Overhaulin' Host No "Ride Pimp"
A scarcity of pimps is but one reason that TLC's Overhaulin' (Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET) shouldn't be confused with MTV's Pimp My Ride.
"We're not just throwing some parts on a car," Overhaulin' grease monkey Chris Jacobs tells TV Guide Online. "We're really breaking the car down to its core and building it back up to a true work of art. I know they trick the cars out more on Pimp My Ride, but we really try to create a car that's as drivable as it is good-looking."
Despite his "in" with the series' vehicular makeover artists, Jacobs has yet to avail himself of their services. "I didn't think my car even needed to be overhauled before I started the show, but now I think both [my '68 Charger and my '68 Plymouth convertible] could use it. I'm sure if I wanted to, I could [get the job done], but I just ordered a new Dodge Magnum, and I'm going to use my string-pulling to customize that. You've got to use your favors [wisely]!"
Although Jacobs isn't a household name yet, with such a crowded garage, he's got to be doing pretty well for himself. Well, he does have more jobs than Ryan Seacrest. Besides hosting Overhaulin', this Renaissance man is an attorney, a nightclub owner and an actor. As for the latter, we'll bet he could score more roles if he promised casting directors cut rates on window-tinting!
"That would be the Hollywood way, but I'd like to think I have more people skills than having to pull out my trump card," scoffs Jacobs. "Hopefully, they'd want to cast me based on my talent, not for anything I could do for them." Hey pal, we're just trying to help.