or


[02/28/07 - 01:36 PM]
Production Begins March 5 on "The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" (Fka "The Imposter"), an Hour-Long Weekly Alternative Series Slated for Summer 2007 on Abc
Auditions will be held in four cities - Los Angeles (March 5-6), Las Vegas (March 11-12), New York (March 20-21), and Orlando (March 28-29).
[via press release from ABC]

PRODUCTION BEGINS MARCH 5 ON �THE NEXT BEST THING: WHO IS THE GREATEST CELEBRITY IMPERSONATOR?� (FKA �THE IMPOSTER�), AN HOUR-LONG WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE SERIES SLATED FOR SUMMER 2007 ON ABC

From producers Peter Engel and Barry Katz (both of �Last Comic Standing�), �The Next Best Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?� (fka �The Imposter�) begins production March 5, 2007, with auditions in Los Angeles, CA. The hour-long alternative series on the search to find the best celebrity impersonator is scheduled to air this summer on the ABC Television Network.

Auditions will be held in four cities � Los Angeles (March 5-6), Las Vegas (March 11-12), New York (March 20-21), and Orlando (March 28-29). Contestants advancing from the regional auditions will move on to the semi-finals. Ten contestants will emerge from the semis, and America will vote to crown The Next Best Thing. Locations of semis and finals TBD.

Please note that the location of the New York auditions has changed since the previous issue of this release.

Audition Locations

Los Angeles March 5-6:
Tribune Studios
5800 Sunset Blvd., Studio 9C
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Las Vegas March 11-12:
Rain Nightclub
Palms Casino Resort
4321 W. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103

New York March 20-21:
AMV Unitel Studios
515 W 57th Street
(Between 10th and 11 Avenues)
New York, NY 10019

Orlando March 28-29:
Disney MGM Studios
Sounds Dangerous Theater
3111 World Drive
Orlando, FL 32830

Michele Merkin (�Foody Call,� �Extreme Dodgeball�) will host. Actress-comedian Lisa Ann Walters has been signed as a judge. The other two judges will be named at a later date.

�The Next Best Thing� is produced by Peter Engel Productions Inc. and New Wave Entertainment�. Peter Engel, Barry Katz serve as executive producers. Also executive producing is the team of Fax Bahr and Adam Small (�The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,� �Mad TV�). Peter Engel has produced over one-thousand episodes of weekly entertainment including the teen mega-hit �Saved by the Bell�.

New Wave Entertainment is a premier Content Development and Production Enterprise and one of the entertainment industry�s largest Entertainment Marketing and Creative Services Agencies. Burbank-based New Wave is owned by principals Paul Apel and Alan Baral.

Editor�s note: Additional casting info will be available on www.nextbestthingshow.com and www.abc.com.





  [june 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· JAMIE KENNEDY EXPERIMENT, THE (WB)
· LAST COMIC STANDING (NBC)
· NEXT BEST THING: WHO IS THE GREATEST CELEBRITY IMPERSONATOR? (ABC)




[06/09/26 - 02:03 PM]
Second Season of FX's "Adults" Premieres August 27 on FXX and Hulu
The laugh-out-loud second season will feature special guest appearances by Susie Essman, Raven-Symoné, Gaten Matarazzo, Jake Shane, Isaac Powell, Ben Marshall, Zosia Mamet and more.
[06/09/26 - 12:34 PM]
Explorer Josh Gates Returns with an Action-Packed New Season of "Expedition Unknown" Wednesday, June 24 on Discovery Channel
From far-flung jungles and remote waters to vast, unexplored caves, Gates pursues his boldest missions yet, hunting for vanished civilizations, diving deep to document lost wartime wrecks, and chasing groundbreaking evidence behind the world's most compelling mysteries.
[06/09/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of June 1 - "Office Romance" Sneaks to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Plus: "Michael Jackson: The Verdict" has grabbed viewers' attention, landing at No. 1 on the English TV list with 17.8 million views.

[06/09/26 - 11:01 AM]
Critically Acclaimed Olivier and Tony Award-Winning "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" Extends for a Final Time Both in the West End and on Broadway
Nearly 1.6 million tickets have been sold across the West End and Broadway, with over 1,500 total performances.

[06/09/26 - 10:37 AM]
"Honest Renovations" Season 4 Streaming on The Roku Channel on August 15, 2026
Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis renovate the homes of deserving families.
[06/09/26 - 10:29 AM]
May Continues ESPN Studio Shows' Year-Long Viewership Success
Combined, all ESPN studio shows were up 27 percent in viewership over May of 2025 and up 11% year-over-year (YOY) among younger viewers in the Persons ages 18-49 demographic.

[06/09/26 - 10:01 AM]
First Look & Date Announcement: Hulu Original "Furious"
"Furious" premieres on July 27 with three episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[06/09/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story" Debuts June 30
Before the internet and the ubiquity of social media influencers, there was Robin Byrd - the spirited, anything-goes New York City public access host, clad only in her signature black crochet bikini.
[06/09/26 - 10:01 AM]
ESPN Delivers Most-Watched NCAA DI Women's College World Series on Record
The WCWS Finals, featuring Texas and Texas Tech, averaged 2.2 million viewers as the Longhorns claimed their second-straight national championship in the two-game series.
[06/09/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Celebrity Family Feud" Season 12 Key Art and Contestant Reveal
The new season will premiere Thursday, July 9 at 8 P.M. EDT on ABC and streams next day on Hulu.
[06/09/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Disney+ Drops Official Trailer for Supernatural Animated Series "The Doomies," Premiering June 26
When best friends Bobby and Romy accidentally open a portal to evil, their tranquil coastal town transforms into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom.

[06/09/26 - 09:28 AM]
FOX Entertainment Global Secures International Sales for Breakout U.S. Series "Best Medicine"
Leading the international rollout, Best Medicine will premiere exclusively on Sky and streaming service NOW in the UK and Ireland, starting on Tuesday, June 9.
[06/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Teyana Taylor to Receive the Icon of the Year Award at the "BET Awards" 2026 Sponsored by Hyundai
A true creative force, Teyana Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum singer-songwriter into an award-winning actress, visionary director, producer, choreographer, and fashion-forward style icon.

[06/09/26 - 08:04 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Delightful Trailer for "Camp Snoopy" Season Two, Premiering Globally Friday, June 26
In season two, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts are looking forward to carefree time in the majestic landscape of Camp Spring Lake.
[06/09/26 - 08:03 AM]
Now Streaming - "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show" on Hulu
Hulu is bringing the energy and spectacle the "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show" to audiences nationwide, with the special now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.