"Elvira" turns up at Fox Reality

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Reality has given the green light to "The Search for the Next Elvira," in which the Mistress of the Dark -- portrayed by Cassandra Peterson -- will seek "a surrogate handmaiden with whom to share her personal appearance duties."

The series will feature 13 contestants -- culled from an open "casket call" taking place July 13 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. -- competing to see whether they can look the part and present the same persona as the Elvira character. Three hourlong episodes will air starting at 9 p.m. October 13. After the second episode October 20, viewers can vote for the winner, who will be announced during the live finale on Halloween.

"We receive hundreds of Elvira appearance requests every year," said Peterson's manager, Eric Gardner. "We began dreaming of a world in which there would eventually be legions of franchised Elviras, including one in every shopping-mall atrium in the country each Halloween season. Fox Reality has given us the opportunity to anoint the first recruit."

Added Elvira: "There are simply too many ghastly engagements for one Mistress of the Dark to entertain. I am searching for someone to share my tricks with -- someone to help spread the Halloween spirit."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter