It was so great to share last night with the cast of "Dante's Cove" as they celebrated the kick-off of the third season of their show. It bows on here! TV Friday. I've only seen episode one but it looks like this may be the best season yet. I somehow got seated with the cast, one seat over from Thea Gill and in back of Michelle Wolff and Tracy Scoggins. Tracy should feel very validated because her performance had the audience at the Regent Showcase Theatre in stitches and they went wild for the brawl between her and Thea Gill. Very Alexis and Krystal Carrington.
The entire cast showed up for the event, including newcomers Jensen Atwood ("Noah's Arc"), Reichen Lemkuhl and Jill Bennett who seemed to have her own fan club in the theater, so rabid did they get each time she was on screen.
All are terrific additions to the show. I'm going to be sharing interviews in the coming days with various cast members but today, I'll start with Reichen.
He appears very nude in a scene with Jon Fleming (pictured, above), confessed to me that he had some issues with his naked rear-end but it was difficult to imagine why: "We're doing some groundbreaking things and we all did our best," he said. "I loved my scenes with Tracy and I was really, I don't know, I was really judgmental about my butt (laughs). Jon Fleming is great, a very nice, gentle guy, very cool. The director made me feel so comfortable on the set, the rest of the cast made me feel so welcome on my first day so it was just an all-around good experience."
Reichen may have won CBS' "Amazing Race" and written the book "Here's What We'll Say," but his acting resume is still skimpy. He hopes to beef it up in the future and is in negotiations for a project that he doesn't want to jinx by talking about.
He did the horror film "The Scorned" and has had some guest spots on several TV shows but hopes "Dante's" will lead to more opportunities.
"I'm going to keep focusing on television and film and stay creative," he said.
I wondered if it was difficult for Reichen to launch an acting career since people might have preconceived notions of him from "Amazing Race" or his former relationship with Lance Bass.
"I think sometimes people who have been on reality TV don't necessarily have goals for the creative side of entertainment. I do. It's up to me to prove that I can do it. That's my goal."
Has he had to develop a thick skin?
Answered Reichen: "Yes, thicker than ever."