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09-30-2008
Film/TV
Posted on September 20, 2007 12:00 AM

'Gamekillers' crashes the date

The dating world can seem to some like a feeding frenzy of sharks. MTV has set about to give some insight on it with its new show, The Gamekillers.

This reality hidden camera show, premiering at 7 p.m. tomorrow, focuses on a man's "game" and the potential setbacks that he may face.

These setbacks are the gamekillers, or those people that MTV has secretly placed in on the dates to try and keep the guy from getting the girl.

There's men like the Early Man, who makes another man feel like a wuss in comparison, and the One-Upper, a guy who is always arrogant and one step ahead.

Women also come into play, like the alluring Flirt, who tempts a man into leaving his girl, then leaves him high and dry, and the Drama Queen who takes attention away with her crying antics.

These characters, along with eight others, will attempt to ruin the game of five unsuspecting men in a series of five episodes.

"These characters are set to portray different stereotypes in the dating world," said Justin Wilkes, executive producer of Radical Media.

AXE and Radical Media collaborated on this project a year-and-a-half ago and then launched the idea to MTV.

"MTV was the obvious best outlet in terms of audience demographics," Wilkes said.

When it came to finding a cast, Wilkes said producers looked for elements of the characters in those people who auditioned.

Anthony Catanzaro, who plays the Early Man, said he was approached while working out at the gym.

"They were looking for someone who loved women and working out," Catanzaro said.

Bridget Moloney, the Drama Queen, says she re-auditioned after appearing in the pilot, which was launched last year.

The actors said their character inspiration comes from many sources.

"In college, I ran into guys who acted like my character," said Tom Walker, the One-Upper.

Catanzaro said he based his character on his father.

"We grew up in a mafia neighborhood," Catanzaro said. "I based my character on John Travolta and Tony Montana."

Wilkes said all of the actors make use of improvisational skills.

"Each situation is manufactured, but the actors are forced to use improv," Wilkes said.

Moloney said she agreed.

"Working with other actors in a real situation forces us to give each other material," Moloney said. "We have to be real enough to have the guys not looking around for the hidden camera."

Moloney said the situations are very believable.

"The guys go for it, hook, line and sinker," she said.

Walker said the show "works" because viewers will be able to "relate to the characters."

"The great actors really bring these characters to life," he added.

Wilkes said he thinks the show will do well.

"The show is entertainment content," Wilkes said, "plus, it's funny as hell."

12-12-2008