The Big Audition

"The Big Audition" is the first full episode of *Life With a Voice Actor* (season one), following three commercial prologues. It was performed on January 11, 2020 as the third segment of Show LV. It was released as podcast episode 276.

Written by Samantha Stark

Directed by Kristin Green

Previous episode: "The La Fontaines"

Next episode: "Maisy Meets Her Maker"

## **The Story**

   Host Stephanie Dunlap introduces the show, insults the genre, and introduces the couples. Terry La Fontaine forces his husband, Jerry La Fontaine, to gargle with lemon water for five full minutes in preparation for his audition at Fact Broke Studios today. Fact Broke is also the parent company of this show-within-a-show, and this is their first live-action program.

At the Callihan house, Ben Callihan is nervous to be going up against his friends Jerry and Logan Cooper for the role with the biggest animation studio ever. Ben says the job pays a cool million, which Victoria Callihan plans to use to renovate her bathroom. Ben is excited to see his friends, though Victoria returns they were just at Emily Cooper's last week. Ben says Emily is pretty talented, but Victoria disagrees. Victoria says she is meeting Emily and Terry for lunch while the husbands audition. In the Cooper house, Emily says she isn't jealous at all of Logan getting this audition with Fact Broke. Logan compliments his friendly competitors, and is glad Emily is going to lunch with the other spouses They wish each other well. At the La Fontaines, Terry insults the 'little cartoon' Jerry is auditioning for, but Jerry defends the gig. But when Jerry says Ben is the one he's worried about, Terry does says Jerry has the best voice the world has ever know.

In the lobby of Fact Broke, the voice actors are happy to meet up and talk about their spouses. Logan makes a comment about Terry, and Jerry says that while Terry can be intense, he means well. Jerry does lament about Terry's lack of interest in voice over work, and worries about Emily feeling left out. They talk about trying to get Emily a part no matter who is cast, and boost one another's confidence. All will be happy for whoever is cast. Stephanie talks about hating friends.
At lunch, Victoria is already drinking on the patio, though unhappy about being outside. Terry arrives and trades barbs with her. Emily tries to make peace when she arrives, making lame jokes, but neither pay her much attention. Emily tries to talk about the audition, and Terry and Victoria both assert that their husbands are best, Victoria bragging that this will get her a bathroom remodel. Victoria orders another drink.

Ben finishes his audition, feeling good. Inside the booth, the movie producer has Jerry read the lead's big speech. But Jerry's throat seizes because of the lemon water he gargled with.

    Back at the restaurant, Terry confesses that he sabotaged Jerry, which Victoria, now drunk, thinks is funny. Emily is horrified. When Terry insults animation again, Emily points out how lucrative it's been for Ben and Victoria. Emily gets angry enough to throw a drink at Terry and screams. Which is when the voice actors arrive. Jerry is mad about what Terry did. Victoria is very unhappy to hear Ben didn't get the part. Logan reveals he didn't either. Instead, he convinced them to listen to Emily's reel and she's going to star!

But then the studio calls and says the producer they were working with was fired and the movie has been cancelled. The new executive has decided to go with a TV show instead of a movie and use Ben, Jerry, and Logan all as leads. The three are thrilled to work together. Victoria says Terry can help her pick out bathroom tiles. Emily will be left out of the show. She screams with frustration. Stephanie ponders if the new executive means this show will be cancelled, too?

## **Guest Starring**

* Jenna Jaworski as Stephanie Dunlap
* Nathan Haley as fired casting producer

## **Trivia**

* There is no producer from the show-within-a-show this episode, and no solo interviews. After this premiere, it was decided to take out the host and put in a producer character.