Casting call draws amazing candidates

PORTALES — While Hillary Boerio of Portales was singing “Amazing Graze” at the downtown square, there were interviews being conducted for “The Amazing Race” CBS show at Big Valley Auto.

The Portales Fire Department held a water cannon competition to go with the Christian music, water volleyball, balloons and snow cones as part of a celebration Monday held by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with an Amarillo television newscast.

“The Amazing Race” is a CBS reality show that has teams of two compete to travel around the world with the winning team receiving $1 million. KFDA-TV of Amarillo held three-minute interviews on Monday to audition for the show.

The casting call started at 5:30 p.m. and there were more than 40 two-person teams hoping to be selected for the show. Kelley McGinty and her boyfriend Kelly Crane are living in Portales and attending Eastern New Mexico University.

“I thought there would be a lot more people,” McGinty said about the attendance. “I was a little nervous in front of the camera.”

Larry Cunningham and Donna Cunningham traveled from Amarillo just for the casting call. Larry Cunningham said his friend, Ian Rosenberger, auditioned for “The Amazing Race”, but was not called back. However, he said producers from “Survivor” show got a hold of Rosenberger’s tape and selected him for the “Survivor” show.

“I’ve done this before when I lived in Los Angeles,” Trey Nikels said about the casting call. “We (Nikels and Chris Skiles) figured we’d come from Lazbuddie and give it a chance because the casting call was so close.”

There were many other activities on the downtown square from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday.

“I’m glad I got to come out to this,” said Marilyn Buchanan of Portales. Buchanan said members of her Central Christian church group were at the event to give out free snow cones. “It’s a great opportunity for kids. It’s a chance ... to come out and enjoy the sunshine.”