Charlie Grogan - Bachelorette 8 Contestant - Discussion

Ladybug82 wrote:And to make it even worse...Michael's birthday is today. So he has to watch his elimination on his bday! Poor guy! Just want to give him and Charlie both a !

Jus_rub wrote:And once again ... Eliminate him over kalon? Seriously ?

Charlie Grogan ‏@charlie_grogan
Bartending@ urban flats all wkend... come by and say hi!!!
1:09 PM - 8 Jun 12

Love_Me wrote: June 08, 2012 ABC Television Network

PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT - Bachelorette - JUNE 7th Interview with Charlie Grogan and Sean Lowe

TRANSCRIPT FROM THE JUNE 7THt "THE BACHELORETTE" TELECONFERENCE WITH BACHELOR SEAN LOWE
AND ELIMINATED BACHELOR CHARLIE GROGAN

Cathy Rehl: Welcome, everybody. Thank you for being here today. We're doing something a little unusual for us. We will have Charlie Grogan, that's G-R-O-G-A-N as in Nancy, on the phone with us first, who unfortunately was eliminated this past week. But we are - we will also have after him, Sean, who is - Sean Lowe, that's L-O-W-E - who is still on the show, but we thought would be able to preview some of the drama in Monday's episode, as well as give you a little preview of his own one-on-one date in London with Emily.

So, without any further ado, we will start our questions. Again, one question and a follow-up, please. We can begin now.

Operator: And ladies and gentlemen, to ask a question, please press star then the number one on your telephone keypads. Your first question comes from Gina Scarpa, from RealityWanted.com.

Gina Scarpa: Hey, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Hey, Gina, how are you doing?

Gina Scarpa: I'm good, how are you?

Charlie Grogan: I'm doing great, thank you.

Gina Scarpa: So, my question for you is that when watching the show, it seems really obvious who Emily has gotten close to over the weeks. She didn't get to spend a lot of time with you, John, Michael, Alejandro, so many people. So I was wondering if you felt that way when you were there, and if that put a lot of pressure on you.

Charlie Grogan: You know what, not really, because I did spend some time with her on the group dates, and obviously they can't show everything that they record, but I did, I had my fair share of time with her, it was just, you know, those guys really pick and choose what they want to show, because obviously the time limit of each episode, but I mean, it's - I mean again, to answer your question, I felt like I spent enough time on the group dates to where I should maybe kind of still be hanging around, but I never really did have that opportunity to have that one-on-one intimate time with her, so maybe that was my downfall with getting eliminated.

Gina Scarpa: And then looking at your elimination this week, do you understand why she sent you home, and do you think that she was a good match for you?

Charlie Grogan: You know, it's hard to tell because I really don't know what was going through her mind. I know that she maybe had some favorites going into that evening. So again, that's a hard question. That's something that maybe she could probably answer for you.

But yes, I don't know. I felt comfortable going into that evening, because it's just the time that I did spend with her, and the conversations we did have. So yes, it was a shocker to me, getting sent home, because some of the guys that were left, I didn't feel were as suitable for her, than maybe I could have been. So it was a shock for me, absolutely.

Gina Scarpa: Well, thank you so much.

Charlie Grogan: Well, thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Jennifer Matarese from WABC-TV.

Jennifer Matarese: Hi, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Hi, Jennifer.

Jennifer Matarese: So I was wondering, you seemed really upset after you guys lost the boat competition, and what was going through your mind at that point, and do you think you like were over-reacting, or do you think, you know, maybe that was appropriate, because you did end up getting sent home?

Charlie Grogan: No, you know, I think all of us guys, me, Sean, Travis and Chris, I think we were all upset because we all have this competitive side to us. I played sports my whole life, and I had never really cried during a loss, you know, growing up, so I think I was more disappointed with myself, because I knew on paper we had the guys beat. And it was just kind of like a testosterone male thing. You know, I really don't remember being that upset on the ride home. I know it was late at night, and it was like a 45-minute drive back to the hotel. I know I was upset, but I just don't know if I can say I was that upset.

Jennifer Matarese: OK.

Charlie Grogan: If that makes any sense.

Jennifer Matarese: And I was wondering what your thoughts on, two of the more kind of like controversial guys, Kalon and Ryan, what your thoughts are about the two of them.

Charlie Grogan: Say that again, I'm sorry?

Jennifer Matarese: Oh, I was wondering what your thoughts are about Kalon and Ryan, because they're kind of seen as more controversial choices for Emily.

Charlie Grogan: Yes, it's - I mean, I get along with Ryan a lot off camera. We kind of you know, had some conversations back and forth that made me feel that he was a good guy. Again, I wasn't there when - you know, other things were happening, I just never was the guy to get involved with all the controversies in the house, because it was starting - a lot of things were starting to brew, because a lot of the guys were starting to have feelings for her. I just stayed out of it. You know, I was there for the experience, and you know, for the journey.

Kalon, I never really - I never really got along with him as much as the other guys. He just - he was very standoffish, he never really - wouldn't hang out with a lot of the guys off camera, and we were playing, you know, games or conversations, he never really was the guy to come get involved. I don't know if he just didn't feel that he fit in with us, but I can definitely tell that he has had a lot more going on than we all knew. So I'm learning a lot more about him, watching the show myself, than I did before. So your guess is as good as mine.

Jennifer Matarese: OK, thank you so much.

Charlie Grogan: No, thank you, Jennifer.

Operator: Your next question comes from Beth Kwiatkowski, from Reality TV World.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Hi, Charlie, how are you?

Charlie Grogan: Great, how are you?

Beth Kwiatkowski: Good, good. So, do you think if your team had won the sailboat race, and you got to spend that extra time with Emily at night, that maybe you would have gotten a rose and stuck around longer? Like in other words, do you think that race kind of sealed your fate?

Charlie Grogan: I'm not really sure, but I think I probably could have talked to her more about more personal things, because every time we did have conversations, you know, it was never like a time or place to really get into those things. I mean, I didn't really know a lot about her background, her story. I mean obviously I can go on line now and read about it. But going into "The Bachelorette," I didn't really know too much about her story, because I wanted to learn it from her.

And I think that the Bermuda surroundings and atmosphere would have been a more intimate environment for me to kind of pick her brain a little bit more, and maybe the same for her. She could have picked my brain a little bit more, and learned a little bit more about my story and what I've gone through. And I think that definitely would have carried me on into, you know, the next, I guess, round.

But yes, I mean, it is what it is. And again, I never really had that one-on-one intimate type of opportunity to really share, you know, those kinds of stories. It was always more group dates or a lounge or you know, maybe a bar, and again there's a time and place to share those kinds of feelings, and I just didn't really feel that those were it. And I was just hoping that maybe I would eventually get that opportunity to kind of get that time, but I never did. And, you know, it's all right.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Sure, absolutely. And during "The Muppet Show" group date, you told Emily you were uncomfortable doing comedy in front of everyone, because you had been undergoing speech therapy and everything following your accident.

Charlie Grogan: Right.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Do you mind elaborating on that a little more, like how long had you been working on your speech prior to that moment, and how much further did you feel like you had to go before you could feel comfortable speaking in front of an audience?

Charlie Grogan: Well, it's a good question. To this day, I still go to speech therapy. There's still a lot of things that I have to work on. There's a lot of words that I can't still pronounce. If there's anything more than three or four syllables in it, I have a hard time pronouncing it, I have to like kind of sound it out. So that was difficult.

And then what made me decide to go and approach her was the fact that me and Wolf were kind of rehearsing what we'd written down so far, and I was having a hard time really pronouncing, I guess, the punch lines, when it came to the joke. And you know, it was stressing me out, because I don't want to be the guy to ruin like such an important event for Emily and Ricki and for the show, so I didn't want to be that guy to go on stage and kind of bite my tongue, and the audience is kind of like, who is this guy and what's wrong with him, you know?

Because they don't know my story. I mean, everyone that's been around since my accident has known what happened to me and what I've gone through, so we kind of laugh about it, if I maybe fumble on a word, or I can't really pronounce something. It's kind of funny to us now, because I've learned to laugh about it.

But I just wasn't ready because again, it happened a year and a half ago, and to be thrown in front of a 500-people audience, plus the millions on, you know, national television, to be my first time to actually talk around a lot of people without - if messing up, not being like made a fool of - I think that was my insecurity the most, more than anything else.

And then also, I got called on stage for the Miss Piggy thing, and geez.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Yes.

Charlie Grogan: I pulled it off, but I - whew, that was a little tough.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Tough, huh? All right, well thank you very much, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Paige Feigenbaum, from Entertainment Tonight.

Paige Feigenbaum: Good morning, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Hi, Paige.

Paige Feigenbaum: You know, you mentioned that you believe there were some men in the cast that deserved to go home instead of you. Can you give us some names?

Charlie Grogan: I really can't. I mean, again, I was the guy on the show that never really named names. I mean, I think when the Men Tell-All episode comes out, then you know, I'll be a little bit more adamant, to you know, kind of point fingers and say, "dude, come on, you know, you're a jackass." But you know, again, I just - I don't want to name names, I don't want to get - stir the pot.

But I think we can all have in mind who we like and who we don't like, and who we kind of find fake and who we don't find fake, and just times that by 100 when the camera's off, and you know, that's my answer. So again, I'm not going to be the guy to name names, because I never was like that to begin with, so -

Paige Feigenbaum: And you also said that you had some moments with Emily that didn't make the broadcast. Can you share one special moment that you had with her that we didn't get to see?

Charlie Grogan: Geez, well, I mean I kind of sat down and talked to her, even that night that I got eliminated, I sat down and talked with her, and I, you know, I mentioned to her that I appreciated this opportunity, and you know, I'm definitely in this for, you know, the long haul. You know, I'm a little scared, because you know, I miss home, you know, I miss my family; I miss my friends.

I mean, basically I packed up and left everything I had behind for, you know, this journey. So I'll be here for as long as she will allow me to be here, because eventually I'd like to, you know, form a friendship with her, and then hopefully that friendship could maybe turn into something else, and you know, kind of see what happens.

I was never the kind of guy who could just fall in love at first sight. I never have. I'm sure a lot of these guys on the show now are feeling that way. You know, again I can't get in their minds, but in my mind, it wasn't like love at first sight. It was like "wow, OK, she's attractive. OK, let me get to know her personality. OK, wow, she's cool. OK, now let me see if we can form as like friends, we can joke around and we can do this and that, great, perfect, wow," then this is, you know, let's see if a relationship can form out of this.

So I mean I was - I was kind of going in baby steps, obviously with how fast everything goes with the show, I may need to kind of skip a couple steps, but you know, it's - I live and learn. I've never seen the show before, so I kind of went into it with no expectations. I kind of went in with my head high and just a big smile, and I was going to enjoy the ride and see where it takes me, and would I go back and do it again? A hundred times, yes, absolutely. Would I do it differently? Probably.

Operator: Your next question comes from Catriona Wightman from "Digital Spy."

Catriona Wightman: Hi, Charlie, it's great to speak with you today.

Charlie Grogan: Hi, Catriona, I like your accent.

Catriona Wightman: Thank you. You just said, then, that you are not one to (inaudible) and that kind of thing, but at the end of the show, when Emily sent you home, you were quite upset. Can you talk through how you were feeling at that moment?

Charlie Grogan: Yes, I was upset for - I think I was more proud of myself, upset I'm going home, because of how much fun - of a journey it was, and I wanted to experience what else it had to offer. You know, I was - I was missing home, I was very proud of myself because you guys never knew what I went through from the day of my accident to where I am today, it's just an absolute miracle.

And I think it was just kind of myself kind of patting myself on the back, just like, you made it this far, like all within a year-and-a-half. I mean, you were basically in a hospital bed, dying, having to re-learn how to do things over again, but now, you know, you're in Bermuda and you're on a TV show, and you met all these great people, and it's like, I mean, who does this ever happen to?

So I just had a lot of emotions running through my body at one time, and to be honest, I was upset that I got sent home. Because again, I think I was a lot better of a person than a lot of those guys in the house, and it was upsetting, because I wanted to continue on with the journey, I wanted to see where it was going to lead me. Yes, it was - it was a bunch of different emotions all built up in one.

Catriona Wightman: OK, well that makes sense. So, if you could go back and do it again, is there anything that you would do differently? Would you maybe have sort of met with - spoken about more personal things earlier, in the bar or whatever?

Charlie Grogan: Yes, I think I would have maybe have laid it on a little bit more thicker. I wouldn't have been as, you know, as like, hey, let's be friends, kind of like pull your pigtails in the schoolyard, like run around like kind of, you know, like pulling laughs and jokes, but I would have taken it a little more serious, in regards to just wanting to open up more. I mean, I was - I think I was starting to open up towards me leaving, and I just, I would have done that maybe from the beginning.

I was more just trying to be myself and - let her know who I am as a person, but then I didn't realize like how much limited time we had to spend with her. So that was again, that was all new to me, and that was something I would do over. I would just kind of - the time I did spend, I would make sure it would be more effective than just, you know, (inaudible) and giggles and poking and laughing, and just, you know, trying to be friendly - like a friendly flirt.

Catriona Wightman: Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Charlie Grogan: Thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Lauren Wang from KITV.

Lauren Wang: Hi, Charlie, how are you?

Charlie Grogan: Hi, I'm good.

Lauren Wang: Good. So, what was the best part of being on the show?

Charlie Grogan: Gosh, it's - I think the experience and learning a lot about myself. I mean, I really learned so much about myself. I'm a lot different person now, I learned how to like express my feelings more, because I mean, every day, all the time, it's like how do you feel, what do you feel about this, how do you feel about that, what do you feel about this, how do you feel about this? And I never did that before. I never talked about my feelings to anybody. So it was very therapeutic for me.

Obviously, the Muppet date was a huge one for me, because that was a demon that I've been trying to overcome for years and years and years, and then finally with, you know, my speech impediment and then being thrown out there, and I finally did it, and it was like a huge lift off my shoulders, and I felt like I could do anything. I just felt rebirth, because I climbed that hill that I never thought I could ever climb. And for me to do it on such a grand stage that I did, I mean, I feel like, you know, I could do anything.

Lauren Wang: Good for you.

Charlie Grogan: I would definitely say it was my experience, and then you know, the people I've met. I mean, talking to you guys today, and the producers of the show, and just everybody that got in on the - on the show as well, the guys at the house. I mean, you know, I've met - I've made two great friends out of it, and you know, I'm just excited because of the benefits now, I'm heavily involved with the children's hospital, I'm getting requests all the time to go visit kids at the children's hospital, and I love it. It's amazing.

Lauren Wang: Well speaking of, who were the two great guys that you were closest to?

Charlie Grogan: I was - I was good buddies with Travis. We actually - he was the first guy I met in the hotel, getting into the limo, and he's from Mississippi, so he just reminded me of all of my buddies back home in Tennessee, and we just hit it off. I mean, he just has this outgoing, you know, fun-loving personality such as myself, and we just never had an awkward moment. And it was just great.

And then I would say Wolf. Wolf was the other guy, me and him, I mean I had like a really good man cry one night. I mean, I was like really just like, do I want to be here, you know, because I gave up a lot, you know, to come here, to come to this show. And you know - but the great thing about it is, I came back with so much more than I left with, so - but I mean, me and him, you know, we had like a really good guy-to-guy talk, and we just found out that, you know, we're kind of "brothers from like another mother," and we just - we just - it was like an alliance.

I mean - plus, I mean those two guys never really got involved with all the petty b.s. and all the drama and, you know, all that was about to unfold, and I was over it. Like I'm not - I'm not, you know, about this.

Lauren Wang: OK, thank you so much.

Charlie Grogan: Well, thank you.

Operator: Your next question comes from Caley Skinner from TV Guide Canada. Ms. Skinner, your line is open. You may proceed with your question. That question has been withdrawn. Your next question is a follow-up from Beth Kwiatkowski.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Hi, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Beth, hi.

Beth Kwiatkowski: So during Monday night's episode, there was a lot of discussion amongst the bachelors about age. Like Chris, who's 25, apparently thought Doug, who is 33, was a little condescending towards him, as Doug was saying maybe Chris wasn't mature enough to date Emily and take on a daughter and things like that.

Charlie Grogan: Right.

Beth Kwiatkowski: So with you being 32 and all, what are your thoughts on the argument? Would you - you know, would you agree with Doug? Chris? Were you aware of the conflict while you were on the show?

Charlie Grogan: Yes, I was - I was actually there in the room when they were having that conversation at the hotel, and it could kind of go either way. Because I was on Doug's side with regards to that you have more experience by age, but then at the same time, I agree with Chris, because, he's right. I mean, he's very mature at his age. I know at 25 I was nowhere near close to his maturity level.

Again, I don't know him outside of just being on sets, which has only been, you know, maybe close to a month, but you know, the argument could go either way. I mean, it all depends on your experience in life and how you take those experiences, is how you mature, no matter if you're 18 or if you're 38. I mean, an 18-year-old can go through a lot more stuff in his time of 18 years than, you know, a 28-year-old can go on his time of being 28.

So, again, it's all about experiences. And I know at 33, I've gone through a lot in life, and I think I'm very mature for my age. But I think I'm a lot more mature than my friends, because I have a lot of friends that are my age, and they haven't experienced anywhere close to what I have. So you know, it can go either way. I mean, I agree with both parties.

Beth Kwiatkowski:: OK. And I know you talked a little bit about which guys in the house you were closest with, but out of the remaining guys, who did you think might be the best man for Emily while you were on the show? Did any of the bachelors really stand out in your mind for any reason?

Charlie Grogan: Yes, I think just knowing them on and off, and just seeing how people act when you know, cameras, lights and action are on, how people act when they're not, I don't - me, I thought from day one, you know, I met - I thought Sean was a great guy.

I mean, he was - I don't know, again I don't know what him and Emily's one-on-one times were like, or what their conversations were like, but you know, from my point of view, I thought Sean was a great guy. If I had to pick one, I mean that would be the one. But I've got, you know, a lot in mind. I mean, Travis is a great guy, Wolf's a great guy. You know, I can't really be -

Beth Kwiatkowski:OK, all right, no problem.

Charlie Grogan: I can't find the word, but yes, I mean if I was to pick one when I left, I think Sean was a pretty good - a pretty good dude.

Beth Kwiatkowski: OK, great. And when we talked to Tony last week, he said he thought there were some guys in the house who claimed they were ready to step into a father role, but probably weren't in real life. So would you agree or disagree with Tony, and if you agree, who do you think wasn't ready to be a dad?

Charlie Grogan: I get the feeling that there were a lot of guys there for just - for other things, opportunities that maybe can come out of just being on a TV show. You know, like for myself, I don't - I don't act, I don't sing, I don't dance, you know, I don't model. So you know, I was going on there for just the experience alone. You know, so when I'm 60, I can just you know, talk to my kids like, your grandpa or your dad was on a TV show. It was great. The experience was wonderful.

But I think there was a lot of guys that were on the show for other intentions. Again, I'm not that guy to name names. Again, if the tell-all episode ever got filmed and aired, I might be sort of a little bit more in a position to maybe call them out, but you know right now, I think it's still too early, and I don't want to, you know, name names or throw anybody under the bus, because who knows, you know, it might - their minds might have changed.

I mean, again, I wasn't there for the remainder of the taping. It might have changed their life, and they might have had a different outlook on, you know, everything because of maybe, you know, their passion for her and, you know, the experience in life. So I don't know, I'm sorry, I wish I could answer that question, but I can't.

Beth Kwiatkowski: No, that's perfect. And besides you, Michael and Nate also didn't receive roses during Monday night's episode. Do you have any insight as to why Emily let them go, and what do you think of those two guys? Like, what were your impressions of them?

Charlie Grogan: You know what, I don't really - Nate was - Nate was one of my roommates in the house. He was great, fun-loving - again, he was 25. I mean, Nate being 25 and Chris being 25, again, the maturity level - I mean, you can tell Chris was a little bit more mature than Nate. I mean, not to say that Nate was immature, but just, you can tell by talking with Chris, and hanging out with Chris, you never would have guessed he was 25.

But with Nate, you could - oh, yes, you know, still a little wet, you know, behind the ears. And you know, Nate was great. He was awesome. But I don't know why - that's why Emily maybe sent him home, because she maybe saw that, you know, that kind of like not quite so, you know, the maturity level she's looking for. Granted, she's only 26, but she has a kid, she's gone through a lot. You know, her maturity level is going to be a lot higher.

Mike, great dude, quiet. I'm not really sure he really had a lot of time to spend with her, so that may be his downfall. But I became pretty close with Mike in the house, and you know, he's a great dude. I mean, I don't know why she would send him home. I don't know why she would send me home, but that's hers.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Gotcha. And my last question for you, Charlie, is what were your overall impressions of Emily while you were on the show? Like, did she turn out to be everything you had anticipated, did anything disappoint you at all?

Charlie Grogan: You know, again, it's like - it's so hard to tell, because of the cameras and life and all the people sitting around. I mean, your comfort - your comfort zone just isn't really there. Because I met her way before the show. I met her years and years and years ago, here in Nashville, with mutual friends. We have mutual friends who live here. And you know, I would have to say that she acted a lot different then than she did, obviously, on the show. You know, she has to have this persona that she has to keep.

I don't know. I mean, at some times I felt, again, maybe there just wasn't a spark between us, but sometimes it just - it felt like the conversations just weren't really flowing. I mean, they were flowing on my end, but on hers, it was kind of just like I was just like talking to the wall. And I don't know, again just maybe it was just - I don't know. I mean, I can't - I can't answer that. I mean, I feel comfortable talking to her.

Now, if she felt comfortable talking to me, I really can't answer that. I mean, at the end, every conversation we've had was great. It ended, you know, perfectly. Again, I don't think I really got too much into the intimate side of me or the true personal side of me, and that could have been my downfall, because I waited until the last minute to start bringing that out. So I have no idea.

Beth Kwiatkowski: OK, and you made a comment that you actually met Emily before going on the show. Do you mind elaborating on that a little bit, like did she remember you once she saw you on The Bachelorette, and I guess you know, how were you cast on the show? Did that go into your decision to apply?

Charlie Grogan: No, actually, I got - I got casted by a girlfriend of mine that I went to college with, on line. Actually, when ABC called me, I thought it was a prank call. I thought it was a bill collector, so I didn't answer for like two or three days, and I finally picked it up and I was like "who is this and what do you want?" But yes - no, she remembered me.

I mean, she said the moment I stepped out of the limo, she looked at me and she was like, "damn, I think I know this guy." And that was kind of a really cute conversation we had together, because she didn't know how she remembered me, but she knows she's seen me before, and, you know, this and that, and I was like yes, you know, I've met you at, you know, through mutual friends, at a birthday party, and you know, we had a good time. And she knew my face and she remembered me, but she just didn't really know how and when.

So yes, again, that was like really a cute conversation that we had together, that was never shown, but it's understandable because obviously, you know, you have to put so much into an episode.

Beth Kwiatkowski: Sure.

Charlie Grogan: She definitely remembered me.

Beth Kwiatkowski: OK, awesome. Thank you very much, Charlie.

Charlie Grogan: Yes, ma'am.

Operator: And I show no further questions at this time.

Cathy Rehl: Thank you, everybody, don't go anywhere. Charlie, thank you for your time today, and -

Charlie Grogan: My pleasure, guys. Thank you so much. I appreciate it, thank you.

Cathy Rehl: And, have a nice day, and we'll talk to you later.

Charlie Grogan: Yes, ma'am. Bye bye.

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