Spring Break
Danny of 'Real World-Austin': Sounding off on life, reality television and the drama it creates
Ryan Schreiber
Issue date: 2/7/06 Section: Student Life
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Michigan Journal: What's it like being on the road all the time?
Danny: It's not something that you do because you have to do it. It's something that I wanna do and like to do. The college tours is something that's really cool. You get to meet all the kids and talk about stuff that's really important. And you get to have a few laughs so it's really cool. But being on the road is just terrible. I'm sick as hell. I just want to go back home for like a good week and see my grandmother and get some home-cooked meals.
MJ: If you did it all over, would you be a part of "Real World" again?
D: It's tough to say because I met my future wife on the show. So I definitely fell in love on the show. But at the same time I dealt with a lot of real issues in front of millions of people. Now, would I do another "Real World?" No.
MJ: So you would do other shows?
D: Ummm, I don't know. It's tough being in front of the camera. Especially reality TV.
MJ: Do you get used to having the cameras around?
D: Yeah. As soon as you walk in you're more excited about meeting your new roommates and your new home so you're not really paying attention to the camera. They just turn into a piece of furniture that you walk around. You don't notice them at all. But it gets tough when you're dealing with the real stuff.
MJ: What was the most important thing you learned while you were on the show?
D: I don't really see it as I learned something. I obviously learned to drink in moderation. Other than that, I just learned to be myself because I let the whole country see who I was and how I act. And you know I can't do anything differently so I'm not gonna change for anybody.
MJ: What's it like watching the shows air on TV once you're done taping?
D: It's definitely different because you know what you said. But you never know what people said behind your back. You never knew what happened when you weren't there or when Nehemiah and Johanna went on the walk what was said. It's definitely an eye-opener to their character a lot more.
MJ: Did you pay for the ring that you proposed to Melinda with on the reunion special?
D: I paid for that whole [expletive]ing thing and they didn't make it look like that which pissed me off…but once we got in New York for the show, we were under contract that they could tape us going anywhere and doing anything. So I went to pick up the ring and they shot that. It was like they want to thank the company because they got to shoot in the shop. Not that Danny dropped his own almost $38,000 to pay for this damn ring and design it himself. So I got screwed.
MJ: What's it like to be a celebrity and not have privacy anymore?
D: It's definitely frustrating. You know it comes with the territory but at the same time you want your privacy. If I ever saw a famous person walk by me I would never take a picture of them or even point for that matter. I just couldn't do it now. Before, would I? I would have been the first to ask for a picture. But it gets really frustrating.
Just one night you want to go out and not have some dickhead yell something and not have people come up to you and tell you they're gonna get a picture with you.
MJ: What's your advice for someone that wants to get onto a reality TV show?
D: Know what you're getting into. It's not a party. It's not a four-month vacation. It's none of that. They're gonna take you life and they're gonna exploit it. They're gonna show every whisper, every secret, every little innuendo. They're gonna show it for millions of people to watch and your life is going to absolutely change.
MJ: Do you feel animosity towards MTV for the show?
D: I feel I hate MTV for the way they portrayed my mother on the show. I will never forgive them for that. Even the guy who was my boss - I told him to go [expletive] himself. So I keep my relationships on a tight leash with them. Other than that I have no ties with them anymore. It's like my mom passed away - have some respect. They kind of manipulated the situation. I just found that such a slap in the face. I felt betrayed.
MJ: Thanks for your time.
D: My pleasure.