There are some people that are just fun to interview. And Marcellas Reynolds from Big Brother All-Stars is one of those people. His charisma shines through as does his attention to detail, when I had the chance to talk to him.
Murtz Jaffer: Hi Marcellas, you were very entertaining to watch on the show. Is this natural for you? To be so entertaining?
Marcellas Reynolds: Was I entertaining? Because that’s not what one of your writers, Scott Keith, said about me. Busted! I do my research! To answer your question, I’ve always wanted to be a performer. As far back as I can remember I wanted to be an actor, which was not a normal dream for a little Black boy on the South side of Chicago.
MJ: Tell me about you and the buxom blonde. You seemed to be her best friend when she had the power, but then trash-talked her to no end when she didn’t. What are your thoughts on Janelle?
MR: Things are never as they seem. Let’s clear something up; Janelle and I had a deal from the 1st night to go to final 2. I was supposed to get rid of Howie and Kaysar and she was supposed to get rid of any threats to me. Week 4 Janelle promised Kaysar, Howie, James, Erika and I she would put up Will and Mike. I threw the HoH comp to her because my strategy was to go under the radar. What does she do? Nominates Erika. And then helps Mike win the veto. And then evicts the person I was closest to in the house, Diane. After she told Diane she was safe! But most importantly Janelle knew Will and Mike were after me. She cut a deal with them. She betrayed me. I was angry. I vented. That’s all that was. A touch of drama. I also feel the producers wanted her to win. That was unfair to the rest of us. I was unhappy because I felt certain players had an unfair advantage on the production end. And I said so. A lot. It’s a reality show and that was what I was really feeling.
Janelle and I are friends. We were before the game and are closer after. We’ve done Big Brother before. Nothing that happened in the game could break us. That’s friendship.
MJ: How tough was it to cut Kaysa’s hair?
MR: It was awful! But kinda sexy! I don’t know if you could see it but I was choking back tears. The decision to cut your hair is very personal. I shaved my head in 1996 for a big modeling job. It was hard for me, so I knew acutely how that felt. I also thought Kaysar was amazing to step up to the plate and take one for the team in that manner. But any excuse to touch the Iraqi Peach was worth it!
MJ: While you wanted Danielle gone the first week, you seemed to really bond with her later in the game. Were you in a secret alliance?
MR: I have always had a love/hate relationship with my Dani. She was the person in the house I was closest to during Big Brother 3. Not Amy as the producers chose to highlight. I was horribly betrayed by her. Devastated. For a long time I couldn’t get past it. During All-Stars I remembered what I liked about her. She’s like the women I grew up with. I love her. Dani and I were forced into an alliance. It was either work together or get picked off by The 4 or Chill Town. The best thing to come out of All-Stars is our forgiveness of the past and a new friendship with Dani. We wasted 4 years.
MJ: Why did you dislike Chilltown so much?
MR: Mike and Will were liars. Mike was a drunk and a bully. They told horrid, elitist stories. They just thought they were these “hipper-than-hip” Hollywood guys and the House Guests were supposed to worship them. Sorry. Wrong guy, that ain’t me. I live in L.A. Those types are a dime a dozen. They pay me to teach them manners and how to dress. I saw right through them.
MJ: Who do you blame the most for your eviction?
MR: Janelle. She should have known better. I would never have nominated her. As strategy I told others I would because everyone in the game wanted her evicted. She was just too good @ challenges. I always told her Janelle, “I will not put you up and I will not vote against you” and I had every intention of honoring our deal. We had to pretend we hated each other because everyone suspected we had an alliance. We agreed to do that! It was very hard for me because I love her. But it’s a game and you have to do what you have to do.
MJ: Who smells worse, George or Gerry?
MR: I love both of those men and this game is over. I don’t talk about people like that in my real life. Gerry has become a friend of mine. I wouldn’t have been an All-Star if it weren’t for Gerry using the veto on me in Big Brother 3. I look forward to getting to know George well! Who doesn’t love the Chicken Man?!
MJ: Who was the best looking male and best looking female in the house?
MR: I was the best looking man in the house. Will has charisma and personality but eh… James was cute but eh… Me? Traffic stopping! Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute! Janelle is beautiful but I thought Alison was the most naturally beautiful girl in the game. And Alison’s body was insane.
MJ: If Chilltown was accepting new residents, would you buy a house there?
MR: No way. I’d be that neighbor that complains about the noise! And disrupts the city council meetings about the construction! Let me say this, I’m friends with Mike and Will in real life. I talked to Will twice today. We’re having dinner this week. He’s funny as hell. I just don’t like the way he and Mike played Big Brother.
MJ: What’s next for you?
MR: I’m already booked for How Do I Look for the Style Network! I’ll be covering L.A. fashion week for E! and Style. I’m doing a make-over on The Greg Berhendts Show this week! I’m also in negotiations to be the on-air fashion expert for a major talk show. As soon as that goes through, I’ll let you know!
MJ: Thanks Marcellas.
