The interview with Melissa Howard from Real World: New Orleans continues, with some discussion of how people in Melissa's life were affected by her presence on the show, and lots more juicy behind-the-scenes gossip.
Melissa: So, when they put Ryan on the show, that guy that came to see me? That whole thing was tweaked like nobody's business. I met him on the day before I was going to my semifinals. I was flying to L.A. and I was gonna get the show.
And so, I was like, "I'm going to L.A. tomorrow." And he's like "Oh, for what?" And I'm like, "Um, well, you know that show Real World?" And he's like "What?"
We waited around for three weeks, and I was hanging out with him. He got really into me and I was like, "This can't be, because I'm moving." And he's like, "But how do you know?" Sure enough, I'm hanging out with him in a bookstore, and I get this phone call, and I'm on the show. So I was like, "It was really cool meeting you. You're a really great guy. You're sweet." It was never like a boyfriend and girlfriend, holding hands, making out, French kiss, all this.
He comes to the show and I told him -- they edit all this out -- I was on the phone and I'm like, "Ryan, this is a television show. You're going to look like the weepy-eyed, sad ex-boyfriend, and I'm going to look like the bitch. Because it is my birthday, and we're in New Orleans, and I'm being filmed. Never again is this going to happen." Ryan came and I could see the way the cameraman would be focusing on him. Ryan wasn't sad at my birthday party at all. Ryan just has a very stoic face. Put that with music, and then the roommates' commentary, and it's like, "Oh my God, Ryan's heartbroken!" and that was totally not it. I called him up and I was like, "Bitch, I told you not to come!" [laughs] I called him before it [aired], and I was like, "Your episode's airing tonight." We've talked on the phone [since], and he's like, "God, I was a total jackass. I shouldn't have gone."
Kim: I do remember they kept focusing on his face, and I just kept thinking, "He doesn't look sad." I mean, he maybe looked a little bored, but he didn't look sad to me. But they would like play sad music, and you'd be like, "Oh, poor Ryan. He's so sad."
Melissa: Totally. And that hurt, because he's my friend. And my friend didn't sign the forty-page contract, so don't mess with them.
The New Orleans Melissa Interview, Part IIKim: Yeah, what the hell was that about?
Melissa: Okay, my face was so horrible on that show. I could see where people could be like, "Wow, Melissa's not getting any attention. She's really upset." No. I knew very much when I walked into that party that these were nineteen-year-old kids that were like, "Holy shit, my birthday party's being filmed! We're going to be on Real World!" They offered Julie to fight and I told Julie, "Honey, they are not going to fight fair because you are Real World Julie right now, you are not Julie. And they're going to beat your ass." Sure enough, they did, and I was like, "Okay, well answer to that in interviews tomorrow, girl, with your big-ass eye." [laughs] I was so embarrassed. They didn't show this, but I left and was like, "I can't do this!" I mean, they were placing bets. That thing has been recorded. That thing is probably going to be sold on eBay. I met so many people at that party who were like, "This is awesome that you guys showed up. This is gonna be really cool." I was like, "No, it's not, because you're ridiculing us."
Kim: What was that guy's name? Baxter?
Melissa: Baxter is the sweetest, cutest guy, and Julie is...Julie is a twenty-year-old girl who is getting a lot of attention from guys. I mean, you don't know how many boys dropped flowers by the house. But Baxter's mother was the make-up artist for the intro [credits for the show]. And Baxter's father is the designer for the house.
Kim: Really?
Melissa: Yeah, and New Orleans is such a small town that it's absolutely normal to us. Someone would pour my coffee and be like, "Oh my boyfriend is the sound guy!" and I'd be like, "What?" You know, and I'm not allowed to know these people. So, when the show was over, and we did the open, Baxter's mom was like, "You know, Baxter had a great time with you guys." And I was like, "Yeah, it just sucks that he signed his life away like that because undoubtedly he'll get dumped on TV." Just because Julie is fleeting like that. And Baxter is hot! I was like, "I'll go out with him!" It was so weird, and his mother is absolutely gorgeous. His father was crazy talented. So, the people that we met were involved with the filming. It started to become weird and incestuous, like gross. [laughs]