WWW- At first glance, it would be easy to apply the old adage “less is more” to the hugely successful “Naked News.” After all, the popular program is known for lovely ladies baring it all while reporting on all that’s breaking.
But a new one-hour documentary, “Inside Naked News” (airing March 1 in the U.K.), sets out to show that the titillating telejournalism is not simply skin deep by uncovering an audition process that requires more than just a pretty face.
“Personality is really primary,” says LUCAS TYLER, who produces all of the programming for “Naked News.” “Obviously looks, but we’re not looking for supermodels, so our range in looks is very wide. But, they have to go and do outside shoots, they have to be able to speak off the top of their head, and we don’t have time to sit there and train them for three months or wait until they get better.”
For those not familiar with “Naked News,” it is both a daily as well as weekly program originating from Toronto designed to give its millions of Internet members and “television audience” the latest current events in the same fashion as more traditional broadcasts — but in the buff.
“We believe this documentary will be of great interest to all of our viewers in 172 countries around the world,” says London-based correspondent LILY KWAN. “It really gives great insight into what it is like behind the scenes at this unique production facility.”
For instance, the casting calls often bring out candidates who are simply not suited to be seen in their birthday suits.
“There’s a girl that came in that looked like a man,” recalls Tyler. “We’ve had really bad tattoos, bad scars, bad breast jobs. You can’t imagine how many bad breast jobs we’ve seen here. Girls with a hundred piercings in their bodies and you can’t imagine where.”
“As well as someone who was just so completely bad in their delivery or had no personality whatsoever, so you’re listening to them and you’re completely bored,” adds Tyler. “I mean, our job is to entertain our audience, not put them to sleep.”