The past few months have been pretty insane for the three finalists — Alex Charak, Geneva Hyman and Ian Novick — on cbs.com’s reality competition, INTURN. First, they were plucked from obscurity to star on the show, where they lived in a not-as-spacious-as-it-sounds loft in Brooklyn, competed in acting challenges in front of some tough critics for a chance to win a 13-week contract on AS THE WORLD TURNS — a pretty huge break considering where they started. They were also followed around constantly by a crew that was documenting every painful, awkward, confrontational and embarrassing moment to be broadcast on the show, which they’ve been seeing for the first time along with everyone else.Alexandra Chando (Maddie) knows how they feel. Back when she was a newcomer, MTV followed her around for TRUE LIFE: MY BIG BREAK. “It’s funny, sometimes the cameras get in my face and it’s kind of old hat,” says the actress, who judged two of the challenges. “We watched them perform a Maddie and Casey scene, which was really strange for Zach [Roerig, Casey] and I because they all had completely opposite takes of what the scene actually was…. So it was very strange to watch that. It was a very emotional scene, and Maddie’s very insecure and vulnerable, and it was weird to see how it played out with other people because a lot of the girls did it very angry and attitude-y. And I was like ‘That’s not Maddie!’ “For the second challenge, she filled in for Jennifer Landon (Gwen). “It was one of the bridge scenes between Will and Gwen. That was fun, but especially nerve-wracking because I was worried about my performance. I was like, ‘I don’t want to screw these people up or look bad in front of Richard [Mensing, CBS Vice President of Daytime Programming, East Coast]!’ ” she laughs. “Do you know why I wasn’t judging? I cracked my head open at work,” reports Landon. “One of the doorways is really low, and I was running down the hall as fast as I could and I leaped into it. Five stitches! I should have gotten seven though. They did shave part of my head, so I have a bald patch. I don’t think I would want to judge them anyway. I feel like that’s bad karma.”Indeed, it was a little odd for the actors who were charged with critiquing their potential castmates. “Judging is weird, because you want to be honest and help them, but Zach and I were kind of harsh. But this person is gonna be on the show with us, so we want them to be good!” says Chando. The judging is now up to you. The three finalists all play Raven Lake campers who are stalked by the slasher this week — and then viewers can vote on the winner based on their performances. “They’re going to be a character, but not the character they’re playing now. I forget that one of them is going to come on; I’m excited for them,” gushes Landon. We asked Charak, Hyman and Novick why they deserve to be ATWT’s next new hire.
