The Reality Of ABC's Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition Casting Process

In early Feb of 2012 I embarked on a journey. Already watching Extreme Makeover Weight Loss edition season 1, I was hooked. More so with Chris Powell (The Shows Trainer) than the actual show.

“This is the Reality Of the Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition Casting Process”

In early Feb I decided to go to a casting call after I was contacted by casting director Ian Young with a special VIP pass. This pass was nothing more than a piece of paper that would get me to the front of the line not having to wait in line….Wrong…I still had to wait but I was glad that I did for the simple fact that I met some really cool people in line that also had VIP passes. It was an awesome experience just being in line getting to know these people.

After the interview process we were told that if we moved on we’d receive a call by 6PM that night……….

This page is my whole experience with Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition and the casting process…

5:37PM…..Got the Call. One of the helpers from the event called to ask if I’d like to come back for a 2nd interview. Of course I accepted and it was set for the following Wednesday at a hotel in the area.

I was super excited and nervous at the same time. Then came an email with instructions. I had to complete another questionnaire and this was pretty lengthy but gave both Ian and Holland (Casting Directors) something to work off of.

I didn’t get to meet and talk to Holland at the call as she was interviewing another table but was excited to finally get a chance to met her.

These two are great and made me feel very welcomed. I know it’s their job but I felt like I had known them forever. I was thankful that they both seen something in me to bring me in for the interview.

The process was and I tell everyone this very therapeutic….lol. I talked about stuff that I hadn’t shared with people in years. I spilled my guts to them. Now Imagine sitting on the middle of the couch and they’re in chairs in front of you with a video camera right on you in the middle of both of them. I laughed, I cried, We joked. It was just a very big release. A release that I’m very grateful for because I believe if it weren’t for this process It never would have happened I never would have talked about these things.

After the interview, I was asked to make a Home Tape and send it into them. They needed it to combine with my interview tape to make a highlight reel for the producers.

After getting the tape together. I sent it off. I've added the video to this post for viewing.

So now it was a waiting game that was just brutal. Imagine that kid in High School that gave the girl his # and then sat by the phone waiting for it to ring.

I would get more emails with updates and asking for more information. I would also get emails that I was again moving onto the next round of the process and to get them even more information.

Then came the email that I was a semi finalist and this was one of the very last steps of being flown to California for what they call “Finials Week” to meet with the producers. At this point I was really thinking….. man I have moved this far along they really want me. I was extremely nervous and my emotions had the best of me. I really thought I had made it. More so when I got an email from them to go to my doctors to get information and releases done. Get a release from all family members to be on TV and a release to have my house changed around and filmed. I thought why are they asking for all this stuff now if I’m not going to be picked.

The email stated that they would let everyone know the next Friday. I never got a call. Which I thought was totaly unprofessional after everthing that had put me and others through. I did everything they asked and more and thought, hey if your gonna let me down just call me. I did however get an email that final night while watching the NCAA Tournament with friends at the bar on my phone. it took everything in me to hold back tears and emotions. I was sad & angry.

I can remember getting in my car that night after hanging out & having two sets of emotions.

One was that I wasn’t picked and I was very crushed as I really thought with everything that they asked for that this was it, this was my time to shine.

The 2nd emotion was…it was finally over. I did nothing but focus my time on this whole thing. It came before everything for those two months. It was all I thought about. I woke up thinking about it, went to work thinking about it, I went to bed thinking about it & I was constantly checking my phone or email waiting for the next bit of news.

I would get one more email stating that a lot of the decision making had to do with logistics. Travel accommodations for Chris Powell. I can understand. What I can’t understand is why have a casting call in Michigan if it has to do with logistics, why have them in Philly, New York, Boston, which is much further to travel than Michigan? I know I’m gonna be upset if come season 3 there’s individuals from my state or those that were mentioned. Then the logistics answer for not getting picked becomes a blaent lie. What’s wrong with telling me I wasn’t good enough.

I’ve come to realize that my journey wasn’t meant for national TV. My reality is my personal blog. It was meant for my blog and for myself all along. This is my true journey. TooBIG.net always has been and always will be. This is how it’s supposed to be done. I still think I would have made great TV but hey maybe that’s in my future somewhere down the road.

I'm currently on my own Journey. Please Join me.

For those of you that have any questions on the process or would like to ask for any tips, feel free to contact me. I will help as much as I can.