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November 3, 2006
Reality of TV love is heartbreak
By TARA MERRIN - Calgary Sun
Andrew Firestone's life is certainly on track. The former Bachelor is in a long-term relationship, works for his family's vineyard, owns a couple of restaurants and is the host of the new HD show Billionaires Car Club. "Being a Firestone, I know cars. I have been a gear-head my whole life, so it was a natural fit," says the 31-year-old Californian. "One of the things I've tried to do is to never do anything that was outside the realm of what I understood. Cars are something I understand." The series, distributed by American Television Distribution, will be aired on INHD, a leading pay-per-view and video-on- demand provider in the U.S., in early 2007. It takes a behind-the-scenes look inside the restoration of rare automobiles and features the elite culture which surrounds the people who own the most expensive cars in the world. "There is this passion that is almost infectious when you meet these guys and talk to them. Not only is it cool to look in their garages and see these $1 million cars, but it's cool to talk to them," says Firestone. "You almost start to sympathize about how crazy they are about these cars." Aside from a few cool opportunities such as Billionaires Boys Club, Firestone says his life is mostly the same as it was before he became The Bachelor in 2003. Only now, he has a serious girlfriend -- actress Ivana Bozilovic. "We met through a mutual friend just sort of randomly, but the saving grace was she was out of the country when my show was airing so she never saw it," he says, adding they currently have no plans to wed. "I think anytime you are in a relationship for a long time it is always a consideration, but ... we are both giving it time to make sure it's the right thing." As far as his relationship with Jen Schefft, the woman he proposed to on the finale of the show, Firestone says it's pretty much non-existent. "We parted on as good of terms as we probably could have, but there is no text messaging back-and-forth or anything like that." And although his time on The Bachelor did not turn out as planned, Firestone has no regrets. "It was certainly difficult at times and I wouldn't do it again, but I had fun." WHERE ARE THEY NOW ... Trista Rehn: After choosing Ryan Sutter in Season 1 of the Bachelorette, Rehn, who was also on The Bachelor, was married on TV in December 2003. She then appeared on the first season of Dancing With the Stars before returning home Colorado where her and Sutter hope to raise a family. Alex Michel: Since 2002, the former Bachelor has become the spokesperson for Match.com, guest-starred on The Re-Run Show and produced a short film in which he starred. He's also an investment adviser. Aaron Buerge: It didn't work out with Helene Eksterowicz, but Buerge didn't let that slow him down. After The Bachelor 2 ended, he opened a restaurant in Springfield, Miss., near his hometown. Bob Guiney: Today you might find Guiney, who is married to All My Children star Rebecca Budig, on TV as a frequent field correspondent for The View or co-hosting Battle of the Reality Stars. The star of Bachelor and Bachelorette is also the lead singer of The Bob Guiney Band, formerly Fat Amy. Jesse Palmer: Palmer and Bachelor mate Jessica Bowlin are old news -- their relationship lasted only a couple of months. He is now a Canadian Football League backup quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes. Byron Velvick: While Bachelor Velvick has been keeping his private life with finance Mary Degado private, it appears they're still together and may be married (They had previously announced they would wed in early 2006). Aside from that, Velvick has won a number of bass fishing events. Charlie O'Connell: Breakup rumours are flying in regards to O'Connell and his Bachelor choice Sarah Brice, but nothing is confirmed. He has been busy acting, recently in a sci-fi TV movie, Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep. Travis Stork: Just four months after the show ended, Bachelor Travis Stork and Sarah Stone publicly announced they had split. Since then, the good doctor has completely vanished from the media spotlight. Meredith Phillips: Bachelorette Phillips, who appeared on TV shows The View, On Air with Ryan Seacrest and E's 101, brokeup with her pick Ian McKee in February 2005. The former model/makeup artist appears to have gone into hiding. Jen Schefft: Schefft, who made Bachelorette history when she rejected marriage proposals from her final two suitors, is still single and proud of it. She is currently writing a book Better Single Than Sorry. Joe Millionaire: Evan Marriott, who turned down a job with Entertainment Tonight, is desperately holding on to his 15 minutes of fame. In 2004, he became the host of Fake-a-Date on the Game Show Network and appeared on Battle of the Network Reality Stars in 2005. Melana Scantlin: The Average Joe star became co-host of World Series of Blackjack. Her reality fame led to appearance on various programs, such as Days of Our Lives, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Live with Regis and Kelly. Adam Mesh: Mesh, 30, who starred in the original Average Joe and its sequel, Average Joe: Adam Returns, wed Jessica Malca, 25, in May. The couple met in 2004 after his relationship with Adam Returns winner Samantha Trenk fizzled. Outback Jack: In 2005, Vadim Dale moved to Kentucky and married his pick Natalie Franzman. The couple, who are now expecting their first child, became huge celebrities in New Zealand after competing in Celebrity Treasure Island: Couples at War (the New Zealand version of Survivor). |
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