When you wish upon a reality television show
Paul Raymore
Photo by Ryan Salm/Sierra SunTruckee mayor Craig Threshie (on left) and Switchback Public Relations President Brinn Wellise sit in downtown Truckee. The two are trying to get a television program to come to Truckee to grant wishes of people in the town.
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What would you do with three wishes?
That's the question producers of a new NBC reality show, aptly named "Three Wishes," are asking residents of Truckee and communities across the country as they prepare to start filming in anticipation of the fall television season.
The premise of "Three Wishes," which will be hosted by Grammy-winning recording artist Amy Grant, is to find spirited small towns in America that have a number of unmet individual and community needs.
"The concept of the show is we find these great small towns in America and we go to the town and we grant three major wishes within the town, as well as a bunch of small wishes," said Bryan Stinson, supervising casting producer for the new series. "We're definitely looking for stories that are inspirational, that are touching, and the people that we grant wishes to should be incredibly deserving."
Not only will the show grant individual wishes received from residents within the towns that are chosen, but Stinson said "we'd like to do something really big for the community as well."
That could be something like coming up with the money and manpower to finish the town's plan for the Truckee River Legacy Trail or building a new community center, said Brinn Wellise, president of Switchback Public Relations, who is encouraging local residents to submit their wishes to the show's producers.
"I think they're looking for a small town with tremendous community spirit. And I think that because of what we were able to accomplish with, for example, the Great Race, where we won the award for the best small town, and because there are so many needs within our community, that we would be a terrific candidate," she said.
Wellise said the biggest thing Truckee residents can do to show their interest and spirit is to immediately send the show's creators story ideas.
"That's going to show our level of interest and enthusiasm," she said.
Concepts that Stinson mentioned included surprising a local hero with a wish come true, helping someone through a medical crisis, reuniting long-lost friends or relatives, fulfilling a life-long fantasy for someone within the community or helping someone conquer a phobia.
No wish is too big or too small, according to the show's producers, and money is not an object.
Time, on the other hand, most definitely is, as the show's producers will be making their selection of a town in California within the next week or so.
"We need as many wishes as possible to come in this week so we can make a decision if we're going to come there," Stinson said of Truckee.
For more information on the show or how to make a wish, call (818) 566-8257.