Big Brother Craze

As the links to various MySpaces were found and dug up on the 1st after the cast reveal, I jumped at the chance to message Ronnie’s wife, and see what she’d like all of us to know about the Gamer Geek from West Virginia/Ohio! She was sweet and personable, and below you’ll find a transcript of our interview and the pictures she sent along to post with it. Enjoy this little peek into the real Ronnie Talbott!

1. Tell us a little about you and Ronnie - how you met, how long you’ve been married, etc, anything you’d like us to know.
Wow, this is a long question to answer. We actually met in high school. He went to Parkersburg High School and I went to Parkersburg South High School. Our schools travelled on the bus together to speech and debate tournaments. He would tell you that he knew he was going to marry me back then. I had some convincing. (He was 5’3 when he graduated from High School and a big geek.).

Flash forward two years, it was the summer before I went to college, we were in a play at the Actor’s Guild “The Who’s Tommy” and he pursued me again. I still was not interested. He gave me a big basket of Bath and Body Works products but I had just gone to my first week of college and had a new boyfriend. Two years later, my brother was in Oliver! at the Actor’s Guild and Ronnie was working backstage. He approached me and asked me for just one date. I gave him that date but still told my Roommate that he was not my type and we were just friends. A couple weeks pass and he asks to be my boyfriend. I wanted to scare him off so I told him the next guy who’s my boyfriend I want to marry. Funny…It didn’t work. Instead he pursues me even more. We dated for four months before he proposes. We were engaged for the next two years before getting married. We’ve been married six year, June 6th.

2. What characteristics drew you to Ronnie, and how do you think his personality will work once he’s inside the house? Is he the type to clash with everyone, or laid back take it day by day?
I remember when we got engaged someone said to me, “Does he make you laugh?” He makes me laugh every day. Ronnie can tell the same story I can but in such a way people are captivated by it. Ronnie is also the type of person who never gives up. He perseveres through any task given. I believe all of these qualities will help inside the house. He is the type of person you love, or love to hate. I have not met a person yet who has luke warm feelings about him.

My husband is anything but laid back. Lol! That is my forte.

Ronnie will be friendly when he first gets into the house so everyone gets to know him. He will listen intently to everyone and then after a few weeks he will start clashing. I guess the answer to your question is that in his private life he will clash but in the BB house both.

3. In his bio, Ronnie says you’re his Hero because you put up with him and he’s afraid his housemates might not- what sort of things do you think will drive his new roommates nuts?
Lol! I think calling me a hero is a bit much but I think that he meant because I’m kind. I don’t think either qualifies me for a cape… Ronnie’s greatest area for improvement is his flair for the dramatic. I think that it’s going to be hard for him, without me there, to sometimes put things in perspective. I can see his roommates’ now saying calm down Ronnie she didn’t mean it that way.

4. Hard core gamer, can’t live without his iPhone - how is he going to make it through the next few months?
I think that it will be difficult. I am sure that we will see some weird movement that simulates pulling out an iphone kind of like when someone loses a limb. It still feels like it’s there… I think eventually he will be fine because the Big Brother house is like one big complicated puzzle. He will focus on it like he does any game.

5. His Solitary interview/audition has been making the rounds. How’d he go from Solitary to Big Brother? How many times has he tried out for BB? Any other shows he’s tried out for?
He may have auditioned for Solitary, but he has always wanted Big Brother. He has been a big fan for years. He has tried out for Big Brother four times. We once travelled to Memphis, Tenn. for an open call for Big Brother. We drove twelve hours, he auditioned, and then we turned around and drove back. Like I said he’s persistent.

6. How are you feeling right about now? Both in regards to the game, and in knowing its going to be a long summer without Ronnie?
I am extremely anxious. It all feels surreal. I feel like I am dreaming. This is such an opportunity for Ronnie. It will be a long summer. I am quoted by our local paper as saying “Ronnie brings so much color to the world”. I think that is the truest statement I can make. I feel as though when they took him I lost some of that color. I hate to go Jerry Maguire on you but he does “complete me”. When he’s not sucked into a computer / video game, we have this amazing connection.

7. Will you be watching the Live Feeds, surfing the sites and boards?
Of course. I don’t think that I could make it through the summer without my life lines. Lol! And yes, I do cruise the boards. It’s funny I didn’t think that people would be trying to find pictures of me. I am very flattered.

8. What would you like Big Brother fans to know about Ronnie that they might not discover right off the bat?
Ronnie can easily be underestimated. Yes, he is a geek. He loves technology and is very intelligent. Ronnie is also a deep person. He understands communication and is very good as socializing. He can exist in many different groups. One of our best friends coaches Football. We love to hang out with him. I would say of the major groups from High School, Ronnie has at least one friend from each. I think that this diversity will help relate to each person while in the Big Brother House.

Ronnie also has deep emotions. I never expected him to mention me so much.

9. Now that the cast has been announced, as well as the twist - what do you think of the rest of the houseguests? Anyone you see Ronnie clicking or aligning with? folks you think he might avoid?
Absolutely, I think that I see Ronnie aligning with Michele. He admired intelligence. I think that he will use that my name is also Michelle to his advantage. I think that at the end though he will dump her because she isn’t me and she would not be good to take to the end unless she has angered a lot of people. I think that he will avoid Braden. He seems like someone whose sole purpose in life is to look pretty. (Sorry no offense to Braden’s family) My mother always told me that being pretty on the outside is an accident; being pretty on the inside takes work.

10. What do you think of the clique twist, as well as the have vs. have nots? The mystery houseguest?
Well, I teach high school so I live in the cliques. I think that it is a good twist and Ronnie will find his niche. I think no matter what twist is thrown at Ronnie. He will do fine.

11. If you could have an uncensored five minute conversation with Ronnie right now - what would you say?
I don’t think that I would take it. Ronnie is in the game right now. I think to jump in and say anything to him would be cruel and would hurt him more than help. My thoughts are with him every day.

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Thanks so much for talking with Big Brother Craze, Michelle! Hopefully we’ll get the chance to chat again throughout the season!

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