Chad Schlee on AM Buffalo, Wednesday, 2/18/04 LINDA: Chad, we have so much to talk about. You are everywhere, my dear [Linda picks up paper from table and looks at it with Chad] You are in this thing; it's almost like a "drudge" report for the internet. Some person... oh, this is Betsy Wasser writes this. I don't know who this is.. and she kind of gives her take on this whole thing... CHAD: On what she perceives happens. LINDA: Yeah, she's not a f... she doesn't... she just sounds like... well, this is what went wrong, this is what went wrong, and... she says over here... Meredith's date with Chad did not go well at all. But, you don't agree with that? I thought the date went very well. [Chad laughing] CHAD: No, I thought the hometown date went excellent. It really did. And my family was my family, and that's all that I could ask... that they were natural in front of her. LINDA: OK, now, we've got Chad here, because as you now he's going to be on tonight. But this also came out, which you didn't know about... Professional Trade Magazine, called Television Week, and here's what I learned... ABC will go live with "The Bachelorette." [Chad nodding his head] This is something brand new. CHAD: Yes, this is something that's brand new. LINDA: Even with the Superbowl "brew-ha-ha"... not a consideration. Apparently, keep your hands to yourself. We're going to trust you on this. But, what they want to do, is have the final... where is it? Gotta go to page 42... the dates are here... the special for the day after, Thursday, February 26th from 8 to 9 pm... that's the day after... the final airs Wednesday, February 25th from 9 to 11 [Linda reads off the magazine] So, basically, they want to what? Have the two guys back? The guy who just misses out and the winner? CHAD: Yeah, just a recap of the final... like the two guys and then whoever she chose... and just kind of get the thought process on everything that happened. LINDA: Uh, huh, so.... do you have any plans on going out back west? [Chad laughing] You know? I mean... CHAD: You'll have to just wait and see... LINDA: Ohhh... CHAD: ... see what happens... next episode and next week, and all that good stuff... LINDA: You're so good at keeping quiet. Tonight, what are we going to see? CHAD: Tonight it's down to myself, Ian, and Matt... and it's down to the exotic dates... and this is when we get to go to an exotic location and spend the night with Meredith, and, um... LINDA: I think I have that too... because you in, where? Where did you stay with her? CHAD: What do you mean? LINDA: Where did you have your date? CHAD: Uh, actually I can't say yet. Because it hasn't aired. LINDA: You can't say! I came so close! CHAD: We have the whole romantic setting and everything, and that's our.. basically our final time with Meredith to talk to her and get anything that's on her mind. Put it out there and talk to her about it. LINDA: All right. So we've got you left... we've got Ian and Matthew. CHAD: Yes. LINDA: You're the oldest out of the three of them... do you know that? CHAD: Yes I am. LINDA: And how old is she? CHAD: She's 30 year old. LINDA: She's 30... and where does she live now? Where does she make her home? CHAD: In Los Angeles. LINDA: Los Angeles? OK, so, Los Angeles, Buffalo... it's been done before. [Chad laughing] You know? I mean, I'm just saying! CHAD: She liked it when she was here. She really did... and like I said, one of her best friends lives in Buffalo, so, uh, you know... she's already got a connection here. LINDA: But they're very big on saying you go for "overnight trips." Does this mean, like, you were supervised? CHAD: Well you have the option of... you definitely stay overnight, but you can stay in your separate fantasy suites, or you can stay in the same suite together. LINDA: Will they still be shooting that? CHAD: I don't know... you'll have to wait and see... [Chad jokingly] LINDA: [Looking at article] They took you...you went to Miami, but they took one of the other guys to Puerto Rico, all right? CHAD: Where did I go? [Chad leaning in to look at article Linda is reading from] LINDA: It says here... a Miami-themed date with Chad... it's says right here, so you're not giving anything away.... a date in Old San Juan with Ian... and a romantic beach date with Matthew. CHAD: You might want to stay tuned to see where I went, too. [Chad smiling] LINDA: OKAY!!! All right, now tonight, it's the same thing? Are you going to be heading back to Gabels with the crowd? CHAD: Yes, same thing at Gabels tonight, and it should be a good crowd.. and, you know, obviously everyone's welcome to go, so it should be fun It should be a good time. LINDA: All right. Ok, now I want to let you know... Chad is going to stay with us... because we're going to open phones... if you have questions, and I know you do... I get a ton of calls about these segments after the show. CHAD: Right. LINDA: All these women call and say... ok, did you ask him this, and you didn't ask him that... so we're gonna let you know... we're gonna open the phones a little bit later, so formulate those questions... think about what you want to talk about. Maybe you'll do better than me? You know.. get a little more information out of you. But, is everybody starting to get a little, like... [Linda makes "tense" gestures] CHAD: Yeah, especially when it's down to the final 3 now, and everybody wants to find out what happens... you know, because they go from the hometown dates and one person gets eliminated... so each week gets a little more tense. Now people are really trying to dig for information, and I just got to keep my lips sealed and go from there... and see what happens. LINDA: Now, Lanny is out, right? CHAD: Lanny is the one who, after last week's episode, got released. LINDA: Because... he was the horse guy? His mother really... CHAD: He's a horse breeded... great guy down in Texas... LINDA: I don't think his mother wanted her around. CHAD: She was just speaking her mind, she was just being herself, you know... I'm sure she's a wonderful woman... just not something that was a fit with Meredith, and... LINDA: I had a chance to talk with someone of the folks in Chad's family.. I love your family. CHAD: Oh, thanks. LINDA: I could marry right in! [Chad laughing] I could be very happy there. But, we have a little bit of tape, because everybody was talking about what your mom had to say... CHAD: My mom's got a way with words sometimes... LINDA: Let's roll that bean footage. [Video clip shows of Meredith at Chad's home...showing Meredith's facial expression, comments, then all her positive comments about Chad... he is the kindest person I've ever met, the biggest heart I've ever met, sincere, funny, gets my jokes, we laugh like all the time, smart...] LINDA: Do you think we look alike? There are people who will say, Linda, you look a little like that Meredith, what do ya think? ... Is this why we're getting along so well, Chad? CHAD: It might be, I don't know... LINDA: Think profile... I don't know. So, she says, she didn't know. CHAD: Well, it's uh, my intentions were obviously to tell her that I was between jobs, that my pharmaceutical company closed. LINDA: Ah, your intentions... CHAD: No, I'm not saying I hid anything... I had nothing to hide. It's just that you get caught up in everything. There were so many things I wanted to tell her about, you know, with my father passing away and everything... if I didn't tell her, it was a complete mistake. And for my mother to say that... that's just my mother. And, to me, it's no big deal that I was in between jobs.... LINDA: I loved your mother... CHAD: So, I know, if I went and got another job, I would have never met Meredith... I would have never been able to do the show... so everything worked out great. LINDA: Does her reaction to that bother you? CHAD: No, not at all. LINDA: Because the only way people get together... it's for better or for worse, and it's OK, you move on... that's nothing. CHAD: Honestly, she didn't blink, she didn't bat an eye... I had told her on a previous date that we'd been on... so, you know, she has so much going on when she's meeting all these guys, and I can't expect her to remember everything. So, you know, I know that I had spoken to her about it, but if she doesn't remember specifically, that's no big deal because she liked me for who I am, and all that stuff... LINDA: Well, you don't seem like you're walking around with a broken heart... I gotta tell you... but, be that as it may, you went out last night to Shea's and saw "Movin' Out" and were thrilled because we're going to introduce to you one of the leading men in that. CHAD: It was really good. LINDA: All right, more Chad, and more AM Buffalo... so we're going to take a quick break and come on back with a lot more, so stay right there.... [After commercial, Linda sits with Chad, and an actor that stars in the theatre production of "Movin' Out".... they interview him, and then another commercial] [showing video from a rose ceremony, after returning back from a commercial, Chad and Linda are joined by two other local "reporters"] JOHN: Oh, look at that.... she's smiling, she's hugged him [referring to Chad getting the rose].... and he doesn't look happy [referring to Ian in the clip] LINDA: No, he should go... I don't like that blonde guy. [Chad laughing along] JULIE: Ian should go for sure. LINDA: I don't like him.... If she wears anything more low-cut, hellllooo? She's gonna give us a Janet Jackson, helllooo. [referring to rose ceremony where Meredith wore an off-the-shoulder black gown] You tell me you like cleavage? I mean.... CHAD: She has nice shoulders up here [Chad touching his shoulders] LINDA: Oh yeah? I'm sure that's what you were looking at Chad. JULIE: I'm sure she does, Chad. I'm sure she does. We have added Julie Fine to the mix here... and Chad is back for the "grillfest," as we've got going on here tonight. Julie was saying... he's getting so popular that you don't return phone calls... [jokingly] CHAD: That's such a lie.... JULIE: You don't return my calls anymore.... I really thought, you know... we put you on TV, we help make you a big star... I tried to reach you the other day... no return phone call. [everyone is laughing] CHAD: That's not true. I always call you back. JULIE: What's up with that? LINDA: Hey, we got to let everyone know what his schedule is.... tonight is the Gabels thing... but you're going where before then? CHAD: I'm going an appearance at the Sabres' game. LINDA: OK. You know, all of a sudden they have a chance to get back in the play-offs. Keep it going, will ya? JULIE: All of a sudden, he's doing more appearances than we are. CHAD: They're doing well. JOHN: Sabres, Sheas, Gabels... LINDA: So, what are you doing at the Sabres' game? CHAD: I'm not really sure yet. I think I'm introducing.... LINDA: Playing the net? CHAD: I'm not doing any singing... that's for sure! LINDA: Any skating? CHAD: They wouldn't make the play-offs if I played in the net; you guys saw the way I skate. So, I don't think that would work. [everyone laughing] LINDA: Could you be dropping the puck? CHAD: Maybe something like that... I'm actually doing something tonight, and something Friday, as well. LINDA: All right, that's nice. So you have that tonight, and then you have to run back over to Gabels for the show. CHAD: Yes. LINDA: Are we supposed to be going to shoot that? JULIE: I would hope so. JOHN: Now wait a minute, I just picked up on something... he says he's at the Sabres tonight, and then you're back here Friday for something. And "The Bachelorette" show is tonight... LINDA: Oh... Sherlock over here... JULIE: But even if you win tonight, you still... this isn't the final one... JOHN: Tonight, it gets down to two? Oh, never mind then... JULIE: So he'll be here no matter what happens. LINDA: You feeling strong about what happens tonight? Feeling good? CHAD: Yeah, I already know what happens.... You know I can't say. LINDA: Now, we have to let everyone know too... as the "Chadfest" continues, there's another Bachelorette on tomorrow night at 8:00 CHAD: Yeah, it's the "Men Tell All" is a time for the men to talk to Meredith and ask questions and things... JOHN: Are these the people she's rejected? JULIE: So you may, or may not be on that show then? CHAD: You'll have to wait and see. JULIE: Because if you don't get a rose tonight, which I'm sure would never happen... I just got to throw that out there... then tomorrow night, you would be on "The Bachelor Tells All." CHAD: Can't say... JULIE: But if you get rejected... CHAD: Only what I'm saying... because it's not always going to be the same as all the other series... so they may include all the guys... they may not include all the guys. LINDA: Why wouldn't they include all the present guys that are still in it, to "Bachelor's Tell All"? CHAD: Uh, that's only what they've done in the past.... the final 2 guys that were still involved in it... they wouldn't be on that. LINDA: And Julie, did they tell you, that the one that airs on the February 28th is LIVE... [Linda hands an article about that to Julie] We're going to take a caller, good morning, hello? CALLER: Hi... this is Jessica from Buffalo. Chad, I have two comments. First I want to say that I think it's great that you're staying with your mom after the loss of your dad. CHAD: Thank you. CALLER: My fiance actually stayed with his mom for about 7 years after he lost his dad. And I also want to let you know... you're in between jobs... if you're looking for a job, you can come and stay with me and be my personal butler [everyone laughs] LINDA: Yeah, Chad, have you been getting a lot of job offers? CHAD: Yeah, here and there, I enjoy pharmaceutical sales, so it's something I'll definitely look back on going into. And right now, I'm just having fun with the show. LINDA: OK.... so this is just like a prolonged vacation while this whole thing.... CHAD: The whole year has been a great year. I did a lot of traveling. I did the show. So, it's been a great year all around. JULIE: What's it been like to become like a local celebrity? Now that I've done this story... CHAD: You're the only celebrity in town. JULIE: I know, but there is room for more. [everyone laughing] CHAD: I'm not taking your place at all. JOHN: I don't know where her sweater stops, and her face begins [referring to Julie's RED sweater] LINDA: It's fun to be in Chad's company, isn't it? JULIE: It's interesting, because people come up to me like I'm this "Chad Encyclopedia." Like... you met him, so what do you think about this? Or how does he dress? What's he really like? Is he as nice as he is on TV? I mean, I try to explain to people... I've only met him a few times, and... LINDA: It was Helen who has got him down to his boxers.... JULIE: Helen! [everyone laughing] LINDA: Unbelievable! JULIE: So what's it been like to all of a sudden be in the public eye... it's not always so easy, is it? CHAD: It's a lot more than I'd ever thought it would be. Some newspaper articles and things like that... but I never thought going out, that I'd still be recognized, because I'm still Chad and I did the show... and that was kind of it. [Chad smirking] JOHN: How were you chosen for this in the first place? I was living under a rock, I guess... CHAD: ... submitted my stuff for "The Bachelor" and this show's obviously "The Bachelorette"... and then I didn't get picked for "The Bachelor".. but they kept all my stuff and I submitted another audition tape, and things like that... JULIE: And here he his... When Meredith was going to meet your sisters, cause I remembered meeting your sisters... all I kept thinking is 'Oh, she's in for quite the test.' You know, they're tough in a wonderful way. LINDA: All right, a phone call for Chad.... CALLER [ME]: Hi [my son crying in background]... Hi Chad... CHAD: Good morning... CALLER [ME]: I'm on an internet board, and everyone is photo of Chad in his little boxer shorts [Chad smiles and giggles] LINDA: Oh, they are? CALLER [ME]: Yes, my question is... regarding the editing of the show.... there's lots of photos going around of somebody with curly hair in a limo, and talk is to whether it's Matt or Chad... is there a lot of editing going on in the show, or photos going around... LINDA: Are you a little nervous, calling to talk to Chad? CALLER [ME]: Yeah! LINDA: I could tell. Tell them about the editing, because the editing does throw... it skews it differently, doesn't it? CHAD: You know the editing... the people that produce the show are smart enough not to give anything away. So they put pictures on the internet to kind of tease people about what could possibly be coming up in the next episode... things like that, so... none of the pictures are meant to give anything away, but just to get people do exactly what she said... to get people to think about it. [Chad talking while video clip playing of a rose ceremony] LINDA: OK, who's the blonde guy? What's that blonde guy's name? CHAD: Ian. LINDA: Ian.... he's in it, and the other guy... CHAD: Ian and Matthew. LINDA: And Matt, OK. CHAD: Yes, Ian's from New York, and Matt is from Texas. JULIE: I've had a lot of trouble getting attached to Ian. I feel like he's very... I feel like we don't communicate well. [everyone laughing] LINDA: How many times have you spoken to him, Julie?! JOHN: You don't talk to him at all! CHAD: I think that's your problem right there! JULIE: I just feel like it's really hard to get a sense for him, and I understand that I'm sure there's reasons why we didn't meet his family. And I'm sure there's a lot behind him, but I feel like he's very hard to get to know and get a feel for. CHAD: Yeah, and I think the difference between... like, Matthew and I are very similar... pretty much an open book, and people know everything about us, while Ian's got more of a mysterious side to him. So it's this very intriguing thing that.... is he hiding something, isn't he hiding something, or is that just his personality? But, he, obviously I had to live with him in the house, and he's a great guy... and all the guys were great. JOHN: What do Ian and Matthew do for a living? Well, you came from pharmaceutical sales, what do they do? CHAD: Matthew does pharmeceutical sales as well, and Ian is an investment banker. I don't think he's working right now, but he was an investment banker.... LINDA: And Lanny's back on the horse ranch. JULIE: He's back on the ranch with mother... LINDA: [taking another caller] Hello? CALLER: Good morning, my name's Trevor and I'm calling from Toronto. I just saw Meredith on the Toronto Morning show, and she mentioned that... LINDA: Do tell... CALLER: She mentioned that she spent Valentine's Day with her boy... and I'm wondering if that's just a coincidence that she's so close right now? LINDA: [talking to Chad] Did you know that? Where were you on Valentine's Day, Chad? [Chad laughing] JOHN: What did he mean "with her boy?" LINDA: Well she's implying that she spent Valentine's Day with... CHAD: A lot of people asked me what I did for Valentine's Day, and things like that... JULIE: Were you in town? CHAD: I don't know.... I can't remember. [reporters laughing] JULIE: I have to give you credit, because everywhere you go, people have to be asking what happened... and can you throw us a bone here?... tell us this or tell us that... I mean you've got to be going through that about 17 times a day. CHAD: It's interesting though, because I like to hear people's opinions about the show, and about Meredith, and about the other guys, and telling people about my experience as well... so it's always that they're asking me questions... they're talking about the show in general, which is kind of neat to hear. JOHN: How many bachelors did they start out with? CHAD: 25, then down to 15... JOHN: And he's got down to the final 3... that's an accomplishment in itself. LINDA: Another phone call, hello? CALLER: Hi... this is Steve from Gabels. EVERYONE: Ah... Steve from Gabels! CHAD: Be nice to me, Steve! CALLER: Here's a question for you... say you win tonight, OK? CHAD: Yes. CALLER: Does the last two guys become the "Bachelor" and "the new Bachelor?" And the other guy wins? Does the second place guy become the new "Bachelor"? LINDA: See, that guy doesn't have any charisma, so he shouldn't be picked for the new Bachelor [Linda referring to Sean, in a video clip they were showing simultaneously] Not you, the guy we saw before you. He's out already, right? CHAD: Yeah, he already was let go. [people all talking at once] CHAD: To answer Steve's question... it's all up to the producer's of the show... it just so happened that Meredith was on the last show, the public really liked her, and she was obviously good for the show, and she's a great person, so they put her on this... uh, Bob was another one... so it really depends, or they pick... they have a new Bachelor show they're doing now, who was just somebody else who wasn't one of the previous bachelors. LINDA: Well, Steve wants to know, so you can invite him to Gabels every Wednesday night. JULIE: The next guy that's on is a quarterback for the Giants. Which has got to be interesting, because he's younger... I think he's 25. LINDA: Is that a little bit intimidating, that the guy from the Giants is coming in next? CHAD: No. JULIE: Well, he has nothing on Chad. LINDA: I know! [laughing] LINDA: [whispering] but he's got a job. CHAD: Hey! LINDA: I'm sorry, I had to go there.... Hello? Good morning.... [Linda taking another phone call] THE END (for now)... sorry guys, I can't finish it.... if Chad moves on tonight, maybe I will do the rest if it is interesting enough! Crystal