Oprah Announces 'Your OWN Show' Contestants
Oprah Winfrey's new network has announced the 10 contestants competing on 'Your OWN Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star.'
The would-be hosts include a travel guide who's in a wheelchair, a comedian who thinks the U.S. needs a gay best friend and a businesswoman aiming to make a show about money both informative and fun. The finalists were chosen from more than 9,500 online audition videos and thousands more hopefuls at open casting calls, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) announced Thursday. More than 143 million votes were submitted online.
The winner, whose show will air on Winfrey's cable channel, will be selected on the show by judges including Dr. Phil McGraw and Gayle King, who will subject them to a range of TV-host-related challenges.
With Nancy O'Dell and Carson Kressley hosting, 'Your OWN Show' premieres Jan. 7. OWN launches Saturday. The contestants include:
►Zach Anner, of Austin, Texas, a globe-trotter in a wheelchair who wants to host a show for people who never thought they were physically capable of traveling.
►Elizabeth Espinosa, a TV news reporter from Los Angeles who wants to share what she's learned helping raise a younger brother who is learning disabled.
►Aunt Flora, of Cincinnati, who specializes in Southern cuisine.
►Leigh Koechner, a Valley Village, Calif., mother of four and the wife of actor David Koechner who wants to host a talk show.
►Kristina Kuzmic-Crocco, of Alhambra, Calif., who wants to demonstrate on her food show that "cooking doesn't have to be perfect as long as it's fun, easy and delicious."
►Ryan O'Connor, of West Hollywood, Calif., who says he wants to be the country's gay best friend. "If a variety show and a traditional talk show had a baby, that'd be my show," he said.
►Tony Roach, an Abilene, Texas, minister who dropped out of high school to live on the streets before getting his doctoral degree in divinity.
►Terey Summers, a comedic motivational speaker for youth from Phoenix.
►Alicia Taylor, of Las Vegas, who started a mortgage company and says, "People need a practical and fun show about all things financial."
►Eric Warren, an expert in the kitchen from Lawndale, Calif., who has dropped 62 pounds and wants to host a cooking show that has America losing weight along with him.
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yawn...about as interesting as hearing about aperah's last power dump...
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Sounds boring. Sorry Oprah..
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One sounds more fascinating than the next. Such unique ideas. But none more unique than her swell buddy Nate's show. Who can't get enough of his rehashed HGTV advice? Keep up the good work Oprah...a little nap time never hurt anyone.
This does sound boring. Surely there will be more to OWN than that.
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sorry but it does sound boring
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I just hope the good shows that are on Discovery Health are still going to be on. Not a big Oprah fan, but watch DHC every night. Better not lose Dr. G....
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Ophrah needs a holiday she is getting boring!
what happened to billy flanagan?? He can sing, dance and he is extremely personalble and entertaining.........go back OPRAH and look at him!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Does anyone even watch this racists losers show anymore ? If so they have no lives
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"A talk show host (Oprah) still needs her gay best friend and businesswoman (Gayle) aiming to make a show and making more money."
Yeah that just about covers it.
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sounds kind of boring... sorry Oprah. you should look into giving my friend, Sazan, a talk show! tweet @sazanbarzani
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