The original article "TV-hopefuls get 'Real' in the Hub City"

Whether it was the cold weather or the out-of-town football game that was to blame, Michael Sellers said the turnout for Saturday's MTV casting call for both "The Real World 19" and "Fresh Meat" was disappointing.

"I'm highly disappointed," said Sellers, who helped set up the day-long stretch of events. "This is the one chance Lubbock has to get on the map. It's the one chance for Lubbock to show its face."

The shooting location for the next "Real World" has yet to be determined, but with Lubbock being listed among the last of 20 cities involved in the casting call, casting agent Toby Ross said shooting decisions should be made fairly quickly.

For those who attended Saturday's casting call from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Daiquiri Lounge and Beer Gardens, Ross said the final decision for callbacks was made Saturday night.

"We weren't really disappointed in the turnout," Ross said.

Ross, who works for Bunim Murray, said 105 people attended the casting call throughout the day.

Emily Kovalcik, a senior finance major from Katy, said she came out to the casting call because all her friends told her she would make the perfect candidate.

"I was in my car going to a party, and as soon as I turned on the car, there was a break between songs, and I heard about the casting call," she said. "I thought it was funny, and they gave a number, and I called it."

Kovalcik said she was given a VIP pass for the event.

"I told all my friends," she said. "They were like, 'Yeah, you should go do it; you're crazy enough to be on the show.'"

Kovalcik said if she was chosen, she didn't expect to get much out of the experience other than a great vacation and new friends.

Stella Alvarez said she attended the open casting call because she has been watching the show since she was 8 years old.

"I'm obsessed with it," she said. "I think I'd be a badass character. I'd be the drama starter."

Evan Starkman, a former cast member from "Fresh Meat" and "Duel," said the casting agents are looking for specific roles to fill.

"I was the nice guy who would cheat on his girlfriend and f*** people over," he said.

Conversely, Ross said she was not looking for specific stereotypes when she met with the 105 applicants throughout the day.

"We were really just looking for the best people," she said. "We had some good people come out."

Ross said people drove all the way from Oklahoma City and San Antonio for the casting call.

The day's meet-and-greet session was at University Fountains, where previous cast members mingled with college hopefuls.

Casey Cooper, another cast member from "Fresh Meat" and "Duel," said being on the pair of MTV shows has opened many doors for her.

While she still attends college, she travels promoting the show to various cities. She said she's traveled to Brazil and Australia for photo shoots, as well other cities in the United States.

"I think it's a great opportunity," she said. "I thought it was cool just to be on TV, but you get a lot of opportunities after the show, too."

Cooper said she and her partner made it to the end of the show, winning $10,000.

Starkman said the lack of attention from the Texas Tech student body does not hurt anyone but the students.

"They're missing out on an opportunity for a lifetime," he said. "The 'Real World' is like a virus that infects your whole life."

Starkman said he has to return to class at Cornell University on Monday, but he said he enjoyed his time in the Hub City.

"I loved it," he said. "The most beautiful women in the country are here."

Sellers said Saturday's call was the second time in the past five years that MTV has headed to Lubbock for "Real World" casting calls.

"You know we come here and try to do something big and (people) don't show," he said.

Nicole Galleoto, a senior psychology major from Houston, said she simply came to the meet-and-greet for the food.

"I don't think this is that big of a deal," she said.