The title may not be as sexy as “Laguna Beach,” but television producers and management of a Central Texas water-based theme park are betting a new show will become a darling of the high school set.
With the succinct working title “Waterpark,” the show could invade homes the world over a year from now, if MTV producers follow through with plans to film a reality show at New Braunfels’ Schlitterbahn.
A casting call of current staffers began last weekend and continues through Sunday. Those who work at the water park – from lifeguards to food and beverage personnel – are encouraged to submit a headshot, bio and photos of friends. So far, about 50 have.
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The show’s premise would be a coming-of-age story about the park’s workers, the majority of whom are 16 to 22.
Drama naturally occurs in that age group, as young people deal with all kinds of teenage angst, from first job jitters to unrequited crushes, said Layne Box, 27, a supervisor at the park who has submitted his headshot for consideration.
“There’s lots of real-life drama,” he said. “There’s no script needed with high school students.”
[Schlitterbahn spokesman Jeffrey] Siebert said camera crews would follow the cast members around the water park as they deal with the issues of the day, and after work as they hang out with friends. MTV producers should have plenty of folks to pick from, since more than 2,000 employees are hired as seasonal workers at the park, which stretches over more than 65 acres.
“If you want to be on the show you have to work here first,” Siebert said. “You never know when a star might be born.”
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Siebert said “Waterpark” would be more like a younger version of “Airline,” a show on A&E that follows Southwest Airlines workers.
If the show is picked up, production could begin next spring, Siebert said. The first episode would air about a year from now.
The beautiful thing is that you can buy alcohol at the Schlitterbahn at several hot tub and float-up bar locations, so you can have the “more-patient-than-I’d-be employee dealing with obnoxious drunk customer” scenario just like they have in every episode of “Airline”, too. For better or worse, neither beer bongs nor Jell-O shots will be part of the equation whether inside the park (where those things were never allowed) or outside of it (surely at some point they’ll show footage of tubing on the river).
All I can say is that I’ll be avoiding any rides that feature rolling cameras during all future visits to the Bahn. I’m not part of the MTV demographic, and I plan to keep it that way.