When producers of the Oprah Winfrey Show called our male model photographer for permission to use photographs from his CampusMen.com on the show, our male model photographer quickly suggested having one of his all-American college student male models as a guest. What he didn't expect is for them to take him up on the offer.
His photographs received some national exposure, when the show opened one day with a montage of photographs, most of which were of Campus Men.
"The fact that Oprah Winfrey noticed Campus Men shows we've produced some excellent photos," our photographer said. "Arguably the best quality collegiate website in the nation is produced right here in Columbus, Ohio."
Our male model photographer sent one of his favorite male models, Brett, who appeared as "Mr. January" in Campus Men. Brett "was the wittiest student I've ever worked with," our male model photographer said. "He is a walking one-liner."
And speaking of one-liners, Brett posed for his photo nude, wearing only one line of thick rope.
Producers of the show loved Brett's camera presence. Besides being pleasing to the eye, show producers called him "the best out there," referring to his funny answers to Winfrey's questions.
Brett was a furniture salesman. When Oprah asked is he sold a lot of furniture, Brett answered that he "sold a lot of sleeper sofas." Asked what were the secrets to his being good-looking, he said, "Genetics."
Brett, who calls his appearance a "once in a lifetime opportunity," relates his ease in front of the camera to the fact he was there "just to have fun" and was not expecting to go on to bigger and better things from the appearance.
Theme of Show
The theme of the show, filmed in late January, was "What Sexy Men Think of Sexy Men." It featured several celebrities as well as the 24 year old student hunk.
Trip To Chicago
He received the royal treatment during his two-day visit to Chicago. After being picked up at the airport, he was driven around town by a limousine and stayed at The La Meridian Hotel. He described it as the finest hotel in Chicago. The show also paid for Brett's meals and airfare.
Brett and his friends were followed by female audience members after filming the show. Brett ducked in the limo, but later found girls had followed him to the local Hard Rock Cafe.
Publicity Junket Around Show
Campus Men arranged for a story to appear in the Columbus Dispatch. The Key West Citizen also ran a front-page interview with Brett because Campus Men created his photograph on a Key West beach. His hometown newspaper also published a profile. He was also interviewed on WNCI 97.9's Morning Zoo and CD101 the day the show aired. WBNS 10TV profiled Brett after the show, explaining how it all came about. An advertising blitz on the OSU campus that included posters, banners, T-shirts and fliers preceded Brett's appearance. An "Oprah Winfrey Party" was held at Maxwell's night club on campus.
Another Campus Man, Jack, appeared on the show after Winfrey asked females in the audience to point out "good looking" men in the audience. Jack, who was Mr. December in Campus Men, is Brett's friend and accompanied him to Chicago for the taping.
Pointer Sisters Phone With Invitation
We generally advises male model not to list their phone number in telephone directories. But in Brett's case, it paid for him to keep his telephone number listed!
During the nationwide airing of the show, Brett and his roommates logged hundreds of telephone calls, some well into the night. They lost count. Most calls were from women around the country calling with romantic offers.
One telephone call was particularly notable: a representative of the Pointer Sisters called with an offer to fly Brett to Los Angeles to attend a birthday party for the eldest sister of the group. She had seen Brett on the show and immediately became "infatuated" with him. Brett quickly confirmed the validity of the call, then requested time off work.
He also received an offer to appear in another nationwide Campus Men.