In April, shortly after Ian Ziering confirmed his guest-starring role in Rio’s Chippendales The Show, he visited Las Vegas to meet with the press, check out the show and meet his co-stars. At the time of his interview with Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato, he was already down 14 pounds and counting, and on his way to top physical shape. “The goal is to not look like Chris Farley,” he joked. Catch Ziering June 6-30 as he hosts the hot male adult revue at Rio.
Q: So tell us how your role in Chippendales came to be?
A: Honestly, at 49 years old I feel flattered. I’m lucky to be in the shape that would allow me to do something like this. … When I got the call from my manager and he asked if I would be open to hosting Chippendales, I said, “Chippendales, Chippendales? The male revue show?” and he said, “Yes.” And then I asked if I had to strip, and he said, “It’s flirty, not dirty.” And wearing the iconic bow tie and cuffs are a part of it. When I thought about the pros and cons, I couldn’t think of any cons!
Q: It sounds like there really wasn’t any hesitation about being in the show.
A: It’s a very well-produced show and it’s not a dark-room, scandalous, salacious strip show, but a show in a $10 million theater in Vegas. I really didn’t have a problem with it when I found out that it’s not gonna be any more than people have seen me in a bathing suit. Like I said, there were no cons. It was all about hosting a party five nights a week, being able to spend an enormous amount of time in Vegas and share with my friends and family what I’m doing. … This is gonna be pure fun.
Q: Now, do you know just how crazy the ladies can get?
A: I actually watched the show last night … the women, man, they go crazy! First of all, the guys are all physical specimens; I’m confident if the aliens ever come down they’re taking those guys. The women are all there to have a good time; it’s a very sexy show, very sensual show and the crowd goes wild. Wild! And it’s amazing!
Q: Are you ready to channel and handle all of that?
A: (Laughs) It’s like channeling the ’90s! It’s all very flattering and I take it all with a grain of salt. I’m not taking this too seriously, I’m not a classically trained dancer. There will be a certain amount of shirtlessness, just like on 90210, but now that it’s done on the backdrop of a sexual, sensual show it kind of raises the stakes a little bit. I’m an actor; it’s just like another role and this role could quite well be one of the funnest roles I’ve ever played!
Q: Did you ever imagine that you would be doing something like this?
A: I think every man in the country has secretly imagined what it would be like to dance with the Chippendales, so to that extent, yes. I’m real happy to be a part of this. It’s a tremendously entertaining show, I’m an entertainer, and this is just an opportunity to make memories that are gonna last me a lifetime.
