Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 25, 2008)

JEFF LEWIS GETS PERSONAL
Flipping Out, a Bravo reality show about an obsessive compulsive house designer named Jeff Lewis and his put-upon employees, was another show I didn’t want to watch. But most of the men on the show are gay, including Jeff, so Michael threw it into our regular TV rotation.

The cast of Flipping Out Season 2

Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo

Being the cranky curmudgeon that I am, the first season did little for me.

But then! Jeff, being the neurotic nutcase that he is, got the bright idea to install a hidden camera in the office smoke detector, to see if one of his workers, Chris Elwood, was doing the work he was supposed to be doing. When Jeff reviews the tapes, he soon discovers that Chris is, in fact, barely working at all.

This sets off a fascinating chain of events where Jeff hints what’s going on to his assistant Jenni Pulos, who happens to be married to Chris. But Jenni passionately defends her husband, swearing that he’s not lying. Jeff eventually confronts and fires Chris, who has been totally lying to Jenni. When Jenni discovers the truth, their marriage starts to unravel. Jeff knows he’s set this chain of events in motion, and yet he can’t bring himself to regret an action that has completely vindicated his most neurotic suspicions.

It all made for such incredible television that I had to wonder: was it really real, or was it somehow staged for the show?

I decided to get the answers to this, and other pressing Flipping Out questions, right from the horse’s mouth:

Jeff Lewis

Photo credit: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo

AfterElton: When the whole thing with the hidden camera was unfolding, did you think, “This is going to make great television”? Did you think how you were going to come across, or you just focused on, “Damn it, people are not doing what they’re supposed to be doing”?
Jeff Lewis: I was completely and totally obsessed and focused with catching the culprit. I didn’t think about the repercussions. What I found was much worse than what I expected to find. Of course, I didn’t expect what happened. Who knew? Honestly, I did expect to find something going on. But I didn’t have any choice but to let Chris go.

AE: Given that Chris and Jenni might be splitting up, do you regret doing it or do you wish it had happened differently?
JL: The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Jenni. The interesting thing about this show is I look at season one, and I’ve looked at my life and I’ve looked at myself, and I’ve learned from it, and as a result, I’m growing, and I’m trying to be a better person. And I’m also seeing things very clearly now. I believe I’ve helped [Jenni] see her husband very clearly, who he really is. I think she’s turned a blind eye for quite some time, and I’m hoping that she learns from this experience, and I hope that she finds someone that is worthy of her. Because she is worthy of much more than what this guy brings to the table.

From left to right: Chris Elwood, Jenni Pulos, Jeff Lewis
Photos credit: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo

AE: Did you always think that about Chris, or is it because of what you found out?
JL: I hate to answer that, but I will say I always thought she could do better. It’s hard to say though, because that’s something I kept to myself and pushed to the back of my mind. Chris was my friend, I was close to him.

Next Page! A partial Charlie's Angels reunion! And Kathy Griffin kinda sucks!