Carmen Electra Interviews

To promote her job as the new co-host of MTV's Singled Out, Carmen Electra went on a couple of TV talkshows. On 23 April 1997, she was the second guest in NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. (The first guest was Frasier's Kelsey Grammar.)

Dressed in what can only be described as a skimpy dress (that kept threatening to slip down ;) and looking more and more like a Baywatch babe, she first talked about the accident she had on her birthday (the 20th -- she became 25). She was speeding, missed a stop sign, hit a cab and ended up on someone's lawn. Her car was totalled, but the accident left her unharmed exept for a few bruises on her legs (which she proceeded to show).

She then talked about MTV's Singled Out, and gave an example of a question from the show -- "I wonder how you would scream out my name in bed, so could you give me an example by using your name?" -- which she then answered by moaning "Carmen, Carmen..".

Jay Leno: Now obviously, now you got your start with Prince, right?

Carmen Electra: Yeah.

Jay Leno: Now you're also a singer as well. Do you have an album?

Carmen Electra: That's right. Uhm, I had an album out, selftitled, Carmen Electra, that Prince produced...

Jay Leno: There is your name again...

Carmen Electra: ...The Artist, let me say that.

Jay Leno: So I see, so while you're calling your name out people can be buying the album? I see why you're doing...

Carmen Electra: That's right, that's right, see.

Jay Leno: Now is he a nice guy, Prince? He seems... I met him at an awards show and he seems like an... I mean, he's a very mysterious guy, I just kinda constantly pass him in the hall. Is he a nice man?

Carmen Electra: Yeah, when you're his friend, he's really nice to you, and then he's more personal, oh, you know...

Jay Leno: Welcome to showbusiness!

Carmen Electra: I don't think he really -- as far as I could see -- likes to talk to strangers too much, so...

Jay Leno: Yeah.

Carmen Electra: He's very open with his friends, though, definitely.

Jay Leno: Now, he seems like he would call out his name as... [Audience laughs] Well, his name is unpronouncable.

Carmen Electra: "The Artist" -- I wonder how that would sound...

Jay Leno: Does he keep holding up that symbol? [Lifts right arm as if holding up symbol, audience laughs]

Carmen Electra: Yeah, exactly! [Laughs]

Jay Leno: So you're going: "Carmen!", symbol [Lifts right arm], "Carmen!", symbol [Lifts right arm]... [Both Carmen and audience laugh] Oh I see. Well, that's good.

E!Online Interview

Is there a big Jenny McCarthy shadow hanging over you?

I think at first people were wondering, "Who is this girl? Is she going to be like Jenny?" All the kids [on Singled Out] were really supportive and said, "Carmen, you're doing a great job." Just because we both did Singled Out doesn't mean we're the same or that I'm trying to be her. I think she's really funny, but I want to go off in a different direction.

I guess Baywatch is part of that. Tell us about the show. Have you always been a good swimmer?

No. When I came onto Baywatch I couldn't swim very well. I actually had to hold my nose to dive. They didn't know that, obviously. When I went in for the audition, I told them I was this great swimmer. And they said, "Okay great. Well, let's see how you can do it." They actually took me down to this tank and had me do a dive. I said a prayer, and I made it through. I don't know how.

So, you shoot the underwater stuff in a tank?

Yeah, in a water tank at the studio. I'm actually going to have to do an ocean dive, which I'm really nervous about. We do all of our own stunts.

What types of stunts have you done?

I had to dive off a speeding boat in the middle of the ocean! When we finished the scene, our stunt coordinator said, "Carmen, we just counted 15 sharks." He drove me around on this boat, and you could see sharks shooting off in every direction. I started to panic a little bit because we shoot there almost every day, but he said, "Oh, don't worry, it's just a leopard shark." I don't care what kind of shark it is, I don't want to be anywhere close to them. Now I'm having nightmares--seriously.

Tell me about your music. You scored a minor hit with the 1992 single "Go Go Dancer."

I lived in Minneapolis for two years, where I recorded my album with Prince. Then I decided I wanted to live in L.A. and pursue a career here.

Are you going to do some more singing?

Definitely. That's my first love. I want to get back to the music. The energy's just amazing. There's nothing like it.

Rumor has it that you and Prince weren't just making music in the studio.

Prince was, like, years ago. Been there, done that. We'd go out on dates; we'd go out to his club or to a movie, out to dinner or to a concert, but he was recording, and I was recording. We were so busy, we never really had time to start a relationship. I was very attracted to him; I think he's a beautiful man.

And now you're living with B-Real of Cypress Hill?

We've been together for three years. I think we have such a good relationship because he goes on tour, and we have our space. We have time to miss each other. When I do get to see him, that makes it a lot more special.

What's the most romantic evening you've ever had?

Have I ever had one? I don't know. I need to find a romantic kind of guy. My dates have always been very simple.

What relationship advice do you have for the males of America?

Don't suffocate her. Give her space. People always want to control you. In so many of my relationships, people wanted to control me and who I am. That even goes for dancing, when I was concentrating on that. "I don't think you should wear that leotard," or whatever. You have to love a person for who they are and don't try to change them. It's not going to work.

Are guys always using crazy pick-up lines on you? And can you tell us some that work?

No. And women don't like lines. Sometimes it's better to sit back and let someone check you out, you know? Guys always want to bum rush a girl. Sit back and let a girl check you out. It's the '90s. We're not afraid to approach a man if he's interesting.

A woman told me once that she could ask a guy out without ever saying a word, just through her body language.

I think that's true. The eyes are very intimate. You're looking into someone, and if they're giving you those bedroom eyes...You can read a person very easily. And body movement, definitely.

What do you find sexy in men?

I hate when the jeans are so tight they're riding up in the back. I don't like cowboy boots. Definitely no cowboy boots. I would say a baggy jeans kind of look with a little bit of stomach showing and a tank top. Oscar de la Hoya embodies what is sexy to me. Kind of sweaty, kind of nice. Has himself together, but he has that edge to him. I like scars on the face on men, too; I don't know why.

Let's play a game called "Who'd you rather?" I'll throw out two names, and you tell me who you'd rather...you know.

I love this game!

David Hasselhoff or David Letterman?

David Letterman.

Bill Clinton or Newt Gingrich?

Bill Clinton.

Buffy or Xena?

Xena.

Coolio or Ice T?

I'm going to go with...Ice T.

Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield.

Mike Tyson. Sorry, but it's true.

Chris Farley or Drew Carey?

Hmmm...

Yeah, that's a tough one.

I have to take a pass on that.

Who do you think is the most beautiful person in the world?

My mother. She has a really good heart, and she's always wanted me to live a life that she couldn't live because she became pregnant at an early age. She had a real hard life, so she's always saved her last dimes for me to take dance classes and singing lessons. She's always been there for me.

How has the Playboy experience affected you?

I was never a Playmate, which I always have to get straight, because people like to give you that title, "Oh, you're a Playmate." I did a Celebrity Pictorial. My shoot was really tasteful and exactly what I wanted it to be. I have no regrets. But it's not something I plan to do again.

Do people ever tell you that you look like someone else?

I used to get Paula Abdul when I was younger. Now, I always hear Ann-Margret and Sophia Loren.

That's pretty good company. Probably the hair, huh?

I've gone through so many hair colors, I should be, like, a hair stylist. I started off with really dark hair. Then I changed it to blonde. Then I had this weird, rusty-orange hair color that we won't even talk about. I'm so glad I'm over that. And now it's whatever color this is...chestnut?

How do we know it's going to be the real you on The Real Carmen Electra?

I tell a lot of interesting stories and talk about my background and have a lot of fun. We have a lot of pictures. They actually came to my house and shot me painting my toenails and doing dishes. But I never really do the dishes...

Ah ha. So it's not the real Carmen.

I'm not the cleaning type.