Nikki Robinson, a Mount Morris resident, center, talks to her brother, landscape architecture junior Alex Fenech, center left, while waiting in line Thursday night to film an audition tape for “Survivor 17” at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing. Robinson said her brother will have a better chance of being cast than she because he is “young and good looking.”
For the second year in a row, the “Survivor” search came to Lansing on Thursday in hopes of finding contestants for the latest installment of the reality TV show.
Prospective survivors from across the country looking for a chance to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition applied for the CBS show at an open casting call at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave.
“I’ve gotten e-mails and phone calls from people as far away as New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” said Ernie Hedberg, event manager and WLNS station official. “These people who are really into Survivor, they’ll travel as far as they need to.”
The reality show, set in a variety of isolated locations around the world, pits contestants against one another for the chance at a $1 million grand prize. The show is currently casting for its 17th season after it began in 2000.
Joe Vandetta, who drove from Cleveland to audition, said the casting call was an opportunity to live life to the fullest.
“I had a heart attack in July,” Vandetta said.
“Since then, my life has totally changed. I’d always wanted to (apply), but the heart attack pushed me over the edge.”
For others, the casting call represented determination and the will to never give up.
Woody Wittenberg, a dairy farmer from Cement City, Mich., has sent more than 50 personal video tapes and attended more than 12 open casting calls for the show.
In 2003, Wittenberg was part of the final 48 contestants, but was not selected as a cast member. Along with the Lansing casting call, Wittenberg plans on going to the Phoenix and Chicago auditions as well.
“I’m finishing what I started,” Wittenberg said.
“Second place is not for me. The only way I’ll stop applying is if the producers call me and tell me to stop.”
Along with casting call veterans like Wittenberg, several first-time applicants attended the event.
Jason McIntyre, a mechanical engineering junior, said he didn’t have a strategy for the audition, but thought his carefree attitude would be enough.
For others, the prospect of traveling around the world was incentive to apply.
“I like the adventure of it all,” said Matt Paffhouse, a 2006 MSU graduate. “I’m a big fan of traveling.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
