As one of the funniest, and perhaps most blunt castmembers on the Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Island, Kenny Santucci gives me a little insight into the world of reality television. He also chats with me about his upcoming episode of Reality Obsessed, a show that sticks him in house for 36 hours straight with other reality TV stars—Island castmate Johnny Bananas, Trisha from Real World Sydney, Jen from Big Brother 8 and the foremost reality expert Murtz Jaffer—to see what kind of drama would unfold…
Be sure to check out Kenny’s episode of Reality Obsessed tonight at 6 or 8 p.m. on TVTropolis and a new episode of The Island at 10 p.m. on MTV.
Sharon Tharp:On a lot of these challenges, you are portrayed as the guy who’s really mean to the girls yet you still seem very well-liked and provide a lot of the comic relief. Why do you think that is? What was it like this challenge?
Kenny Santucci:A lot of times they try to peg us as these women haters or womanizers. But some of these girls are not mentally stable and some of these girls are great. I love Johanna and Paula. There are just some girls who are amazing people. And then you have the wild, wacky pill-popping girls and those are the ones you can’t even deal with. When you are sitting on an island starving, bored and tired, the last thing you want to do it deal with one of those people. I’ve always been a straight shooter on these shows. I’ve gone to the end of like four or five of them. People know they can trust me. Whatever I say, I’m going to do.
You don’t seem like the kind of guy who watches the show and says, “What was I thinking?” Is that a right assumption?
Regrets—I’ve had a few, that’s for damn sure. The only person I really tore apart was Tonya and I never understood why so many people disliked her until I really got to know her. And there is a reason she’s been picked on since she’s been doing this stuff—since ’91 or however long it’s been.
You were originally a finalist for the Real World Austin cast. Do you find it ironic that you ended up hooking up with Austin castmember Johanna?
Since I’ve met her on Fresh Meat, there was always that attraction there. And everyone’s always said, “You would have probably hooked up with Melinda” and I’m like, “No, blondes aren’t my style. I would have probably been with Joey.”
A lot of drama unfolded last week between Johanna and Robin where you’re concerned. Thoughts?
Robin and I used to mess around every once in a while and I think she got a little jealous because she knew I’m more of a power player in this game and I could protect her. And she got a little jealous and thought that Johanna stole her idea.
Johnny hasn’t exactly been the most popular player this season, especially among the girls. Even though you two are friends, did you find it hard being in an alliance with a major target?
It was my Achille’s heel in this challenge. He is definitely a hard guy to protect because he doesn’t’ know when to shut up. I found myself defending him more than anything else and found myself always trying to protect him.
What can we expect in the upcoming Island episodes?
As the show unfolds, it gets more and more interesting. Just like any other challenge, when it starts getting down to the final people, the rules start to change and a lot of backstabbing and drama goes on. Everything that you can possibly imagine happening—times it by ten on this challenge. If you like the first half of the season, the second half is just going to be wild. The food gets more and more scarce and the problems get bigger and bigger.
So I heard you also shot an episode of my boss’ Murtz’s show Reality Obsessed. Tell me about that experience.
That was probably the funniest 24 hours of my life. It was just constant comedy. Murtz is a funny guy. I think he’s great. He is really honest about who he is and I like that about him. It was a good time and I like the cast they got. And thank god that other girl (Jen) was the biggest bitch I’ve ever met, because it just gave us someone to pick on.
Was it tough being stuck in that house? How did you keep yourself busy?
It was pretty much like a challenge where I had my friends there and these people I don’t know. And it’s the same thing we do on the Island, whoever we don’t know, we pick on. We make fun of each other just as much as we make fun of everyone else but when it comes to ganging up on somebody, we’ll all just join up and do what we got to do to keep ourselves laughing.
Do you think less drama unfolds on shows like these where there aren’t competitions?
I actually think there is more of an outlet for drama to come out without the challenges for the simple fact that boredom sets in. It’s like, “Ok, I’m stuck here for the next two days, how am I going to keep myself entertained?” Johnny and I have similar personalities where we’ll do whatever we have to do to keep ourselves entertained.
What do you think the show proved about reality television?
Reality television is pretty real. If you stick the right people in the right situation, you’re going to get everything you can possibly ask for. If you want drama, you’re going to get drama. If you want attraction to someone, you’re going to get attraction. You are going to build that atmosphere.
What should we expect when watching your episode of Reality Obsessed?
Sit back and hold you pillows tight because you’re going to laugh pretty hard on this one. A lot went on in that 24 hours. Prepare yourself for a little comedy, a little drama and everything you could possibly want out of reality television.
– Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Island airs on MTV in the US and Canada on Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT time.
– Reality Obsessed airs on the TVTropolis network in Canada tonight, Wednesday, October 1 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time and again at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
