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VJ has much hope for TV gig

Kyle Whitehead hopes his “ridiculous” last name will land him a sweet gig on MuchMusic.

Kyle Whitehead hopes his “ridiculous” last name will land him a sweet gig on MuchMusic.

“It doesn’t get much worse than being named after a pimple,” says Whitehead in his audition video to become the next VJ star of Canada’s music television channel.

The doors to audition for MuchMusic’s new VJ opened Feb. 18 and ran until March 10.

Whitehead submitted a video on Feb. 24 and included shoots in various locations around Red Deer, including an outdoor rink in Inglewood, at the top of Michener Hill, in his truck and at his apartment.

The 24-year-old from Red Deer declares he’s a huge Much fan who already has history with the channel’s hosts. In 2006 when he was “a very chubby kid” he met Tim Deegan and Leah Miller.

And now he’s among the top 40 out of more than 600 Canadian applicants who applied for the job.

The graphic designer and marketing specialist is the lone Alberta boy in the competition. He says he will represent Red Deer proudly and adds, “I promise.”

Philip Schumacher of Calgary is best friends with Whitehead. Ever since they were teens, he thought Whitehead was born for the job. He always told Whitehead how much he spoke and resembled George Stroumbolopolous, the former VJ who now hosts a CBC Television show.

“It’s exactly who he is — because of everything I have been through with that guy,” said Schumacher. “There are some people out there who definitely know their stuff . . but this is Kyle’s kind of vocation. This is what he’d fit into.”

Both graduated from Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame High School in 2006.

Whitehead moved with his family to Red Deer in 1992 and after going to school here, moved to Calgary for five years.

He graduated from Lethbridge College in 2008 with a communications diploma and went on to earn a degree in communications from the University of Calgary in 2010.

Besides working in the real world right now and being his “gregarious, interesting, funny and engaging” self, Whitehead has at least one unique experience with a music star. He got to hang out with Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters on a stop through Calgary.

“Dave was such a down to earth guy and incredibly gracious and talkative the whole night. I’ll never forget it!,” says Whitehead in his notes posted on the Much VJ search website.

If given the chance, he’d challenge himself with artists who have proven to be difficult interviews in the past, like Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan or Noel and Liam Gallagher, formerly of Oasis.

Central Albertans can help Whitehead achieve his dreams by voting for him so he makes the Top 20.

The Top 20 finalists for the MUCH VJ Search will be featured in the reality TV show starting April 1 at 6E/3P and air every Monday to Friday on MUCH. Voters are being asked to evaluate each contestant in seven categories: passion (for music), fresh(ness), energetic(ness), edgy(ness), funny(ness), style and knowledgable.

Check out http://www.muchmusic.com/vjsearch/profile/kyle-whitehead/341937/

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com