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ESPN's Dream Job? Keep dreaming

Published Tuesday, September 14, 2004 by seanlmccarthy | E-mail this post

The second edition of ESPN's Dream Job contest begins within the hour, and if you watch and think -- "maybe this could be me someday" -- then you are indeed dreaming. If you watch and think -- "maybe these are the 12 most deserving candidates to become a national sports anchor" -- then you not only are dreaming, but you are living in an alternate universe. These finalists are the best sports anchors as much as the American Idol finalists are the best young singers. Dream Job remains a TV show, first and foremost. It's cast not by ESPN but by the same casting producers who select other "reality show" participants. I know because I dropped in on such an "audition" in Phoenix this summer. A word to the wise (and there are few of you left): Most of these TV shows hold group auditions, which are designed not to get to know anything about your particular talents save one -- what are you willing to do to get yourself noticed. That tactic might help make for good TV contestants on Fear Factor, but what does that have to do with anchoring the sports news? Exactly.