phot
o by VH1
g
lenn Packard, Ashley Menendez and Brooke Hogan are bringing their with the editing process.
“three amigos” antics back to the small screen for a second season of the VH1 “You only see 21 minutes of what we film for hours and hours and hours,” he
show, Brooke Knows Best, on June 7. described. “We have so much material that gets edited down to 21 minutes.
The first season chronicled the hopeful pop star becoming independent So, something you might think is great and would love to see—you never
from her famous family. It also featured the camaraderie between the trio of even end up seeing it.”
roommates which includes her gay best friend, Packard. And with so many other similar shows, like The Hills, being scrutinized for
Packard spoke with The Rage Monthly about his days as a boy band being scripted, the question had to be posed: how much “real” goes into the
member, choreographing for some of the biggest musical acts around, how reality portion of the show?
to give “good TV” and of course—a subject he knows best—staying true to “It’s like this, it’s putting us into a scenario, but we’re ourselves.” Packard
himself. “I go back to Clare, Michigan and I give a speech in front of my old explained. “So, it’s not like everyday I’m going to wrestle an alligator. We re-
high school in front of all the kids,” he explained about a favorite episode of ally are being ourselves.
the new season. “It was very inspiring and a major stepping stone for me. The “You don’t have a writer, you don’t have people on the show telling you
last time I had been there, I was a geeky kid who was getting pushed around what to do—it’s you being yourself,” he said. “But, at the same time you want
and made fun of all the time. It was very full-circle to bring all my three worlds to give good TV. Ours is a comedy/drama, so you make sure you’re having fun
together—my career to my family to me being a gay man and bringing my at the situation and making sure you’re giving something that your viewers
boyfriend home to meet my family.” want to see. ”
Packard also gave us the scoop on what else viewers can expect from the His training grounds for honing the fine art of putting his best foot forward
upcoming season, prior to him meeting his boyfriend, Daniel. have been in play for the past nine years. At the age of 21 Packard started
“The girls said I should go back to dating women,” he exclaimed. “So they his career in show business, and now, the 30-year-old has a very extensive
A
rd
dare me to date a girl, and I end up dating a girl to prove to them that, nope, pre-Hogan entertainment resume. He’s been a dancer, choreographer to
I know who I am. But then I put them to the test and said, ‘Do you guys know the stars and he’s even spent time in the trenches of being a member of a
who you are— maybe you’re gay?’ So, you get to see how that all happens. And boy band. The small town boy was even declared “a dancing entrepreneur”
P
A
ck
I ended up getting the last laugh, because they had to go out with girls, too.” by The New York Times. But the chance to pursue his passion almost didn’t
The friendship between all three is not the manufactured byproduct of a transpire when he was involved in a near-fatal tractor accident. Packard was
television executive, and Packard gave his take on the strongest link in his left hospitalized with a broken back and it almost cost him his right leg.
friendship chain. “They were able to save the leg and I just started to dance,” he said. “And I
T
v
:
“I feel like just being able to share being in this entertainment business,” did not stop dancing— it led me to all of these amazing things.”
g
lenn
he cited. “Being in this business and it being so jaded, it’s nice to have two Some of those “amazing things” include his tenure as a choreographer.
friends like Brooke and Ashley to be able to go through it with. All three of He has been fortunate enough to work with the likes of Destiny’s Child, Liza
good
B
est
s
T
A
r.
k
no
w
s
us get along really well, so we’re able to turn to each other when we need to. Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Missy Elliot, Pink, Nelly Furtado and Usher.
ooke
And it’s been a great friendship between the three of us.” Packard received an Emmy nomination for his artistic direction on Michael
gives
T
he
B
r
The spin-off reality series of Hogan Knows Best features Packard and com- Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden, and he
pany mixing it up in Miami, with their exploits out there for viewers to see. said of the experience, “It’s like choreographing for Elvis Presley—that was
One has to wonder if there has ever been an instance where he was unhappy a real honor.”
An
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June 2009 | RAGE monthly 15
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