''I Wanna Be a Soap Star'' is a

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

series which debuted on the cable channel SOAPnet in 2004. The show is hosted by ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 20 ...

'' star and ex-''

Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...

'' participant,

Cameron Mathison Cameron Arthur Mathison (born August 25, 1969) is a Canadians, Canadian-Americans, American actor and television host. From 1997 to 2011, he played the role of Ryan Lavery on ''All My Children''. Early life and personal life Mathison was born on ...

. It is based on the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

reality series ''

Soapstars ''Soapstars'' is a British reality television show that aired on ITV (TV network), ITV from 3 September 2001 to 7 November 2001. The series featured thousands of contestants auditioning to be cast as part of a new family—consisting of a mother ...

''.

''I Wanna Be a Soap Star''

The first season debuted on October 16, 2004. Twelve contestants competed in various acting challenges for the prize of a role on ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

''. The performances, which involved learning how to cry on camera, filming love scenes and fight scenes, among other soap staples, were judged by film and daytime television actress

Debbi Morgan Deborah Ann Morgan (born September 20, 1956) is an American film and television actress. She played the role of Angie Baxter–Hubbard on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children'' for which she was the first African-American to win the Daytime Emm ...

, ''General Hospital'' casting director

Mark Teschner Mark Teschner is an American casting director. Career A native New Yorker, Mark Teschner has been the Casting Director of ABC Daytime's '' General Hospital'' since 1989. He has been described by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as "an actor's casting di ...

and agent Michael Bruno. The show underwent some criticism when the winner, Mykel Shannon-Jenkins, was given a role as a police officer named Officer Byron Murphy that barely rose above extra status. His character was later shot and killed by Jesse Beaudry (

Matt Marraccini Matt Marraccini (born May 12, 1981 in Poland, Ohio) is an American actor. Marraccini made a guest spot on future ''General Hospital'' costar Kirsten Storms' now canceled CBS show ''Clubhouse''. He has starred in two movies, '' Death Valley: The ...

) in July 2005. Contestants for the first season included Maya Gilbert, Brianna Konefall, Alisia Geanopulos, Robyn Hyden, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Kent Winfrey, Nick Steele, Steve (''last name unknown''), Jeremy (''last name unknown''), Michael (''last name unknown''), Kimberly (''last name unknown'') and Kelly Thiebaud.

''I Wanna Be a Soap Star 2''

The second season debuted on June 23, 2005, this time promising a contract role on ''

''. ''AMC'' casting director

Judy Blye Wilson Judy Blye Wilson (born in Houston, Texas) is an American casting director known for her work on soap operas. She has been casting for soaps operas for over 25 years. Life and career Between 1981 and 1987 she was casting director of ''Ryan's Ho ...

replaced Teschner as a judge. The show continued to be viewed as innocuous entertainment, but in July 2005 was criticized by ''

Soap Opera Weekly ''Soap Opera Weekly'' was a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It featured onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional i ...

'' editor

Carolyn Hinsey ''Soap Opera Digest'' is a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It features onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional in ...

for a segment in which all the contestants were asked difficult questions (on matters such as

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) and the person who gave the least interesting answers was eliminated. Hinsey said soap reporters rarely asked questions on controversial issues and that no actor was ever fired based on giving boring interviews. The second winner of the show was

Alec Musser Alec Musser (born April 11, 1973) is an American fitness model and actor. Early life and education Musser was raised on the East Coast in New Jersey and Connecticut, and attended the Westminster School before moving to San Diego where he eventua ...

who became the second actor on ''All My Children'' to portray Del Henry who was last played by ''

The Bold and the Beautiful ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (often referred to as ''B&B'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987, as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera ''The Yo ...

'' star

Winsor Harmon Winsor Dewey Harmon III (born November 22, 1963) is an American actor best known for his role as Thorne Forrester on the American soap opera ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. He took over the role from Jeff Trachta in December 1996 and stayed with ...

from 1994 to 1995. He first aired on August 19, 2005. Contestants for the second season included Toussaint Waterman, Prudence Zdravkovic, Alec Musser,

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, Christina Fandano, Alia Urbanski, Farley Jackson, Nicole (''last name unknown''), Cathy (''last name unknown''), Maiesha (''last name unknown''), Sean (''last name unknown'') and Joe (''last name unknown'').

''I Wanna Be a Soap Star 3''

The third season debuted on June 8, 2006, with contestants competing for a contract with ''

One Life to Live ''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as a web series on Hulu and iTunes ...

''. The winner was Mike Jerome who, unlike his predecessors, was out after his thirteen-week contract was up. Third season contestant

BethAnn Bonner BethAnn Bonner (born October 22, 1982) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Talia Sahid on ''One Life to Live'' (December 21, 2006 – April 22, 2009) and for her most recent role as Kat on ''All My Children'' (November – ...

was offered a contract by the series, and debuted as

Talia Sahid Talia Sahid is a fictional character from ABC's daytime drama ''One Life to Live''. She is portrayed by BethAnn Bonner. Casting Starting on June 8, 2006, Bonner was a participant in the SOAPnet reality series '' I Wanna Be a Soap Star 3'', in w ...

on December 21, 2006. Contestants for the third season included Shamika Cotton, BethAnn Bonner, Lauren Ryland, Lindsey Spruill, Mike Jerome, Michael Albanese, Lukas Hassel, Dean Cochran, Ayinde Jones, and Kelly McGarry.

''I Wanna Be a Soap Star 4''

The fourth and final season debuted on August 14, 2007, with the winner promised a 13-week contract on ''

Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...

''. Former ''Days'' head writer

Hogan Sheffer Hogan Sheffer (June 12, 1958 – September 28, 2019) was an American screenwriter. Personal life Sheffer was born in York, Pennsylvania. His full birth name was Mark Wayne Sheffer; he received his nickname of Hogan from younger brother Craig, who ...

, former star

Mary Beth Evans Mary Beth Evans (born March 7, 1961) is an American television actress, known for her role as Kayla Brady on the NBC daytime soap ''Days of Our Lives'', and her role as Sierra Estaban on the CBS daytime soap ''As the World Turns''. Career Evans ...

(who portrayed

Kayla Johnson Kayla Brady Johnson is a fictional character from ''Days of Our Lives'', a soap opera on the NBC network. She made her first appearance in 1982. Kayla was created by Pat Falken Smith as one of the original members of the Brady family. She is know ...

) and talent manager Michael Bruno served as judges. Ashlee Holland was named as the winner, and debuted on December 26, 2007, as Crystal Miller. Other contestants for the fourth season included, Jimena Hoyos (runner-up), Monica Thomas, Bo Gorman, Travis Wood, Yves Bright, Joyce Liu, Corey Shelton, Justin Kahn, and Patricia Mizen.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:I Wanna Be A Soap Star 2004 American television series debuts 2007 American television series endings Soapnet original programming English-language television shows 2000s American reality television series