Whether garnering an Emmy nod for work with beleaguered pop icon Michael to introducing Liza Minelli to David Guest, Glenn Douglas Packard consistently finds himself connected to Hollywood's tabloid favorites. As Brooke Hogan's best friend and costar on the Vh1 series Brooke Knows Best, which debuted Sunday, July 13, he's done it again.
With cameras rolling, Packard, Hogan and her childhood friend Ashley enjoy life in a fabulous Miami penthouse. On the fringe's, the 20-year-old aspiring pop princess' pro wrestler dad Hulk and mom Linda, stars of the "celebreality" show's predecessor Hogan Knows Best, are in a grudge match divorce and her brother is jailed for nearly killing his passenger in an auto accident. Here the entrepreneur behind video production company Tattooed Angels, who met his famous roommate seven years ago through deposed boy band magnate Lou Pearlman, discusses coming out, surviving scandal and why he'd never sleep with Brooke's legendary father.
You're in Michigan, coming out to your family days before your new reality show starts?
(Laughing.) My immediate family - my mom, dad, brother and sister - knew. They've always known. One aunt also knew. Everyone else, I needed to come out to. I have nephews and nieces that are really close to me who I was most concerned about. My oldest nephew, who is 14, wrote a paper calling me his "hero." I just wanted to make sure he has no problems with it and things will be OK at school. To tell the truth, everyone's been amazing. They've all been really accepting. They love me for who I am. I'm still "Uncle Glenn." It's been great.
The confusion is understandable. So many of Liza's choreographers are straight.
Right?! (Laughing.) Funny thing is, there was a time in my life when I was seeing girls and was engaged to be married. That's throwing people off. There was a time when that was going on in my life. Then I moved away. That side of myself stayed here. They never saw the other side of Glenn Douglas Packard. I'm just bringing those two worlds together.
You always work with huge stars who seem to implode. Just add Britney...
(Laughing.) I've worked with her -- but not during her scandals. All the rest... I'm the one who introduced David Guest to Liza Minelli. That was my doing. Oops! Everything that was going on with Michael Jackson was during the 30th-Anniversary Special. Now the Hogans. Lou Perlman; I was part of that whole thing. It's just one thing after another. I'm like, "Can't I get a gig where it's not surrounded by all that?" I'm hoping maybe I'm that gig."
What's it like being around the Hogan's nasty divorce?
There were some really hard times, but they always turned around and turned out good. Brooke's parents have been having problems for a little while, and it's on national television. All these other artists and 20-somethings turn to other things, but Brooke isn't one of those girls. She really is a strong girl. She's there three-times-a-week for her brother. She's on the phone with her mom. She's on the phone with her dad. She's trying to be with her family, be the daughter and sister she is. At the same time, she has a life too. She's a 20-year-old girl who just wants to live her own life, build a career, be around friends.
In the first episode, Hulk Hogan -- who I'd never imagine accepting gays - seemed to embrace you.
(Laughing.) I've always been like his little gay sidekick. He's always been very accepting and a great man. Like he said, he's got a lot of gay wrestler friends in the industry. You know he's been in the industry a long time, so you'd be surprised someone like has been around it.
I wanted to know the gay wrestlers' names.
I'm surprised people aren't making a bigger deal out of that. When he plants that kiss on my cheek, and says he has gay wrestler friends, I thought people would be like, "Hmm, who are those people?" (Laughing.)
As I was coming of age sexually, many guys he wrestled were my sexual fantasies.
(Laughing.) Oh, my God! I hope Hulk wasn't a sexual fantasy of yours...
Well... So what was it like introducing Liza Minelli to David Guest?
Well, I didn't know it was going to turn into that for sure. David Guest is one of my least favorite people. Liza is one of my favorite people. So I didn't think they'd hit it off, but they did for a little while. I guess that's all I'm going to say about that.
The tabloids say one of Brooke's female friends slept with her dad. At least you won't sleep with Hulk and ruin her parents' marriage!
(Laughing.) True that! You're not going to see that happening. I'm not into bears.
Bears?! Hulk doesn't really have any hair at all!
I know, but he's shaving it all the time. He's definitely safe!
