INDExtra

Party down, indeed

by Anna Purdy

Have you ever wanted to marginalize the Gulf Coast and Cajun culture in particular? Do you find the movie Waterboy particularly charming? And most of all, do you want the chance to be famous for doing virtually nothing? It's your lucky day: A new reality show called Party Down South wants you to audition.

Have you ever wanted to marginalize the Gulf Coast and Cajun culture in particular? Do you find the movie Waterboy particularly charming? And most of all, do you want the chance to be famous for doing virtually nothing? It's your lucky day: A new reality show called Party Down South wants you to audition.

Party Down South is being billed as "the Jersey Shore of the South." To the uninitiated, which is much like being the only person not invited to one of Anton LaVey's birthday parties, Jersey Shore takes places on the Atlantic coastline of The Garden State where young men and women who live by one code of honor - GLT for Gym, Laundry and Tan daily - smack gum and talk, or tawwhk, to each other about debauchery and money, the former often bought with the latter.

The same company that produces Jersey Shore, 495 Productions, which is working in conjunction with Doron Ofir Casting, is backing this television show. Party Down South is a working title. It seems that although auditions are being held from Florida to Acadiana and everywhere in between, the concept of Cajun is being held front and center. To quote from the website, "the sickest reality show on big Crawfish-peelin', Poboy eatin', Bourbon drinkin' Dixie lovin' bayou summer!" It then suggests that if you consider alligators to be your neighbors, you should apply. (My own professors emeritus parents have a bull gator in their backyard off the Teche and are over 21, so I'm assuming they qualify? I'll buy Mama a "tramp stamp" for her birthday next month to up her chances!)

If you are from the Gulf Coast and are without family you can embarrass, head to The Station in Broussard on Aug. 5 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. or Outlaws Saloon in Lafayette on Aug. 6 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Or better yet, don't.