You haven’t the slightest idea how many people have told me, “Shawn, you’re not a geek.” (Hell, come to think of it, I haven’t the slightest idea, either…) Just trust me, there have been a lot. So what’s the deal? How did I end up as a “Geek” when I’m not a geek? It’s all in the interpretation.
This might be redundant for people who have read my blog, but here’s the deal: when the initial flyer to recruit people came out, it simply read that we were supposed to be within a certain age range, single and smart. That was it. If we’d be a better fit for Jeopardy than The Bachelor, “the producers wanted us.” Given that I fit those requirements, I went to the casting agency, had my quick interview and the rest is history. Exactly how it’ll be listed in the history books, though… that’s still up in the air.
When we went to the mansion, we had no idea what we were getting into. The show didn’t even have a title until after production began—I found out what it was after I flew home from L.A. (The title Beauty and the Geek reminded me a little of Who’s Your Daddy?, a show that tanked after the first episode, so I didn’t think we’d be on the air very long.) That’s my point, really: Beauty and the Geek is a catchy title that implies that we were geeks, but the description they provided in every press release and the beginning of the show is more appropriate.
At least in my case, whether I looked cute or adorable or HOTT had nothing to do with why I was there. I was there because people scared the hell out of me (and still do, to some degree). I’d be at a party, find a nice corner, then plop down and people-watch for hours. The show included a clip of me saying that I was the kid in junior high who went to school dances, then sat off to the side and drank punch all night. In the past, I’ve had a hard time walking up and introducing myself to any stranger, let alone an attractive woman.
Also in my case, the purpose of the show was to change my perspective a little and show me that I don’t need to hide in the corner anymore. I can engage anyone in conversation, be confident, etc., etc., etc. It’s worked to some degree, though I think part of that change is because I’m Shawn 2.0, the B-level celebrity. I don’t feel like much has changed about me, but people look at me differently—it’s kinda like I’m up on a (very short) pedestal, so I have to change my stature a little to measure up to their higher expectations.
But my point is that the rumors are probably true—I’m not much of a geek. “Beauty and the Geek” is rather misleading in that sense, but I was on the show for the right reason: I was a social caterpillar (think “opposite of social butterfly”). Now I’m coming out of my shell a little, starting to spread my wings and believing that maybe everyone is right. Maybe I really am HOTT.
