Local man to appear on ‘Crash Course’

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September 1, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Tue Sep 01, 2009, 08:55 PM EDT

Somerset — Crashing your car is never a fun occasion ... unless you’re on reality TV.

Scott Presley, a Somerset a native, will be appearing tonight on the ABC series “Crash Course.” Anyone with a need for speed will want to tune in to this one as Scott and his partner on the show take on an obstacle course for automobiles.

Hosted by Dan Cortese, former MTV and “Melrose Place” star, and Orlando Jones of “MADTv” and “Office Space,” the new show “Crash Course” will put brave pairs behind the wheel of a souped-up car and make them face road hazards you don’t often see — such as falling objects or ramps that are on fire. They might have to parallel park a monster-sized vehicle, or go drag racing — backwards, according to ABC.

What do they get for their troubles? Ideally, prize money in the amount of $50,000. Whether or not Presley will fare that well remains to be seen — reality show contestants aren’t able to talk about what actually happened on the show until after it’s aired — but it was only by chance that he got a shot at the big money in the first place.

“My friend (Vivicca Whitsett) was going to do the show with another friend,” said Presley. However, the original partner canceled, so Presley came and auditioned with Whitsett instead.

Those used to demolition derby events may find something to smile about in “Crash Course,” but despite being from Pulaski County, that wasn’t Presley’s area of expertise. His biggest qualification? “I’ve been driving since I was 16,” he quipped.

So how did he like the experience? “It was definitely fun,” said Presley. “It’s one thing to be a good driver, but it’s a little bit freeing to be reckless in a car on a closed course.”

Sounds dangerous, right? “I lived,” said Presley, laughing.

Presley also had words of praise for the show’s hosts and crew, who have to know a little more about cars — one of Pulaski County’s favorite topics — than on most other television sets. “They’re the nicest bunch of people you’d ever want to work with,” said Presley. “Everyone made it a lot of fun.”

Presley now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., where he works as an actor — he’s appeared in the TV series “Sordid Lives,” a drama on the Logo Network in 2008 — and at a restaurant called Hamburger Mary’s. However, “Crash Course” was filmed not on some Hollywood studio lot, but rather in Detroit — an appropriate setting as the “Motor City,” but Presley says there’s an even better reason to shoot there: The city offers incentives to encourage television shows and media to come to town, where it may be cheaper to film than on the West Coast.

Presley, the son of Kenneth and Phyllis Presley, graduated from Somerset High School in 1983. He then went to the New Actors Workshop, an acting school in New York City, then moved to Los Angeles.

“Crash Course” airs tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC, Channel 36 in Lexington. Presley says to expect a rip-roaring good time.

“I watched the first episode (last week); it was a lot of fun,” said Presley. “If people like ‘Wipeout’, they’ll like this.”

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