By Bob Tourtellotte
Los Angeles (Reuters) -- Breaking from the routine of daytime TV soap opera weddings, divorces, births, deaths, resurrections and more deaths -- all with the same character -- ABC's "All My Children" has hit upon a novel idea.
On Monday, the soap opera that is known for breaking television rules launches the first reality show within a show when it unveils 25 finalists for the "sexiest man in America."
The contestants all will appear on "All My Children" through August as part of the show's plot. As the weeks ensue, viewers will be able to vote on their favorites, either online or via telephone.
The 25, who hail from home towns as big as Miami and Chicago and as small as Flowery Branch, Georgia, will be voted upon by viewers of the show and fans of ABC daytime, who may catch them in promotional appearances on other ABC shows like "The View."
"We took something that is very current (reality TV), and seamlessly put the concept into one of our best programs," said Brian Frons, president of ABC Daytime television.
The men become involved in an "All My Children" plot in which two characters, Greenlee Smythe and Kendall Hart, search for the "sexiest man in America" to become a spokesperson for their hip cosmetics company, Fusion.
In the show, spoiled rich girl Greenlee is out to upstage cosmetics diva Erica Kane and her company, Enchantment. Kendall, Erica's daughter conceived in a rape, wants to earn the respect of the mother who gave her up for adoption long ago. Fusion is the vehicle for both to achieve their goals.
Into this maelstrom of manipulation come the 25 everyday guys who just want to be deemed "sexy" by the women of America and become, perhaps, daytime TV's next male hunk.
"In a way, this is really an old-fashioned Hollywood talent hunt," said Frons.
"All My Children" has a long history of pushing program boundaries. This past April, for instance, it featured what was billed as the "first lesbian kiss" on daytime TV.
Frons is hoping this new concept of a reality show within a show will do the same. Voting begins July 28, and viewers can cast ballots at www.ABC.com or via telephone text messaging.
A list of the 25 contest finalists:
Rocky Abou-Sakher, Chattanooga, Tenn.
McKinley Freeman, Marietta, Georgia
Christopher Jones, Flowery Branch, Georgia
Jose Macias, Cumming, Georgia
Arnold Sarindu, Duluth, Georgia
John Whitley, Marietta, Georgia
Donny Boaz, Duncanville, Texas
Steve Murray, Austin, Texas
Jamal Stevens, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Chris Kulick, Boston, Mass.
Ryan Christensen, Chicago, Ill.
Chad Schropp, Chicago, Ill.
Shipley Ennis, Puyallup, Wash.
Timothy Heinrich, Saratoga, Calif.
Andrew Springer, Burke, Virginia
Michael Anderson, Miami, Florida
Nick Hudson, Maple Grove, Minn.
Michael Nigai, Plymouth, Minn.
Carter Butler, Bridgeport, Conn.
Georgio Fernandez, Bogata, New Jersey
Douglas Siebert, Hoboken, New Jersey
Jamie Newton, Warrensburg, Missouri
Brian DiCinti, Voorhees, New Jersey
Ian Green, Mt. Holly, New Jersey
Craig Rice, Scottsdale, Arizona
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