Think you're hot? Prove it

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 17, 2003

In case you're wondering just who might qualify for the new ABC reality series Are You Hot: the Search for America's Sexiest People, Tampa area casting director Scott Steel has a suggestion.

"Look, we've all had dates before with that guy or girl who looks really hot, but when they open their mouth, you wind up saying, "Just shut up and sit there,"' said Steel, a Tampa native who will supervise the search for candidates from the area for the next few days. "Call that person and tell them to come down."

Steel, a former WFLZ-FM 93.3 employee, will videotape prospective contestants, age 18 and older, for Are You Hot from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Twilight nightclub, 1507 Seventh Ave., Ybor City.

Producers in Los Angeles will judge hopefuls solely for their looks. No dancing, acting or singing required.

ABC will fly 16 people from across the country to Los Angeles for the show, developed by The Bachelor producer Mike Fleiss (Hollywood madam Heidi's cousin). Contestants in the show, which debuts Feb. 13, get makeovers and a close look from judges, with one man and woman crowned the "Sexiest People in America."

And just how can hopefuls make an impression on the show's judges? "Be yourself," said Steel, who will cruise the Tampa Bay area tonight to tape hopefuls in places such as Channelside and Ybor City. "If you've ever invested in plastic surgery and think that makes you sexy, here's a chance to recoup that investment."

MORE REALITY TV NEWS: Although initial figures indicated otherwise, ABC's The Bachelorette drew more viewers than NBC's The West Wing on the first night new episodes of both shows aired simultaneously.

According to final figures from Nielsen Media Research, The Bachelorette drew 17.4-million viewers, compared with 14.4-million for an original West Wing that featured the deterioration of character C.J. Cregg's father due to Alzheimer's disease. The loss is a discouraging sign for NBC's White House drama, which has shown increased vulnerability during a sluggish season.

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