When Jon Dalton was observed by a "Survivor" casting agent at an L.A. gas station several days ago, the chance to win a million dollars wasn't the prize he most desired.
Instead, he relished the chance to showcase "Jonny Fairplay," an base jerk persona he developed during his time as a manager in professional wrestling.
"Fairplay" became a detested household name among reality TV audiences, mainly because he lied on air that his grandmother had just died to realise other competitors' sympathies. Catcalling audiences at a reality TV awards show in October seemed to cheer when Danny Bonaduce dropped Dalton on his case onstage, break several teeth.
Dalton has sued Bonaduce for battery. But Dalton says, despite the sometimes sore side personal effects of celebrity, being roundly despised has helped him earn him a six-figure annual income.
Dalton said he regularly receives $2,000 to $15,000 to appear at nightclubs, conventions, and on other TV shows, part to gratify curiosity more or less whether he's really a jerk in person. It's an income that buys him a three-bedroom house in his hometown of Danville, Va., and the ability to care for his married woman and baby daughter.
"I feel personally that I raped reality tV and I'm happy about that," Dalton, 34, aforementioned in an interview by phone from Danville.
"The 1000000 dollars was never my primary goal," Dalton aforementioned. "My goal was to create the character of 'Jonny Fairplay' and observe that graphic symbol on goggle box for as long as possible."
Increasingly, reality TV shows are no longer simply voyeuristic journeys into the failings of real people, but entry pads for fame-seekers looking to parlay publicity - good or bad - into a career.
At a recent open casting call in Costa Mesa, Calif., a shot at celebrity drove a throng of wannabes to brave the hot sunlight for the chance to audition for "Survivor," season 18.
"I want to walk down the street or in the mall and have soul come subsequently me and ask for my john Hancock," said Shane Cardenes, a 37-year-old high school softball coach from Lake Elsinore, Calif. "I want the paparazzi to come after me."
Several in the crowd rattled off the most famous reality participants to go on to become, well, real stars.
Rob and Amber Mariano, who matrimonial after beingness on "Survivor: All-Stars" together, are plausibly the to the highest degree well-known world couple. Rob Mariano is to host a new reality show, "Tontine" this fall, piece Amber has appeared in TV commercials and been on the cover of several magazines.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, some other oft-named breakout, turned a 2001 "Survivor" appearance into her co-hosting job on the day talk point "The View."
An appearance on a reality TV show "has the ability to open respective doors," said Amber Horn, a 30-year-old Las Vegas bartender, world Health Organization stripped down to her underwear for a picture testimonial at the casting call. "You've just got to be crazy enough to kick them open."
Prolonging the spotlight from a reality show appearance has become a full-time job for engagement agent Marc Marcuse of Reel Management. He has represented near 300 former reality participants, booking them on other shows, at events and on red carpets.
"When soul gets off of their show, they always want to capitalize on their fame spell they can," Marcuse said.
Regular Joes world Health Organization get a taste of the sycophantic attention of camera crews usually don't want to return to their boring former life, said "Survivor" casting director Lynne Spillman. They as well get a taste of the money that pure fame tin bring.
"More and more people are applying because they want to be on TV," Spillman said.
It's uncommon for participants not to try to extend their 15 minutes of fame, she aforesaid. "They witness it as easy money."
After just a few episodes of the first season of "The Apprentice," participant Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth became a reviled figure. Her in-your-face confrontations included accusing some other participant of racism for using the phrase "pot calling the kettle black."
The nonstop catfights lifted the show's ratings and lighted up online message boards. Omarosa, wHO now goes by just now her number one name, cursorily hired a publicist and agent to help her monetize her newfound infamy.
She has since been on more than 100 TV episodes - more than many working actors - and is a regular at celebrity functions around Hollywood.
"People love villains. I'm the risque girl of reality TV," she aforementioned. "They tune in to see me body slam my opponents just like any wrestler."
Appropriately, she is writing a book called "The Bitch Switch," which is approach out in October. Omarosa said she has shot two more guest appearances for reality shows that will air in the fall, and lectures 15-20 times a year for various groups for an average $10,000 per appearance.
Others have treated the reality format as a dramatized infomercial for advertising their business.
"Sunset Tan" on the E! network is a case in point. After just one time of year on atmosphere, the actual tanning salon, whose ditzy sales girls Holly and Molly have flirty with Hollywood histrion clients, has sold more than than C franchises nationwide at $40,000 a pop, aforementioned co-owner Devin Haman.
The underlying business has become so profitable, E! became a partner in the franchise profits patch the record is on air, Haman said.
"It's a multimillion-dollar commercial," Haman said of the show. "It's amazing to have that."
The cameras have also through little to hurt the healthy sunbaked goods business of Bethenny Frankel. She finished a close s to decorous a Martha Stewart employee on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." But she has since had plenty of exposure for her have cooking business on "The Real Housewives of New York City," despite beingness single.
Hits to her web site have jumped 10 multiplication since her first TV appearance. She's also writing a book, "Naturally Thin" to hail out next year. A tequila manufacturing business is in talks to turn her "Skinny Girl Margarita" recipe into an off-the-shelf drink, she said.
"I'm the material winner," Frankel said of coming second in "Martha Stewart." "I'm so beaming I didn't get that job."
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