Applying for a spot on a reality show? Before you toss that nude photo of yourself in with the video, better consult “The Reality TV Handbook: An Insider’s Guide” (Quirk Books, $14.95). As it turns out, say authors John Saade and Joe Borgenicht, casting agents routinely disqualify applicants who play the nude card.
That’s just one of hundreds of great tips in this guide, which takes you through the whole reality-TV experience from application to post-broadcast media interviews. As a reality-show producer, Saade (“The Bachelor,” “Extreme Makeover”) gives the book its authority, though he and Borgenicht also mine the wisdom of experts in organizational skills (how to form an alliance), hypnosis (how to handle being buried alive) and lots more.
They get deep into specifics too. Maggots and nightcrawlers, for example, have distinct flavors, and it behooves you to know the difference before you have to eat some on camera.
If you’re a reality fan, this makes a fascinating viewing companion. If you’re not, you can pick up hints on manipulating dates and co-workers. And if you’re a contestant, it’s a must.
On keeping a private conversation private: “When all else fails, use blue language that could never be broadcast on television.”
