BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Once he's done hosting ABC's "High School Musical: Get in the Picture," Nick Lachey might have a career ahead of him as a spokesman for the Utah Travel Council.

Lachey, a veteran of the boy band 98 Degrees and star of MTV's "Newlyweds" with then-wife Jessica Simpson, spent several weeks in the state while the reality/competition show was being filmed at Murray High School. And while show biz types who don't live in Utah are prone to making some rather sweeping, unflattering generalizations about the state, Lachey was having none of it.

"You know what? Utah, and I say this honestly, gets a bum rap," he said. "There's a lot of impressions of what Utah's like and what Salt Lake City's like, and I can honestly say that we had the best time there. The people there were genuine and very warm and welcoming.

"We had a blast!"

And he didn't know he was talking to the television critic from the Deseret News until AFTER he'd made that observation.

"High School Musical: Get in the Picture," which premieres Sunday at 7 p.m. on Ch. 4, continues Utah's link to the hugely successful Disney franchise. The first two TV movies were filmed here; the third movie — which will be released theatrically — is in production in Salt Lake City.

Thousands of teenagers turned out at open calls in Southern California and Florida, and talent scouts found other kids across the country. After the pool of hopefuls was whittled down to a dozen, Lachey, the finalists and the production team descended on Murray High School, where they "set up a performing arts school, essentially."

(There was still "a banner or two" hanging in the hallways urging people to support "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta. And Murray High actually is much more prominently featured in "Get in the Picture" than it was on "Idol" when Archuleta returned home for his big celebration.)

"Every day (the finalists) went to class, they learned, they were faced with challenges — things we set up to really push them to go above and beyond where they wanted to go, quite frankly." Lachey said. "But in the end I think it made them better performers and, honestly, probably better people, too. They learned a lot."

The prize awaiting the winner of "Get In the Picture" is a chance to be "High School Musical 3." Well, in the credits, anyway — the winner will star in a music video that will play while the end credits roll.

He or she will also get a talent holding deal with Disney as well as a recording contract with Disney Records.

"But I think, more than that, they've got their foot in the door of probably the most successful franchise out right now," Lachey said. "And the opportunity to step into a huge franchise in 'High School Musical.'"