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July 11, 2007
The Celebreality Interview - Scott Baio

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Scott Baio is 45, single, and most importantly, talking about it. The veteran sitcom actor and notorious ladies man (with Pam Anderson, Erika Eleniak, Nicole Eggert, Nicolette Sheridan, Brooke Shields, Denise Richards, and Heather Locklear all taking up notches on his bedpost), is set to make his foray into reality programming when Scott Baio Is 45...and Single premieres Sunday, July 15 at 10:30/9:30c. The yin to a show like Rock of Love's yang, Baio is a more introspective dating show that probes into the psyche of a star who just can't seem to commit. We talked to Scott about the state of reality TV, getting older in Hollywood, how it sucks to be called Chachi 30 years later, and why you won't catch him getting his prostate examined on TV. Our loss? Find out!

What's your general take on the state of reality TV?

I said to Jason Hervey, the creator of the show, early on that I really didn't want to do a reality show about Scott Baio getting his prostate checked or getting a colonic with his friend. That's inane and not me. I wanted to make a show that was a big story about something that doesn't quite look like anything else. I said, if we can do that, where it's all based on me and all based on stuff from my life and achieve…well, look, we're not reinventing the wheel. But we're putting another spoke in it. We just wanted to do something that was not the normal show, and I think we kinda did it. In my opinion, this is the next step of reality TV. This is the move-up as opposed to…just checking your ass for cancer.

So, in other words, Scott Baio is 45...and Single is more dignified than that?

More dignified, better storytelling…I showed it to some friends of mine and someone told me, "This is like a John Hughes movie." I said, "Wow. Good." My take on it was that I wanted it to be more like Entourage. Someone else saw it and said, "This is more like Sex and the City," kind of. I thought: Good. Thanks!

The show's title and premise suggest that you have a problem with being 45 and single. Was this a growing concern of yours, or did you wake up one day and say, "Bam. I'm 45 and single. What do I do now?"

It's been a slow-growing thing. I'd go out with my buddies and it'd be 10 p.m. and be like, "I wanna go home. I don't want to be here anymore. Who are these people? I don't know them." I slowly got to the point where I found myself in bed at 10, 10:30, thinking, "This is kinda weird." It also stems from a time when I was out, I don't know how many years ago it was, I was probably 37, 38. I was with a friend of mine and there was a young girl by the bar, she must have been 21. She turned to me and said, "Aren't you Scott Baio?" I said, "Yeah." She said, "Aren't you too old to be in here?" I looked her right in the eye and I went, "Yep. I am." And I left. From that point on, it slowly snowballed.

Aging in Hollywood must be strange. Do you feel general pressure in that respect?

No. I think that's more of a woman issue.

Scott_baio_2 The show takes advantage of the fact that much of your sexual history is public knowledge. Do you derive any pride in the fact that a lot of people know about your several conquests?

Honestly, I don't really think about that. I just lived. I'm not making light of this, but I just did what I did. It wasn't like, "Well, I got another one. Let me write that one down." I just went and did what I had to do and I was with women I found attractive. Was it great? Sure. Am I proud of it? No. Am I embarrassed of it? No. If I ever look back retrospectively, sometimes I go, "Well, that was pretty cool, I guess." I can imagine some guys thinking, "He had a pretty cool life." But I don't really think about that, because that's a little weird.

At the same time, during the first episode, you admit that fame has been "crippling." Do you ever regret the path you've taken?

No. I just don't know anything else. What was my alternative? I don't know. I'm not comparing myself, but I remember watching an interview with George Harrison. He was asked, "What was it like being a Beatle?" His response was, "What was it like not being a Beatle? I don't know." I just did it. There's no way to juxtapose my life against anything else. Would I have done things differently? Absolutely. If I had a magic wand, I could go back and fix certain things, sure.

Relatively speaking, you fared better than most, especially if you compare your experience to that of someone like Lindsay Lohan, who crashed and burned before her 21st birthday.

Well, there are a few things about that. I worked steadily until I was about 38. That helps. You don't have downtime. I think I was on television 20 years in a row in some form or another. I never had that, "Where's my fame? Where's my work?" thing. I had a really good family behind me and plus, the show that I grew up on, I worked with Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris and Henry Winkler and Ron Howard and Tom Bosley. These guys were solid guys. They weren't doing drugs. They weren't going out, drinking and getting nuts. They were living their lives and meeting women and all that. But I mean, I had very good people to look up to. Or, not even look up to, just be surrounded by. I was never intrigued by drugs, and plus, my father would have kicked my ass. Physically! Literally!

In the segment with Erin Moran (Joanie on Happy Days and a former lover of Scott's), you talk about being unhappy at the Happy Days reunion and otherwise being sort of frustrated when people always refer to you as, "Chachi." Do you look back on that part of your life fondly at all? Do you ever watch reruns?

Yeah! Don't get me wrong: it's a huge part of my life. It gave me everything I have. I'm so thankful for it. I loved doing it. It was great. But it's over. People want to ask questions about it and that's fine, but I literally have said to people, "It was 30 years ago. I don't remember!" What was it like? I don't know. What was it like when you walked out of your bathtub 30 years ago? And they keep doing these reunions. Pretty soon, they're going to have to cart people out in wheelchairs and it's just pretty f***in' pathetic. In my opinion, when you do something that's of such quality, that's a gem like that, you leave it alone. You move on.

Scott_baio_3 So, is it exciting to be moving on and spearheading a new series?

Yeah. I'm excited because, like I said earlier, this is a little different. I'm proud of that. But I've been around so long that I don't really get excited anymore. I love to go to work, I love to do my thing, but then I go home and I jump in the pool and I play golf and whatever. It's not the end-all in life. Don't get me wrong: I want people to watch. I want people to like what I do. But am I excited about it? Uh, sure. But it's a different excitement than when I was 20. It's excitement with a thought process.

Was it weird adjusting to reality TV cameras?

Well, I wasn't filmed all the time. It was a unique situation. Everything you see is real, but put into a form as opposed to laying it all out there. But this is me talking to a shrink, me talking to my friends, me talking to old girlfriends...all of that is real.

Was it tough dredging up the past?

Scary, not tough. A lot of women wouldn't talk to me. Some women I was afraid of because I wronged them and hell has no wrath like a woman scorned. In the later episodes, you'll see me flinching a few times because I really thought some of these women were going to hit me.

In the first episode, your life coach, Doc Ali, tells you that she needs you to be celibate for 8 weeks. When's the last time you were celibate for that long?

When I was 16-years-old. Before I lost my virginity.

The ultimate point of the show seems to be not just that you're doing this for yourself, but for the sake of your relationship with your girlfriend, Renee.

I did it for that. I did it more for me. She was fine. She doesn't have a problem. I mean, she has other problems, but not a commitment problem. The show's about me!

Did you find your experience on reality TV to be enriching? Did you come out improved?

Improved? Yeah, sure. I learned a lot. Without giving anything away, I learned a lot about me.

Catch a sneak preview of the first episode of Scott Baio Is 45...and Single at VSPOT now.


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Comments
Gwen

I completely did the school girl sigh when I read him quoting George Harrison. Scott Baio rocks! Great. Another reality show that I will obsess over. Just what I need.

naomi

he's still good looking. i'd do him.

lisa

I find it very sad that Mr. Baio needs a public forum or even a life coach to find out who is and what he wants. He raves against the machine of "being a star," uses it as an excuse for his commitmentphobia, and yet he uses it to find the true him. Why does he need what is really the equivalent of sitting on shrink's couch to be filmed. Whatever the medium, I wish him only the best and hope he speedily recognizes all that he has to offer insight, fortitude, strength, kindness - married or single, it's not about the other person it's about YOU!

Robin

I find it still very sad that at 45 Scott is still stuck on looks first and foremost. The comment that one day he'll wake up and find his wife looks like the wrath of God was very insulting. He should start with this aspect.

moss

if he's single.. why does he have a girlfriend?

WINNYWINSTON2007
WINNYWINSTON2007

scott,I COMMEND YOU FOR DEALING WITH YOUR PAST ISSUES!I THINK THAT WHEN YOUR DONE WITH THIS JOURNEY YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH YOU WILL BE RESPECTED,AND HOW FAR A SORRY WILL GO.YOU CAN START WITH A CLEAN SLATE AND NOT LET PAST RELATIONS GET IN THE WAY OF BEING THE REAL YOU AND MAKING A COMMITMENT TO YOUR GIRLFRIEND.PAST TIMES CAN DEFFINITLY CRIPPLE YOUR MIND AND SO CAN THE PEOPLE WE HANG WITH EVEN IF THERE OUR BUDDYS FOR A LIFE TIME.I THINK IT TAKES A BIG MAN TO HAVE COURAGE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THERE PROBLEM AND GOING BACK AS HARD AS IT MAY BE.THERE ARE THOUSANDS THAT NEVER DO THIS.I BELEIVE YOULL COME OUT A BETTER YOU AND FINALLY BE HAPPY WITHIN YOUR SELF AND BE MUCH BETTER IN THE LONG RUN AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND WILL BE WONDERFULL BECAUSE YOU WILL NOW HAVE DELT WITH YOUR PAST AND IT WONT HOLD YOU BACK ANYMORE.YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A NEW MAN AND NOT BE AFRAID OF THE C WORD ANYMORE.GOOD-LUCK AND DONT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO NEGATIVE ENERGY!IF TEMPTATION ARISES YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO LEAVE,TRUST YOURSELF AND DONT LET ANYONE STOP WHAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE EVEN IF THERE FEELINGS ARE HURT,IF THERE YOUR TRUE FRIEND THEYLL SURPORT YOU ALL THE WAY! TAKE CARE AND GOOD-LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY SCOTT! WINNYWINSTON2007.....

L.C.

WOW this is a train wreck and I can't stop watching. Can't wait for more. (Scott my mom once told me that you came in this world alone and you're going to leave that same way) You have the life. Stop thinking about what your missing and think about what you have.

tina

can't wait to see the rest of this show! its very intriguing. Scott's easy on the eyes!

Karrie

I use to have the biggest crush on Scott when I was growing up..my whole room had posters and pictures of him. I thought he was HOT then and I think he is HOT now.
Good Luck Scott

t

man scotts needs to get rid of johnny... the man isn't 20 anymore.. at some point in your life you need to grow up and if that means leaving friends behind because they don't want to go down that route with you then so be it...

kad

Scott Baio is capable of using his past to bring blessings to victims of illnesses in hospitals and making a difference with his life. He has been so blessed and can choose to pass those blessings on by serving the hungry at homeless shelters, instead of indulging his prodigal son desires. He is Creator's original and his Creator will call him home and account for Scott's journey here. I know he can choose to make a difference with the dash-from his birthdate to his death date.

charlie1208

Scott has to get rid of Johnny. Most men and women need to get rid of some friends that are not good for him along the way. Johnny doesn't care about Scott, only of his way to get tail.

Angie

Why wouldn't Scott have a problem with the c word? A lot of women wanted him. You have to love who you are before you can commit to someone else. The fact that you took the time to notice a problem says a lot about what you want. Take it from someone who has been married for 15 years, it can be worth it if you just remember that there is nothing that love can't conquer.

Sheila

Scott...I know someone just like you. He is 54 and still single. And he too loves women. Hope you find what you are looking for as you come face to face with your past. You need to dump Johnny, some times our friends are not the best thing for us, sometimes they are just plain toxic.

Crista

OMG!! This how is my new guilty pleasure!!! Episode #1 was great! Can't wait to see how it plays out!

Colleen

Wow! Best show I've seen on TV in a while! I had no idea it was going to be so good! I'm married w/ 3 kids, but I found a new crush-- I love Scott!!

Carla

I started watching the show for entertainment purposes and it turned into an awareness for myself...I have had to dump energy drainer friends in the past and Johnny is a great example of one...sorry Scott...I hope you find peace and happiness.

Carla

I started watching the show for entertainment purposes and it turned into an awareness for myself...I have had to dump energy drainer friends in the past and Johnny is a great example of one...sorry Scott...I hope you find peace and happiness.

Tina

I just watched the first episode and I thought it was pretty good. I use to see Scott around town in certain hot spots in Studio City a few years ago and thought he was a big jerk but I must admit after watching the show he is very different from what I thought. He really is not that different than half the good looking successful men in L.A. they are continually looking for the next fix the next hot chick and well in L.A. they are a dime a dozen......the reality is that one day you will wake up and be less attractive and the hot chicks will see you as a creapy old guy and then it will be too late....I hope this show is viewed by men and that they learn something from this show and the experiences that I believe will play out in this series....too bad the tabloids blew the ending last week! I will still watch. I figured the ending would be like a hollywood feel good movie anyway....

Dena

I'm sure the only small prick Scott Baio has is is friend Johnny! Love the show.

Mary Anne

Love the show! I am not into reality television, but this one was good. I turned it on by accident and was hooked. I can tell you why Scott is single and 45-he's a jerk. He freely states that he is a perfectionist and into looks, which shows how shallow he is. Now he is getting older, he realizes that looks and youth do not last forever. Scott should think about committing to himself, because that is the only way one can reform. If he is committed to changing himself, he is halfway to committing to another.

WINNYWINSTON2007

I THOUGHT THAT WERE SUPOSE TO GIVE SURPORT AND FORGIVENESS,MOST ARE TALKING ABOUT THERE CRUSHES WITH A TV ICON RATHER YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT,MAYBE WE CAN SAY, WE GIVE HIM SOME CREDIT TO DO WHAT HES DOING.I REALLY BELEIVE SCOTT WAS NEVER ABLE TO GROW THE WAY A NORMAL CHILD WOULD BECAUSE OF WHAT TV CAN REALLY DO TO THESE PEOPLE.I DONT THINK HE REALLY MEANS TO HURT ANYONE.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MANS POINT A VIEW ON THIS ONE.BUT MOST ARE WOMEN OF COURSE.I THINK SCOTT FEELS ALOT OF EMOTIONS GROWING UP IN FRONT OF THE WORLD.WOULDNT WE?YES ABSOLUTLY WE WOULD.HE DIDNT GROW UP LIKE ALOT OF US AND I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE ANYONE STAR ECT,NOT BE TO HAPPY DEEP DOWN,SOME SAY WHAT IT HAS DONE TO THEM ,SOME DONT. THE REALITY WORLD IN GENERAL IS GETTING TO BE ALL WE KNOW ON TV ANYMORE. SCOTT I SAY I HOPE YOU FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMS AND YOULL BE HAPPY IN THE LONG RUN.WHATS THE RUSH .45 IS NOTHING TODAY.WOMEN ARE STILL ABLE TO HAVE BABYS AFTER 40.YOULL GET THERE WHEN ITS TIME.YOU MAY FIND OUT ON THIS JOURNEY THAT YOUR NOT THE TYPE TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT AND MARRY ANYONE AND THATS OK. BUT I THINK AFTER THIS YOU WILL SEE YOU CAN COMMIT TO SOMEONE COMPLETLY.IT TAKES LATER IN LIFE FOR SOME TO COMMIT.AT LEAST YOU DONT HAVE SEVERAL DIVORCES,AND 6 KIDS.I THINK YOUR OK .I CANT SAY NEGATIVE THINGS TO SOMEONE I NEVER MET OR I HAVENT WALKED IN SOMEONE ELSES SHOES.BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS. LOTS OF LUCK TO YOU!

SUZ

HOW SAD - THAT HE IS DOING THIS SHOW AND NOT JUST ACTING. I HAVE LIKED HIM SINCE GRADE SCHOOL AND HE IS NOT PUTTING HIMSELF IN A GOOD LIGHT. HE IS 45 AND IS ACTING LIKE HE IS 18 AGAIN -- ADMITTING HE DOESNT LIKE BEING AROUND HIS FANS -- AND IT LOOKS LIKE HIS FRIEND JOHNNY IS ONLY AROUND TO GET ANY ATTENTION HE CAN -- AND NOT HELPING HIS FRIEND. I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SHOW -- BUT ONLY TO SEE IF THE POOR BLONDE THAT IS HIS GIRLFRIEND WILL BE SAVED AND LET GO. STILL THINK YOU LOOK GOOD SCOTT-- JUST WISH YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT LIFE IS TOO SHORT!

metalmuscle

Leave the guy alone...he thinks he's missing out on something but he's not.....He can have any girl he wants...he's still handsome and has money, and can have anything/one he wants. Monogamy gets old plain and simple....Anybody that doesn't think so is either blind or kidding themselves...Sorry, it's just the way life is. And his girlfriend is definitely not all that...You can do better Scottie!

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