Lachey to Host "High School Musical" Reality Show

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file) :: In this Feb. 15, 2008 file photo, singer Nick Lachey is shown at the New York Toy Fair in New York. Lachey has signed on to host the upcoming ABC reality show "High School Musical: Summer Session," inspired by the Disney Channel phenomenon co-starring Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens, ABC said this week.

By Associated Press
Updated: 4/28/2008

NEW YORK

Nick Lachey is going back to high school, musically.

The 34-year-old singer has signed on to host the upcoming ABC reality show ''High School Musical: Summer Session,'' inspired by the Disney Channel phenomenon costarring Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens, ABC said this week.

The program debuts July 20, and will air Sundays and Mondays for three weeks before settling into a Monday timeslot.

The competition will heat up as finalists participate in a summer music program: one winner will ''receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of 'High School Musical' history,'' according to ABC.

Just what that entails — quality time with Efron? — hasn't been announced yet. The champ will be named in mid-September.

Open casting calls for ''High School Musical: Summer Session'' will take place Sunday at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., and May 7 at Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide Worlds of Sports Complex in Orlanda, Fla. The age range for contestants is 16 through 22.

The audition process will be featured in early episodes of the show, ABC said.

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ABC and the Disney Channel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.

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On the Net:

ABC: http://abc.go.com/

The Disney Channel: http://disney.go.com/index

Nick Lachey: http://www.nicklachey.com/