Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but \"WWTBAM\"'s doing a contestant search on Oct. 4 in Chicago. To be selected you must visit the WGN web site--
here's the registration page. You must register by Sept. 25--they will then pick 500 names at random who will be contacted by E-mail on time and location (it will be in the morning of Oct. 4, which is a Saturday).
Any Chicago-area people interested--best of luck!