Searching for one in a billion

Alicia Robinson

Fame! Fortune! Frivolity!

The promise of all three was in the air Saturday at Triangle

Square’s Virgin Megastore, where a team of casting directors was

searching for contestants for “The Billionaire,” an adventure-based

reality show that the Fox network will broadcast later this year.

“A lot of people get lucky off being on the [reality] shows,” said

Mike Kosareff, 23, of Glendora, who was waiting in line to try out.

“They could have been nothing five minutes ago.”

Besides the possibility of instant notoriety, the attraction to

“The Billionaire” seems to be its entrepreneurial and adventuresome

host, Richard Branson. Branson, the chief executive of Virgin, is

well known for his globe-trotting attempts to break world records in

hot air balloons, boats and, recently, an amphibious car.

“He’s definitely a thrill seeker,” supervising casting director

Jason Horowitz said of Branson. On the show, Branson will give 16

contestants a number of challenges in eight to 10 countries around

the world.

Few other details have been revealed, but the show is described as

a cross between Donald Trump’s NBC hit “The Apprentice” and “The

Amazing Race,” a travel-based competition on CBS, Horowitz said.

By early Saturday afternoon, casting directors had seen about 170

people. Most of the prospective contestants were the usual reality

show personalities -- most were attractive and well groomed, and few

of them looked older than 35.

The contestants filled out short applications and were seated at

tables in groups of 10, where casting directors would start a

discussion with a question, such as whether men or women make better

managers.

“We look for big personalities. We look for people who can’t help

but be themselves,” casting director Alissa Haight said.

One “Billionaire” hopeful, Scott Pinizzotto, 35, missed the show’s

casting call in his hometown of San Francisco because he was out of

the country. When he got back he had several messages from friends

telling him he’d be perfect for the show, and he should try out.

“I decided to fly down here and do it,” he said. “I’m very

adventurous. I’ve traveled to about 50 different countries. I love

trying new stuff.”

Those hoping to make the show described themselves as daring and

competitive. But not everyone at the casting call was beckoned by the

siren song of fame and possible riches.

Craig Ahrens, 49, came from Lake Forest to wait with a friend who

was trying out for the show, but he wasn’t interested himself.

To him, being a single dad raising three children can be as

challenging as any reality show, he said.

“That’s enough adventure for me in my day,” he said. “They should

watch my life. They’d say, ‘Hey, I don’t know. I’d rather eat bugs.’”

Contestants are expected to be announced in mid-July.