Check, Please to Start Contacting Candidates Today

Today is the first day that Check, Please host candidates will hear back from the show, producer David Manilow said. They will methodically reach out to those expressing interest from now until the March 1 deadline to set up short "meet-and-greets" with producers, taking place early next week in a restaurants or cafes somewhere in the city, and throughout the remainder of February. "We'll meet with as many people as we can for a quick ten minutes," Manilow said.

After those informal meetings, the producers will narrow down the candidates to a list of anywhere from 10-50 finalists, which will be posted on the Check, Please website. Those candidates will then have formal auditions in front of the cameras, sitting down with three guests in a similar style to an episode. Then they'll narrow it down again.

Manilow says he's received almost 200 audition tapes already, plus been swamped on Facebook, email, phone, and other social media. He says he's received numerous tapes from local established major network broadcasters alone. "The response has been overwhelming, but we're looking forward to more," he said.

To recap, WTTW is open to all types of candidates, from those with extensive media experience to unknown housewives. Ten-year host Alpana Singh announced her departure about two weeks ago. They'll make a decision by late spring.

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· Check, Please [Official Site]