'Idol' Runner-up Set for Acting Gig on AMC
Grapevine
Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith in Hollywood
San Jose Mercury News, October 22, 2004
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/9985261.htm?1c

Justin Guarini of "American Idol'' is getting another shot at acting with AMC's original series "FilmFakers,'' premiering Wednesday during the channel's annual Monsterfest horror flick week. In each episode, three novice actors are cast in their first-ever feature film -- but what they don't realize is that the entire cast and crew are not filmmakers but filmfakers.

"Part of my job was to come in and be a bit of a pain to deal with,'' says Guarini, whose episode, which airs Nov. 24, spoofed the making of a tuneless Hollywood musical. The behavior was a stretch, according to the musician, because "one of the things I pride myself on is being completely easy to work with. My rider [contractual addendum] is basically for hot tea and water, which is all I'll ever ask for.'' The down-to-earth Guarini also made sure nothing was done maliciously, having sat down with the producers to agree they wouldn't be making fun of the unsuspecting actors. All went as planned when the secret was revealed, he says.

"They're just in shock at first,'' Guarini laughs, "but I think it's more of a relief than anything because they realize the people around them aren't crazy.''