''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 ordinary people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 1990s ...

series which debuted on the cable channel

SOAPnet Soapnet was an American basic cable network owned by the Disney–ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network's programming was oriented towards the soap opera genre; on launch, Soapnet carried primetime encores of ABC' ...

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, 2 ...

'' star and ex-''

Dancing with the Stars ''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...

'' 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 Ryan Lavery in ''All My Children''. Since 2021, he has portrayed the role of Drew Cain on ''Gener ...

. 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. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

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 created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...

''. 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 "Debbi" Morgan is an American film and television actress. Morgan has appeared in a number of film and TV productions, and may be best known for the role of Angie Baxter–Hubbard on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children''. Morgan ...

, ''General Hospital'' casting director Mark Teschner and agent Michael Bruno. The show underwent some criticism when the winner,

Mykel Shannon-Jenkins Mykel Shannon Jenkins (born July 3, 1969) is an American actor and filmmaker whose professional career started when he became winner of the first season of the SOAPnet series ''I Wanna Be a Soap Star''. Jenkin's career spans across numerous film ...

, 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) 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 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 opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterize ...

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

stem cell research In multicellular organisms, stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells that can change into various types of cells and proliferate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell. They are the earliest type of cell ...

) 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 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 ''Th ...

'' star Winsor Harmon from 1994 to 1995. He first aired on August 19, 2005. Contestants for the second season included Toussaint Waterman, Prudence Zdravkovic, Alec Musser, Isaak James, Christina Fandano, Alia Urbanski, Farley Jackson, Nicole (''last name unknown''), Cathy (''last name unknown''), Maiesha (''last name unknown''), Sean (''last name unknown'') and Joe Masi.

''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 American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...

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

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 aired on the network NBC from November 8, 1965, to September 9, 2022; the soap has streamed n ...

''. 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; his nickname of Hogan came from younger brother Craig, who thoug ...

, former star Mary Beth Evans (who portrayed Kayla Johnson) 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 American English-language television shows 2000s American reality television series