Did you want to be an astronaut when you were a kid? A prima ballerina? A neurosurgeon? Or maybe a superstar adored by countless fans worldwide?

Admit it -- as soon as you saw Michael Jackson's Thriller video, you ran out and bought (or had your mom buy you) a red leather jacket. For at least one Halloween during the '80s, you were the most punked-out Madonna on your block. And somewhere inside, you still secretly wish that you could pull off Britney's outfits, dance like Janet Jackson, or be worshipped like a Backstreet Boy.

Guess what? You don't have to keep those urges a secret anymore. It's not too late to make your popstar dreams come true! The people at MTV are experts at helping people pretend to be popstars, and now it's your turn to get in on the action. Remember that show Becoming where a lucky person gets a makeover and does a shot-by-shot recreation of the artist's music video? Now you can do that and perform live onstage with concert lighting and back-up dancers.

If you look back fondly on the days when the show Your Big Break filled your Saturday afternoons with joy, consider this your chance to be as famous as that lady who performed live as Cher.

This show isn't hosted by Christopher 'Kid' Reid or Alfonso Ribeiro (a.k.a. Carlton Banks), but your fake celebrity opportunities are a bit more modern than Cat Stevens or Olivia Newton John. You could strut your stuff like Ja-Rule or Christina Aguilera. The new show is called Becoming Presents: Wannabes, but don't think of yourself as a Wannabe. You're more like a Gonnabe, because if they pick you you're gonna be famous... even if it's just for a few crazy minutes.

If you dream of filling a superstar's shoes, go to www.casting.mtv.com. They're auditioning for Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Destiny's Child, Will Smith, Blink 182, Ja-Rule, *NSYNC, Pink, Eve, Kid Rock, Outkast, and Enrique Iglesias.

4/5/02