Cyndi Cappello/Hollywood.com
Do you suck at dating? These guys do. Are You The One is a reality show on MTV that is pretty much the most extreme version of finding your “perfect match.” Using science, research, and previous dating experience, the show matches up 10 guys and 11 girls (the twist from last season!) and put them in a house together, in Puerto Rico, to figure out if these sucky daters can find their perfect match, while they’re right in front of them.
We know how the sexes sometimes differ in their opinions on dating, so we sat down the cast members separately. First we met with the boys: Dario Medrano and Tyler Pratt. The guys talk about what was hard to leave back home, who they butt heads with most, and what #1 trait a girl can have.
So be honest, did you watch season 1 of Are You The One?
Tyler: Not at all.
Dario: No. I saw a couple episodes as it got closer to the casting process, I tended to watch here and there, but never watched prior.
Okay, so what made you try out for the show then?
D: You know, my tactics with women wasn’t working. So I figured, what the hell, why not go on TV and see what happens. This is a proven method.
T: Similar. I was desperate. I had exhausted all other outlets, like from meeting girls on social media or blind dates, to my mom setting me with girls. I tried everything and nothing was working. So when I saw this an opportunity, I seized it, cause I needed help, some professional help.
What were some of your old dating tricks/techniques that you used when you were trying to pick up a girl?
D: There wasn’t a specific method I went about. I think I was just shallow about who I went after. It was all about looks. It’s still a big part now, but before it used to be everything. I could deal with a crazy psycho, nut job if she was beautiful. There is more to it than that.
T: I would just sleep with them and then never call them again. Eventually I would find flaws with them. I would always start my relationships by hooking up with them, that’s always how it started. Then I would go on dates and I would find that one fatal flaw. Perfect example, this one girl said “you know” way too much. Little things like that, I wouldn’t even give them a chance.
So we know what your deal breakers are. To go the opposite route, what are some things that would make someone your #1 candidate for your match?
D: If you can make me laugh and keep me intrigued and wanting to hear more, you’re good. It doesn’t happen often. There are a few girls here and there where I can have a conversation with them and I want to hear more. It’s the other 98.8% that don’t do it.
T: 98.8. Normally it’s 99.9. My quality in girls that I really like is that they’re fit. Fitness is what I do for a living. If they eat healthy, it makes dating easier, because I’m very “we can’t eat here because they cook those steaks in butter!” When I’m dating a girl that’s not fit or not about that lifestyle, it makes us clash.
Is there anything you think after Day 1 in the house you were know for?
T: I had girls come up to me and say “You’re the douchbag!” I mean I’m big, have slicked back hair, and have these skinny pants. I come off as a bit of a muscle head, but I’m not. I’m a closet nerd.
D: They think I’m a player! I was very observant when I came in. And the girls were like “We know you’re not like that!” They basically called me a dog. I was the only Hispanic guy and I think Hispanic guys have that reputation to be sleazy, so the girls judged me.
Is there any person on the show, girl or guy, that you really butt heads with during the season?
T: Guy wise, not too much, Brandon. Which you will see. He had a death wish for a minute. He kept talking so much smack. Me and Layton butt heads quite a bit too.
D: Me and Layton. Me and Nate did a little bit, but I didn’t really feud with him. It was kind of, we were in the middle of some stuff.
What was the hardest part about going and leaving home behind?
D: Well I have a twin brother. So my whole life, I had someone who looked like me. Even for the show, he was a finalist for the show, and for a second they were going to take both of us on. The hardest part was being away, that’s why we all have these strong relationships because we couldn’t talk to anyone on the outside. We had no music, no phone, no lap tops.
No music?!
D: I mean, maybe we heard music and it was when they wanted. It was on for 40 minutes and it was the music they picked. It was awful! Oh, well we went on car rides for challenges, we heard radio stuff then.
What was the hardest part of leaving the house then?
T: Leaving that life! I came back and you have to start doing things. You’re not partying non-stop and hooking up with girls. You have to get back into a normal routine. We were treated like little brats over there. It was kind of tough getting back into a normal life. It was tough leaving all those friends and being so far away. I’m the only one from the south east, so I feel a little isolated.
See what the girls had to say on Page 2…
Cyndi Cappello/Hollywood.com
We switched out the boys, and brought in the girls. We sat down with Jenni Knapmiller and Christina LeBlanc (the 11th girl). The girls discuss previous relationships, who the biggest flirt is in the house, and more!
Did you guys watch the first season? We asked the guys and they weren’t into it, but we thought you two might be different.
Jenni: Absolutely. I was obsessed, me and my roommate watched every episode.
Christina: Yeah, I loved it.
Did watching the show make you want to audition or did you watch and think I can’t believe this?
J: No, I watched the show. I was like, “I think I could be on this. This could be work.”
Did you relate to any of the previous cast members?
J: A little bit. They were a pretty relatable bunch, a good mix of people, which season 2 is too. But I definitely related to Shanley. It was a good mix between Shanely, Jess, and Kayla.
Christina, what was it like being the 11th girl?
C: Being the 11th girl was very stressful and nerve wracking at times. Walking in on the first day it was super scary. I was walking into the lion’s den. There were 10 girls that did not want me to be there. There was also the potential throughout the season that I could go home or I could send someone else home. So yeah it was hard.
Did you feel like you got some hate for being there?
C: Oh yeah, I got a lot of hate. Definitely in the beginning. It was really just the girls, the guys were kind of frustrated that there was another piece to the puzzle and it wasn’t going to be as easy as they originally thought.
J: Not from me!
Do you have any dating deal breakers?
J: I have a couple deal breakers. Allergic to peanuts, that’s not going to work. I love peanuts. I love peanut butter. If you’re allergic to peanuts, it’s not going to work. Another deal breaker is bad teeth and laziness. Unmotivated slug, it’s not gonna work.
C: I would say bad breath, laziness, if you’re boring. You’re gonna be dumped. And lying. Do not lie to me. You lie to me once and I will never trust you again and that’s that.
Going into this show, viewers are obviously going to get a perception of you. Is there anything you want them to know that you weren’t able to?
C: I feel like me personally, I was 100% myself. So I am the exact same way at home as I was in the house. Maybe I don’t party as much. But me in everyday life is very similar to that house.
J: I would say the same thing. I’m definitely me in the house. I don’t know. I’m a nurse from Minnesota, from a medium-sized town. I think it will portray in the show.
Coming from that kind of background, was it totally weird living with 20 other people or was it really fun?
J: I’ve never lived with 20 other people. But I love being around people. So I enjoyed every second of it. There was always something going on. There was always someone to be awake with. Everyone was always ready to do something, so that was the best part about living with so many people.
Who do you think was the biggest flirt in the house? Christina are you smiling because it’s you?
J: We both were pretty flirty.
Who out of the guys was the flirtiest then?
J: Anthony
C: Nate.
J: Nate, yes Nate! Nate has always got a pick up line or always trying to sweet talk. He’s the biggest flirt in the house.
Can you tell us about some of your past experiences with dating and relationships?
C: I’ve had some really bad relationships. I would have relationships last over a year but I would become unhappy and they were unhealthy. I’m a relationship kind of girl, so I wouldn’t really date, I would get into relationships and after a while they would be terrible. Going onto the show, I wanted to break that habit. I wanted to be with someone who is good for me or learn to walk away from something that wasn’t good.
What was your favorite about being in the house? Like from the dates and challenges?
J: I think we all had the most fun on pool days. Just hanging out, grilling and chilling out.
C: We would hang out as a house on the days we could just hang out and not have fun, not planning or anything.
Is there a giant bed in this season like there was in last season?
J: There is one room. We all sleep in the same bed. Just one room.
C: The whole bed situation worked out fine.
J: There wasn’t any real bed drama this year. There’s some good stuff, especially in the end. You’ll just have to see.
Were you guys absolutely terrified of the “Truth Booth”?
C: I was terrified because the truth booth is what could send me home or could send someone else home. Not only that, but the truth booth concept, going in with someone who could be you match, finding out if they are or aren’t is really scary.
What did you most while you were in the house, an actual thing from home that you could not get on the island?
C: I missed Wawa. It’s a northeast thing I guess. They don’t have Wawa in Puerto Rico. They also did not have Spaghetti-O’s.
J: I really missed sushi. We didn’t have any sushi when we were in Puerto Rico. I misses sushi and my cat.
Did either of you guys get to go on a date?
J: Yes!
C: Yes, I did. So I went on an amazing date with an amazing man. We went zip ling over the rainforest in Puerto Rico.
Want to find out who your own perfect match is? Play the Match Machine 2.0! You can also play the Perfect Match game now as well, thanks to Joust.
Are You The One season 2 airs Monday, 10/6 at 10/9c. on MTV! Stay tuned after, as the cast reuinites for a live aftershow at 11pm E.T.!
