Road Rules All Stars’ Interviews

Jon:

Part One of JJ Web's interview with cowboy crooner JON BRENNAN.
JJ Web:In this week's episode, you told Eric that you have been trying to get a record deal. What's the status of your career now?
Jon: I was signed to a major label in Nashville and they ended up dropping me.
JJ Web:When did you sign?
Jon: Two years ago. Ever since then I've been working on another deal, but with not much of a break.
JJ Web:Did you do a record for this other label?
Jon: I recorded four songs for them.
JJ Web:Were those four released?
Jon: Nope. They never were, thank God, because then I would really have a hard time getting another deal. I have been talking to several different companies in Nashville. I'm actually talking to a label in Atlanta right now that looks pretty promising. I'm hitting it hard. That's all I've ever wanted to do. It's the reason that I went and did The Real World in the first place. So I haven't forgotten about it. As a matter of fact, I don't even have a job right now. I entertain. I do private parties. I do public appearances. And I don't even have a full time job because I don't want to detour my music career. I'm a hundred percent focused and I'm just being faithful that something will break.
JJ Web:Perhaps the exposure you'll receive from The Real World All-Stars will spark interest in your music career.
Jon: Hopefully. I didn't get a real good response in Nashville about the whole MTV identity that I had formed. Unfortunately, people in Nashville were a little bit scared off by that.
JJ Web:In what way?
Jon: They believe the MTV audience is not a country music audience which first I've proved wrong. Everybody is an MTV audience. I've met Garth Brooks, I've met Tim McGraw, and they've all seen the show and they knew who I was. So if you're telling me that the fans aren't watching it, you're full of it, because I've toured. I've toured all across the country three times and people know who I am. And they are country music listeners. So that's a myth. It's wrong, but it did scare them away. They're not real sure if my heart is into it because they think "this guy was on MTV and now he wants to be a country singer." But they don't realize that my heart's always been with country music. And so I'm fighting that a little bit. But I'm focused. And I know that everything happens for a reason and I think the right thing will come along. But as far as the people who are wondering, I have a fan club started.
JJ Web:We'll post your fan club information at the end of the interview.
Jon: I was really hoping to have something out by the time this Road Rules show hit, because I do know how it could really impact. But I'm hoping I can land this thing in Atlanta and have something out by fall. I think that's a realistic goal. The sad thing is, nothing happens on a time table in the music business. But I'm still working on it a hundred percent!
JJ Web:And are you dating anyone now?
Jon: Nope.
JJ Web:So you're available for dating!
Jon: I'm available. But I'm not the type of person who goes out looking. But if I meet somebody by chance, you know. But I'm not one of these people who's got to be in a relationship all the time. I really don't go out looking. I just don't ask people out in hopes that it might work out. It really has to be there. And I'm really not looking for a relationship, and I'm not looking for marriage or anything until my late twenties. The thing that sets me apart from the rest of the Real Worlders is I'm still only 23! Most of them were 23 when they did the show. And I was 18. So I'm still young.
JJ Web:You're a baby! People forget how young you are! You and Rachel did the MTV Behind the Scenes: Vacations video together and became friends, so you knew she would be going on the trip. Were you surprised to learn who your other cast members were as they got on the train?
Jon: I had a pretty good idea Eric was going to be there. I didn't know for sure, because I had picked up the phone and called Julie (from The Real World - New York). And I thought she would have been someone they would have chose, and when she told me it wasn't her, I figured the only obvious choice would have been Eric. So I knew two of them. And I was really expecting someone from London. I was hoping it would have been Lars, because I really thought he was cool. I wasn't expecting anyone from the Boston show because it was so new. That was not expected by any of us. And then Rachel found out through the grapevine that Cynthia was going to be there. So I had a hunch with Eric, and Rachel and Cynthia I knew for sure. Sean was a surprise.
JJ Web:Not long after the trip began, tension developed between Eric and the rest of the cast. You were the mediator. How was being in the middle of that for you?
Jon: We all made a pact in the beginning not to fight. We're all a bunch of Real Worlders and we're known for fighting. We figured, it's three weeks, let's just make this a love trip and everybody have a good time. And everybody was for that, because when you fight on TV, and we were all pretty much in agreement, even if you're right you're going to look stupid. You're going to look horrible. And those are the times you hate yourself the most. Those times you see yourself on The Real World, even if you think you're fighting for the greatest cause in the world, you look like a retard fighting on TV. So we made a pact that we would not fight.
JJ Web:But that didn't happen!
Jon: It did for me, because I pretty much tried to stay out of it.
JJ Web:The haunted asylum was your first mission. Give me the inside scoop. Was it really frightening?
Jon: Oh, yeah. They had us going. They took us to these old people's house and the thing is I recognized them. They were supposed to be ghost busters and everyone was like "yeah right, they're playing Halloween year round." But the thing is, I saw them on Unsolved Mysteries. So I took them seriously. Of course, I have strong faith in the Lord, so I don't take it too seriously. But I took it seriously enough to know that these people were real and they weren't just hired. They really had us going. My stance on it was, I believed that there could potentially be spirits. But my thing is, I know that the spirit of God is bigger than that, so even if it does exist, I'm not really scared. We were scared, I'm not going to lie. Playing the trick on the girls was awesome!
JJ Web:That was hysterical. But right after that everybody goes crazy and is running around in their underwear!
Jon: (laughs) Our mission was to stay there from midnight until six in the morning. Well, after the first two hours, when being scared wore off and we realized we're here alone and were probably not going to see anything spectacular, but our mission is to stay down here, what are we going to do? Our mission is to stay down here in the basement of the morgue of an insane asylum. We started getting slap-happy and a little loony ourselves. We were basically entertaining ourselves! Did you see the tape where the guys were lighting their farts and stuff?
JJ Web:No, I haven't seen that tape.
Jon: That was right after the underwear dancing.
JJ Web:Looking back to when you were 18 and were on the The Real World for the first time, now it's five years later, would you do it again?
Jon: I would definitely do it again. But I would rather do Road Rules!
JJ Web:Why?
Jon: I'm one of only five people in the world who can compare and contrast the two shows. As a viewer, I think Road Rules is better, and I've shared that with Jon and Mary-Ellis (the executive producers). I just think the basis of The Real World, based on my experience and what I know from the other's experiences, is who can prove themselves. It's being in a house in a closed environment, not being able to escape, and seeing if you can stand the pressure.
JJ Web:Do you really believe that is the essence of the intention?
Jon: No, but that's what it becomes. That's not the goal, but that's definitely what it became for me and for a lot of people I've seen. Mary-Ellis told me The Real World would be very trying -- a lot of turmoil. She said you're going to question who you are, and I was like, whatever. I didn't believe her. But being on that show is about sitting in the family room of the house at night debating issues and taking stands. To me, that's great and dandy, but I don't want to live in that environment for six months. And I think The Real World is real, don't get me wrong, but I don't think that is what real life is about. Life is not about conflict all the time. And I feel like that is what The Real World has become. So maybe the second time around I wouldn't let it become that for me. And that's just my being more mature and being wiser. But I feel like Road Rules is about traveling. Seeing new places. And it's not as much questioning who you are as getting to know different types of people just the same. And working together as a team, rather than tearing one another down to make yourself look good. There is fighting, but the essence of Road Rules is to see if you can get the goal done as a team. Most of the goals take team work. I think that's more entertaining to watch. It's certainly more entertaining to do. I just think it's a better concept.
JJ Web:What did you think of how you were portrayed on The Real World?
Jon: I think The Real World did a great job of portraying who Jon Brennan is in L.A. when he lives in the Real World house. And that's who the world thinks I am. But really, Jon Brennan is more about what Jon Brennan is like when he's here in Kentucky. So I feel that is the person I was for six months in L.A., but I don't feel like that's the person I am totally.
JJ Web:What did you think of the fact that Puck is offering all the clues?
Jon: I think that's fine. I told Mary-Ellis when she called me, I said look, I don't want to go on a trip with Puck. And she said I can't tell you who is going to be there. And I said let's save everybody some time and effort. Because if I get there and he's there I'm coming home! And she said I'm not supposed to tell you who is going to be there, but I can tell you he won't be. So I was like fine, great. As long as he's not on the trip. I don't care if he's leaving messages, his voice, his picture, that's fine. But I can't deal with him.
JJ Web:Why did you not want to be on the trip if Puck was going to be on it?
Jon: I get along with Puck, he's actually a fan of mine. He thinks I'm great and he's said nothing but good, wonderful things about me in the books and everything. The thing is, from what I saw on the show and the times I've been around him, it's all attention and he's not being himself. He's like, the camera is on me -- me, me, me. And that's not enjoyable. It might be entertaining. It's like a real-life Beavis and Butt-head. It's great for five minutes. But can you live with it? And I don't blame the people in the San Francisco house for anything they did. I wouldn't have lasted half as long as they lasted in that house with him. I was not prepared to spend three weeks with that. And I know he's got his own problems and there's a reason that he is the way he is, but I wasn't going to be able to deal with it. What the producers did was great. When Puck came in on the helicopter for fifteen seconds and gave us our handsome reward and then he was gone -- that was great. It's the Real World All-Stars and if you think about The Real World, obviously you think about Puck. So that's fine. I think the way that they included him was just enough. I think it was good.


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