Exclusive BravoFan Interview with Flipping Out's JENNI PULOS!

“Get ready for the craziest, wildest ride -ever,” exclaimed Flipping Out’s Jenni Pulos during an exclusive interview for crushable.com.

Recently, I caught up with the balancing act of one of Bravo TV’s hippest, most highly rated shows and chatted about Season 2, the Reunion Show (airing TONIGHT 9/8C!) and asking her some off-the-wall questions that I felt we all needed to know. Ok, maybe it was just me who wanted to know… but Jenni put her game face on (or at least, I think she did… we talked over the phone and it sounded like she was fully prepared!)!

Victoria: Since the season ended with the new Chris’ departure and with his replacement, Jett, being interviewed – I couldn’t help but ask: How’s he working out? No, I was not referring to his fitness regimen, I wanted to know if Jeff had completely humiliated him yet…?

Jenni Pulos: Jett’s working out well… He’s great with the animals… and I think he’s a great balance for Jeff’s energy, actually.

V: Hmm…. well, ok… let me ask…because I was having a hard time reading him… he was so quiet during the interview. Would he be more interested in dating Jeff or you? Ladies man or man’s man??

JP: [laughs] Jett’s my friend. He’s straight!

V: Ok, I just had to know… so good looking -but so California. [laughs] So what can we expect on the Reunion Show? Can you talk a little about it?

JP: Oh yea! It’s pretty zany and fun… and I think people are going to laugh a lot…and there’s definetly some surprises!

V: Does that mean that Zoila going to dance again for us? I mean, will there be more Dancing Queen action? Or will you join in?

JP: Well, Zoila will be talking about what’s she’s learned as she’s been working for Jeff Lewis -and I… I will be rapping! All those people out there who thought that I had retired my career as a rap artist – just wait for that! [laughs] I think people will definetly be laughing a lot while watching the show- it’s a lot of fun.

V: I can’t wait to watch! I was an avid viewer of Season 2 – and I just have to ask you about something… On the show, you’re always on your Blackberry with the speaker phone setting -and Jeff is always within earshot and telling you what to say (to the other person on the phone). How do you deal with him talking to you constantly, while you’re trying to have a conversation? How do you keep from flipping out on him?

JP: I stand up to him a lot and sometimes I just have to tell him, “You need to slow down!” while he’s talking to me. But you know, these kinds of things are really not what’s so important in life, so I don’t let it get to me.

V: Better person than me! [laughs]

JP: I try to just let things roll…

V: But have you ever asked the cameras to just turn off -because you just have to take a moment or because things got too overheated?

JP: No, we haven’t actually. What you see, is what you get with our show. We’re not hiding anything -although that’s been incredibly taxing at certain times.

V: I’m sure! Well, ok… Jenni, this is a really bizarre question, but I have to ask you: Has anyone ever compared you to Julia-Louise Dreyfus (Elaine from Seinfeld)?

JP: Oh yea! I get that a lot. All the time! We even talk about that in the Reunion Show! I think that made it in there, anyway! There’s even people online who have written in telling me that they’d like to see me go on “The New Adventures of the Old Christine” and date her ex or I’m the long last psycho twin or something! [laughs]

V: That would be awesome! I hope your agent is paying attention!

JP: And you know, our show Flipping Out has even been compared to Seinfeld -but that would make Zoila either George or Kramer….I’m not sure which one…

V: [laughs] Well, she has that portrait that she’s auctioning on BravoTV.com (and didn’t Kramer have a portrait done of himself at one point too?!)…

JP: Yes, she has it up for sale and gets all the proceeds from it -no cut or commission for Jeff! I’m the director of human resources, so I made sure that he couldn’t do that!

V: Good! He doesn’t need the money anyway! So tell me, what is the filming/shooting schedule like on a show like Flipping Out?

JP: You know, a lot of people think that we “set up” a lot of things like some of the other reality shows – and we simply don’t. We shoot for two weeks per episode – there’s 90 hours of footage for ONE show. I mean, people are smart -and they know the difference between real and scripted. But, it’s still funny that I have people ask me, “Well, you’re still married, aren’t you?” And I tell them, “No, I’m not.”

V: There’s no way any of that could have been set up.

JP: Yea, it was pretty crazy the way it all went and the cameras captured everything.

V: I, too, wondered if you “really” work for Jeff or if you work for Bravo…?

JP: No, I work for Jeff. But I’m just thrilled that we’ve been able to go even beyond one season! I’m excited about the response to the show, too.

V: What about Season 3? Any news?

JP: Well, we don’t know anything yet…but, fans can certainly write in to Bravo and the producers -let them know you want more Flipping Out! (Click here to send a message to Bravo NOW!)

V: I wanted to thank you for taking time out to speak with me -but also wanted to ask if you had anything that you’d like to say to your fans?

JP: Yes. I want to thank everyone for their support. With everything that happened last season, I had over 800 people write into my blog that week that episode aired with Chris (Elwood) and I! People who don’t even know me have been so kind and supportive about everything -and I just appreciate it so much. Thanks everyone!

Many thanks to Jenni Pulos and to Meghan McPartland

Photos courtesy of Bravo/Kelsey McNeal