot.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Iain: What does it take for an actor to get ahead of the competition? Any tips?
Sarah: Have your story down. I call it your “personal sizzle reel.” Be able to pitch yourself as the perfect person for the project in 60 seconds or less. Tell a compelling story that will make me intrigued by who you are and leave me wanting to know more. Sometimes a Casting Director won’t even ask you any questions. They might just say: “Tell me about yourself.” You must have a compelling story and sell us on wanting to keep you around.
Check out my entire interview here: Tips from Prime Time Reality TV casting expert Sarah Monson
Thanks Iain!
Well, no one doubts that actor/entertainment newscaster/beauty pageant emcee Lopez has the polish and experience to do the job. As for E! celebreality star Kardashian, let’s just say she’s got her work cut out for her.
That’s the verdict of at least one reality TV insider. “Mario Lopez will make a great host. He’s a seasoned and polished pro and just a really likeable guy,” veteran primetime reality casting director and author of Me on TV, Sarah Monson, told Celebuzz.
“As for Khloe, is it a publicity stunt? Maybe,” she said of Kardashian’s hiring. “Khloe is super famous, and people will want to watch her to see how she does, good or bad.”
What advice did Monson have for the new co-hosts?
Despite Kardashian’s ease in front of a TV camera, she’ll still have some new job skills to learn. On Keeping Up With the Kardashians and its spinoffs, Monson said, “She isn’t asked to read anything off a prompter, memorize lines, or be anything but herself or do anything she doesn’t feel comfortable doing – like making small talk with Mario to fill time.”
Not that emceeing a live show will be a breeze for either host. “Sure, they’ll have people feeding them lines and have monitors with zippy dialogue,” Monson said. “But if something goes wrong, it’s just the two of them up there that have to keep the flow of the show moving.
Already, less than a day after X Factor impresario Simon Cowell confirmed Lopez and Kardashian’s hiring, the inevitable rumors of an ego feud between his two new employees have begun to spread. But Monson said she thinks the pair will work well together.“Dynamic duos are always fun to watch,” she said. “They add more personality to the overall content of the show; they can play off one another, good-cop/bad-cop style, and offer different levels of support to the singers and chime in with their own opinions. One guy just can’t do all that.”
Of course, last year’s inaugural season of X Factor was supposed to have a male-female co-host pair, Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones. But then, Cheryl Cole left the judging panel, Scherzinger took her place, and Jones hosted the show solo. After the season ended, in a casting overhaul, Cowell announced that Jones and judges Scherzinger and Paula Abdul were out.
Before the recent round of Season 2 auditions began, Cowell brought in Britney Spears and Demi Lovato (at no small expense) to be the new judges, but while he promised to have new co-hosts by mid-August, it took until this week to winnow the field and strike deals with Kardashian and Lopez. They’ll make their debut when Season 2′s live shows begin in November.
It’s still not clear how the show will handle so many familiar, assertive stars, or whether there’s actually room in the spotlight for all of them every week. Which brought to Monson’s mind a cautionary tale from Cowell’s previous show, American Idol.“Remember American Idol Season 1? They had two hosts. One was Ryan Seacrest and the other was Brian Dunkleman,” Monson said. The now all-but-forgotten Dunkleman was gone by Season 2, but a decade later, Seacrest’s ongoing Idol gig remains the cornerstone of his multimedia career.
“Advice to Khloe and Mario: You do not want to be the next Brian Dunkleman!”
Dream came true today… I finally got a story published on xoJane.com.
I’ve been hopin’ and wishin’ to write for these fine ladies ever since I read an article in the LA Times. And now the day has arrived.
Click the screen shot to read it and make sure you leave comments, ya hear!
Rarely in someone’s life do they actually get to spend time with a celebrity whom they harbored a secret crush on for years. Well, today, I got to hang out with TWO. I have been a die hard Kevin and Bean fan since 1998, when they forced Big Tad to live in a VW Beetle for a month.
In case you don’t live in Cali or wake up before 10 a.m., The Kevin & Bean Show is a morning radio show on the World Famous KROQ. I somehow fanagled my way on the show back in 2004 when I was working at Blind Date, and this morning, it came full circle when they asked me to come on the show and talk shop about all things reality TV.
Sarah Monson aka The Bitchlorette on The Kevin and Bean Show on KROQ
Click the above link to listen to the podcast of my segment from the show. Aside from a slight mic issue and me using words completely ass-backwards, I’d say the interview was a hit! I got to answer hard-hitting questions that a few listeners had and even got my picture taken with Kevin and Lisa May. (Bean lives in Seattle. Ralph, sadly, was not there either. He threw his back out!)
I go gaga for Ralph’s Showbiz Beat, and I’ve always wanted to meet him. So, maybe he’ll have me back on some day soon to gab about Emily Maynard’s poor choice in men.
Seriously. Such a fun day. I’ve never been so thrilled to wake up at 5 a.m.
Did you miss my big network debut last night? Check it out here!
I take the 20/20 cameras – and the lovely Deborah Roberts – behind the scenes at a reality TV casting call audition in the heart of Hollywood, CA.
Got a nice wake up call from Grandma this AM informing me that I’m on Good Morning America! The lovely Deborah Roberts went on the show to talk about tonight’s show!
Check out the teaser clip ”Finding Snooki: Inside Reality-TV Casting Sessions” for tonight’s 20/20 Special: Reality Rules!
It looks like years of casting America’s next great reality show star have finally paid off.
Look for me on a very special 20/20: Reality Rule$: When TV Gets Real.
(Just like Ke$ha!)
Seriously though, I was interviewed by the lovely and charming Deborah Roberts ( and the GREATEST PRODUCER ever – Eric Strauss) a couple of weeks ago in LA on all things reality TV. She popped by for a casting session and got an insiders look on how casting producers find talent.
It was a ton of fun! I hope you all watch tomorrow night on ABC at 10pm/9 Central! Click below for more info!
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