Reality rejects discuss life after cameras

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Most reality show rejects find it difficult to discover normality again after having cameras in their faces 24/7. Janu Tornell, who quit “Survivor: Palau,” found it more difficult than most. After being sequestered as a member of the jury, Tornell did the unimaginable when she came back to the United States: she sequestered herself in her home.

“Coming back from ‘Survivor,’ it was really traumatic,” says Tornell. “I didn’t think it would be. I hid in my house for about a month. I didn’t drive. I was just kind of freaked out by the whole thing.”

Before Tornell could explain to the AP why exactly she was “freaked out,” a CBS spokeswoman pulled her off the phone — Tornell wasn’t allowed to answer due to her nondisclosure agreement.

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As a reality show reject, you’ll become very familiar with network spokespeople. Usually, they’ll be your last and only link between your ho-hum life and reality show glamour, as the casting staff have already moved on to other jobs on other shows.

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Once your show starts airing, one thing is certain: You will be more famous than you ever were before. People will notice you on the street. Some will ask for autographs. Bartenders will smile and tell you, “It’s on the house.” It’ll be awesome.

“We love people stopping us on the street,” says Warren, adding that his favorite part about being a reality TV star is the free booze.

Don’t drink too much, though. You still have to keep all your show’s plots and secrets from your friends and family, who will no doubt hound you each week to figure out the reality behind your reality show. According to Bill Rancic, the toothy winner of the first “Apprentice,” it’ll be much easier if you know you have a one-in-two shot at winning.

“For me, it wasn’t difficult,” says Rancic, who was crowned during a live finale. “I wanted everyone to enjoy the experience. I wanted them to watch it as it unfolded. I gave my word. And my word is my word.”

Word. But you should probably try your hardest not to get divorced, arrested or cause a scene until your show has gone off the air and everyone has forgotten about you. Just ask those “American Idol” kids with criminal records or “Apprentice” hothead Chris Shelton. Before he was fired by Donald Trump, his mug shot and disorderly conduct arrest made headlines. It was a seemingly mundane crime, newsworthy only because he was on a reality show.

“After we were done, I tried to forget about ‘The Apprentice,”’ says Shelton, “but then when the show started airing and the press became interested, you can’t really escape it.”

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