I've been working on a new opener (apologies if it has been done/posted before)...

approach a set and tell them you need an impartial opinion... you just got called to be a participant on a reality show, but don't know if you should do it or not... you can thread into a story with DHV spikes how you applied for show X with a video doing one thing, and while X didn't want you, they are working on show Y, and your video immediately came to mind to the producers.

you can thread on the topic with the dilemmas:
if you do the one show, you are ineligible for the show you originally tried out for...
it is a dating show, but you're "sort of" seeing someone now...
it is a make over show, but you obviously no longer need it... (maybe add a a neg and say you'd recommend target since she could benefit the most)

the other thing you can go with, is how do I take off from work, disappear from my family/friends for 6-8 weeks/months to do this show... i can't even tell them I was cast... make an aside that it would probably be easier to come out of the closet than actually admit to people you were going to be on show X. this also is why you are asking them rather friends... if they are anti reality show you can always say such a shame, since we were getting along so well too...

thoughts? suggestions?

I think its better if you say a friend has been invited to a show instead of you...It doesn't make you seem alpha male. ALPHAs don't need opinion of others about themselves or their decision making. Tell me if I'm wrong