Next Saturday — aka, the day after Valentine’s Day — a casting crew will set up shop at Dave and Buster’s on Delaware Avenue looking for people who want to appear on the fifth season of ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss.
Never watched the show, if we’re going to take a real-talk approach to this here post. However, the pitch concept tickled my inquisitive fancy enough to take the show up on its offer of talking to chat. (No, I don’t think I need to weigh 105-ish pounds).
That’s how I ended up talking to Ashley Dickinson, the show’s casting director who will visit Philly, Pittsburgh and Kansas City seeking people who want to lose at least half of their body weight over the course of a full year under the guidance of “transformation specialist and expert trainer” Chris Powell.
Here’s what she had to say:
Philly Blunt: Talk to me about the history of the show and what exactly you’re looking for in Philly.
Ashley Dickinson: We’re casting for our fifth season. The fourth season starts airing at the end of May on ABC. This one is different than the others. It will focus on a person or couple of people per two-hour episode. It’s not a competition, but one-on-one [guidance]. Chris Powell works in their hometown focusing on proper nutrition, work-out routines.
The goal is this: 50 percent [of total body weight] to lose. It all depends on height, weight and what is healthy. For some, this is a life-or-death situation.
PB: What are the health restrictions on competitors?
AD: We don’t have any really. [Just by being under consideration for such a show] some will have diabetes; soreness, my back always hurts, I feel lazy. We test people, and they’re under a doctor’s supervision. This is going to be tough. They have to really want to do it.
PB: Anyone from Philly before? How’d you choose Philly?
AD: We’ve had someone from Jersey on recently. We do go to that region a lot. We’d love to have someone from Philly. That’s why we’re there.
PB: What are these casting calls like?
AD: Feb. 15. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We will see everyone who shows up. It’s not like American Idol with 10,000 people waiting in line, waiting for a meeting. Then, we’ll have call backs. It’s a bit of a process. It doesn’t take that much time. Losing the weight, that will take all the effort. When they’re there, they start to see not alone in this journey. There are a lot of people who struggle with it.
PB: With the hubbub over the recent “Biggest Loser” winner losing 60 percent of her weight, is 50 percent asking for judgement too?
AD: Our guidelines are a bit different. They did that in seven months, but they’re very careful. I’ve worked on that show as well. Shocking what losing 105 pounds looks like. But, you can’t really win: Now she’s too thin? I just applaud someone for working that hard.
Here are details for Saturday’s casting call:
“EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS SEASON 5” NOW CASTING in YOUR AREA
In a unique, non-competitive show about weight loss, “Extreme Weight Loss” documents the amazing makeover of courageous, obese people who, in an unprecedented 365 days, set out to safely lose half of their body weight, ultimately revealing an amazing metamorphosis.
Trainer and transformation specialist Chris Powell guides each of the participants through their transformation process. By assuring that they have the proper nourishment and exercise movement, Chris will provide a fresh perspective to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable because of their weight.
In each of the two-hour episodes, the participants undergo a transformation not only of their bodies, but of who they are as individuals. “Extreme Weight Loss” will chronicle each participant’s journey in a stand-alone episode as they go about reclaiming their lives.
Eyeworks USA is beginning a nationwide tour to 13 cities across the country in search of participants for season 5 of the show. Candidates are asked to either attend an open call in one of the following cities or send in a home audition video. Information about how to apply can be found on the official casting website at www.extremeweightlosscasting.com.
Pennsylvania Open Casting Calls
February 15th, 2014
PHILADELPHIA (10am-4pm):
Dave and Busters 325 N Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19106