By Liz Oakes
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT - Margo Middlemas sat calmly reading the novel Armageddon as around her, would-be Survivor contestants chatted excitedly about their chances of appearing on CBS' hit TV "reality" show.

Michelle Cornett of Franklin shaves her head, saying she can survive the next Survivor. (Craig Ruttle photo)

Hoping to follow Lillian "Big Lill" Morris of Deerfield Township as the next Survivor contender from Greater Cincinnati, Middlemas arrived at 9 a.m. for the 1-8 p.m. taping of auditions Sunday at Newport on the Levee and was rewarded with spot No. 21 in line.

"If I get on this show, I know it's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done," Middlemas, 49, of Union Township in Clermont County, said.

This was her second attempt to get on the show. For the previous casting call in February, Middlemas, who works for a florist in Blue Ash, sent in a videotape and a CD.

"I love challenges, I love playing games," Middlemas, who has watched the show since the second season, said. "And I want to test myself.

"And, I think for almost 50 years of age, I'm as good as any 20-year-old out there."

When her number was called, Middlemas stood in front of the camera and explained why she wanted to be on the show.

"I've survived so many things," she said, telling how she had owned her own floral shop, sold it and ended up working for the company that bought it.

At home after her two-minute audition, her husband, Don, and children, Katie, 16, and Steven, 12, told her they thought she'd make it to at least the final five or six if she got on the show.

"She's got more courage than I do," Katie said. "She'd be able to stick it out."

Local CBS affiliate WKRC-TV (Channel 12) officials said 500 people auditioned on Sunday. The area is the show's top viewing market, according to CBS.

In February, the last time a Survivor casting call was held locally, about 800 people made it through the audition line, with hundreds of late-comers turned away.

Regardless of what happens, Middlemas said she plans to try out for the show a couple of more times, but next time she'll do another video instead of ad-libbing on-camera.

"You don't know what they're looking for," she said. But "you never give up."

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E-mail loakes@enquirer.com