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IT was the last night some enterprising young woman could have the chance to meet and, yes, even possibly marry the man of her dreams. Singles answer
show’s casting callBy Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comRestaurant Row's Ocean Club was the setting last Thursday for the final casting call for the latest reality TV show entry, ABC's "The Bachelor," set to debut next spring. But as Star 101's morning duo of Hudson and Scotty "B" were quick to point out, this was going to be nothing like the Fox network's notorious "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?" fiasco.
In fact, the show's bachelor had already been picked, and, from what Scotty "B" was told by the casting director, "he's 6-foot-4, a Harvard grad, has a good body and is wealthy."
This paragon of manly virtue will have his pick of dozens of "bachelorettes," and each weekly one-hour episode will have him taking them "on dates and other adventures in exotic locations around the world," according to the network's Web site description, places like Paris, Cancun and Hawaii. "At the end of each episode, the Bachelor will narrow the field of women down to 15, 10, five, three and ultimately the one woman he will propose to in the series' finale."
Other casting calls for the show were held last month in Tucson, Ariz.; Dallas; Tampa, Fla.; Boston; Orlando, Fla.; Miami; and Chicago. Honolulu was a last-minute addition.
Both Star 101 and Dennis Burns from the video production house Pacific Focus were given the task by the network to publicize, videotape and interview the applicants at the club.
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Things started a bit slowly, however. The call was scheduled to happen between 7 and 10 p.m., and the club was pretty darn quiet. Hudson jokingly said that because she was expecting to give birth next month, she couldn't just step in. (Besides being at least 21 years of age, "individuals with children are not eligible" to participate in the contest, which may also expose the chosen women "to the risk of death, serious injury, illness or disease and/or property damage, [as they] must be willing and able to participate in physical activities such as: skydiving, snow skiing, ice skating, para-sailing, water skiing, rollerblading and the like." That's television for you!)There was also a bit of nervous talk early on of how the week's stormy weather might keep patrons and potential "bachelorettes" away.
Not Denise Kellaher. She was actually getting ready to come down to the club from her home when the electricity went out. So she came in early with her friend in tow, her hair still wet. She finished drying her hair and putting on her makeup in the club's restroom.
Dressed in royal blue leather slacks and a glittery dark top cinched above her pierced belly button, Kellaher, originally from Washington, D.C., and doing a residency at Queen's Medical Center, had by all accounts given a fine interview, giving well-thought-out answers to Burns' questions about hobbies and good and bad qualities of men while under the glare of a stage light and amidst the growing hubbub.
Afterward, she kept up her pleasant, businesslike demeanor while commenting on what just happened. "I wanted to see what all of this was about. I also want to see what bachelor will finally be selected, what his looks are and what his accomplishments are.
"It's all intriguing to me, to go on TV to possibly meet a man I would want to marry. I think I've been guilty of dragging my feet in the past concerning marriage. I was actually against it; I was even proposed to twice out of the three long-term relationships I had, but turned them down. Now I see not only can being married be useful and practical, but meaningful as well."
Kellaher's friend subjected herself to an on-camera interview as well, but, as with a couple of female friends visiting from the mainland who were interviewed earlier in the evening, did it more as a lark. Subsequently, these three didn't present themselves with Kellaher's ease and confidence. When it comes to television, a strong, photogenic personality always wins.
The following two interviewees fit that bill. June Balocca, nicknamed "Junebug" by her grandmother and printed on her waitress name tag, actually set aside her serving tray to become a potential show candidate.
"There's nothing wrong in my background; I'm a good girl!" she said after her interview. "I'm confident about myself, about being real.
"I generally would go for a guy who doesn't drink. For the guys that come in here, if he stays somewhat sober, he'll get more attention from me than the ones hitting on me when they're drunk. I also wouldn't date anyone I worked with, but if he worked for a restaurant, that'd be OK with me."
The 28-year-old Balocca had an 8 1/2-year relationship with her mainland high school sweetheart which has since ended, the two remaining good friends.
While both Kellaher and Balocca said they haven't watched much reality TV programming, MaryAnn Gosling is a fan of the WB's "Elimidate," which, as she describes, sounds suspiciously like a close variant of "The Bachelor."
"It's one guy with four women," the enthusiastic Aliamanu-born woman said, "and he goes on a date with all of them, doing things like bike riding and volleyball, and at the end of their date, he has to explain why he chose one over the other three."
Gosling said she was called back as a possible participant in one of CBS's popular "Survivor" shows but didn't make the final cut. Now a resident of Juneau, Alaska, she returned home to run in the just-completed Honolulu Marathon, one of more than 40 marathons she's run. She also came with a female friend for support.
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While Kellaher said she valued an intellectual type of man, and Balocca is searching for a family-oriented one, Gosling is looking for someone outdoorsy. We're talking not only running, but kicking the ol' soccer ball around, swimming, hiking and, during her downtime, reading. Plus "a guy who's honest, humorous and not afraid to talk about his feelings."The Coast Guard lieutenant in human resources said she "always wants to try something new. I love to travel and am willing to have fun, but I know I won't find someone special by going to a bar or a dance club like this one.
"There's a 10-to-1 ratio of men to women in Alaska, but I've found out that while the odds are good, the good are odd! They're usually fishermen or hunters, definitely a unique breed. Because they tend not to concentrate on good grooming habits, there's no viable dating pool there.
"I know I'm ready for a long-term relationship; the question's always been if he was ready. I would get out of the Coast Guard in an instant if I could find someone to settle down with, raise a family and make it on a one-to-one basis.
"But it always comes down to the guy's maturity factor. Most of them don't want to settle down, make no sacrifices in their career and be able to come and go as they please. I say you can be independent but also have a sense of responsibility and work to keep that balance."
And if she, and the many other applicants here and elsewhere, are willing to subject themselves to try and curry the favor of one man, let alone a nation's worth of TV viewers, more power to them.
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