On last week’s episode of the VH1 reality hit, Confessions of a Teen Idol, cast member Eric Nies from MTV's The Real World decided that the show was not the right place for him and left the house. This week, the six remaining former teen idols are left to deal with the departure. Jeremy Jackson (Baywatch) in particular wonders if he will be able to continue his healthy eating habits without his friend. The actors retire Eric’s photo from the wall when a call sheet arrives on the fax machine.
Meeting with Hollywood Gatekeepers
The idols discover that they will be having a meet-and-greet with a panel of Hollywood Gatekeepers. These agents, producers, and powerful Hollywood players will listen to pitches from each of the guys. After each idol leaves the room, they will watch from behind a two-way mirror to see what is really being said about them.
Most of the men are out of practice and do not have strong pitches. However, David Chokachi (Baywatch) impresses the panel with passion and ability. On the other end of the spectrum, Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon) seemed dark and sad. Jeremy Jackson, Jamie Walters (Beverly Hills, 90210) and Billy Hufsey (Fame) all suffered from pitches that were too broad and received some negative critique.
Confessions of a Teen Idol Sends Boys to Therapy with Cooper Lawrence
After the pitch session, the idols debriefed their day with celebrity therapist Cooper Lawrence. They informed her that Eric Nies had left the show, and she was both shocked and not. David Chokachi reflected positively about his day, while Jeremy Jackson expressed his frustration with the attitudes of the people they met. He focused entirely on the negative aspects of his critique and ignored their positive commentary. The other idols expressed their frustration at Jeremy not listening to anything but his ego. Christopher Atkins seemed to take the criticism almost as hard, and began to wonder if he still has what it takes to be an actor.
Eric Nies Returns to the Show
After therapy, a familiar truck rolled onto the set and Eric Nies walked back through the door. The idols showed him the shrine they had built on his bed and were joyous to regain their friend. Eric expressed his need to reflect on what had happened and where he wanted to go next.
Image Consultant and a Second Chance at a Pitch
Another call sheet arrived for the stars, stating that they would be meeting with an image expert to change how they present themselves. Image consultant and talent manager Marki Costello, one of the Hollywood Gatekeepers that the idols met previously, will be working to help them develop their pitches and presence. She helped each one find what they really wanted to say, in preparation to talk to the same group they had pitched the day before.
Unfortunately, Adrian Zmed (T.J. Hooker) was not be able to make the repeat pitch session because he had to go to Aruba and open a show on one of his ships. Each of the stars had a more positive experience with their second chance, as the Gatekeepers expressed their hopes for each person’s future. However, Jeremy Jackson still found himself unhappy because they did not use the words “star” or “leading man” in the conversation. He did not seem to hear their other suggestions for his future.
Jeremy Jackson Explodes
After his pitch, Jeremy Jackson is still dissatisfied with their reactions. The executives all commented that he seemed much more polished, adult, and respectable. He decided to go back in and speak to them again, asking where they saw his career going. Despite their obvious annoyance at the delay, they give suggest venues that he might work well in (including CW television shows).
Jeremy stated in a confessional that “they didn’t get me. That’s their problem. That can’t be my problem. That can’t be my fault.” Back at the house, the other idols reflect on what a great experience it was but Jeremy argued. Jamie Walters tried to calm him down, but even Eric Nies eventually had to call him a baby. Jeremy ended the episode outside with a pair of boxing gloves and telling the cameras to leave him alone.
Stay tuned for next week’s episode of Confessions of a Teen Idol, where the actors work with a top acting coach. New episodes air Sundays on VH1. Visit the Confessions of a Teen Idol Page for cast profiles, episode summaries, and more.
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