(Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 26 - March 20, 2026)
When the interviewer teased, “C’mon, Trent. Act like you’re a little excited about getting your own TV show,” it sent my mind racing.
My brain
began to replay phone calls, both with HGTV/DIY and the company this crew
worked for. No one on either end had mentioned this being a chance to have a
show of my own. I was sure of it. Maybe this showrunner thought the
network had spoken to me on this or the other way around.
Up until
this point, the first day of filming this thing the network called the “test
reel” had felt seamless, mundane almost, just a different type of work in many
ways. I mean, it was out of the ordinary to have people following me with a
camera as I walked and talked about home renovating. But I settled in by mid-morning.
I fell into a rhythm doing my part, delivering for them either good or better
than they’d expected. I may have been imagining this, but it was effective
speculation because it calmed my nerves and gave me something to build upon.
Even
though it jolted me, I got over any implications now floating in my melon and
all the questions that poured in over the prospect of me having my own show.
The woman
resumed her progression down the list of questions, and at first, I was
cruising, on track once more. Even though this more formal interview process
was unfamiliar territory, I was solid within my POV, since I’d been speaking on
it for over a decade and then driving those points home online for the last
several years.
However, the sit-down was derailed when the showrunner crossed what I felt was a demarcation in her directing, saying she needed me to look into the camera and say, “My name is Trent, and I’m addicted to rehab.”
But right
away, it felt wrong. I must have stared at her for a full second or two, and
then shook her off, like a pitcher who got a sign from the catcher and signaled,
nope.
She seemed dumbfounded, her mouth falling open slightly.
“I’m not
gonna say that,” was what spilled from my lips.
Had my
day of delivering filled my ego to the point that I now wanted to spread my
wings and strut?
No. It
really hadn’t.
I knew how
I was feeling. It wasn’t self-assurance or cockiness. I was disappointed along
with feeling ruffled about being put on the spot so cavalierly, without any
sort of tiptoeing. The camera was rolling. All my words were being recorded,
and it was just—Boom! Say this thing. Cross this bold bright
line.
With me
temporarily dug in, the showrunner frowned and her confused look led to her
asking, “What? Why not? What’s wrong?”
This
reaction amazed me. I thought some things were just understood. The production
company had sent me the Rehab Addict DVDs. I’d watched them
and so I answered back, “That’s Nicole Curtis’ thing.”
Then this
weird moment devolved even more as the young woman asked, “What do you mean?
Who’s Nicole Curtis?”
And that
had me thinking, Is she kidding around with me? She represents the
production company making Rehab Addict, but doesn’t know who Nicole
Curtis is?
This wasn’t
adding up.
To me, her
question would be like an alleged basketball coach asking, “What’s a technical
foul?” or “Where’s the baseline?” since Curtis and her show were featured
regularly on multi-hour marathons, on both HGTV and DIY. To an average Joe like
me, the female rehabber seemed like one of the dual network’s brightest stars.
My next
thought was that this crew leader was lying to me and that wasn’t great either.
I felt
confused and disoriented.
Not knowing
what to say next, I stumbled into an explanation about how the phrase more-or-
less belonged to Ms. Curtis, that it was a big part of who she
was, or something like that.
Fortunately,
the audio technician nearby was tracking with me and he chimed in saying, “Yeah.
That’s what Nicole says at the beginning of each episode.”
We resumed
our Q&A segment, but the vibe had shifted in one moment.
I felt as
if I’d been tested. I wasn’t sure if I’d passed or failed,
The smooth
fun day would be marked mainly by the blowout we all experienced while speeding
down the home stretch of day one. I’m not overly self-assured. But in the
moment when put on the spot, I’d been unequivocal.
It had been a long day. We all needed rest and I was feeling added focused to give this crew even more to help me impress the network executives on day two.
(Response to TV Show Viewers: Post 27 - Coming Soon)
