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« The Great American Idol Blog
Former Idol Cohost: Quitting Was a "Big Mistake"
Brian Dunkleman courtesy VH1
There's never a crystal ball around when you need one. After leaving American Idol after Season 1, Brian Dunkleman faded into obscurity while his cohost, Ryan Seacrest, became the next Dick Clark. Now, the Dunk is back on TV, mixing it up with Happy Days' Erin Moran and Eight Is Enough's Willie Aames as a contestant on Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp (Sundays at 8 pm/ET, VH1). We talked to Dunkleman about getting in shape military-style, dealing with reality-TV "drama," and what he really thinks of Idol. — Megan Walsh-Boyle
TVGuide.com: What made you decide to enlist?
Brian Dunkleman: Well, they called and I was available. It's been a while since someone has asked me to do something, so I thought it would probably be a good idea to do it. Maybe they assumed I had completely let myself go. [But] it worked out great because I was actually in the process of trying to get in shape [because] I was getting married.
TVGuide.com: How is it working out with drill sergeant Harvey? He seems kinda scary.
Dunkleman: It was good. I have a lot of respect for Harvey. He's a pretty sweet guy underneath all of it. [Besides], once you deal with Simon Cowell you can deal with anything.
TVGuide.com: Was the boot-camp part tough?
Dunkleman: It was one of the more difficult things I had ever done. This was pretty physically intense.... We were doing actual Navy Seal training exercises. You really feel a sense of accomplishment. I've learned that I'm capable of a lot more physically than I thought I was.
TVGuide.com: And what about all the drama? Did you expect all of the blowups?
Dunkleman: Well, of course, I did — it's reality television. [Laughs] People really wouldn't watch if there weren't [blowups], would they?
TVGuide.com: So you were supposed to be getting in shape and then they threw you a bachelor party....
Dunkleman: Again, it's a reality television show, so hire a bartender, hire a stripper, it's probably going to be pretty entertaining. I had no idea they were doing that. I actually thought it was very cool of them.
TVGuide.com: Did you get along with the other contestants?
Dunkleman: We all really hit it off. In fact, if it weren't for them actually taping a television show it would have been nonstop fun because we had a really good time together.
TVGuide.com: Are you all fit and buff now?
Dunkleman: The first thing I did was eat a 33-ounce ribeye. I'm not sticking to that diet.... Are you kidding me? I actually like to live life.
TVGuide.com: You know, I have to ask, what in the world made you quit American Idol?
Dunkleman: I've answered it so many times it's curious to me why I keep getting asked — I wish I had gotten fired, it would be a hell of a lot easier to deal with. I don't understand why people would think I would lie about it at this point. It was such a big mistake in judgment, it's embarrassing. I was unhappy on the show, they treated the kids like [crap], I didn't think it was cool. If I had known it was going to run for 70 years I would have sucked it up and become callous like the rest of them. I had a lot of great experiences on Idol, but I just have a deep philosophical opposition to what they do.
TVGuide.com: Have you watched Idol since your departure?
Dunkleman: I don't find [Idol] very interesting without me on it.
TVGuide.com: How's married life?
Dunkleman: I'm thoroughly enjoying being a housewife.
TVGuide.com: How are you keeping busy now that Fit Club is over?
Dunkleman: I didn't schedule anything after [Fit Club] for two months — we were a married couple and it was just really, really great. It's wonderful to be able to eat again.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:35 AM
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I wish he had stuck around because Ryan Seacrest makes me want to put a bullet in my mouth. But, I think he is right that they treat the contestants like crap most of the time.
Like asking David A. to pick which side he thought was the bottom 3? What kind of a person does that to someone. "Choose which of your friends you think sucks more!"
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Apr 18, 2008 3:04 PM
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P3freak90, although I found it distasteful, and I am NOT a fan of Seacrest, he has these things written for him, it wasn't something he decided to say on his own - he's not that creative. Blame the producers and writers if you don't like what Seacrest says on Idol. Blame Seacrest for everything else he does off of Idol though.
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Apr 18, 2008 3:51 PM
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Oh, I know, I was using that as an example of why the show is horrible. Ryan is just an annoying/over-exposed idiot.
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Apr 18, 2008 4:00 PM
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I am glad that Brian left the show. Ryan seems supportive of the contestants, even if he is annoying. Most of the former contestants have already said that Ryan is a good guy. Brian, on the other hand, brought a lot of uncomfortable tension between the hosts and the judges. He also said something about Ryan in a comedy routine that was disgusting so I'm not going to say it again.
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Apr 18, 2008 5:42 PM
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I never liked Dunkleman so, while I feel for him that he missed out on the big bucks, I don't think the show had a great loss. Sorry.
Also, I will have to agree with the posters about Ryan. He certainly has his "knight in shining armor" moments when he defends the contestants but, other times he acts like a total jerk.
His treatment of the contestants during the elimination show is downright cruel sometimes, and I DON'T LIKE IT. It makes me terribly uncomfortable to hear him say those horrible things. I watch the show to be entertained, not to see people be treated like dirt. Stop it!
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Apr 18, 2008 7:33 PM
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It's funny, but I never actually heard before why he did leave AI. I completely agree with his assessment. The kids definitely come across as the classiest part of the show. Ryan Seacrest is intolerable. I don't think there is a worse television host out there. If only Tim Gunn could take over.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:59 PM
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He passed up big bucks for integrity... Boy we still have people around like that in America... go figure! There is still hope for us.
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Apr 19, 2008 8:31 AM
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I thought he was fired for getting drunk, arrested and being a general a$$??? Guess I was wrong - but he still seems like a pompous jerk.
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Apr 21, 2008 2:09 PM
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