He could have been a contestant on the new show ‘Wickedly Perfect,? but after having seen the domestic reality show’s debut, Brad Jacobsen said he isn’t sorry he didn’t make the cut.
‘I couldn’t talk about it when I was trying out, because the whole process is very secretive,? said Jacobsen, owner of Jacobsen’s Flowers and Garden Town in Lake Orion. ‘You couldn’t let anyone know, or you would be disqualified.?
Jacobsen first learned about casting for the ‘Wickedly Perfect? last June. The show is about 12 people with different skills competing against each other in a ‘domestic diva? game show that will ultimately result in someone getting their own television show, and the chance to become the next Martha Stewart.
‘It was in late June, I heard a little blurb on the radio about interviews for a new domestic show being done at a fruit market in Sterling Heights,? Jacobsen said. ‘It said they were looking for a ‘domestic diva,? to have their own show on cooking and home improvement.?
Jacobsen went to the casting call, where he was given the chance to present himself to the camera and tell them in three minutes why he should be the next ‘domestic diva.?
‘I said ‘Why does a domestic diva have to be a woman?,?? he said. ‘I cook and clean, and I am a florist and a gardener. I said ‘People need to know how to do more than make fancy doilies.??
Jacobsen said he was nervous to be on camera, although he used to do a show for Oxford cable. He said he found the cameraman agreeing with him.
‘The guy behind the camera was nodding his head,? he added.
After his time on camera, Jacobsen had to go on the Internet and fill out 20 pages of background information, covering his family life, interests and even political affiliations.
‘I was online three hours filling out these forms,? he said. ‘I sent them to the production company in Los Angeles, and at the end of June, I got a call saying I had made the first cut.?
Jacobsen was invited to go to a second casting call in either New York, Atlanta, LA, Phoenix or Chicago. He chose Chicago and took his wife Teri along for the long weekend.
‘I had to fill out another 30 or so pages asking me if I’d ever had any mental illness…had you done drugs…do you own firearms,? he said. ‘Then you had to submit samples of your crafts. I put together a portfolio of photos of my gardens, things around the house, and photos of dinners I’d prepared.?
Jacobsen said his favorite thing is to read a few recipes, then close the cookbook and put his own spin on things.
‘I made a salmon caesar salad with bruschetta,? he said. ‘It looked like the cover of a gourmet magazine.?
Jacobsen also made a marinated porkloin to take with him to Chicago.
‘I packed some in ice and took it with me,? he said. ‘I was trying to figure out how I could present it. When we got the hotel, I called room service and had them bring up a tossed salad, and I used that.?
While in Chicago, Jacobsen was photographed from every angle, did a voice test and sat through another interview.
‘They asked me what I thought of reality TV, and I think what probably, partially, killed me was, I said I wasn’t a big fan of reality TV, the big build up with the music and the ceremony thing. I don’t watch that.?
Jacobsen said at the time he didn’t realize the casting was for a reality show.
‘I thought it was to do like 15 minute spots on ‘Good Morning America,? and shows like that,? he said.
The next stage of the casting was to go to LA for a week, where the final people would be chosen to compete. One of the finalists was a man from Leeland, Michigan, but he was kicked off in the first episode, which aired on Jan. 6
Jacobsen said he was told contestants would be staying for six-eight weeks at a 10-acre estate in Connecticut, and even if you were the first to be kicked off, you would have to stay in Connecticut for the duration of the filming to keep secret who had won.
‘As it turns out, watching the first show, I’m sort of relieved I’m not there,? he said. ‘But it would have been exciting.?
Jacobsen said he wouldn’t mind having his own TV show, though, and he’s proud he made the first cut from 10,000 people to 600 people, nationwide. The final cut was for 50 people to go to LA to choose the final 12.
Asked if he was routing for anyone on the show, he said ‘It’s too early to tell.
‘The first show they were split into two groups, and they have to do a group project and then individual projects. The two people with the projects judged worst from the losing team are nominated for elimination,? Jacobsen said. ‘The first show they were in an orchard, and they had to pick as many apples as they could in an hour. Then they had 24 hours to complete a project using the apples.?
The winner gets six-eight episodes for their own half hour TV show, features in magazines and five guest appearances on TV shows like ‘Good Morning America.? Former GMA host Joan Lunden hosts.
‘It’s probably the only reality show I’ll ever watch from start to finish,? said Jacobsen.
‘Wickedly Perfect? airs on CBS at 8 p.m. on Thursday nights.