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A Quickie With Rebecca Cardon

Bravo TV’s fitness reality hot mess, Work Out, offers more than just weight-loss success stories and oh-no-she-di-int lesbian drama, courtesy of its star, Jackie Warner. For the past three seasons, Rebecca Cardon, personal trainer and DFW (Down for Whatever) fun girl, has remained one of the show’s most popular and essential cast members.

This season, Rebecca played some lesbian reindeer games on an Olivia cruise, muscled her way through a grueling fitness DVD taping, and saw her Season 2 lip friction with Jackie get replaced with just plain old friction, which was then replaced by friendship.

Rebecca talked to AfterEllen.com recently about her relationship with Jackie (and its “undeniable chemistry”), our Work Out recaps (yes, she reads them), the interesting people she meets on MySpace (and how much they’re willing to pay for her panties), and her experience with a celesbian who is not Jackie (in a tantalizing blind item).

AfterEllen.com: So, Season 3 of Work Out is a distant memory now. Do you have plans for the summer? Rebecca Cardon: I do. I’m [in] meetings for potential new projects. I don’t know if we’re going to get a Season 4 of Work Out. I’m hoping not. Is that awful that I say that? But I’m hoping not.

AE: Why? RC:I’m a little bit done with Work Out, I think. Three seasons [is] plenty. But if it happens, I’m happy to do it. I’d be excited about it.

AE: One of my favorite scenes from this season was the afternoon of pool games on the Olivia cruise. I wouldn’t mind another season of that. RC:Was that awesome or what?

AE: It was Must See TV, and you were a good sport. RC:I was reluctant to do that. I was not as down for it as they portrayed me to be. I was like, “Why do I have to do it?” And they said, “Erika won’t take her pants off and Agostina’s not fun, and Jackie won’t do it.” When did I become the go-to person?

AE: Because you’re DFW. RC:Yeah, I was definitely not DFW that day, but I rallied. Had to think of my show. And because I had six producers yelling at me.

AE: This year wasn’t all fun and games, though. Jackie’s reputation took a serious beating over her handling of boob-gate, among other things. RC:Yeah, she got a bad rap. People said, “She’s so controlling” and “She’s so this and that.” But that’s who she is and God love her. She’s also an amazing trainer and a great motivator and she’s very, very smart. There are a lot of great qualities there.

AE: But as a business owner, you’re responsible for your staff. To do the right thing and say, “Yes, we’re sorry,” is nothing if not good public relations. RC: Yeah, I told her: “Just own it. People will forgive if you just own it and say, ‘You know what, I did it, I f-ed up, and I suck, and I’m sorry.'” Just own it. If you’ve hurt somebody, whether or not you feel you’re in the wrong is irrelevant. You need to go back and say, “I’m sorry.” She has difficulty with that.

AE: You’ve said that you and Jackie have “undeniable chemistry.” RC:We do have chemistry. We have the kind of relationship … here’s an example: We went to see a movie. The movie was sold out, so we had to wait for the next show. I think it was a three-hour wait. And we literally sat on the sidewalk and talked for three hours. And it felt like four minutes.

AE: That sounds more like a really good date. RC: It was like, “This is the coolest chick ever.” I was definitely drawn in. And it’s like that, always. You just put us together and we’re like 10-year-old schoolgirls.

AE: Yeah, that’s what I think of when I think of Jackie Warner: a 10-year-old schoolgirl. You sound like you’ve gotten very close, as friends. RC:We weren’t for a while, [but] now, it would seem I’m on her person-to-call list again, ’cause I’m getting a lot of daytime phone calls. You know you’re on someone’s person-to-call list when they give you daytime phone calls.

AE: Well, you know, friendships – they ebb and flow. RC:Absolutely. And I guess I’m on the flow. I’m on the flow right now with Jackie.

AE: Was the physical part of your relationship just for the show? RC:No, that part was all very real and the chemistry was palpable. It was awkward with the cameras around, that’s for sure. [But] a lot of times with Jackie, I would forget they were there. We’re just so natural together. But yeah, there was definitely stuff going on, both on-camera and off.

AE: Hmm. And off-camera? RC:[laughs] Just a little.

AE: Have you ever had that kind of connection with a gay woman before? RC: No, not to that degree. You know, I’ve made out with a couple of girls, here and there. And [I] had a little shirt-off situation with a certain girl on a certain show. [laughs] This is going to be juicy, right? [laughs]

AE: Oh, yeah. Was this show called Amazing Race? RC:No, no, that’s all I can say. Because she’s not out, this girl. But she’s very well-known. I think everyone in the gay community knows her, but I don’t think she’s out on a national level. And her show is very successful …

AE: OK, I got ya. How long ago was that? RC:I think it was about two years ago. It was a while ago. Jackie introduced us.

AE: That’s right, they know each other, don’t they … RC:They used to date.

AE: Yes they did. Our community is this big. Everyone has either dated someone, slept with them, is friends with them, or knows someone who did-is-was. RC:Even in the straight world, it’s all very small and connected.

AE: But if you break up with your boyfriend, you can work it that you never see him again. In the lesbian community, you’re going to see them tomorrow. I think we’re friends with all our exes because if everyone was avoiding them, no one would be able to go out. RC:[laughs] Yeah, that’s true. I know Jackie keeps seeing Briana everywhere she goes. It’s like that thing in your eye … that little dot. And everywhere you look, there it is. That’s Briana to Jackie.

AE: I think that dot is called a “floater.” RC: Briana is a floater. That’s terrible. I shouldn’t say that. Briana is very, very sweet. She couldn’t harm a fly. She’s adorable, too sweet for Jackie.

AE: That’s probably true. Jackie needs someone who’s a little harder to please, more of a challenge. But not crazy, like Mimi. RC:Yeah, I love how you called Mimi “crazypants.” It’s the best name ever.

AE: I can’t believe you’ve been reading the recaps all along. RC:I love them, they’re so good! So many people will write me on MySpace and say: “Oh my God! Did you read Dara’s article on AfterEllen? They’re calling my attention [to them] or they’ll send little excerpts from it through my email. It’s really funny. You were pretty kind to me; not so much to others. I’ll take it!

AE: I’m afraid I’m going to run into Jackie and she’s going to kick my ass. RC:No, she would be very, very sweet to you.

AE: Yeah, OK, Rebecca. Maybe you can help me out – you’re wicked strong. Does your bench-pressing world record still hold? RC:Yeah, as far as I know, it’s still in place. I don’t know that much about it. My dad knows all about that stuff.

AE: How much did you bench press? RC:135 pounds. My weight class was 105 pounds at the time – I was 17 and the category was 17-to-19-year-olds. It was a women’s teen division, by weight.

AE: That’s impressive. RC:I’m pretty strong.

AE: Do you work out every day? RC:No. Lately, I’ve not really been working out, to be honest. I’ve kind of been slacking. But I’m getting back into it because it does really, really make a difference in your energy level.

AE: You have incredible abs. When you are working out, how many crunches do you do a day? RC:I don’t really work my abs that hard. That’s all diet.

AE: What? What are you eating, six packs? How does that work? RC:[laughs] No, I just eat every two hours, little meals, like 150-calorie meals.

AE: What’s this I hear about a MySpace guy who wanted to buy your panties? RC: Oh, yes. A scary man on MySpace wants to offer to buy my panties. I was just indulging him: What’s your offer? I can go to Ross and buy some panties and rock his world.

AE: How much can you get for them? RC:I think he offered 600.

AE: Good deal. But if he’s willing to pay six, you could probably hold out for seven. RC: But you know what? A pair of La Perla underwear really would be breaking even on that amount. Not like I buy my stuff at La Perla, I’m more of a Ross girl myself.

I love Ross’ underwear section. Have you ever been there? It is the biggest untapped resource in Los Angeles. They have the sexiest underwear, they have Cosabella’s, and they have all the big brands, and they’re between a $1.99 and $4.99. And it makes me so happy.

AE: I have no idea what you just said, but is sounds like a steal, underwear-wise. RC:I know!

AE: Getting back to your potential project meetings – will it be your own show, or you in a group? RC:There are two possibilities in the works right now. One would be my own show, and the other, I would be one of a few. But it would be on a network.

AE: Reality? RC:Oh, yeah, reality. I can’t get away from that. It keeps coming up, so why fight it? Why go against the tide, right?

AE: What should we call your new show? Your show needs a good name. RC:What should we call my show? How ’bout, Are You Fit Enough? [laughs] No, that’s retarded. You come up with something.

AE: America‘s Got Cellulite? RC:[laughs] So You Think You Can Squat?

AE: [laughs] Lunging With the Stars. RC:[laughs]

AE: I like yours: So You Think You Can Squat? You should definitely pitch that at your next meeting. RC:Yeah!

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