Meet My Folks: An Interview with Barnes Family ‘Suitor’ Randy Wayne

Randy Wayne was one of three guys trying to win over Jacqui Barnes’ parents on Meet My Folks (the March 11 episode) for a trip with her to Hawaii. I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about the show and what went on that we never saw or heard about.

RealityNewsOnline: Were you upset with the way you were edited? Was there anything that you felt was completely taken out of context? How about the rest of the cast? Were they edited accurately, from your experience with them? What was everyone really like?

Randy Wayne: I thought the way I was edited was pretty accurate, I was left hanging, but oh well, NBC only had an hour for the show so I understand. They did however leave out a couple things that would have made people see more of the real me. I answered the questions from the parents without any hesitation the other two stuttered, fumbled, and couldn't give a straight answer. I told the truth the whole way through, hoping honesty would be my ticket to Hawaii, until I stumbled across a huge obstacle. I think everyone was edited right on. Believe it or not, I thought Adam was a really cool guy. Tommy and Adam reminded me of Beavis and Butt-head. Not in a bad way, but they were just like two peas and a pod. Tommy laughed at Adam the whole time. Tommy wasn't bad, but he told the dad some stuff about me early on in the show to put him against me. It worked. So I could care less about him. Oh and by the way, the producers' told me that neither Tommy nor Adam new that Gretchen was a trap. I was the first one in the room by the way. Dad I didn't like, Mom was really sweet, and Jacqui was great, but she blew things out of proportion.

RNO: I know it wasn't shown, but did you mention to Jacqui or her parents how hypocritical it was to hold kissing the skydiving chick against you when Jacqui had done the same with both Adam and Tommy?

Randy: I didn't mention to Jacqui, her parents, or to the guys how hypocritical it was of her to blast me for kissing Gretchen, the sky diving chick. But after I was booted, I was interviewed and I said, "Jacqui called me a player for kissing two girls in one day, well... she kissed 3 guys in one day. That sounds like a player to me." Didn't air, dang it.

RNO: Is everyone instructed to act as if you have never seen the show before? Wouldn't the parents just assume weird behavior (like your 7-second hug to the dad) was a secret task?

Randy: No, we weren't, but coincidently none of us guys had seen the show before. I thought the parents would understand what was going on, that they were just playing along with it. But when they found out they really were surprised.

RNO: I wish I had thought to include this in the recap so I will bring it up now. If the secret revealed by your roommate was true, they would have had many ex's of yours from which to choose to bring on to trash you and they didn't. They brought a nice girl to tell a story about your eye injury of many years ago, were you given the chance to explain that?

Randy: I did get the chance to explain, after a torturous 20 min. of silence. It was tough to just sit there and listen to the exaggerated story. After I explained I think the parents understood what happened. I was 14 at the time. Seven years ago. I was immature then. And the cat scratch was actually true. I told them that if they didn't believe me that I would give them my mother's phone number and they could call and ask her.

RNO: I saw on your website you were on Shipwrecked, a Survivor-esque show that, while not familiar to most Americans, has been seen by much of the world. How did the fact that you have starred on another reality show affect your stint on Meet My Folks?

Randy: The show Shipwrecked Int'l aired awhile back, and never made it to American TV. They were fine with it actually. They were referred to me by Dismissed, an MTV show, knowing that I was on the show and was okay. Different viewing audience I guess, but on Dismissed I got to do the choosing.

RNO: How much of this reality show is reality? How much were you coached or scripted on what to say or do? We're the dates arranged by you guys or set up by the production staff?

Randy: No comment. No comment. And no comment.

RNO: What I find so confusing about the show is the premise is the winner would go to Hawaii with the girl, yet the questions seemed based on the parents choosing a boyfriend for her. Were you all instructed to act interested in her romantically, whether you were or not?

Randy: I don't know about the others, but I wasn't instructed to do anything but be myself. Probably because I understand that this is a show and its intent is for entertainment. I am an entertainer, and I know the crazier stuff I do the better the show and the better the ratings. Believe me the crew was SHOCKED when they saw me kiss the skydiving assistant. I think the whole purpose was that we flirt give our numbers and maybe say some things to use against us. When I did that I'm sure they had a party.

RNO: Adam's ex-girlfriend on the show was Brianna and the previous week she was on the twin episode with her sister. Do you know if she was on your show first and her appearance on her own episode sprang from that or it was just a coincidence?

Randy: Our show was filmed before hers I'm sure. I think it was a coincidence.

RNO: Any cool behind the scenes stories you'd like to share?

Randy: Yeah, Gretchen, I hear, had a boyfriend at the time of the show. But during the make-out session between her and I she was really getting into it. I had to stop it. I mean they had to edit some things out.

RNO: What's next for you? Any new projects in the works?

Randy: There is actually a website run by a good friend in the U.K. It's been up since after Shipwrecked. If you want to take a look there are updates, pictures, gossip, etc.. Here's the link for those who are interested: http://clik.to/randywayne and for those who don't want to remember that they can check out http://www.randywayne.com. I am acting, I have a great agent and a determined manager helping me out. Training at "The Young Actor's Space," and I just landed a supporting role in a film that will be in Blockbusters nationwide within a year and a half.

Thanks Jamie for the opportunity.

RNO: And thank you!

Jamie can be reached at JRS5150@aol.com.

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