“Flipping Out”’s Jeff Lewis is Very Charming (No, Seriously!)

In person, Jeff Lewis, the famously neurotic star of the Bravo house-flipping reality series Flipping Out, is not at all who he seems to be on TV.

He’s actually extremely charming.

No, seriously, he really is!

It’s obvious from the show that he’s very handsome – and in person, he’s even more so: tall and dark with great posture and even better skin.

But I confess I was very surprised to find that he doesn’t treat all people – or at least he doesn’t treat reporters – in the brusque or hostile manner he often treats his on-screen employees and even sometimes his clients.

In fact, he has excellent social skills: a friendly, welcoming gaze, great eye-contact, and good listening skills. I interview a lot of celebrities, and unlike some, Jeff doesn’t project an aura of self-absorption.

So is his on-screen demeanor all an act?

“No,” says Jeff’s on-screen assistant Jenni Pulos. “Jeff is who he is.”

Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos

In fact, Jeff really does have obsessive-compulsive disorder. But the producers of Flipping Out , the third season of which began last week, also know their central gimmick – that despite being very good at what he does, Jeff is borderline nuts – so they surely edit everything to reinforce that concept.

Still, for what it’s worth, hints of the dual nature of the ever-fascinating Jeff Lewis definitely slipped into our interview:

AE: Do we get to see you have a love life this season?
JL: I was in a relationship for over five years before the show started. Actually, it was ending during the show. He did not want to be on television. Part of Season One, I was a miserable bastard. Part of it was because I was going through a really, really rough time in my relationship, and I can't say that because nobody knows I was with anybody, but that had a lot to do with it. I can't even watch Season One. I think, "Oh my God, I was so unhappy."

Season Two we broke up and all of a sudden, I'm happier. I 'm joking and having fun. Season Three is even more. I feel lighter. I feel happier. I feel good about where I'm at personally.