Cynthia Cheng

Last week, I sat in on auditions for the sixth season of the television show, Look-a-Like, where regular, every day people who at least somewhat resemble celerities are given make-overs to look more like said celebrity.  In other words, this isn’t really a competitive reality show like the Idol or Next Top Model. There isn’t a competition between several people who, say, look like Britney Spears.  Instead, you are auditioning for the chance to get a “red carpet treatment” from stylists Jeffrey Altenberg (left, hair), Alissia Marciano (centre, wardrobe) and Paul Venoit (right, make-up) as well as a photo shoot by photographer David Goldman, who has shot celebrities like Madonna, Joss Stone and Jessica Alba.

Auditions for the show were not nearly as crazy as other reality shows – probably because of the lack of competition.  While there were people waiting outside the venue, it wasn’t like that of Canadian Idol.  In fact, the venue was rather small and auditions were only held in Toronto (other reality shows tend to go across the country).  Auditionees were not only from the Greater Toronto Area.  Some travelled as far as Atlanta, Georgia.  In fact, during the two hours I sat in, at least two were from there, including a Daniel Craig look-a-like.  Most who auditioned, probably around 80%, were female, and almost all under 30. Besides “Daniel Craig,” only one other male and a woman over 45 auditioned during my stay.  Out in the waiting area, I only observed a handful of guys.

There were several different celebrities people were auditioning to become.  Two girls were going for Lady Gaga (though I thought that one of them wanted to be made over as Paris Hilton), while others wanted the chance to get a makeover to become Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker (right image) or Beyonce.  There were also auditionees who ended up auditioning for two celebrities, because the panel thought they looked like someone other than the person they came to audition as.  At the end of their audition, auditionees were asked to spin around and say the name of the celebrity they wanted to become.

The panel, made up of the stylist, Alissa Marciano, Paul Venoit (make-up artist) and hair stylist, Jeffrey Altenburg were all very over-the-top with the auditionees.  All auditionees who wanted a makeover to become a musician were asked to sing (the good thing is that most could at least somewhat carry a tune.  There weren’t any disasters like other shows), and the panel started waving their arms, as if they were at a concert.  A little strange, in my opinion, but perhaps it was a tactic to try to distract the auditionee.  I did not see one person fall for this during my stay. 

Many people went to the auditions because they were told by friends or family they looked like a celebrity.  Others have been approached by random strangers, including Danielle, who said that she’s always told she looked like a young Goldie Hawn.  Whoever is chosen, it looks like it’s going to be a great season. The new season of Look-A-Like will premiere on Star TV this fall.

Style team photo courtesy of Geoff George