Exclusive Interview
Here is another 'Where Are They Now?" interview that I did recently. This time it's with Renee who was best known being on Frank The Entertainer... A Basement Affiar. The show was one of VH1's last dating shows to air and it only lasted one season . She was portayed as the emotional wreck on the show and she tells me what is she doing now.
Renee Lee Taylor: I'm good John, thank-you for asking. I hope things are well with you!
John Taylor: You were best known for appearing on "Frank The Entertainer... A Basement Affair." What was your fondest memory being on the show?
Renee Lee taylor: My fondest memory ( while on the show ) was winning the talent date, and then getting the first key from Frank. What a great feeling that was. My fondest memory during that time would have to be realizing that I can do this. Being on tv was something I had dreamed about since I was very young, and doing this without an agent, or prior television experience was amazing to me, especially if you knew where I live ( nothing happens here! ). The people I had met throughout the process was just an overall cool experience.
And for those of you who may be shouting at the screen saying she only wanted to be on tv, I actually was in fact open for love at the time. That part was true.
John Taylor: You were kinda portrayed as the emotional wreck on the show. Now was that how you really are or just a persona created by the producers?
Renee Lee taylor: I admit to being an emotional person, and I do wear my heart on my sleeve. However, the producers portrayed me in a way where it was exaggerated for entertainment purposes. I am NOT a desperate person. I am however a competitive one. A lot of the time I was laughing at myself throughout the process, this is something they didn't show at all.
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John Taylor: Was that really is house? because I remember when the show aired people said that wasn't really his house on the show.
Renee Lee Taylor: It was not really the house that they live in. The Maresca's do not live far from it, and there were elements within the house that were their actual items.
John Taylor: On the show, you also kinda had beef with Dana. Why do you think she picked on you?
Renee Lee Taylor: Dana tried to pick on anyone that she could to gain air time. She targeted me because she had known I wasn't a mean person, and she felt I was an easy target. She probably also had a feeling that I was getting a lot of camera time and wanted the same. Dana isn't really emotionally stable, or at least she didn't act that way while I was there. She'll act like your friend one minute, and attack you the next. I have no idea how she is today.
John Taylor: Did anything thing else happened on the show that did not air on TV?
Renee Lee Taylor: There were plenty of things that they did not air. They didn't air that I got along with Jess, Melody, or Mandy. They didn't show how much Frank's parents had liked me from the beginning, which actually contributed to a lot of the girls turning against me at the time. They didn't show a horrible fight I had with Felica on the beach. Where she tried to tear me completely apart, even critiquing my job. They didn't show that because they didn't want to portray her as being a bitch. They didn't show lighter moments such as Christi, Jess, and I making up musicals about the show in the kitchen. That would of been cute.
John Taylor: Do you still keep in touch of Frank and his mom? I know that his father passed away back in 2010. What about the girls?
Renee Lee Taylor: I keep in touch with Frank's brother Sal, and we've had a friendship since meeting on the show. As for the rest of them, I don't talk to anyone else on the phone. I wish Frank and his family the very best! They really are a great group of people! I do keep in touch with a few of the girls on facebook. Cathy and I comment on each other's pages frequently, and once in a great while I hear from Christi, Melody, and Jess. The rest rarely update, or we just don't talk at all. It's nothing personal. I miss a few, and would love to hear from them!
John Taylor: It's been three years since the show aired, have you found love now?
Renee Lee Taylor: Yes, my third engagement finally made it down the isle. haha
John Taylor:Let's about the present, First off I want to send my prayers to the people at Boston because
I know you live there.
Renee Lee Taylor: Thank-you, what happened in Boston is surreal. It's hard for me to believe, and fortunately I didn't know anyone directly affected. However, my heart truly goes out to everyone involved. It's heart breaking. The people of Boston are Strong, and we will recover!
John Taylor: What have you've been doing now since being on VH1?
Renee Lee Taylor: After VH1 I got a few offers to do some gigs but they all fell through. It was disappointing. 51 Minds decided to soon after cancel basically all the love shows, so there was no hope of I love Money, or Charm School. There's not much opportunity where I live, so I decided to do the next best thing, and that is to finish my degree! Right now I am studying theater, writing, and just getting back into the things that I love. It's a great feeling to be back. From there I would like to move somewhere there is more excitement and opportunities for me. If $$ wasn't an issue, I would have already of left! I have no idea what the future holds, however if the right opportunity knocks, I will answer it.
John Taylor: Would you ever consider doing reality TV again?
Renee Lee Taylor: Yes, but I would do it a lot differently. First off, I've grown so much since the experience. I took a lot of things personally and to heart back then, and I would sincerely try not to next time around. The hardest part for me was reading straight up LIES about me over the Internet ( written by people with no job, life, or anything better to do ). That was very hard. But it happens to everyone that's on TV. No matter how nice, good looking, ect, someone will have something negative to say, and one day with the help of some good people in my life, I got the strength to just say f*ck it, and not look at it anymore. What will be will be. When your on tv it brings out the best and worst in people that you know. They either will be very happy for you, or be insanely jealous/negative. Fortunately I also got a lot of positive feed back from wonderful fans of the show. There really are some good people out there, and I am grateful for that! I would have loved to do I love money, or Charm School. But to be honest what I'd love even more would be to be on a scripted sitcom, soap opera, or the movies.
John Taylor: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Renee Lee Taylor: I can't say what the future holds for me for sure, but I do believe you haven't heard the last of me. Please be kind to others, as life is short. Take reality TV as bits and pieces, and with a grain of salt. Don't take it all so seriously.... just enjoy it for what it's worth.
1 comment:
RLT! Fantastic job! Glad you went on my brother's show. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have gained such a good friend!
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