Singled Out!
Carmen was first involved with mtv when she and her dance team, The Nightmare Creations, performed durring half-time durring the Rock 'n Jock B-ball event. It was that performance that caught the eye of the Singled Out producers and was told they were interested in her. "I think the biggest mistake would have been if I tried to be [Jenny]. Even before I auditioned, the people from Mtv said, 'Look, we've auditioned thousands of girls and they all come in making faces, trying to do a Jenny McCarthy thing, and that's not what we want. We love Jenny, she's got a lot of talent, we respect her, but she's got got her own show now and she's going to be herself on her show. When we bring in a new cohost, we want something different.' As soon as they told me that, I knew exactly what to do- Just be myself, and if they like me, great, if not I move on.
In that case, Carmen's big entrance for her very first show was fitting. Jenny walks onto the set with Carmen slung over her shoulder and announces, "This is the new host." Jenny then holds the microphone up to Carmens well displayed derriere and yells, "Say hello, Carmen!" It was quite a historic moment, really. "I was totally nervous... But we had rehearsed and all. Everyone was so nice.. And kept asking me if I was okay... And saying 'you look incredible.' So they made it really easy for me. But my god... I was totally freaking out inside. Not to the point of "accidents"... Which you know happens to me sometimes... Everyone on the set, including Jenny, made me feel very comfortable. I thought there would be a lot of pressure, but the first time I stepped onto the set with the contestants i realized everything would be ok.."
"We're completely different. I think our similarities are that we both have a lot of energy... and we're not afraid to be ourselves on camera. We're both very constipated... And have big boobs. But we're also VERY different... And so I barely ever get compared to her. But I really like her as a person... And she was very supportive when I first came on the show. Just because we both did Singled Out doesn't mean we're the same or that I'm trying to be her. I think she's really funny, but I want to go off in a different direction."
"We don't film too early, which is good for me. I would drive to the set, and it was pretty exciting because there was a line full of contestants waiting to get in, and they are looking as you drive by. They have security gaurds because there's over 100 contestants and sometimes it gets a little crazy, so I go strait into hair and makup and get dressed and then the first show's ready to start. And there's not too long of a break between shows. It's pretty fast. So I'm kind of looking over what's going to happen in the show and then get dressed and then move on to the next one. And we do about three or four shows a day. We do not go back and redo anything. I think it's more fake if you keep redoing it. It becomes more planned and Singled Out has a format, but within the format you can do whatever you want. It becomes more spontaneous, and I think that is what makes it more fun."
"I'm human like everybody else. I once meant to give this contestant a little shove but ended up hitting him so hard that he fell on his butt. Later, MTV showed it in slow motion, and it looks like I'm hitting him on purpose and knocking him to the ground." With 50 single guys around her, it's no wonder she feels the need to apply the no-touch rule. The saying on the show was "Don't squeeze the Carmen." Jenny gave Carmen some pointers before she left, though she didn't need them. "Jenny's advice was, 'Oh, they're going to grab you, girl, but just be strong and hang in there! We've got security, so don't worry about it. Be yourself and have a good time.' I tell our security guards to relax. I've never had any problems. Whatever I tell the guys to do, they're on it."
"I have used my own clothes. And I've gotten my clothes from Singled Out... If I wear something that I fall madly in love with... And then beg for. But mostly, it's clothes that the wardrobe people pick out for me.
"When I first started at Singled Out, I had to wear all Jenny's leftovers. My friends kept telling me, 'Carmen, you don't look like yourself.'" Thankfully the stylists soon learned that Carmen has a style of all her own. They got her out of Jenny's pastel baby tee's and mini skirts and put together a whole new wardrobe that consisted of metalic halter tops and flared leg hip huggers. Much more fitting for her.
Of course all great things must come to an end sometime. It was cancelled and Carmen was then allowed to focus her time on Baywatch, and to REST a day or two each week! I thought the show was getting tired and repetative before jenny even left. The addition of Carmen brought in some new life, but that can only last for so long if the same things are happening on each show. "It worked out perfectly. I wouldn't want to do Singled Out forever. I'd be 80 years old running around with all those kids!"
"It's been an amazing experience. And I really thank Jenny for making it such a great show and role to take over. It's an incredible job to get. You get to go crazy and just be yourself. You can dress funky, play around with really cool people, and have a great time... while getting paid. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten that job."
I'd like to give a special thanks to Cole, from the Yahoo club Tara Patrick, for making these great Singled Out vidcaps. The picture quality is far better than the fifth generation tape I have!                     |
hen it was announced that Jenny McCarthy was leaving Singled Out and they were looking for a replacement, I remember saying to myself, "Good luck!" I thought they might as well cancel the tired show or change the format because no woman could fill the shoe's of Jenny McCarthy. But when I read that the new cohost of Singled Out was going to be Carmen Electra, something seemed very right. At first I was suprised and thought "Isn't she a little old?", not realizing she was my age since she seemed so old durring her Go Go Dancer video, back in 1993. But still, the name "Carmen Electra" had a certain element of mystery, which I thought was an appropriate image to replace Jenny with.
