Big Brother Craze

Every season of Big Brother has its stand-out personalities. During Big Brother 3, we met Marcellas Reynolds and knew immediately that he was one of those stand-outs. Since BB3, Marcellas has gone on to host House Calls and appear in Big Brother All Stars. But there’s a whole lot more to the man than just Big Brother.

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Marcellas and ask him a few questions on life after Big Brother.

Carrie: Hi Marcellas! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! For anyone who isn’t up to date on what you’ve been doing lately, what’s been keeping you busy since last season’s All Stars?

Marcellas: Well I’m “Celebrity Stylist” Marcellas Reynolds. Who knows what the moniker means? I’m a fashion stylist. I work with celebrities such as David Schwimmer, Eddie Cibrian, Jennifer Finnegan and several others on fashion shoots and for special events like the Emmys, Grammys… I’ve also become popular on the TV make-over circuit. The Tyra Banks Show, How Do I Look, E! News Daily, The Daily 10, The Greg Behrendt’s Show… the list grows each day. I’m shooting a pilot with Telepictures on the day House Calls starts. I wouldn’t have been available the first episode anyway. I’m literally booked out 2 months
in advance with TV shows and appearances. I just shot MTV’s Next, where I did make-overs on the daters and coming up I have a few epis of a new fashion series for VH1. I’m blessed. And busy.

Carrie: You’ve become quite the fashion maven these days, with columns in Life & Style and all of your television appearances! How would you define your own personal style?

Marcellas: My style? I’d say classic meets casual with a bit of hip. I always do a blazer. Even with jeans. Lately I’ve discovered ascots, pocket squares and scarves. And of course a good watch. Then a great pair of jeans that aren’t ripped or distressed and a good shoe. Men should always wear polished shoes and a good watch. I have a Rolex and a vintage Tag Heuer that I alternate.

Carrie: Who would you say is the best dressed celebrity right at this moment? The worst? Why?

Marcellas: Right now I love Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry and Natalie Portman. They are always sexy, classy, yet still take risks. I also love Mischa Barton. Everything looks good on her. Paris, Nicole and the Olsen sisters are fashion nightmares. Paris and Nicole are Zoe-bots (Rachel Zoe) and have her style. Clones that look just like her. And the Olsen twins never dress to their physical stature. Everything overwhelms them. And they have questionable taste. If someone says,”It’s the bag of the moment,” or shoe or whatever, they have it. Even if it isn’t cute.

Carrie: Okay, the questions about Big Brother are inevitable, so let’s get a few out right now. What do you think of the rumour about the new theme for Big Brother 8 (the past enemies idea)?

Marcellas: I hate twists and themes. I’m a purist. 12 strangers go in, two make it to the end, one wins. Enough Ex-Factor, Project DNA, special powers… Blah blah blah.

Carrie: Right - during an episode of House Calls in season 6, you told Gretchen that you’d like to see a stripped-down version of Big Brother, without all of the themes and twists etc - just put a group of strangers in the house and let them play the game. Does the show need a “gimmick” though to entice viewers?

Marcellas: The gimmicks never work. The producers seem to constantly be trying to recreate Season 3 in casting. The concept of the show is so simple I really believe if you don’t over-produce and cast it well, it’s genius. We didn’t have gimmicks (other than the veto) Season 3. We came up with Duck Ball, The Hottest Girl and Guy Pageant, the Lizard Trial and so many other things that were so entertaining on our own.

Carrie: When I spoke with you last spring you were still on the fence about being a part of the All Star season. What tipped the scales and convinced you to do the show again?

Marcellas: I really didn’t want to do it. I actually turned it down on 3 separate occasions. I had House Calls. I work all the time, so money wasn’t an issue. So what was my need to deprive myself of my family, friends, outside life? But the producers really pursued me and at the end of the day I think I had to go and slay the beast of my BB past to really embrace my non-BB future.

Carrie: Do you think that a Celebrity Big Brother would work in the US?

Marcellas: NO! We already have that. It’s called The Surreal Life. It takes 11 days to shoot it and they make $50,000. I almost did it 2 seasons ago. I couldn’t because House Calls ran into the beginning of the shoot. And then they changed the format from wanting a gay House Guest to a reality hunk. I really wanted to do it.

Carrie: Changing things up a bit … Recently you were the host of LA Pride 2007, which must have been quite an honor! Tell us about the weekend, and how it felt to be hosting such a big event.

Marcellas: It was awesome. Momentous. To be on the main stage, Master of Ceremonies, in front of a crowd of over 50,000 people was scary but it made me feel deeply proud. I’m a little Black boy from the south side of Chicago and look how far I’ve come? It’s one of those moments that really make me happy. And want more.

Carrie: A couple of “just for fun” questions to cap things off with! If you were a superhero, what super power would you want to have and why?

Marcellas: If I were a superhero I’d want the power of invisibility. I could have used that during BB to hear Mike and Will talk so much crap about me. And then bop ‘em upside the head!

Carrie: Now that I’d like to see! What do you think of Julie Chen’s wardrobe?

Marcellas: My first instinct is to say no comment as you don’t wanna clown the big bosses wife. But I’m not doing House Calls this season so… I actually like the way Julie dresses. She does work the big trends. I’d like to see her show more skin though. Short skirts and dresses. And maybe be a bit more designer. Edgier.

Carrie: If someone were going to name a mixed drink after you, what would be in it?

Marcellas: Oh I’m a beer boy. Give me a Rolling Rock or a Pabst Blue Ribbon and I’m happy. That or Veuve. Either beer or champagne; nothing in between. I guess if you did a champagne cocktail with coconut liqueur, and a splash of cran to turn it pink and pour it in a big martini glass that would be me; The Marcellas.

Carrie: What was the last movie you saw, and what did you think of it?

Marcellas: I saw Ocean’s 13. I didn’t like it. Thin story. Al looked like hell and doesn’t show up as an actor. I can’t decide if it’s him or the writing. Brad looks great but worn a bit around the eyes. George is showing his age. Ellen. Dear Ellen. Gone are the late 80s early 90s when she brought edge and sexuality to every movie she was in. And the cinematography in this movie does not serve her well. Every line, circle, and crease is shown. She looks like a buzzard. And Ellen is one of my fave actresses. I’m still excited to see her back though this was a paltry role for such a strong actress.

Matt and Don Cheadle are very good. I found myself missing them when they weren’t on screen.

Luckily the movie is short.

Carrie: Marcellas, thanks again for the interview and best of luck with all of your endeavors! I know we’ll be seeing you often on television!

Keep up with Marcellas by visiting his blog and website at MarcellasReynolds.com.

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