Sunday, February 22, 2004
Boston.com / Sports / Other sports / ESPN gives 'Dream Job' contestants a sporting chance: "LOS ANGELES -- If there is one person who never thought Brandon Lombardi would have a shot at becoming an ESPN sportscaster, it is Brandon Lombardi.
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It isn't just because he is a baby-faced 22-year-old still enrolled in college, the student newspaper providing what little journalistic experience he has. There were even less qualified quarterfinalists competing against him in "Dream Job," the new ESPN reality series (debuting tonight) that will pluck one sports fan out of obscurity and plant him in a cushy one-year anchor gig at the cable channel's flagship show, "SportsCenter."
Lombardi is a long shot for broadcasting fame because he is fortunate just to be alive. During his five-year bout with cancer, he has withstood 16 surgeries, three rounds of chemotherapy, and a hip replacement. "I feel lucky just being here," he told "Dream Job" producers as he auditioned before them in a hotel suite here one afternoon last fall.
Which made it all the more difficult when it came time to assess Lombardi's 15-minute audition, in which he awkwardly read through a script he had written for a highlight reel. Departing the room with a friendly wave, he left the producers staring at one another silently as they struggled for the right words.
"He's a very sweet human being," offered Carol Silver, the executive producer who came up with the idea for the show. "He's like an old soul in a young body."
Al Jaffe, a "Dream" producer who oversees hiring for ESPN's on-air talent, phrased his disappointment in less diplomatic terms. "I wanted him to be better," he said. Without uttering the actual rejection, it was clear Lombardi was not going on to the next round.
If anyone doubts how focused this series is about landing a bonafide ESPN broadcasting prodigy, let the dashed dreams of a cancer-stricken aspirant speak for themselves.
If "Dream" is going to crown a winner to be winnowed from months of skill-grilling competition, its contestants must have the talent that guarantees on-air excellence. Charisma and character count, but ESPN isn't about to open its elite ranks to just any rookie with the gift of gab.
"I often feel like the director of admissions at Harvard," said Jaffe. "And it's tough being the gatekeeper."
If ESPN is Harvard, then "Dream Job" is all about open enrollment. Thousands of aspiring sportscasters -- no experience required -- were screened by ESPN until only 12 of the most promising candidates were left. From there, the cameras focused on the finalists as they were subjected to a battery of competitions testing and honing their TV personas. With input from viewers, a panel of celebrity judges will vote off one contestant each week.
To find the next "SportsCenter" anchor, ESPN conducted open auditions in 29 US cities during September and October. More than 10,000 hopefuls showed up to take sports-trivia tests and participate in roundtable discussions in which they had the opportunity to showcase their broadcasting skills. Promising talent was invited back for further scrutiny until the pool had shrunk to 140 ESPN wannabes for the quarterfinals.
"We look for bright people who know sports on a national level, who are journalistically sound and deliver sports in a compelling manner," said Jaffe.
The regional competitions, which took place during November in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, called for a more extensive showcase of skills. Candidates had to write and deliver a highlight segment recounting a sports story of their choice as well as a two-minute monologue about themselves.
This is where many of the wannabes got creative -- perhaps a bit too much. In New York, one hopeful chose to perform a love song dedicated to "SportsCenter" anchor Linda Cohn. So they threw him a curveball.
"Coincidentally, Linda happened to be there so we surprised him by having her drop in and sit next to him," recalled Silver. "His jaw dropped open; it was great."
The winning finalists came from all walks of life, including a Nigerian computer programmer, an auto supplies salesman, a T.J. Maxx retail sales manager, and three college seniors.
One of the finalists is Nick Stevens, a 29-year-old Braintree native who lives in Brooklyn and works as a comedian and writer. His father indoctrinated him at an early age by reading him the gambling spreads on the sports pages. "He would say, `If the Patriots are 3 1/2-point favorites over the Vikings, how many points do the Patriots need to win?' " Stevens recalled. "To my father's pleasure and my mother's horror, that's how I learned math."
But the "Dream" concept has its skeptics, chiefly among the current corps of ESPN sportscasters. "At first some of our anchors had a lot of questions," said Silver. "There was a lot of concerns in the beginning about where we would find these people and who would weed them out."
Their skepticism is understandable considering the average ESPN sportscaster has worked his or her way up in the television industry, starting with jobs in small cities covering obscure sports before gaining exposure in bigger markets and honing their craft along the way. Now they are watching some Johnny-come-lately cruise along the fast track toward a job they sacrificed so much to achieve.
"Dream Job" host Stuart Scott toiled in three markets in the southeastern United States before getting the call from ESPN, where he is one of the network's most popular anchors. He believes "Dream" could yield such a unique talent that he can excuse the winner's nontraditional route. "We all pay our dues in different ways, but as long as they bust their hump working here, I have no problem with it," he said.
Stevens is thankful for the opportunity. "We're the lucky ones because they're going to let us jump past everyone who had to pay their dues," he said. "This is like letting us be lieutenant in the Army without letting us work ourselves up from buck private."
Andrew Wallenstein covers television for The Hollywood Reporter.
ADVERTISEMENT
It isn't just because he is a baby-faced 22-year-old still enrolled in college, the student newspaper providing what little journalistic experience he has. There were even less qualified quarterfinalists competing against him in "Dream Job," the new ESPN reality series (debuting tonight) that will pluck one sports fan out of obscurity and plant him in a cushy one-year anchor gig at the cable channel's flagship show, "SportsCenter."
Lombardi is a long shot for broadcasting fame because he is fortunate just to be alive. During his five-year bout with cancer, he has withstood 16 surgeries, three rounds of chemotherapy, and a hip replacement. "I feel lucky just being here," he told "Dream Job" producers as he auditioned before them in a hotel suite here one afternoon last fall.
Which made it all the more difficult when it came time to assess Lombardi's 15-minute audition, in which he awkwardly read through a script he had written for a highlight reel. Departing the room with a friendly wave, he left the producers staring at one another silently as they struggled for the right words.
"He's a very sweet human being," offered Carol Silver, the executive producer who came up with the idea for the show. "He's like an old soul in a young body."
Al Jaffe, a "Dream" producer who oversees hiring for ESPN's on-air talent, phrased his disappointment in less diplomatic terms. "I wanted him to be better," he said. Without uttering the actual rejection, it was clear Lombardi was not going on to the next round.
If anyone doubts how focused this series is about landing a bonafide ESPN broadcasting prodigy, let the dashed dreams of a cancer-stricken aspirant speak for themselves.
If "Dream" is going to crown a winner to be winnowed from months of skill-grilling competition, its contestants must have the talent that guarantees on-air excellence. Charisma and character count, but ESPN isn't about to open its elite ranks to just any rookie with the gift of gab.
"I often feel like the director of admissions at Harvard," said Jaffe. "And it's tough being the gatekeeper."
If ESPN is Harvard, then "Dream Job" is all about open enrollment. Thousands of aspiring sportscasters -- no experience required -- were screened by ESPN until only 12 of the most promising candidates were left. From there, the cameras focused on the finalists as they were subjected to a battery of competitions testing and honing their TV personas. With input from viewers, a panel of celebrity judges will vote off one contestant each week.
To find the next "SportsCenter" anchor, ESPN conducted open auditions in 29 US cities during September and October. More than 10,000 hopefuls showed up to take sports-trivia tests and participate in roundtable discussions in which they had the opportunity to showcase their broadcasting skills. Promising talent was invited back for further scrutiny until the pool had shrunk to 140 ESPN wannabes for the quarterfinals.
"We look for bright people who know sports on a national level, who are journalistically sound and deliver sports in a compelling manner," said Jaffe.
The regional competitions, which took place during November in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, called for a more extensive showcase of skills. Candidates had to write and deliver a highlight segment recounting a sports story of their choice as well as a two-minute monologue about themselves.
This is where many of the wannabes got creative -- perhaps a bit too much. In New York, one hopeful chose to perform a love song dedicated to "SportsCenter" anchor Linda Cohn. So they threw him a curveball.
"Coincidentally, Linda happened to be there so we surprised him by having her drop in and sit next to him," recalled Silver. "His jaw dropped open; it was great."
The winning finalists came from all walks of life, including a Nigerian computer programmer, an auto supplies salesman, a T.J. Maxx retail sales manager, and three college seniors.
One of the finalists is Nick Stevens, a 29-year-old Braintree native who lives in Brooklyn and works as a comedian and writer. His father indoctrinated him at an early age by reading him the gambling spreads on the sports pages. "He would say, `If the Patriots are 3 1/2-point favorites over the Vikings, how many points do the Patriots need to win?' " Stevens recalled. "To my father's pleasure and my mother's horror, that's how I learned math."
But the "Dream" concept has its skeptics, chiefly among the current corps of ESPN sportscasters. "At first some of our anchors had a lot of questions," said Silver. "There was a lot of concerns in the beginning about where we would find these people and who would weed them out."
Their skepticism is understandable considering the average ESPN sportscaster has worked his or her way up in the television industry, starting with jobs in small cities covering obscure sports before gaining exposure in bigger markets and honing their craft along the way. Now they are watching some Johnny-come-lately cruise along the fast track toward a job they sacrificed so much to achieve.
"Dream Job" host Stuart Scott toiled in three markets in the southeastern United States before getting the call from ESPN, where he is one of the network's most popular anchors. He believes "Dream" could yield such a unique talent that he can excuse the winner's nontraditional route. "We all pay our dues in different ways, but as long as they bust their hump working here, I have no problem with it," he said.
Stevens is thankful for the opportunity. "We're the lucky ones because they're going to let us jump past everyone who had to pay their dues," he said. "This is like letting us be lieutenant in the Army without letting us work ourselves up from buck private."
Andrew Wallenstein covers television for The Hollywood Reporter.
LOS ANGELES -- If there is one person who never thought Brandon Lombardi would have a shot at becoming an ESPN sportscaster, it is Brandon Lombardi.
ADVERTISEMENT
It isn't just because he is a baby-faced 22-year-old still enrolled in college, the student newspaper providing what little journalistic experience he has. There were even less qualified quarterfinalists competing against him in "Dream Job," the new ESPN reality series (debuting tonight) that will pluck one sports fan out of obscurity and plant him in a cushy one-year anchor gig at the cable channel's flagship show, "SportsCenter."
Lombardi is a long shot for broadcasting fame because he is fortunate just to be alive. During his five-year bout with cancer, he has withstood 16 surgeries, three rounds of chemotherapy, and a hip replacement. "I feel lucky just being here," he told "Dream Job" producers as he auditioned before them in a hotel suite here one afternoon last fall.
Which made it all the more difficult when it came time to assess Lombardi's 15-minute audition, in which he awkwardly read through a script he had written for a highlight reel. Departing the room with a friendly wave, he left the producers staring at one another silently as they struggled for the right words.
"He's a very sweet human being," offered Carol Silver, the executive producer who came up with the idea for the show. "He's like an old soul in a young body."
Al Jaffe, a "Dream" producer who oversees hiring for ESPN's on-air talent, phrased his disappointment in less diplomatic terms. "I wanted him to be better," he said. Without uttering the actual rejection, it was clear Lombardi was not going on to the next round.
If anyone doubts how focused this series is about landing a bonafide ESPN broadcasting prodigy, let the dashed dreams of a cancer-stricken aspirant speak for themselves.
If "Dream" is going to crown a winner to be winnowed from months of skill-grilling competition, its contestants must have the talent that guarantees on-air excellence. Charisma and character count, but ESPN isn't about to open its elite ranks to just any rookie with the gift of gab.
"I often feel like the director of admissions at Harvard," said Jaffe. "And it's tough being the gatekeeper."
If ESPN is Harvard, then "Dream Job" is all about open enrollment. Thousands of aspiring sportscasters -- no experience required -- were screened by ESPN until only 12 of the most promising candidates were left. From there, the cameras focused on the finalists as they were subjected to a battery of competitions testing and honing their TV personas. With input from viewers, a panel of celebrity judges will vote off one contestant each week.
To find the next "SportsCenter" anchor, ESPN conducted open auditions in 29 US cities during September and October. More than 10,000 hopefuls showed up to take sports-trivia tests and participate in roundtable discussions in which they had the opportunity to showcase their broadcasting skills. Promising talent was invited back for further scrutiny until the pool had shrunk to 140 ESPN wannabes for the quarterfinals.
"We look for bright people who know sports on a national level, who are journalistically sound and deliver sports in a compelling manner," said Jaffe.
The regional competitions, which took place during November in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, called for a more extensive showcase of skills. Candidates had to write and deliver a highlight segment recounting a sports story of their choice as well as a two-minute monologue about themselves.
This is where many of the wannabes got creative -- perhaps a bit too much. In New York, one hopeful chose to perform a love song dedicated to "SportsCenter" anchor Linda Cohn. So they threw him a curveball.
"Coincidentally, Linda happened to be there so we surprised him by having her drop in and sit next to him," recalled Silver. "His jaw dropped open; it was great."
The winning finalists came from all walks of life, including a Nigerian computer programmer, an auto supplies salesman, a T.J. Maxx retail sales manager, and three college seniors.
One of the finalists is Nick Stevens, a 29-year-old Braintree native who lives in Brooklyn and works as a comedian and writer. His father indoctrinated him at an early age by reading him the gambling spreads on the sports pages. "He would say, `If the Patriots are 3 1/2-point favorites over the Vikings, how many points do the Patriots need to win?' " Stevens recalled. "To my father's pleasure and my mother's horror, that's how I learned math."
But the "Dream" concept has its skeptics, chiefly among the current corps of ESPN sportscasters. "At first some of our anchors had a lot of questions," said Silver. "There was a lot of concerns in the beginning about where we would find these people and who would weed them out."
Their skepticism is understandable considering the average ESPN sportscaster has worked his or her way up in the television industry, starting with jobs in small cities covering obscure sports before gaining exposure in bigger markets and honing their craft along the way. Now they are watching some Johnny-come-lately cruise along the fast track toward a job they sacrificed so much to achieve.
"Dream Job" host Stuart Scott toiled in three markets in the southeastern United States before getting the call from ESPN, where he is one of the network's most popular anchors. He believes "Dream" could yield such a unique talent that he can excuse the winner's nontraditional route. "We all pay our dues in different ways, but as long as they bust their hump working here, I have no problem with it," he said.
Stevens is thankful for the opportunity. "We're the lucky ones because they're going to let us jump past everyone who had to pay their dues," he said. "This is like letting us be lieutenant in the Army without letting us work ourselves up from buck private."
Andrew Wallenstein covers television for The Hollywood Reporter.
