Well, I moved to Phoenix for work [at Charles Schwab], and lo and behold, a reality show landed in my lap. My buddy actually gave me an alert on Facebook. He knew the casting director, and they'd put out feelers, asking if anybody knew someone who'd be a good candidate for the show. And so he told me, and I got in touch with them, and we started messaging and e-mailing back and forth. I didn't have to do an audition.
What's life like on the set in Fairhope, Alabama?
It's kind of like Smallville. When the cameras weren't there, I'd go out and exercise on the sand on Mobile Bay, and every time I saw someone, everybody would say, 'Hi! How are you today?' And I thought, 'That's weird. People don't do that.' I think they did know we were filming for the show, but they were very welcoming.
The thing about [Fairhope] is, it was hotter than hell. It was 97 degrees and 48 percent humidity. The last episode, I went on a date and had to ask for a towel. It was ridiculous.
What's your take on Devin Grissom (the woman up for competition)?
Devin's Southern-born, Southern-bred, and will a Southern girl 'til she's dead. Any eligible bachelor in his right mind would want to be with a Southern girl. She's not like women on some other reality shows, all blonde and ditzy. She's beautiful, intelligent, and down-to-earth. She goes to [University of Alabama at] Tuscaloosa, which is rivals to Auburn, where I went, so we had a bit of fun back-and-forth about that.
How's life on a reality show?
You have to get used to being on the spot and be ready to pour your heart out. There's three to five cameras on you, there's lights everywhere, and I'm just thinking, 'I've got to make myself known. I've got to make an impression, or I'm on my way home.' It's nerve-wracking. I choose my words very carefully.
Any challenges or hints you can spill about the show?
They left us in the dark. We didn't know what we were doing, or even who the girl was, when we first showed up. We didn't know what the day-to-day was going to be. They said, 'Be ready for this,' and the next thing you know, we're out with shotguns shooting skeet...then it was cow dung. [When we did cattle roping] we were knee-deep in cow dung. There's no other way to say it.
Are you getting stopped on the street by anyone who's seen you on the show?
Not out here [West coast]. But if I stepped foot east of the Mississippi, people would recognize me. CMT's really big there.
I will say, my social media is just blowing up. I'm at the point on Facebook now where I'm like, 'Do I need to make my profile private?' I thought I'd get a couple hundred new friends, and it's been more than a thousand. People who add me as friends send me messages of support, like 'I think you're the right guy for her,' and 'You're in it for the right reasons.' So that's been cool.
The third episode of Sweet Home Alabama airs Thursday, July 28, at 7 p.m. MST on CMT. Visit www.cmt.com for more information.
