IAN ZIERING BACK WITH CHIPPENDALES
Ian Ziering is more than just muscle. He’s quickly becoming a powerhouse actor and household name once again since his days as Steve Sanders on Beverly Hills 90210. His recent role in Sharknado wasn’t necessarily expected to whirlwind his career. Social media helped with that attack. Now, with Sharknado 2 already shot — Ziering returns to the Chippendales stage to show off his pecs and charm. This is one actor a reporter doesn’t mind interviewing. He’s likeable, humble and an all-around good guy.
Mike: You know — looking at you wearing that leather jacket, you sort of remind me of Knight Rider. I could totally see you in that role in a new movie.
Ian: You know, now that you mention it; Michael Knight did wear a similar leather jacket.
Mike: He didn’t have his shirt off underneath — nor did he have blond hair but I really think you could pull off this role.
Ian: I’m sure the Hoff would allow me to play this!
Mike: I’ll work on it. We need to keep you going — and speaking of keeping things going; you’re back with Chippendales a second time. How does it feel and is it different this time?
Ian: You know, I’m so flattered to be around this dance troop that’s been around for 35 years. And, to be playing a part that’s lasted two years now is really a feather in my cap. It’s a great bunch of guys here at the Rio. Everyone treats me so well. They’re so nice and friendly. And, I never look to be treated like a star but they go out of their way to make me feel special. But as I look around — they do that with everybody so it’s nice to be immersed in that. 
And, being here in Vegas again, as part of the entertainment versus being here for part of the fun is a completely different perspective. I get to know the locals and that’s not something you get to do when you come to Vegas. You come here for a few days or a week but now I’m here and I have friends that work in the bar or the restaurants and they’re just nice people.
Mike: How many times do you hear Oh My God it’s Steve Sanders?
Ian: For the most part, people know my name. But, it’s still flattering when people call me Steve.
My friend LeAnn: Do you still turn around when people call you that?
Ian: Sure. You know, I’ll turn around. They’re talking to me so I’m not going to ignore them. It’s very flattering.
Mike: They probably still think you’re in that character — still Steve but you’re way different than him. You’re like him in some ways but you’re honestly a good guy.
Ian: Yeah. He had a big story line. My life is now trapped in celluloid and his life experiences were contained and mine keep expanding. I’m working on a globally successful movie — you know, these were things that I never dreamed of. Though I may have fantasized as a child about being a Chippendale, I didn’t imagine I’d be doing this in Vegas.
Mike: You started on Broadway at the age of 11 — right?
Ian: Yes. I was very young doing Broadway but I also toured doing Peter Pan.
Mike: It’s amazing that you can do movies, Broadway and TV — you can do it all.
Ian: Well, that’s one of the great things about being an actor — there’s so many great mediums. When I was a young boy, my mom was sure to make me a triple threat — that I could sing, dance and act. The competition is fierce and if you’re lucky enough to get an audition, you be prepared. And that’s where you can find success.
Mike: Not to turn this somber but when we talked last year — you actually really helped me when you said find your ‘why’ in life. Father’s day recently — you lost your mom and dad not too long ago and now you’re a dad. How do you take that all in?
Ian: You know — I shed a few tears the other day. Every time I leave the house to go work, my daughter Mia cries and tells me don’t leave me dad. It’s part of the sacrifice you make as a parent and it’s nothing I ever recognized as a kids — dads just work. But it’s truly a sacrifice. My wife and two daughters are here.
Mike: For the whole duration or just for a few days?
Ian: For the next few weeks. And, there’s no better way to honor my father than to teach my kids what he taught me.
Mike: When you look at Sharknado and the attention the first one got, do you get nervous with the second one and how that will fare?
Ian: You know, the second script read like a $100 million dollar blockbuster. When I finished it — I could believe…I wondered how they hell they were going to shoot this. And I remembered the same thing after I read the first one — and Thunder Levin, the Writer and Anthony C. Ferrante, the Director — two very imaginative and creative gentlemen have a way of making magic. So, I have a lot of trust in them where I had trepidation last time. And, I think is going to be an even — well — just as good as the first or even better.
Mike: You can bet a lot of people will be watching.
Ian: Oh yeah. It’s huge. It’s a great movie. They’ve already picked up a third. I went to talk to a fortune-teller in NYC. It was late night — one of those buzzing neon signs. You know, get your fortune read for $10. So I went in there and I said ‘Sharknado — how many movies are we going to do?’ She said.. oh, I see three maybe four. Maybe even turn this into a series. So, I said — well, how many of these am I going to be in. She said – that’ll be another $10.
Ian Ziering’s second stint with Chippendales runs until July 20th. And don’t be surprised if you see him pop up in another show on the strip. Recently, he joined Olivia Newton-John during her show “Summer Nights”at Flamingo to sing the male part of none other than “Summer Nights”with her on stage. Tell me he doesn’t look like the new Knight Rider?
