≡ Menu
Niels Hoven

How to get on a reality TV show

cat_tv.jpgFlex those networking muscles
Ankur from season 2 is a friend of mine, in my department at Berkeley. (Apparently there’s something about the electrical engineering department at Berkeley that the casting team really likes.) I went to a party at his house last spring where I met Cher and Wes. They were working with the casting team at the time, thought I was interesting, invited me to an interview the next day, and the rest is history!

Meet people in person

Yeah, I know Beauty and the Geek had this open casting call thing where you could send in a video of yourself showing off your glorious geekiness. But I don’t think more than one or two of the guys actually took that route. Nate, for example, was randomly discovered while handing out flyers on campus, Mario was at a comic book convention, and I just ran into some people at a party.

Offer something unique

When I was asked why I wanted to be on the show, I was honest. I told my interviewer that after after going years without a date, I’d gotten fed up and spent the past six months focusing on improving my social skills. What better way to put my personal growth to the test than on national TV?

Evidently no other applicant took that approach.

And finally, wear your underwear over your clothes.

I’m not saying it’ll help, but it can’t hurt!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • cher

    interesting
    i’m glad they choose you
    you’re my eye candy on B&TG
    though i find it hard to believe that it is hard for you to get a date.. or is it because you haven’t been socializing much?
    well, i don’t think it’ll be hard getting a date now.
    i’m still applying for that masseuse position. or anything you need. heh heh.

  • You forgot one thing — Be an American Citizen,

    My application to survivor got rejected because of this minor detail :)

  • That’s an important freaking detail… damn foreigner. :)

    And when are you going to get me on survivor? Wasn’t that the back up plan?

  • If you weren’t traveling so much maybe we could arrange figuring out your application :)

  • Tiffany (codename: SUSHI)

    What a coincidence…just meeting people in B&TG and actually end up being in the show… very interesting. I heard William Hung is from Berkeley…

  • Anon

    Dear Niels,

    I just started reading your blog. Regarding this post – I am unclear about your status, but just remember that looks are only skin deep. Regarding the post on 12/20 – it’s really great you’re going out and meeting new people, but you should realize some people are not worth your time. And finding happiness is all about finding high quality friends – it has nothing to do with quantity. At some point, after meeting enough people, you won’t need to work on your game anymore. You’ll find people who truly like you for who you are. I’m sure you have many people like that in your life now already, in fact. You’re an incredibly smart guy so I’m sure you know this already.

  • kuby

    wat r u? like asian?

  • That’s funny, because my friend Ryan (who also went to Rice) knew Ankur from last season.