A few weeks ago I spoke with UW-Madison graduate John Baumgaertner about NBC’s new reality show, “Average Joe.” John was a “contestant” on this reality series, vying to win the heart of the lovely Melana. He fought a good fight for four episodes, but alas — his hope was deterred when the woman of his dreams sent him home at the end of last week’s episode. I spoke to John again (via e-mail) to get post-mortem analysis of his reality show experience.

The Badger Herald: You appeared to feel very strongly for Melana almost right away. Looking back on it, was it really true love or just reality-show drama?

John Baumgaertner: I really developed some feelings for her. She has some great qualities, like her sense of humor, which didn’t seem to come out as much on the show, but definitely played a role in how I felt about her.

BH: You’ve been labeled the “sensitive one” or the “emotional one” by many of the viewers. Is that an accurate description of you?

JB: I really just live my life to the fullest and I live for the moment. I also wasn’t afraid of letting the cameras in on my more sensitive side. I think this allowed for a lot of highly emotional material that people could really connect with (or despise — as is often the case when men reveal their emotional side in our society).

BH: You poured your heart out right from the beginning. Do you think that scared Melana off?

JB: Yes, I think it may have. But I thought I’d rather lay it all on the line and risk crashing and burning than fizzle my way out, wondering what could have happened if I had said what I felt. After all, it’s better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do.

BH: Did the show accurately portray your “Average Joe” experience?

JB: One thing that I felt was a big part of my experience was the interactions between all 16 guys in the first episode. It was crazy! There were so many more rivalries and stories than were presented in that episode. It’s just too bad there was only an hour-long time slot.

BH: What’s the biggest misconception a viewer would get from watching the show?

JB: I think the biggest misconception is that each episode took only a day or so to shoot. People seem to think that the emotional reactions are subsequently unwarranted, considering the amount of time the viewing audience perceives. I was in four episodes, and I was gone for about four weeks, so, judging someone’s emotional state after what seems like only a day is utterly spacious reasoning.

BH: Of all the guys in the house, whom did you grow the closest to?

JB: Dennis Luciani. He was almost too nice when I first met him, but after he trusted that I wasn’t going anywhere, he chilled out and we’ve been great friends ever since.

BH: Have you made friends for life?

JB: Absolutely. Some of my other best friends from the show include Clint, Tareq, Wally, Marc and Jerry.

BH: How about enemies? Zach, for example?

JB: Let’s just say it’s a good thing that we’ve got a continent between us. He’s in New York, I’m in L.A.

BH: How has the show affected your real-life love life? Has it helped or hurt?

JB: Well, I guess it remains to be seen, but I’ve been receiving a deluge of e-mails (replete with pictures) from female fans from around the country and even a few in Canada. It’s too bad I don’t have enough frequent flyer miles to visit them all! I’ve already met with a few fans and I think they’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover that I’m not quite the emotional basket-case one might think and to discover that I actually have a pretty good sense of humor.

BH: Are you glad you did the show? Any regrets?

JB: Of course I’m glad I did the show. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’ll be telling the story for ages to come.

As far as regrets go, I honestly just wish I could have chilled a bit and maybe made it through one more round, because I probably would have done comparatively well with the whole “fat-suit” test.

Well, this is my last column for the Herald, and I just wanted to say a few parting words. I signed up to write this column because I love television, and I want other people to love television — not necessarily for what it is, but for what it has the potential to be. I truly believe that television can be about more than appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Television raises issues and awareness; it sparks debate and engraves lasting images into our mind’s eye. Through storytelling, television can unite us, providing common ground and shared experiences in this increasingly diverse society.

I have to admit there is a large amount of crap on television, but that’s no reason to stop watching it completely. If good and intelligent people abandon television, it logically follows that there will be nothing good or intelligent on television.

So go home and find something decent to watch. I promise it’s out there, if you look hard. And then tell your friends about it. Consider it your contribution to the betterment of society.