TVSquad

CBS is looking for contestants for two of their biggest reality shows. Season 19 of Survivor had an original application deadline of January 14, but it seems as though there aren't enough quality people applying. They are hoping to fill both casts of Season 19 and Season 20.

If roughing it isn't your style, consider being in a house without entertainment. Big Brother 11 is casting for the summer season. Sure the prize is only $500,000, but you won't come home with any stomach viruses.

Casting on both shows have been hit or miss. In Survivor: Tocantins, 12 of the 16 contestants were recruited. This includes the latest castoff, Sydney who was recruited from a bar.

I appreciate that Survivor emphasizes that you don't need wilderness training in their application. Their most important questions involve things like swimming and allergies. On the other side, Big Brother has the most interesting and probing questions. Their application includes:

• Are there any nude or other revealing or compromising images of you that are available publicly either through the Internet, video or otherwise?
• Have you ever been to a nude beach?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with, or treated for, alcoholism or any other drug-related addiction?

Clearly Big Brother needs to make sure that people aren't too paranoid about voyeurism, but also can get lubricated and throw a good classic reality television fight. It's strange because Survivor doesn't ask about nudity, but probably has shown more on national television (I'm not counting Showtime's Big Brother After Dark).

Both applications recycle a lot of the same questions. If you're willing to be on a reality show, then I'd suggest applying for both to widen your chances. I would apply to Survivor, in hopes that I was picked for The Amazing Race. Cross-pollination occurs once in a while. Either way, you can find the applications at these links:

Survivor Application
Big Brother Application