AllIWantIsYourClutch
09-11-2005, 01:24 PM
By Annie Alleman
STAFF WRITER
When VH1 producers pitched a show about Adrianne Curry and Chris Knight, they were envisioning Knight in the Henry Higgins role, chronicling how the older, more worldly Knight would shape and mold Curry's Eliza Doolittle.
What they got, however, was an intense look at a relationship at the critical point of breaking up or going to the next level.
"We were completely surprised that we got such a great series out of it," said producer Mark Cronin. "We thought the series was going to be about making more of a lady out of Adrianne, and what we found was there was incredibly dynamic relationship going on that was in crisis, that was on the verge of breaking up."
It's a very real, relatable situation for a lot of couples, he said.
"We scrapped our original plan and decided to follow the story, is this couple going to break up or ... take a step forward," he said. "I think the series we got was much more compelling and real and interesting than the one we were planning.
"The other surprising thing we found — we came in from Chris' point of view — the wild child (Adrianne) that need to be healed," he continued. "We found that her emotional maturity level was much higher than we thought. She's very expressive of how she feels. And Chris' maturity level is nowhere near hers. So the series pretty much flipped, and became from her point of view.
"Honestly, the show is going to cause problems for a lot of men across this county," he said. "A lot of women relate to Peter Pan complex and the unwillingness to step up. Unfortunately, we're not going to help the male cause with this show."
Curry, a Joliet native, said that she had to be talked into doing the show.
"The funny thing is, most people will think it was my idea, because I pitched a show very much like it on 'The Surreal Life,' but that was only my way of letting him know I liked him," she said in an interview from the home she shares with Knight outside Los Angeles. "He and one of the producers kept bouncing back to my idea. I wasn't taken with it; I didn't want to do it at all. We talked about it for a couple of months, and I agreed to it reluctantly, and reluctantly filmed it. It's a weird situation because it's almost like the last two years of my life have been on TV." (Curry hit national TV in the first "America's Top Model" reality show on UPN in late spring of 2003.)
For all the reasons you wouldn't want your personal life on TV, Curry had the same reservations.
"It was kind of rough because we were just hitting a point in our relationship where a lot of questions were being asked," she said. "It was an odd time to start filming in our relationship, because it was at a make-or-break point. It weighs heavily on me, because (I'm) kind of opening (myself) in a way that I have not done prior. I'm nervous, in a way. I know we're going to get a lot of ridicule and criticism, and normally I don't care about that, but Chris is very important to me."
The stress of the cameras only added to the tension the couple was feeling as their relationship came under fire.
"Chris and I had some real fights on the show, and we had not fought prior to that," she said. "We got in real serious fights. There were times, especially in the first few days of filming, where I seriously thought we'd break up. It was embarrassing. There were times I wanted to kick (the crew) out, because I did not want to share certain things with people. But you also can't remain quiet for two months and not talk about anything.
"There was a time I got really fed up — I believe I ripped off my mic and ran out of the house as fast as I could," she said. "And they kept up with me, even with 60 pounds of gear. I felt really bad, so I stopped and came back and apologized. I told the producers to give the camera crew a raise."
The couple didn't just fight about feelings — there was a betrayal on Knight's part. When their friend and former "Surreal Life" cast mate, Jane Weidlin, came over, Knight gave her an inappropriate kiss.
"He basically French-kissed one of my really good friends," Curry said. "They were both drunk and it kind of got out of hand, and I was furious. I didn't think we would be dating much longer. It was a respect thing. I was thinking, 'My family, who has been trying so hard to accept this man, is going to see him make out with my best friend.'"
Bedroom time
If you've seen the promos VH1 has been running, you'll know that there are some very sexy scenes. It's always about sex, Curry said.
"I made sure that it was going to look like we were going to do something so we could kick the camera crew out of the room," she said, laughing. "And then we wouldn't do anything, we'd just talk about the things we didn't want to talk about in front of the camera. I was like, 'They're going to portray me as sex fanatic,' and really I was just trying to get rid of them."
They did film at other locations, including locations in Joliet.
"We filmed at my all-time favorite bar and restaurant, Senior Tequila's ... I had to show Chris where they make the best margaritas in the world," she said. "We went to McBrody's, and we filmed Maury's table. Someone told me the owner had no idea who I was."
Not being recognized from TV didn't bother her. "I played for his softball team and I've been going in there after every game since I was five years old!" she said, laughing. They filmed at her mother's home in Joliet, her dad's home and at Little Ritchie's bar in Lockport (where she ruefully admitted the show left an unpaid tab, which she has promised to pay off.)
Relatable drama
The show isn't just sex and drinking, she said.
"It's got a lot of drama. It will be easy for anyone in a relationship who's wondering where it's going to relate to," she said. "It's kind of girly, but there's definitely a male aspect too. He's kind of poo-pooing any demands of a relationship.
"Every time I'm scared about what people will think about 'My Fair Brady,' I remind myself that I'm not jumping on a couch and saying aliens are invading my body," she joked. "The best I can relate it to is 'Newlyweds,' only not so sweet and innocent."
Cronin said Knight and Curry were picked for their own show because of the way the couple "popped" on "The Surreal Life."
"Chris really surprised the nation with how much Peter Brady had grown up — how sure of himself he is, he's good looking, he's quite the man of the house," he said. "Adrianne with her incredible vivaciousness, sparkling personality and lack of decorum, and the fact that they fell in love makes it more exciting. It seemed natural to do. There's a lot of public curiosity about whether the relationship is real or not."
That's what the public will find out — that this is a real couple with common problems, he said.
"Their situation is very relatable," he said. "I'm very optimistic. I think this is going to be a very successful story that people will get caught up in."
"My Fair Brady" isn't the only thing on Curry's plate. For one thing, she works out — a lot.
She just finished photo shoots with Sync magazine and with Beverly Hills Choppers. She's also on the Game Show Network's pool series, "Ballbreakers," serving as the rack girl.
"I'm the resident Vanna White of pool. I sit there and smile and wear pretty things," she said. "It's like live action modeling. And I'm in talks for quite a few things that sadly I can't say anything about. But I'm not doing all this training for nothing, that's all I'm saying."
Mauries Table, Senor Tequila, McBrodys....Those are places I've been to. A lot. Especially Mauries Table. And her mom's house...that's 2 blocks from my house. They filmed in my town. I'm strangely excited to see this show.
STAFF WRITER
When VH1 producers pitched a show about Adrianne Curry and Chris Knight, they were envisioning Knight in the Henry Higgins role, chronicling how the older, more worldly Knight would shape and mold Curry's Eliza Doolittle.
What they got, however, was an intense look at a relationship at the critical point of breaking up or going to the next level.
"We were completely surprised that we got such a great series out of it," said producer Mark Cronin. "We thought the series was going to be about making more of a lady out of Adrianne, and what we found was there was incredibly dynamic relationship going on that was in crisis, that was on the verge of breaking up."
It's a very real, relatable situation for a lot of couples, he said.
"We scrapped our original plan and decided to follow the story, is this couple going to break up or ... take a step forward," he said. "I think the series we got was much more compelling and real and interesting than the one we were planning.
"The other surprising thing we found — we came in from Chris' point of view — the wild child (Adrianne) that need to be healed," he continued. "We found that her emotional maturity level was much higher than we thought. She's very expressive of how she feels. And Chris' maturity level is nowhere near hers. So the series pretty much flipped, and became from her point of view.
"Honestly, the show is going to cause problems for a lot of men across this county," he said. "A lot of women relate to Peter Pan complex and the unwillingness to step up. Unfortunately, we're not going to help the male cause with this show."
Curry, a Joliet native, said that she had to be talked into doing the show.
"The funny thing is, most people will think it was my idea, because I pitched a show very much like it on 'The Surreal Life,' but that was only my way of letting him know I liked him," she said in an interview from the home she shares with Knight outside Los Angeles. "He and one of the producers kept bouncing back to my idea. I wasn't taken with it; I didn't want to do it at all. We talked about it for a couple of months, and I agreed to it reluctantly, and reluctantly filmed it. It's a weird situation because it's almost like the last two years of my life have been on TV." (Curry hit national TV in the first "America's Top Model" reality show on UPN in late spring of 2003.)
For all the reasons you wouldn't want your personal life on TV, Curry had the same reservations.
"It was kind of rough because we were just hitting a point in our relationship where a lot of questions were being asked," she said. "It was an odd time to start filming in our relationship, because it was at a make-or-break point. It weighs heavily on me, because (I'm) kind of opening (myself) in a way that I have not done prior. I'm nervous, in a way. I know we're going to get a lot of ridicule and criticism, and normally I don't care about that, but Chris is very important to me."
The stress of the cameras only added to the tension the couple was feeling as their relationship came under fire.
"Chris and I had some real fights on the show, and we had not fought prior to that," she said. "We got in real serious fights. There were times, especially in the first few days of filming, where I seriously thought we'd break up. It was embarrassing. There were times I wanted to kick (the crew) out, because I did not want to share certain things with people. But you also can't remain quiet for two months and not talk about anything.
"There was a time I got really fed up — I believe I ripped off my mic and ran out of the house as fast as I could," she said. "And they kept up with me, even with 60 pounds of gear. I felt really bad, so I stopped and came back and apologized. I told the producers to give the camera crew a raise."
The couple didn't just fight about feelings — there was a betrayal on Knight's part. When their friend and former "Surreal Life" cast mate, Jane Weidlin, came over, Knight gave her an inappropriate kiss.
"He basically French-kissed one of my really good friends," Curry said. "They were both drunk and it kind of got out of hand, and I was furious. I didn't think we would be dating much longer. It was a respect thing. I was thinking, 'My family, who has been trying so hard to accept this man, is going to see him make out with my best friend.'"
Bedroom time
If you've seen the promos VH1 has been running, you'll know that there are some very sexy scenes. It's always about sex, Curry said.
"I made sure that it was going to look like we were going to do something so we could kick the camera crew out of the room," she said, laughing. "And then we wouldn't do anything, we'd just talk about the things we didn't want to talk about in front of the camera. I was like, 'They're going to portray me as sex fanatic,' and really I was just trying to get rid of them."
They did film at other locations, including locations in Joliet.
"We filmed at my all-time favorite bar and restaurant, Senior Tequila's ... I had to show Chris where they make the best margaritas in the world," she said. "We went to McBrody's, and we filmed Maury's table. Someone told me the owner had no idea who I was."
Not being recognized from TV didn't bother her. "I played for his softball team and I've been going in there after every game since I was five years old!" she said, laughing. They filmed at her mother's home in Joliet, her dad's home and at Little Ritchie's bar in Lockport (where she ruefully admitted the show left an unpaid tab, which she has promised to pay off.)
Relatable drama
The show isn't just sex and drinking, she said.
"It's got a lot of drama. It will be easy for anyone in a relationship who's wondering where it's going to relate to," she said. "It's kind of girly, but there's definitely a male aspect too. He's kind of poo-pooing any demands of a relationship.
"Every time I'm scared about what people will think about 'My Fair Brady,' I remind myself that I'm not jumping on a couch and saying aliens are invading my body," she joked. "The best I can relate it to is 'Newlyweds,' only not so sweet and innocent."
Cronin said Knight and Curry were picked for their own show because of the way the couple "popped" on "The Surreal Life."
"Chris really surprised the nation with how much Peter Brady had grown up — how sure of himself he is, he's good looking, he's quite the man of the house," he said. "Adrianne with her incredible vivaciousness, sparkling personality and lack of decorum, and the fact that they fell in love makes it more exciting. It seemed natural to do. There's a lot of public curiosity about whether the relationship is real or not."
That's what the public will find out — that this is a real couple with common problems, he said.
"Their situation is very relatable," he said. "I'm very optimistic. I think this is going to be a very successful story that people will get caught up in."
"My Fair Brady" isn't the only thing on Curry's plate. For one thing, she works out — a lot.
She just finished photo shoots with Sync magazine and with Beverly Hills Choppers. She's also on the Game Show Network's pool series, "Ballbreakers," serving as the rack girl.
"I'm the resident Vanna White of pool. I sit there and smile and wear pretty things," she said. "It's like live action modeling. And I'm in talks for quite a few things that sadly I can't say anything about. But I'm not doing all this training for nothing, that's all I'm saying."
Mauries Table, Senor Tequila, McBrodys....Those are places I've been to. A lot. Especially Mauries Table. And her mom's house...that's 2 blocks from my house. They filmed in my town. I'm strangely excited to see this show.