By April MacIntyre May 2, 2009, 1:57 GMT
There’s lots of evidence out there that presents ex circus performer, former Jackass and Dr. Steve-O star Stephen "Steve-O" Glover in a less than savory light, but anyone who has had to rebuild their life in sobriety will appreciate his new MTV documentary, “Steve-O: Demise and Rise,” a wincing look at facing one’s demons, as old footage is stitched together that reveals a sotted and out-of-control life that nearly killed the young star, not yet 35.
Steve-O. Unquestionably, Steve-O has mixed feelings about this revealing glimpse into his personal bottoming out, but hopes that somehow, someone out there with similar issues can feel a sense of hope and learn from his mistakes. © Lee Roth / RothStock / PR Photos
Unquestionably, Steve-O has mixed feelings about this revealing glimpse into his personal bottoming out, but hopes that somehow, someone out there with similar issues can feel a sense of hope and learn from his mistakes.
Steve’s first steps out of rehab and into the glaring, unforgiving world of entertainment came with a fortuitous stint on ABC reality series, “Dancing with the Stars.” Steve was floored and flat-out humbled at the positive response, good wishes and energy he received as he tried his best to keep up with his encouraging pro partner, Lacey Schwimmer. He made it to week six in the ballroom competition.
Now the 34-year-old is making the rounds with press, talking up his addiction-and-recovery documentary "Steve-O: Demise and Rise" premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV.
There probably isn’t anything harder for a celebrity in the recovery process to endure than daily scrutiny and constant peppering by the press, “what’s next for you?”
Monsters and Critics spoke to Steve-O today, and he was sincerely tired of being asked that very question. And of the fear of telling a reporter, “right now, nothing.”
“I just want to get to a point in my life where it’s okay to just say ‘nothing is going on,’ but don’t get me wrong, I am not quitting the entertainment business, I’m just trying to create a different perspective and comfort level on keeping my career and my personal life separate, which I have never done before,” said Steve-O. “That’s still a learning process for me right now.”
Years ago, according to Steve, before “Jackass” broke big and was a dinky little show on cable, Steve drove cross-country out to Los Angeles to be in it and to make his mark in the entertainment big leagues.
Along the way, the advice he received urged him to “strike while the iron was hot,” and the bar kept getting raised for outrageous (filmed) behavior, upping the media circus atmosphere ante for him.
“I got to a point where I felt chewed up and spit out by the industry,” he said. “I’m still working - it sounds so cliché but its true - day by day to keep myself together in sobriety, and to keep my work in perspective, and look forward to figuring out what it is I really want to do next.”
In retrospect, Steve shared that he felt inordinate pressure to keep the antics at a certain level, convinced that entertainment “iron” had to be stoked, kept hot, or he would fade away.
"During 'Dancing with the Stars,' it was like, I could hear the ‘clicks’, click-clicking away waiting for this project to come to an end and then… the big disappointment of ‘what’s next?’, like after Jackass 2, when I really went off the rails,” he explained.“The Jackass 2 premiere was when I snapped, and it was all downhill from there. I didn’t feel any direction and I did not expect such a hard slide down, it was tough, it’s still tough.”
“I can’t say what is going to happen for me tomorrow, all I can do right now, this minute it’s just making it through the day sober, and deal with tomorrow then.”
I asked Steve if it was hard to be around his core group of friends, especially if they still smoked weed or drank.
“Nobody is doing any of that around me, and I feel blessed to have the support I have and the friendships I have; this is tough stuff, especially after seeing the tapes played out on MTV…which is safe to say this (MTV documentary) being the biggest stunt I ever did…but it makes this process easier for me. But the MTV documentary I am still pretty uncomfortable with, it’s a total emotional rollercoaster for me.”
Steve-O’s natural energy and kind nature played well against the backdrop of nature and animals on ‘Wild Boyz,” even when he was doing tauntingly dangerous stunts that could have killed him. The word “purpose” came up in our talk.
“After the Jackass 2 premiere, I did not feel any purpose whatsoever. It sounds cheesy, but I definitely feel more of a sense of purpose and service to others, that’s my hope anyway, to serve, and help somehow,” Steve shared.
When the star was asked if he would involve himself in animal charities, he didn’t hesitate. “I would totally be into doing something, along the lines of ‘Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’ in Utah or just working with Animal charities to help out, I do love animals, but I also feel I need to serve people too, however that will come about.”
“I’m just looking forward to having a useful life, and figuring out who I am, and separating the work from me, my life. And be comfortable to get to that place personally where it’s cool to just say to someone, ‘right this minute, nothing is coming next.’ ”
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