Auditions

Telemundo is spinning off parent network NBC's hit "The Voice" with a singing competition for children called "La Voz Kids" and its coming to Chicago for auditions. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 can apply and register at lavozkids.com , call 1-855-VOZ-KIDS (1-855-869-5437) or send an email to castings@lavozkids.com. Those who are accepted will be invited to participate in one of several casting calls around the country. The Chicago call is set for Jan. 26 and 27. But you must register first.

Wheeling resident Danni Allen lost 121 pounds to win Season 14 of NBC's weight-loss competition reality show "The Biggest Loser. " On May 4, the series' nationwide search for potential new contestants hits Chicago. Casting director Randy Bernstein will conduct auditions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Planet Fitness, 3120 N. Pulaski Road. Allen won't be at the auditions, but past contestants such as Wheaton residents Jerry and Estella Hayes will be there to cheer on hopefuls. Season 14 runner-up Jeff Nichols and his girlfriend/"Loser" teammate Francelino Morillo also will join Bernstein in...

NBC's "The Biggest Loser" has launched a 13-city search to find new contestants for the reality series' 14th season, and casting directors are coming to Chicago June 23. They're looking for people who need to lose at least 85 pounds, are charismatic and "have the desire to change their lives forever. " Just in case you haven't seen the show, contestants work hard with trainers Dolvett Quince (left above) and Bob Harper (right) to lose weight while competing for a grand prize of $250,000.

Telemundo is spinning off parent network NBC's hit "The Voice" with a singing competition for children called "La Voz Kids" and its coming to Chicago for auditions. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 can apply and register at lavozkids.com , call 1-855-VOZ-KIDS (1-855-869-5437) or send an email to castings@lavozkids.com. Those who are accepted will be invited to participate in one of several casting calls around the country. The Chicago call is set for Jan. 26 and 27. But you must register first.

Test your trivia knowledge July 9 and you could become a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire. " The game show, which airs locally on WGN, will audition possible contestants for the upcoming 11th season on July 9 at Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Participants will take part in one of two early audition sessions in which they will take a timed, multiple choice test. Those sessions are set for 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Those who pass will be interviewed by one of the show's producers.

Univision Network's hit reality beauty competition, "Nuestra Belleza Latina" ("Our Latin Beauty"), kicks off its search for the new season's contestants with open auditions Wednesday in the Chicago area. Reigning Season 5 queen Nastassja Bolivar, judges Osmel Sousa and Lupita Jones and the show's host, Giselle Blondet, will meet contestants starting at 8 a.m. Jan. 11 at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, 2001 N. Roselle Road in Schaumburg. Grammy winner Lupillo Rivera will make a special appearance as a guest judge.

Auditions for Season 12 of "American Idol" began in early June, but Chicago-area hopefuls get their chance to impress the judges on July 12. Registration for Chicago auditions will be July 10 and 11, with auditions happening July 12. Both registration and auditions will take place at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. "Idol" is looking for men and women between 15 and 28 as of June 5, 2012, and who are eligible to work in the U.S. Some restrictions...

With Fox reviving its 1990s sketch comedy series "In Living Color" for two specials in 2012, it's going to need some comics to make us laugh. What better place to find them then Chicago, home of the best improv comedy in the country? Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory, is teaming with Fox to host open casting calls for "In Living Color" at Chicago's new Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 20. The site doesn't open for business until mid-January, but people will be there accepting auditioners' tapes or for...

At 375 pounds, Everette Michael Jackson is the last guy you might expect, or perhaps want to see, getting down to LMFAO's macho dance jam "Sexy and I Know It. " But his larger-than-life physique and personality (he says he once started a spontaneous dance party at Moe's Cantina in Wrigleyville) are just the right size for the Matadors. They're a crew of primarily overweight male dancers who happily and humorously strut their supersize stuff at Bulls games. "Of all the [Bulls dance]

Erin Martin, a 27-year-old Wicker Park resident, appeared on NBC's The Voice on Feb. 13. The young musician's rendition of "Hey there Delilah" by The Plain White T's was good enough to impress judges Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton, but Martin ultimately chose to move on to the next round as part of Cee Lo's team. The model turned singer talked to us about world domination and her love of Disney songs. What are some of your favorite hangouts in Chicago? It depends on what kind of hanging out you are talking about.

* (out of four) “Pitch Perfect” doesn't deserve its star, Anna Kendrick. For the second time in two weeks (“End of Watch”) the actress' charm enlivens the screen, but this time it's in service of a movie that makes “Katy Perry: Part of Me” look like “Almost Famous.” To anyone thinking I don't believe women can be funny, my answer is simple: Of course they can. But “Pitch Perfect” would be a disaster starring women, men...

Test your trivia knowledge July 9 and you could become a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire. " The game show, which airs locally on WGN, will audition possible contestants for the upcoming 11th season on July 9 at Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Participants will take part in one of two early audition sessions in which they will take a timed, multiple choice test. Those sessions are set for 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Those who pass will be interviewed by one of the show's producers.

Auditions for Season 12 of "American Idol" began in early June, but Chicago-area hopefuls get their chance to impress the judges on July 12. Registration for Chicago auditions will be July 10 and 11, with auditions happening July 12. Both registration and auditions will take place at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. "Idol" is looking for men and women between 15 and 28 as of June 5, 2012, and who are eligible to work in the U.S. Some restrictions...

Stay tuned in a few weeks for my full Q&A from today's interview with Chris Pine (and director/co-writer Alex Kurtzman) about the family drama "People Like Us," which opens June 29. For now, enjoy the full story behind an audition Pine previously mentioned went terribly but didn't elaborate: "I have a feeling that story will haunt me for the rest of my life. It's one of these things--sometimes you can leave your car in Burbank, Los Angeles and walk into a conference room and your back is sweating and you're thinking about the...

Amid rumors that Kristen Wiig is leaving “SNL” at the end of this season, the show's team has been auditioning female comedians, including The Second City e.t.c. cast member Jessica Joy, who's been making a name for herself in the current production “Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting)” and as a medical student-slash-bunny on NBC-TV's short-lived “The Playboy Club.” Although she did not receive an offer from the “SNL” team at the conclusion of her audition in March, the Cleveland native - who moved to Chicago in 2005 to study at The...

If you've ever dreamed of dating a celebrity, you're in luck. Someone's come up with a new reality dating series called "Star Date," which will match cast members with celebrities. So if you're at least 21 years old, single, "confident, charismatic, beautiful and bold," then call yourself Mrs. Chris Kirkpatrick! Or Mr. Jennie Garth! (Um, in case you don't recognize: Kirkpatrick used to be one of those 'NSync guys, and Garth, who used to be on "Beverly Hills 90210," recently split with hubby Peter Facinelli.

Do you think you have what it takes to become the next "MasterChef?" Casting directors from the series and Chef Graham Elliot are coming to Chicago Dec. 3 for an open casting call. Here are the details: "MasterChef" open call When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 Where: Le Cordon Bleu, 361 W. Chestnut in Chicago What to do: You MUST bring one prepared dish to be served to the judges, including Graham Elliot. You will be given a few minutes to plate your dish, but there will not be a kitchen to cook or warm it up so come prepared!

Erin Martin, a 27-year-old Wicker Park resident, appeared on NBC's The Voice on Feb. 13. The young musician's rendition of "Hey there Delilah" by The Plain White T's was good enough to impress judges Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton, but Martin ultimately chose to move on to the next round as part of Cee Lo's team. The model turned singer talked to us about world domination and her love of Disney songs. What are some of your favorite hangouts in Chicago? It depends on what kind of hanging out you are talking about.