Josh Walker and Scott Nelson couldn't believe someone else hadn't thought of it earlier.

When Walker, 23, of Sewickley, and Nelson, 25, of Ohio, thought about their future, they knew they wanted to focus on entertainment.

That's when they got the idea for "America's Next Great Star."

"We wanted to come up with something cool and unique. We knew 'American Idol' was the number one show, and there have been several knock-offs of it. We thought it was ridiculous no one had ever done a college version of the show," said Walker, executive director of their business, LimeLite Productions Inc.

That was four months ago. Since then, the pair has booked shows all over the country.

"It's grown like a wild fire, and it doesn't look like its going to be put out any time soon," said Nelson, LimeLite technical director.

Though done in an"American Idol"-style format, the show features more than singers. Actors, contortionists, jugglers, musicians, magicians, poets, comedians, gymnasts and more also are encouraged to try out.

From applicants, producers select six to eight finalists who compete in shows as part of a nationwide tour called "Do You Have What It Takes?"

While the judges -- local campus personalities -- will pick finalists, the audience's text message votes will determine the show's winner.

Each episode of the show will be featured on a different college campus. The first practice show was filmed this year at Marietta College in Ohio.

LimeLite also hosted a version of the show at the Ohio Governor's Council for Persons with Disabilities Youth Leadership Forum in July and received an award, recognizing the company for its efforts.

The first actual show will be held in Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

The fifth episode of the show will be aired at Community College of Beaver County in Monaca on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Athletic and Event Center, known as "the dome."

Most of the shows involve college students, but everyone is invited to audition for the free show at CCBC.

"America's Next Great Star" production staff will hold an open casting call in the Titan Cafe (CCBC cafeteria) Oct. 1 from noon to 6 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to audition and/or be a part of the studio audience.

Walker, a 2004 Quaker Valley High School graduate, who also has worked as an on-air radio personality and anchored a daily television newscast in Ohio, will host the free 90-minute stage show.

The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and will have his or her performance video reviewed by entertainment industry professionals in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City.

Walker, who has a degree in radio and television broadcasting and economics from Marietta College in Ohio, said he, Nelson and other crew members will travel more than 9,000 miles this fall to produce the shows. Shows will be aired on LimeLite's Web site, www.NextGreatStar.com [1].

Nelson also will conduct a class with students involved in the radio, television and video departments at each college to teach them about television production. The students will work with LimeLite staff on the set.

Nelson said he gives a lot of credit to LimeLite's dedicated staff.

"Without them, our idea of 'America's Next Great Star' would remain just that--an idea. I really feel the shows possibilities are endless," Nelson said.

Walker and Nelson are hoping MTV or another station will pick up the show.

For the moment, though, Walker, who has won national awards for his work both in front of and behind the camera, is happy he and Nelson are doing what they love.

"Its incredible to me that we have the opportunity to travel across the country with a group of my best friends, putting on shows and doing what I love, and making a living off of it," Nelson said.

"If you can say this is a job, then I may have the best job in the world."