November 17, 2004 |
Apprentice Hothead Mouths Off
If loose lips sink ships, then 31-year-old Apprentice also-ran Chris Russo may want to strap on an extra life preserver. During the two months he spent kissing up to Trump, the politically incorrect (yet oddly likable) Long Islander came off a smidge chauvinistic (remember the bridal store "bitch"?), a tad homophobic (b---j-bs = gay support!) and a touch traitorous ("My team sucks, Don!"). Now, let's see if we can add apologetic to the list... TV Guide Online: Was Thursday's bridal task rigged to make you lose?
Chris Russo: I don't think the competition was rigged to make me lose. I do believe there was a slight chance the wedding task was not the next task in line. But this is Mr. Trump's game, and if he wanted to change things up to have me tested after opening my mouth the week before, he makes the rules. TVGO: Do you think your accent was an obstacle when you were making those phone calls? Maybe the women at those bridal stores had trouble taking you seriously.
Chris: Not at all. My accent is from New York and I was calling people from New York. It's the people in Middle America that don't understand. They're the ones with the accents, to be honest with you. (Chuckles) TVGO: You called one of the women on the phone a bitch after she turned you down. Do you think that's professional?
Chris: If I called her a bitch to her face it wouldn't be professional. But if I hang up the phone and call somebody a bitch it's more out of frustration. TVGO: Oh, I see. Even still, as a project manager, is that really the kind of example you want to set?
Chris: Come on, we lived together for nine weeks. That's how people speak in the business world. It might not be politically correct, but use some common sense. That's how people talk. Mr. Trump curses tremendously when he's doing his deals. Does that make him not professional? TVGO: Uh, no comment. Do you regret anything that came out of your mouth on the show?
Chris: Not at all. I don't want to come off like Mr. Macho, but you have to understand something — and I told the producers this when I came onto the show — I'm already married, super happy, I've got a beautiful baby, I've got my own company. I've got nothing to prove to anybody. I don't have to be a phony. I might not be the most politically correct guy out there, but that's who I am. TVGO: You raised some eyebrows during the restaurant task when you suggested that John give the gay customers b---j-bs in an effort to elicit a positive review out of them. Did you get any flak for that?
Chris: I didn't get any flak for that. You know why I didn't get any flak for that? Because it was funny. It wasn't malicious. There's a difference. You got five guys in a room, jokes like that are going to come out. You have to understand something: We were in the middle of a restaurant task. It was high-pressure and intense. As a boss, I know that the easiest way to reset somebody's psyche — especially when they're stressed — is to crack a joke. TVGO: What do you think about all the heat Jen C. took for her "fat Jewish lady" crack?
Chris: I feel bad for Jennifer. She definitely made some mistakes by making those comments, but I don't think she was being malicious. It's unfortunate that in the real world it cost her her job. It was definitely a mistake. She should have known better, but I don't think it should have any effect on her real life. I don't want to sound overly dramatic, but [the whole fracas] literally ruined her life, because now she looks like a complete bum, a complete fool and a racist. TVGO: Not to quibble, but why was her Jewish crack a mistake but not your gay comment?
Chris: (Pause) That's a great question. I'm nervous about answering it... but in society, race and religion is always going to take precedence over homosexuality. Secondly, my comment was more in humor as opposed to a negative comment. TVGO: Um, OK. Switching gears, what's the real reason you didn't bring Jen M. into the boardroom? Was it because you were hot for her?
Chris: Oh, gimme a break. Jennifer and I are like water and oil. TVGO: Opposites do attract...
Chris: (Laughs) That's funny. TVGO: What if I were to run through a list of the women on the show and you were to rank them in terms of hotness. Ten being super-hot and one being Swan material. How about that?
Chris: Um, I wouldn't mind doing that. I think it's a little immature, but I wouldn't mind doing that. TVGO: Excellent. Maria?
Chris: Nine. TVGO: Stacy Rotner...
Chris: (Laughs) I can't do this... TVGO: Come on!
Chris: (Pauses) Six. TVGO: Jen C.?
Chris: Seven. No, give her an eight. TVGO: Was that a mercy eight?
Chris: No, I think she's pretty. She's not my type, but I think she's beautiful. She's probably the prettiest girl on the show, but Maria is a little more striking, so that's why she gets the extra point. TVGO: Pamela?
Chris: Seven. With the new boobs, seven and a half. TVGO: Jen M.?
Chris: I'd give her a seven. TVGO: Sandy?
Chris: I'd give her a seven. TVGO: Ivana?
Chris: Seven. TVGO: Stacie J.?
Chris: I'd give her a seven and a half. TVGO: Elizabeth?
Chris: Seven. TVGO: Thanks for playing. Is your wife giving you the silent treatment after you lost Thursday's task? I mean, the reward was a shopping spree at a diamond store!
Chris: No, by 9:35 my wife was crying, not because she thought I was going to get fired, just because she saw the frustration on my face. She knows I'm a perfectionist. She knows that I strive to be the best and she could tell that I didn't have it in me. And she didn't want America to look and say, "This guy's a quitter." TVGO: That's actually kinda sweet. Anything else you wanna say before we end this?
Chris: I just want people to understand that I am not a ladies' man. I'm a family man. I just had a son nine weeks ago. The producers made a huge mistake this year by not showing us personally. They didn't show me on the phone with my wife two times a day. They didn't show me speaking to the baby through her belly on the telephone. You don't know who's married and not married. You don't know who's crazy or who's cold. You just see people from a business standpoint. It was more like Fear Factor, soulless contestants on the "Corporate Mr. Trump Show." |
Nancy McKeon's Disastrous Career
When Las Vegas took a beating and storms blacked out Chicago in part one of Category 6: Day of Destruction, Nancy McKeon thought of it as "a fun ride." Of course, it helps that she's only making believe in the CBS disaster miniseries, part two of which airs tonight at 8 pm/ET. Here, the 38-year-old actress tells TV Guide Online about stormy weather, the sapphic appeal of The Facts of Life's Jo Polniaczek, and her butt-kickin' role on Lifetime's The Division. TV Guide Online: What's the worst storm you've ever been in?
Nancy McKeon: Oh man, when I was very young and it was our first cruise. Two ships left New York for Bermuda and there was a huge storm. The other ship actually turned back but ours just kept goin'. And I was very ill — it was rough and scary, and heightened by being young and not knowing what's going on. The ocean and weather can be very humbling. TVGO: In Category 6, you're a reporter who criticizes the "dumbing down of local TV news." Do you have similar opinions?
McKeon: Yes. I think, unfortunately, in today's world, we're kind of about sound bites. There's two minutes between weather and sports to actually discuss what's going on. It's a bit of a shame. TVGO: Was this role a change for you?
McKeon: Well, I tend to be drawn to movies that are more character-driven and probably more reality-based. This is just a fictionalized storm and power crisis. And the [special] effects! They brought 747 jet engines on the street and rain machines. Those kinds of things were very different for me to participate in. TVGO: We've gotta ask. Did you know Jo from Facts of Life is a lesbian icon?
McKeon: (Laughs) I haven't heard that, but I think that's a wonderful thing. I think that was helpful to girls our age to have that kind of a role model, to see a girl who was strong and standing up for what she believed in, living her life on her own terms and not bowing to peer pressure and becoming a cookie-cutter person. And it was great to go to work and speak your mind all day long. I got the greatest lines and comebacks! TVGO: Are you able to speak your mind like Jo did?
McKeon: I'm a big believer in you can pretty much say anything — it's how you say it. TVGO: Ever been to Peekskill, N.Y., where Jo, Blair, Tootie and Natalie attended the Eastland School for Girls?
McKeon: I have never been to Peekskill. But, fun fact: Mel Gibson is from Peekskill. Most people don't know that. TVGO: Have you seen El DeBarge since he sung and danced on Facts?
McKeon: Oh gosh, no, that was just such a different lifetime ago. TVGO: Bummer. Lastly, in your role as Inspector Jinny Exstead on The Division, did you ever really get to do stunts and kick butt?
McKeon: Oh, yeah. It was fun. I looked forward to those days. I called it "playing cops and robbers." You get to go and really just be a kid and go tackle somebody or draw your weapon and [say] "Police!" |
Survivor's Sarge Discharged
The women have taken a commanding lead in Survivor: Vanuatu's battle of the sexes. The latest casualty of the gender war was last week's castoff, Lea "Sarge" Masters. The 40-year-old drill sergeant (whose elimination makes him Vanuatu's first jury member) lost out after his old pal Chris sided with the female voters. Here, Masters commands TV Guide Online's attention as he dishes Chris' betrayal, the ladies' devious behavior and baring his bottom on national TV. TV Guide Online: Before watching your final episode, did you know Chris voted against you?
Sarge: No, I didn't. I was sitting there going, "What? Where did that come from?" I think he just didn't want to ruffle any feathers so he could get in with the women and stick a knife in their backs for me. TVGO: Bet you were also surprised that Julie and LeAnn brought back chicken wings for the girls, but just bones for the guys.
Sarge: That had Julie's name written all over it. Julie had to get in with somebody and say, "I'm with the women." That was her way of doing it. There weren't enough wings left over anyway. In fact, sucking on bones was just fine for me. TVGO: You seemed genuinely shocked by all the scheming. It's Survivor, Sarge!
Sarge: Everyone left in the game is a cutthroat for $1 million. They've already said that they would lie, cheat and steal, whereas I would not do that. I wanted to go as long as I could [and] have fun doing it, representing the Army and doing good things. It was kind of ironic to get voted off on Veterans Day. I was surprised at a lot of things — I felt wholeheartedly that my pact with Julie and Twila was solid. I didn't think there was any doubt. TVGO: Rory says you made a big mistake believing the girls and voting out John K.
Sarge: Well, all Rory was worried about was numbers so that he could stay. That's fine. But I would have rather spent the rest of the time with Ami than Rory. Because Rory is an obnoxious, egotistical know-it-all. I didn't like him from Day 1. TVGO: Did Julie's flirting and sitting between your legs by the fire sway your decision to trust her?
Sarge: No, she was flirting a lot. That didn't have anything to do with it. I think she wanted to shock everybody. She picked me because I don't give a crap. While she was doing it, I'm looking at Chad and Chris like, "What do I do now?" I didn't know where to put my hands. I didn't want to give her the impression that she had anything going on. TVGO: What do your Army buddies think about you mooning the camera while sunbathing?
Sarge: Basically, instead of making a list of who's giving me a hard time, I'd have to make a list of who is not giving me a hard time. I got e-mails from people I didn't even know. They say, "Are you crazy?" I'm say, "Yeah, I'm crazy. Hell, I'm crazy for being on the damned show." Most people save their leave for a fabulous vacation. I went off to an island to argue with a bunch of people and eat plantains and used two months of vacation time. |
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