The Surreal Life
Sunday 9:00 PM on VH1
Cast & Crew
EDIT
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Christopher Knight
Himself (season 4)
Christopher Anton Knight was born November 7, 1957, in Manhattan, New York, the second of four children: three boys and one girl. Around the time he was three, his family moved to Los Angeles, where his father, an actor, later began seeking auditions for his two oldest sons as a means of saving money for their college education. Although both Christopher and his older brother Mark tried out, only Christopher was offered parts. At the young age of seven, he began landing appearances in commercials for companies such as Toyota, Tide, and Cheerios and in television shows such as Gunsmoke and Mannix. Soon, however, he found himself involved with what would become one of the most successful television shows of all time. Partially because his dark looks matched that of Robert Reed who was already cast as the show's father, Christopher won the part of the middle brother, Peter Brady, in The Brady Bunch. Airing from September 1969 through August 1974, the show was highly popular with teenagers of that era. Although ending thirty years ago, it acquired instant syndication and has never since left the airways. Being a reluctant icon as well as having an innate interest in science and machines led Christopher to his new career in the computer industry in 1988. Constant celebrity status from youth has provided him with people skills and has proven to be excellent preparation for life in sales and marketing. Entering the industry as an account sales manager at Martec, Inc., he logged the company's first $1 million sales order within his first eighteen months, quickly becoming Martec's top performer, and employee of the year. In October 1989, Christopher took the responsibility of Vice President of Design System Marketing and Sales at New Image Industry, moving the company into 3D rendering/imaging technologies. Then in mid 1991, he, and a few other key employees successfully moved the software engineering staff and the 3D technologies into a new privately held company, Visual Software. As co-founder of Visual Software, Christopher was a pioneer in the consumer 3D graphics market. His efforts were responsible for enormous sales growth, moving the company from $.4 million annual sales to $4.2 million within 10 months. Visual Software was acquired by Micrografx in January. In late 1995, Christopher partnered with friend and associate Frank Paniagua, and founded Kidwise Learningware. This company proposed to design, produce and publish interactive edutainment products for children. Christopher served as Executive Producer, with duties ranging from production and design, projects management and sales strategy. In February of 1996, he took on the responsibility of Vice President of Sales at Adesso, a Keyboard manufacturer, providing keyboards for Macintosh and PC/Win95 systems, where he oversaw a doubling of sales within his first four months. He and Mr. Paniagua reunited again in August of 1997 at Integrated Micro Solutions (I.M.S.) which later became IXMICRO. Initially hired in the capacity of Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Christopher was promoted to Vice President of Marketing after only four months. With Mr. Paniagua, he was able to influence annual sales from less than $2 million in early 1997 to $63 million in 1998. In late 1998, Christopher would again team up with Paniagua and another associate, David Smith, to form Eskape Labs. Knight, Smith and Paniagua had all been part of IXMICRO's executive staff when the company decided to concentrate on a path divergent from the common interests of the three. Sensing a shift in the focus of the computer technology industry beyond the personal computer to intelligent devices, Eskape Labs was born. The company's mission, to provide "on wire" digital appliances that easily plug into computers, has led Eskape to develop a number of first-to-market video devices. Eskape Labs was purchased by Hauppauge Computer Works in the summer of 2000. Hauppauge is the world's largest manufacturer of computer based TV tuner products and, with Eskape Labs, now has a line of TV tuners compatible with the Macintosh. Christopher continued to work for Hauppauge Computer as the head of the Eskape Labs brand until the spring of 2003, and then as a consultant to the company throughout the remainder of the year. Mid year 2003 he became more involved on an executive level with an investment that had taken flight and was in need of interim management. Casting Networks Inc. (doing business as LA Casting and SF Casting) is an online (web based) talent exchange. Nine months from the introduction of the service to the Los Angeles commercial casting marketplace in late 2002, LA Casting had completely revolutionized the casting process by replacing archaic and time-consuming methods of handling clients' information with a much more efficient method using the Internet. While Christopher's career in the high tech industry has prevented much involvement in entertainment, it did not constitute a full retirement from show business; he has starred or otherwise participated in the abundance of Brady films, television movies, series, gatherings, discussions and retrospectives. Christopher also has utilized his celebrity status by serving as host and/or spokesperson for several projects. In 2003, for example, Christopher hosted the series "TV Road Trip" for the Travel Channel and was involved with the celebrity version of Discovery Health Channel's "Body Challenge," for debut in the fall of 2004. This year also marks the fourth consecutive year that he has been the spokesperson for the American Counseling Association's "Healthy Skin, Healthy Outlook" campaign, which has received the Gold Triangle Award recognizing excellence in public education of dermatology issues the past two years. In 2002-2003, Christopher also was privileged to be the spokesperson for the National Consumer League's "AD/HD Campaign to Inform the Nation," speaking in Washington D.C. at the National Press Club on the sensitive subject of AD/HD (Christopher himself was diagnosed with lifelong ADD at the age of 40). The campaign's laudable goal is to broadcast the truth about AD/HD, dispelling myths and tearing down the barriers of ignorance and stigma that prevent AD/HD sufferers from obtaining the proper diagnoses and medical treatments they need. Cognizant of his celebrity status and seasoned by maturity, Christopher is ready and eager to return more fully to the industry that gave him his start and to expand his public identity, but his plan to re-establish his place in the entertainment industry is not designed to displace his interests in the corporate world.moreless -
Jane Wiedlin
Herself (season 4)
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Charo
Herself (Season 3)
When Charo was quite young, she was discovered by famous musician Xavier Cugat, whom she later married on August 7, 1966, at the reported age of 15; Cugat was 66. The couple were the first to have their nuptials in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. In 1977, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States. On August 11, 1978 she re-married, this time to her manager Kjell Rasten, in Lake Tahoe. In 1982 she bore her only child, a son, Shel Rasten (who is a drummer with the metal band Treazen) and decided to move to Hawaii, where she regularly performed at the Outrigger Hotel and waited on customers at her restaurant on the island of Kauai. Charo waited for her son to grow up before returning to Los Angeles to get back into show business full time. Charo studied classical and flamenco guitar while residing in Murcia. As a result of her training and skill she has been named "Best Flamenco Guitarist" in Guitar Player Magazine's readers' poll. She now has a regular touring show in addition to appearances in Las Vegas shows regularly. One of Charo's regrets is that, because of her flamboyant stage presence, she has been overlooked as a guitar player. She also donates her talents to Jerry Lewis' annual MDA telethon.moreless -
Janice Dickinson
Herself (Season 5)
Say what you like about Janice Dickinson because she doesn't care. From Paris to New York to Milan, Janice broke down barriers in the fashion industry all while living the high life at Studio 54. In the late 1970's Janice's career hit its peak, receiving campaigns with Revlon, JVC, Calvin Klein, Versace and countless magazine covers, VOGUE, ELLE and COSMOPOLITAN among them. However, due to substance abuse issues, Dickinson's career began to falter in the late 1980's leading to Dickinson's successful reinvention as a photographer based in Los Angeles. In 2002 she wrote her memoir, No Lifeguard on Duty, which became a sensational bestseller, offering a cautionary tale about the dangers of living the high life. Then in 2003 Dickinson appeared on the hit UPN television series America's Next Top Model and became an instant sensation once again. She followed up No Lifeguard on Duty with Everything About Me is Fake...And I'm Perfect, which was also a great success. She has also written several articles for the magazines that she used to grace the covers of, namely VOGUE, MORE and FQ. She is the mother of Nathan (May 5, 1987), her son with Simon Fields and she also has a daughter with Michael Birnbaum, Savannah who was born on February 23, 1994. She resides in Beverly Hills, California.moreless -
Verne Troyer
Himself (season 4)
Verne J. Troyer, a.k.a. Mini-V, is best known for his role as "Mini-Me", "Dr. Evil's" smaller and more concentrated pure evil protege', in the Summer 1999 hit comedy 'Austin Powers 2 - The Spy Who Shagged Me'. Although the thirty year old, 32 inch tall actor has just recently become recognized as a "Big Man in the business", Verne has been working in show business as an actor and stuntman for several years.Troyer, born on January 1st, 1969 in Sturgis, Michigan, had always dreamed growing up of getting into showbiz. Shortly after his high school graduation in 1987 Verne moved with some friends to Arlington, Texas where in 1993 he would make his first break into showbiz as a stunt double for a 9 month old baby on a film called 'Baby's Day Out' . Over the next few years Verne would make several film and television appearances, often portraying animals, or small children. Favorite TV shows: College Football, Friends, The Drew Carey Show, and Seinfeld. His Favorite College Football Team: Michigan Wolverines Previous Jobs include: Phone Company and working in customer service. Threw out the first ball at the San Diego Padre vs. Los Angeles Dodger game on June 30, 1999. It wasn't from the mound, of course.moreless -
Corey Feldman
Himself (Season 1)
Corey Feldman was one of the highest paid child stars in the 80's. He starred in hit movies such as The Goonies, Gremlins and Stand By Me. In 1987 Corey was in the movie The Lost Boys, also starring Corey Haim. Following the success of the movie the two Corey's made six other hit movies. Behind the scenes unfortunately, he was dabbing with drugs and alcohol. After checking himself into rehab, he was able to bounce back, making a number of movies in the early 2000s.moreless -
Bronson Pinchot
Himself (Season 5)
Bronson was born in New York, but was raised in Pasadena, California. He attended Yale University on a full scholarship, where he majored in theater and graduated with honors. -
Traci Bingham
Herself (Season 2)
Traci Bingham was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, who set great examples for the baby of the family. The Cambridge, Mass. family was very close knit, so Traci initially took up sports to spend more time with her brothers. And Traci was game for anything - even football! Traci looks back upon her childhood with fondness, saying, "I feel privileged to have had such exposure to my roots continually throughout my childhood. It's given me strength to believe in myself." Just as all her brothers and sisters before her had, Traci was Ivy League bound, and Harvard was where she settled.
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While at Harvard, Traci was able to work on a few of the school's productions, including "Annie" and "Grease." She loved it, and wanted to possibly pursue acting. She grabbed a small part in the movie Celtic Pride, and she was hooked! After a few guest roles on television shows and a nationally run Coca-Cola ad, Traci packed her bags. She decided to put her Harvard studies on hold, and catch the next train to Los Angeles.
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And off to L.A. she went. She quickly grabbed guest spots on many of the hottest sitcoms on television - from Married...with Children to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But her big break was still to come...
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After two years of hunting down small parts, Traci decided to take the Pamela Anderson Path to Hollywood Fame. That's right - Playboy and Baywatch. In any order, it was a role on the most watched show in the world, and a smiling face in one of the most read magazines in the world. It is definitely a great way to go.
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Off the screen, Traci married Robb Vallier, a Los Angeles musician in Ames, Iowa on 29 August 1998. Bridesmaides at the wedding included her former Baywatch castmates Carmen Electra, Angelica Bridges and Gena Lee Nolin. Traci and Robb divorced on 18 January 2001.
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Traci loves redecorating her apartment with flea market finds, wrough iron furniture, scented candles and plants.
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(Credit: Jeremy Falcone of AbsoluteNow)
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Emmanuel Lewis
Himself (Season 1)
Three-time People's Choice Award winner Emmanuel Lewis returns to primetime television in The WB's The Surreal Life, starring as a series regular for the first time since he played the title role in the 1980s hit series Webster. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Lewis began his career at the age of 9, when he started doing national and regional commercials. Among his first jobs was a Jell-O Pudding commercial, part of the successful campaign featuring Bill Cosby. He had already appeared in over 50 commercials when he was tapped to do a series of national spots for Burger King. Those spots won him a CLIO award for Best Male Actor and also landed him the leading role on Webster. In 1985, 1986 and 1987, Lewis won the People's Choice Award for Best Young Television Performer for his work on Webster. After Webster, Lewis enrolled in Clark Atlanta University and earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Theatre Arts. He also continued working in television throughout the '90s, making guest appearances on various series including Family Matters, In the House, Moesha, Malcolm & Eddie and Good vs. Evil. Lewis next appears in the upcoming David Spade feature Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, where he will star alongside The WB's Alyssa Milano. Lewis splits his time between Atlanta and Los Angeles. When not working, he enjoys fishing and loves music. In addition, he is a Black Belt in karatemoreless -
Erik Estrada
Himself (Season 2)
Erik Estrada was born Henry Enrique Estrada in New York City on March 16th 1949 to Renildo and Carmon. Erik has one brother(Joey) and one sister( Carmen) Erik has been married three times, Joyce Miller, Peggy Rowe(Mother of his two sons, Anthony and Brandon).Presently he is married to Nanette Dernise Mirkovich (Mother of his daughter Francesca born Jan, 5th 2000) Before he wanted to act he had intentions of being a cop in New York City, But when he enrolled in his high school drama club because of a girl he was interested in he ended up getting the lead role in a play. Getting his first acting job when actor/dirctor Don Murray choice him to star in a true story " Cross and the Switchblade" Then in 1977 he landed a role in the biggest hit show of the late 70's early 80's "CHiPs" When "CHiPs" was cancelled in 1982 Erik went back to his acting roots in New York to star in a limited engagment in the off-broadway production of " True West"moreless -
Jose Canseco
Himself (Season 5)
Jose Canseco is perhaps one of the most controversial athletes in recent years. He has openly admitted his steroid use during his professional baseball career, and wrote an autobiography, "Juiced," in which he "outed" many other players. He loves to be the center of attention, and most recently starred in The Surreal Life.moreless -
Brande Roderick
Herself (Season 1)
Beautiful and talented, Brande Roderick joined the internationally renowned hit series Baywatch in its eleventh season in the starring role as lifeguard Leigh Dyer. Winning the role over hundreds of hopefuls, Brande convinced veteran writer/producer Frank South (Melrose Place) that she was the best person for the job. Now in its 11th season, Baywatch executives brought on South to bring new depth to the show which will showcase Brande as the lead. A native of Northern California. She was last seen in Playboy Magazine as Miss April 2000. Brande has appeared on television shows such as Jesse, Two Guys and a Girl, and Beverly Hills 90210, as well as in numerous commercials including Dr. Pepper and Snickers. Brande currently makes her home in Los Angeles.moreless -
Marcus Schenkenberg
Himself (season 4)
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Gabrielle Carteris
Herself (Season 1)
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Dave Coulier
Himself (Season 3)
Dave's most famous role is Joey on Full House. He hosts America's Most Talented Kids and he will soon be starring in Skating With The Stars. He also does some cartoon voices, like Popeye and Bullwinkle, and appeared in The Even Stevens Movie.
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Joanie Laurer
Herself (season 4)
Joanie Laurer aka Chyna aka Chyna Doll was born in Rochester, New York on December 27, 1969. Her parents were abusive and cruel, so she went to live with her sister, Kathy. She considers Kathy her best friend as well as her mother. Joanie's biological mother married five times, and her father was an alcoholic. She was always in love with entertainment as a child, and began lifting weights and working out at the age of 15. In the early 1990's she served in the Peace Corps and ROTC. She also attended college at the University of Tampa where she double majored in Spanish literature. Joanie is a professional boxer, training for her first bout, when she met up with the wrestling profession. In 1996 she broke into the wrestling ring where she wrestled men as Chyna and went on to be the WWE's only female champion. After she left the WWE in 2001 she started an acting career. She was the star in a movie called Alien Fury and soon after. took the role as Freeda in a movie called Frank McKlusky CI. She went on to get cameos in the Lance Bass movie On the Line and in a movie called Brown Sugar. She soon went on to host a show called Robot Wars and also hosted AMC's Tough Guys, but that was not enough for this young actress who began guest starring all over TV. She appeared on Third Rock from The Sun, Whose Line is it Anyway?, the season premiere of Tracker, and Pacific Blue. She also appeared on talk shows such as Larry King Live, The Other Half, and Hot Ticket. In 2002 she returned to the wrestling ring and wrestled men in Japan. Soon after that she released her own Playboy home video that gave an "inside look" at her second edition of Playboy. In 2003 she appeared in a movie Hunter Back In Force and in 2004 she began a music career using the name "Chynna Doll." She appeared on Reggie Benjamin's 2X Centrix and Ride CDs which was #4 on the Billboard charts for several weeks. In July of 2004 she and Reggie released a new CD called Smile. The reality show craze bit her, and she jumped on with VH1's The Surreal Life and the follow-up Surreal Life: Fame Games.moreless -
Da Brat
Herself (Season 4)
Da Brat was one of the first of a new breed of hard-edged female MCs to hit the hip-hop scene during the '90s. Although sexuality was certainly part of her image, it wasn't as important to her as it was to Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown; instead, Da Brat made her name as a tough, profane rhymer whose hardcore attitude and lyrical skills were never in doubt. Da Brat was born Shawntae Harris in Chicago in 1974, and started rapping at age 11. Still a teenager, she was discovered by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1992, when she won an amateur rap contest and got a chance to meet Dupri's protgs Kris Kross. With their endorsement, Dupri signed her to his So So Def label and produced her debut
album, Funkdafied, which was released in 1994. The title track was an enormous hit, going to number two on the R&B charts and spending nearly three months on top of the rap singles chart. Its success -- as well as that of the follow-up singles "Fa All Y'All" and "Give It 2 You"-- helped Da Brat become the first female rapper ever to have a platinum-selling album. Funkdafied also hit number one on the R&B album chart, a staggering achievement for a debut release by a female rapper.
For her 1996 follow-up, Anuthatantrum, Da Brat took greater control of her music and persona, scoring hits with Sittin' on Top of the World and Ghetto Love. The album was another commercial success, returning her to the R&B Top Five and the pop Top 20. In its wake, Da Brat made high-profile cameo appearances on records by the likes of Mariah Carey, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Total, Dru Hill, and Lil' Kim, among others. She also made her film debut in 1996 in the Shaquille O'Neal comedy Kazaam. Just prior to the release of her third album in 2000, Da Brat was arrested on assault charges after allegedly pistol-whipping another woman during an altercation at an Atlanta nightclub. She later pled guilty to a lesser charge of reckless conduct, and was let off with a fine, probation, and community service. Meanwhile, her album Unrestricted appeared in the spring of 2000, and found her sporting a somewhat sexier image. It became not only her second R&B chart-topper, but also her biggest album on the pop charts to date, climbing into the Top Five. She also enjoyed hits with the singles "That's What I'm Looking For" and "What'Chu Like".moreless -
Caprice
Herself (Season 5)
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Hammer
Himself (Season 1)
MC Hammer (later known as Hammer) born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California, on March 30, 1962. He was an extremely popular Rapper during the 1980's and 1990's. He is mostly remembered for his catchphrase STOP, Hammer Time!, his trademark parachute pants and for his lasting influence on hip hop culture and music. He became a preacher in the 1990's. He now has his own television program on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He currently resides in Tracy, California with his wife Stephanie and their six children.moreless -
Vanilla Ice
Himself (Season 2)
Vanilla Ice was born Robert Van Winkle on October 31st, 1968 in Miami. His father left him when he was 4 years old and since then, has had many stepfathers. In his teenage years, he was a poor student who got dismal grades and skipped school often. He was 18 when he was in the 10th grade, and dropped out of school. During the late 80s Ice made a living by washing cars. He observed the culture and dancing of some of his peers, and later signed up at a local nightclub as a performer. He was a natural at rapping and dancing and needless to say, the audience loved him. He later got the nickname "Vanilla Ice", because he was white. In the year of 1989, Ice signed up with SBK records and released his first LP, Hooked, which contained the single "Play that Funky Music" that was sent to radio stations to play. The single wasn't a huge success, and "Hooked" received poor sales. Later, in 1990, a local DJ decided to turn the "Play that Funky Music" record and play what was on the other side. That single was "Ice Ice Baby". Contrary to "Play that Funky Music", "Ice Ice Baby" was a huge success, and radio stations everywhere received requests to play that song. Ice re-released Hooked as To The Extreme, which contained "Ice Ice Baby", and it sold over 15 million copies and holds the record for the highest selling rap record ever. Vanilla Ice fever was everywhere. Soon there was hundreds of merchandise, such as a Vanilla Ice doll and a board game. Vanilla Ice was featured on a tour of M.C Hammer, which influenced his dress style. Soon, he was wearing baggy jump pants and large, loud jackets with a quote on the back. "Ice Ice Baby" was on the number #1 spot for 16 weeks, and so was "To The Extreme". A couple of days after the success of "To The Extreme", many people noticed that the bass line of "Ice Ice Baby" was very similar to that of "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, and they thought that Vanilla Ice ripped the line off. He tried to explain that they were different by adding one note in his version. No one was convinced, and Queen and Bowie sued. Vanilla Ice then released Extremely Live, which contained music from one of his concerts. It sold 500,000 copies and reached Gold status. Later in 1991, Vanilla Ice decided to get involved in the movie business. He made an appearance in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and then later scored his first (and last) feature film, Cool as Ice(1991). The movie was flop, having spent only three weeks in the box office before dropping out. Vanilla Ice spent 2 years taking up motocross under his real name, and completely dropped out from the music world. In 1994, he tried to make a comeback by releasing another album called Mind-blowin'. Vanilla Ice gained a new, dread-locked, dope-smoking image, and his music changed as well, talking about violence, sex and drugs. Mind-blowin' didn't last long, since SBK records went bankrupt. Vanilla Ice nearly died of an overdose of drugs, and was revived by one of his friends. He later married, and had two children. In the next 4 years, Vanilla Ice suffered a massive decline in the music world. Then, in 1998, Vanilla Ice made a comeback with his next album, Hard To Swallow. The album was a far cry from his earlier works, and featured explicit language. There was even a heavy metal version of "Ice Ice Baby", called "Too Cold". Although the album only sold 100,000 copies, it was well-received and made Vanilla Ice almost respected again. In 2001, Vanilla Ice released the album, Bi-Polar, which has a combination of heavy metal and hip-hop music. He now only makes music not so he can gain fortune and fame, but because he wants to. Vainlla Ice now resides to Los Angeles with his wife Laura and his two children.moreless -
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Jordan Knight
Himself (Season 3)
Jordan Knight was the youngest child born to Marlene and Allan Knight in May 1970. When Jordan was still quite young his parents divorced.
Growing up, Jordan always seem to have a keen interest in music. "He seemed to be born with musical talent" stated Rose Holland, Jordan's former music teacher, and "he was always willing to sing solo". At the age of seven Jordan joined his older siblings as part of the local church choir. The choir master, Herb Peterson, had a big influence on Jordan. As part of the choir Jordan would practice three times a week and also sang at mass. In fact Jordan, and his brother, Jon's singing was considered to be so good that they were appointed as head co-choristers. At English High Jordan was also an enthusiastic attendee to singing s after school.
Like Donnie and Danny, Jordan was a keen break-dancer and would often frequent the busy streets of Boston on a Saturday morning to perform. Like Danny he was keen on sports and was particularly interested in basketball, baseball and ice-hockey. Jordan spent one of his summers working as a camp counsellor teaching dance.
In 1984 Jordan auditioned for Maurice Starr and was quickly accepted as a member for the act that would become known as New Kids On The Block. His older brother Jon was also recruited as a member.
Being a strong singer Jordan often sang lead for the New Kids On The Block. Jordan sang lead on a several New Kids hits including "You Got (The Right Stuff)", "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", "Step By Step" and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind (This Time)?".
As a New Kid, Jordan showed much interest in writing and producing. He co-wrote and co-produced "My Favourite Girl" on the New Kids multi-platinum album "Hangin' Tough". In 1990, he was able to enjoy seeing "I'll Be Your Everything", a song that he co-produced and co-wrote for Tommy Page, go to number one of the U.S. Billboard charts. Like Donnie and Danny, he was heavily involved in the production of the New Kids "Face The Music" album.
When New Kids On The Block broke up (1994) Jordan began working towards his solo music career. After taking a break, he eased himself into performing live by singing anonymously in a Hotel. He recalls that people would often come up to him and recommend that he should pursue a professional singing career. He went on to co-write and co-produce songs for his debut solo album. In 1999 Jordan enjoyed top ten success on both sides of the Atlantic with his debut single "Give It To You". Jordan is now busy working on his second album. What will the results of his second album be?? His story continues ...moreless -
Brigitte Nielsen
Herself (Season 3)
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish actress who became very popular in 1980s B-movies, most notably as the titular character in Red Sonja, due to her stature and sultry looks. Because of these attributes, she was termed an amazon by the press. Brigitte reached the height of her fame in 1987, when she played the assassin Karla Fry in Beverly Hills Cop II. She became famous for her love life as well, marrying actor Sylvester Stallone, her co-star in Rocky IV and Cobra, then becoming engaged to football player Mark Gastineau, with whom she had a son. Nielsen has three more children by two of her four ex-husbands, photographer/director Sebastian Copeland Orlando Bloom's cousin, and actor Raoul Meyer. Brigitte started a short-lived music career shortly after her divorce from Sylvester Stallone in 1987. She released her debut album Every Body Tells A Story in that year and recorded a song with Austrian pop sensation Falco. Body Next To Body went to #22 in Germany and #6 in Austria. Brigitte released a follow-up album in 1992, although it was not a success. In the 1990s, she hosted an English-language talk show that was broadcast across Europe, to much acclaim. The show revived public interest in Nielsen and helped her brush off the misconception that she could only be known for her beauty. Brigitte later appeared on the third season of the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life, which was filmed in July and began airing in early September 2004. In the show, Nielsen was seen flirting with Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav and it was confirmed that they were a couple, even though she was still legally married to Raoul Meyer. The show was such a success, due mainly to the interplay between the unusual couple, that VH1 produced a spin-off reality show called Strange Love, which began airing on January 9, 2005. Brigitte also appeared with Flav on the VH1 Big in '04 Awards. In January 2005 she appeared in the UK TV programme Celebrity Big Brother along with her former mother-in-law Jackie Stallone and the writer Germaine Greer. Brigitte married for the sixth time in March 2005 to 26 year old Italian barman Mattia Dessi, who appeared briefly on Strange Love. The marriage is not official, because her divorce from her previous husband is not finalized.moreless -
Jerri Manthey
Herself (Season 1)
Jerri Manthey was born in Stuttgart, Germany and attended both high school and college in Germany. Manthey's acting debut was in the movie That Championship Season (1999) using the name Jerri Lynn London. She also appeared in the movies The Limited (2000) and Destiny (2002). She is currently working as a sideline reporter on the TV series Extreme.moreless -
Ryan Starr
Herself (Season 3)
Ryan Starr was discovered when she became a finalist on American Idol's Top Ten. She became an instant favorite to win; however she was the fourth contestant to be eliminated from the show. Her claim to fame on this hit show was her deep throaty voice, and her own clothing designs. Since then Ryan has scored the lead role in a world released movie: The Ring of Darkness. She is also currently starring in another movie: Vendetta. Ryan has appeared in two other reality shows since American Idol, The Surreal Life 3, and Battle of the Network Reality Stars. Although she has had numerous TV roles and appearances (CSI, What I like About You, That 70's Show;) Ryan hasn't forgotten about her singing career. Ryan has had numerous label offers from RCA, however Ryan did not accept, for she wanted complete control over her music. She released an iTunes exclusive single that sold an estimated 2,000 copies on its first day, breaking an iTunes record. She is currently recording an album, and will begin her Chinese tour in September. Rumors have it that Ryan is in talks with Lord and Taylor to release her highly anticipated fashion line, but none of these rumors have been substantiated. You will also be able to catch Ryan Starr on yet another TV show in November/December. Ryan hasn't slowed down since American Idol, and continues to bring to the world her distinct rock style that made America fall in love with her.moreless -
Trishelle Cannatella
Herself (Season 2)
Notoriously charming and beautiful, Trishelle was raised in a small, ultra-conservative town in the bayou of Louisiana. Her mother, a devout Christian, was a pillar of the community and took her family to church three or four times a week. When she was just 14, her mother died from a brain tumor. After her mother passed away, Trishelle turned away from the church and sought out other means of coping with her loss. Despite this family trauma, she managed to maintain a strong GPA and a presence on several athletic teams throughout high school. With her beautiful sandy blonde hair and bikini model's body, there is never a shortage of men flocking around her.
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*~ this is the bio from MTV.com -
Andrea Lowell
Herself (Season 6)
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Alexis Arquette
Herself (Season 6)
Born Robert Arquette, Alexis later identified herself as a woman and is well-known as one of Hollywood's most famous transgendered actresses. The daughter of Lewis Arquette and the granddaughter of Cliff Arquette, Alexis is also the sister of Richmond, David, Patricia and Rosanna Arquette. In addition to being an actress, Alexis is also an underground cartoonist and a musician.moreless -
Tawny Kitaen
Herself (Season 6)
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Sherman Hemsley
Himself (Season 6)
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Shadowlandv1
User Score: 16
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Categories
Comedy, Game Show, Reality
Themes
Celebrity Cameos, Celebrity Life, Quirky Characters, Washed Up Celebrity, Celebrity & Gossip
