Former Idol Cohost: Quitting Was a "Big Mistake"

• Apr 18, 2008 12:35 PM ET
• by The Idol Chatters

There's never a crystal ball around when you need one. After leaving American Idol after Season 1, Brian Dunkleman faded into obscurity while his cohost, Ryan Seacrest, became the next Dick Clark. Now, the Dunk is back on TV, mixing it up with Happy Days' Erin Moran and Eight Is Enough's Willie Aames as a contestant on Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp (Sundays at 8 pm/ET, VH1). We talked to Dunkleman about getting in shape military-style, dealing with reality-TV "drama," and what he really thinks of Idol. - Megan Walsh-Boyle

TVGuide.com: What made you decide to enlist?
Brian Dunkleman: Well, they called and I was available. It's been a while since someone has asked me to do something, so I thought it would probably be a good idea to do it. Maybe they assumed I had completely let myself go. [But] it worked out great because I was actually in the process of trying to get in shape [because] I was getting married.

TVGuide.com: How is it working out with drill sergeant Harvey? He seems kinda scary.
Dunkleman: It was good. I have a lot of respect for Harvey. He's a pretty sweet guy underneath all of it. [Besides], once you deal with Simon Cowell you can deal with anything.

TVGuide.com: Was the boot-camp part tough?
Dunkleman: It was one of the more difficult things I had ever done. This was pretty physically intense.... We were doing actual Navy Seal training exercises. You really feel a sense of accomplishment. I've learned that I'm capable of a lot more physically than I thought I was.

TVGuide.com: And what about all the drama? Did you expect all of the blowups?
Dunkleman: Well, of course, I did - it's reality television. [ Laughs] People really wouldn't watch if there weren't [blowups], would they?

TVGuide.com: So you were supposed to be getting in shape and then they threw you a bachelor party....
Dunkleman: Again, it's a reality television show, so hire a bartender, hire a stripper, it's probably going to be pretty entertaining. I had no idea they were doing that. I actually thought it was very cool of them.

TVGuide.com: Did you get along with the other contestants?
Dunkleman: We all really hit it off. In fact, if it weren't for them actually taping a television show it would have been nonstop fun because we had a really good time together.

TVGuide.com: Are you all fit and buff now?
Dunkleman: The first thing I did was eat a 33-ounce ribeye. I'm not sticking to that diet.... Are you kidding me? I actually like to live life.

TVGuide.com: You know, I have to ask, what in the world made you quit American Idol?
Dunkleman: I've answered it so many times it's curious to me why I keep getting asked - I wish I had gotten fired, it would be a hell of a lot easier to deal with. I don't understand why people would think I would lie about it at this point. It was such a big mistake in judgment, it's embarrassing. I was unhappy on the show, they treated the kids like [crap], I didn't think it was cool. If I had known it was going to run for 70 years I would have sucked it up and become callous like the rest of them. I had a lot of great experiences on Idol, but I just have a deep philosophical opposition to what they do.

TVGuide.com: Have you watched Idol since your departure?
Dunkleman: I don't find [ Idol] very interesting without me on it.

TVGuide.com: How's married life?
Dunkleman: I'm thoroughly enjoying being a housewife.

TVGuide.com: How are you keeping busy now that Fit Club is over?
Dunkleman: I didn't schedule anything after [ Fit Club] for two months - we were a married couple and it was just really, really great. It's wonderful to be able to eat again.