Potential contestants waited outside Jason's Deli at The Gateway mall Thursday for a chance to audition for CBS's reality show "Big Brother," where the name of the game is to manipulate and deceive housemates in order to win $500,000.

"You basically get a bunch of money to lie to each other. It doesn't get much better than that," said Anthony Collins, 21, from Layton. His twin brother Brian, who was also in line to audition, said Anthony was "a master at it."

"Big Brother's" auditions is just the most recent of a slew of reality programs and movies this year that tapped the Salt Lake Valley for talent, including "High School Musical 3," "The Real World," "Deal or No Deal" and "So You Think You Can Dance?"

For its 10th season, "Big Brother" will cast 13 to 16 people, put them in a house for three months and tape their every move. It's a little like "Survivor" meets "The Real World" with weekly vote-offs, except contestants have no contact with the outside world: no phones, TV, computers, music or movies. The show even bans writing utensils so contestants can't pass each other notes, Castillo said.

"I like that you can't predict who's going to get booted and who will win," said April Blackwelder, 25, about "Big Brother." She and her roommate, Tom Bassett, 33, hope to tag-team the competition even though it may involve some back-stabbing for the final win.

"We'd split it in the end anyway," Bassett said.

Producers were recruiting in Salt Lake because they thought they could find the personalities they needed.

"It's just all about living together in the house," said Felipe Castillo, casting producer for "Big Brother." "We're looking for fun, energetic, passionate people who really know about the show, and know how to manipulate people and how to lie," Castillo said.

Ironically, honesty is something stressed on the application form. Potential contestants had to answer 12 pages of questions including, "If you drink, how often do you get drunk? How do you act when you get drunk?" "What is your favorite color? Why?" "When was the last time (if any) you hit, punched, kicked or threw something in anger? Please provide details."

Casting directors will be in Salt Lake City through Monday to conduct follow up interviews; finalists from audition cities around the country will be decided at the end of May.