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Austintown native gets dose of reality TV
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Neighbors | Submitted.Eric Chine, Austintown Fitch alum, was a contestant on a Fox reality show called Seducing Cindy. He came in second place. .He is currently living in Austintown waiting for new opportunities.
By COURTNEY DENEN
Austintown native Eric Chine has experienced something that few people from Austintown have — he was on a reality show. Not only was he on a reality show, but he almost won.
“Seducing Cindy,” a Fox Reality Channel original series, was about newly-single model-actress Cindy Margolis and her search for love. Twenty-four male contestants, including Chine, from the ages of 18 to 71 competed for her attention. Chine, a former Austintown Fitch wrestler, who graduated from Kent State University with a degree in sports management, found the casting call for the show on a reality television casting web site.
He submitted his picture and some basic information about himself, and a few months later he was contacted for interviews.
After the interviews, Chine said it “took off from there.”
After a phone interview, which he was required to record on film and send into the show, a background check, a medical check and completing a written and oral psychological test, he was chosen to be a contestant.
Chine said he had many reasons for wanting to be on the show.
“Overall, it was a great opportunity that was presented to me and I figured it was something I should not pass up,” he said.
During filming, Chine said he made some lasting friendships, but has to work at keeping in touch.
“Everyone lives so far away, so it’s hard to keep a good relationship,” he said. “But I have remained friends with a few of the guys.”
The experience of being on a reality show was “completely surreal” for Chine.
He described it as having, “lots and lots of down time and interviews.”
Making out with someone he really didn’t know wasn’t a concern.
“Knowing it was Cindy Margolis, I was willing to take that risk,” he said.
Not only did he make new friends, but he almost seduced Cindy. He made it to the finale and finished second.
During the finale, which aired March 20, Cindy’s choice came down to Chine and one other contestant, Leighton Stultz. Cindy told Chine she was in love with another man.
Chine said not winning was bittersweet.
“Not winning on the show, doesn’t mean I didn’t win in real life,” he said.
Chine’s not sure if there will be a Seducing Eric anytime soon, but he would be on another reality show if given an opportunity.
“It was a great experience. I would do it all over again,” Chine said.
His future plans are “to live each day one at a time, enjoy life and embrace any opportunity that comes my way.”