Out in Reality TV: December 2007 Archives

Note: This is an updated post. Greg Plitt's publicist asked me to "correct" a few things. I stand by the original post but didn't want to be completely uncooperative. Apparently Greg was not supposed to talk about the new season of "Workout" so I have deleted a few sentences that gave away some plot points. I refused, however, to take down the entire post as was requested. I wish Greg well.

Greg Plitt is so stunningly beautiful that you figure he's gotta be a dolt with nothing upstairs. You know, just a real musclehead. Well, he's got muscles and he's got looks (can you believe these pictures?) but he's also got some things to say. We chatted a few weeks back at the Diversity Awards where Jackie Warner of "Workout" was honored as the out star of a reality show. Greg, [28], is one of the trainers on the next season of the show which debuts with its third season in March.

I wanted Greg to tell me a little about himself and he gave me a very concise little bio: "I've done about [50] fitness covers and that's my background, sports and fitness, and I was a West Point graduate, an Army ranger, I served overseas. So, a casting friend of mine saw an opening on the show and brought me over there and it's working out well. I've got a good story, an inspirational story about being in the war, coming from a military background and promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle. I've been able to bring that to the table."

So, what's in store next season for fans of "Workout"?
"We just came back from a weekend trip, up near [deleted] and it's gonna be juicy this year, there's a lot of drama....[deleted sentence] ...It's unfolded into a lot more drama than I think we all expected."

Since the show will bring him at least 15 minutes of fame, how does Greg feel about becoming a celeb?
"Whatever comes from that, bring it on," he says. "I'm excited about it. I think reality shows were cool. My whole premise of being on the show is that it portrays fitness in a positive light, not the vanity of it where you're working out to look good in the mirror. But where you're working out as a lifestyle to be healthy."

I tell Greg that he is going to have a lot of gay fans because we are very shallow and he is so good looking.

He smiles.

Then I tell him he could be dumb as a doornail and we'd still love him because we're an awfully shallow bunch.

He stops laughing and reminds me that he is a West Point graduate.

Oh, yeah. Sorry. OK, what does he have to say to all his future gay fans I wondered. Here it is: "I'm a friend to everybody. Sex, gender, whatever your preference is, it's not about that. It's about the character of the person. That comes in every flavor. Everyone has something to give everybody and far too often people have tunnel vision and turn off their peripheral vision and miss out on learning and meeting people. I welcome everybody and try to learn from everybody. Maybe sometimes I learn from their mistakes and learn what not to do."

I'm sold. I'm easy.

Greg came to the event with the outrageous Sally Kirkland, the Oscar-nominated actress who is quite skilled but has gotten more attention in the past decade or so for her wacky fashion choices on any red carpet that will have her. She will appear on at least one episode of the show.

"I've been training Sally and she's been training me too. She's been giving me a lot of yoga instruction and bending me in places I didn't think I could bend."

Lucky bitch.

Greg wants to be an actor and says, "I was in a couple of movies. I was in 'The Good Shepherd" with DeNiro, also did about 21 episodes on HGTV's "Design to Sell" (he's a carpenter on that show). We go in there, we tear up houses."

Actor/trainer/carpenter/scholar. Is there nothing this dude can't do?: