By: Delmy Barillas
Celebrating a decade of dramatic face-to-face confrontations, Cheaters returns this fall with a whole new season! The show follows real-life couples with infidelity issues who are helped by private investigators, and then, with the help of Joey Greco, they confront the suspects allegedly cheating on their significant others. The new season is scheduled to air on September 21st, and we got all the juicy details straight fromCheaters host Joey Greco.
Delmy Barillas: Cheaters’ 10th anniversary is coming up. How are you feeling?
Joey Greco: Great! I think we’re going to have a party! [Laughs] No, seriously…I can’t believe we’ve been on as long as we have, and it’s really an honor and quite flattering to have been on the air that long . On one hand, it makes me kind of sad because, obviously, we’re on because people just don’t get it, but on the other hand, someone’s got to do it.
DB: Tell me about yourself. You have a degree in Psychology?
JG: I do. I have a Master’s in educational counseling and a Bachelor’s in psychology.
DB: How exactly did you get involved in the hosting world?
JG: You know, Delmy, that is a mystery because I don’t know. I never thought I would be using those two — acting and psychology — on the same show. My agent had a call for an audition and she said, “Are you interested in hosting a reality television show?” and I just went, “Well, why not? Let’s take a look at it and see what it’s about,” and I really wasn’t too familiar with the show at that point.
DB: You came on board a couple years after it aired…
JG: Exactly, and obviously I found out quickly what it was about and booked it, and she said, “What do you think? You want to do it?” and at that time, I didn’t think the show would be on for much longer so I said, “Sure, why not? Let’s give it a whirl and see how long it lasts,” and here we are ten years later!
DB: What do you think it is about this kind of show and this type of genre that keeps people coming back for more and continuing to watch it?
JG: I think what makes us relevant is, number one, it’s about relationships, because everyone wants to be or has been in a relationship. Look at all the reality shows that are relationship-based. And the second thing is infidelity is something that all of us have dealt with or know someone’s who’s dealt with, and that’s what makes it compelling, because everyone can relate to it pretty well.
DB: Tell me about your involvement with the show. How much input do you have or not have?
JG: I don’t have too much interaction on the investigating side. They have a team of detectives and private investigators that, to be honest, do all the work. Then, when we know the chances are good that we have something that looks pretty solid, I’ll meet the client. It’s a difficult situation because it is sensitive, but we try to make them understand that it is a television show as well, but sometimes you have to be very careful on how you handle certain circumstances.
DB: I know you’ve been doing the show for a long time, but do you still get uncomfortable when it comes time to do confrontations, or are you used to it?
JG: There are times when some might be a little bit more dangerous. There are times when the suspect might have a police record or domestic violence. There are certainly times when I pay a little bit more attention to what’s going on, but yes, I’d say the adrenaline always comes up a little bit more when you’re going into a situation like that, but I think I’ve learned how to manage it.
DB: As for the future with the show, do you see yourself staying on board until it lasts, or is there something else you want to pursue?
JG: I don’t know how to answer that, Delmy. [Laughs] Is this for the record or off the record?
DB: Definitely for the record!
JG: Then I’m just happy to be doing what I’m doing, as long as they keep us on the air! There are always opportunities that come up, personally and professionally, but I think what’s great about the company I work with is the fact that they allow me to do other projects. As long as our relationship continues like that, I don’t see anything changing for the future.
DB: How has hosting Cheaters affected your personal life?
JG: People run out when I go to restaurants, and it makes me a little self-conscious because I don’t know if it’s just me, or they’re with someone they’re not supposed to be with. Honestly, I am a really shy person and it’s always flattering when people see and recognize you, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.
DB: Are you currently single?
JG: Well Delmy, where are you going with this? Are you going to hook me up? [Laughs] This is what I always tell one of my film coaches: She always goes, “Aren’t you dating somebody?” and I always go, “Are you bringing anything to the table?”
DB: Is it hard to be out there, though? When you’re trying to date someone, do you find them sometimes being paranoid or intimidated because of who you are?
JG: I don’t think that really comes into play because I probably wouldn’t be out with them if we didn’t have some sort of a connection. Hopefully we would’ve been passed that stage before we’d be there.
DB: What can we expect from the new season coming up? Anything different?
JG: I don’t know if I can say there’s really anything different because we know that things continue the same way, and we probably will have more of the same of what you’ve seen in the past, but what we will still continue to try to do is work toward getting past the initial reason why we’re there and get us back into what essence brought us there, which is where the relationship goes bad to the point where you would lie to someone that you profoundly care about.
DB: Are you aware there is a Cheaters version in Spanish?
JG: Yes, I am, and I think it’s flattering, but the guy is still wearing the leather jacket, and that was so seven seasons ago! He should’ve at least updated his wardrobe if he’s going to knock me off anyway.
DB: [Laughs] Have you updated your wardrobe?
JG: Just something black — something elegant in its simplicity.
Make sure to check your local listings to catch Joey Greco and the 10th anniversary of Cheaters.
