The Quest for Stardom : Youngsters Line Up to Vie for New ‘Sports Kids’ Show

Dreams of TV stardom drew more than 300 youngsters to Irvine on Monday as the American Kids Sports Assn. held open auditions for a planned weekly sports program for children.

The aspiring announcers, ages 9 to 11, were vying for eight spots on “Sports Kids,” a half-hour show that will be similar in format to ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” but will feature events with youthful competitors. Organizers say they are negotiating with several networks with an eye to airing the show nationally on Saturday mornings beginning in the fall of 1989.

Former congressman and two-time Olympic Decathlon champion Bob Mathias, president of Irvine-based American Kids Sports Assn., said the program will stress the organization’s motto: “Participation is victory.”

The show “will probably be the nucleus of all our activities,” Mathias said. The focus will be on covering existing events with participants 8 to 13 years old. Also featured will be the group’s own annual “Earth Games,” launched last July at UC Irvine with 140 participants from around the world.

In a ballroom of the Irvine Marriott Hotel on Monday, executive producer Chuck Foster explained the show’s concept to the assembled children and their parents, most of whom came from Orange and Los Angeles counties. The eight chosen announcers, he said, will travel all over the world during school vacations to cover conventional youth sports (such as baseball and soccer) as well as playground games, youth rodeos and other events.

“Whatever kids do and take part in, we’ll be filming it,” Mathias said. The show will also feature a workout segment and sports bloopers.

Foster drew a gasp from the youngsters when he mentioned the pay: almost $400 a day. “Pick me!” screamed one little voice from the back of the room. Foster also said announcers would learn and take part in all aspects of production, from camera work to scripting.

After hearing Foster’s comments and seeing an introductory videotape, parents were exiled from the room and the auditions began. The youngsters lined up in two groups of 15, each group before a TV camera, where they were asked to say why they wanted to be announcers and to say, in their best TV-announcer style: “Live, from the Irvine Marriott, this is (name) for Sports Kids.”

While some of the budding Howard Cosells displayed poise and polish beyond their years, others were clearly flustered by their first experience in front of a camera.

“I couldn’t think of stuff to say,” admitted 9-year-old Leila Hamidi of Irvine. Her brother, Hossein, however, appeared calm and confident.

“I was in two plays where I had the leading part,” he explained after his video screen test. “I’ve had a dream for a long time to be a movie star, but I didn’t know how to get there,” the 11-year-old added solemnly. “When I got the letter (announcing the audition) I was so happy.”

While some saw the auditions as a way to break into show biz, others said they were drawn primarily by their love of sports. Jennifer Witucki, 10, of Corona del Mar, said she loves to play soccer, softball and other sports.

“My dad always talks about sports, and we watch football games together,” she said. “I just like sports.”

For others, the pay was clearly an incentive. “I’d probably make a lot of money, and I could buy my own Christmas gifts for people,” said La Ronn Scott, 9, of Santa Ana. He said he hoped his experience in school plays and in the school chorus would help give him an edge.

Meanwhile, in the lobby, parents paced nervously, stopping often to peek through the doors to see when their child’s turn to audition would come up.

“I think the parents are more nervous than the kids. The kids are pretty calm,” said Elva Avina of Walnut, who had two sons waiting to take video screen tests.

Jane Piasecki of Newport Beach waited just outside the doors for her 10-year-old son, Jeremy.

“He’s seen the announcers on TV, and he thought he’d like to do that,” Piasecki said. “He’s very active in sports.”

While many of the aspiring announcers heard about the auditions through their schools and had never taken part in an open audition, there were also some show biz veterans in the crowd.

“My kids both have agents,” said Jan Maxfield of Long Beach, who waited for daughters Jamie, 12, and Jodi, 9, both of whom have worked extensively as extras in films and TV.

Television experience isn’t required, though, Foster said. “We want kids that are exciting, that have a sparkle in their eyes,” he said. While the show plans to recruit nationally in future years, Foster decided to test the “home-grown” talent in this first audition.

“If we find what we’re looking for here, then we don’t have to look any farther,” Foster said. The field will be narrowed down to 50 finalists in the next 2 weeks, with the final 10 (eight announcers and two alternates) to be decided in March.

Broadcast details of the show, including which network will carry it and when it will debut, will be announced in January. Filming is expected to begin during spring vacation.