Getting sloppy with an American Idol

Jim Verraros may be best known as the openly gay “American Idol” contestant on the show’s first series. But hopefully that will soon change. Since the show, Verraros has appeared in the film “Eating Out” and produced a CD, “Rollercoaster.” Now Verraros is back as the lead in “Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds,” the better-than-the-first sequel to the hit film now out on DVD.

In “Eating Out 2,” Verraros plays Kyle, an insecure gay guy whose boyfriend Marc (Brett Chukerman) dumps him. When Kyle and his female friends Gwen (Emily Brooke Hands) and Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan) meet the hunky but sexually confused Troy (Marco Dapper), they try to determine what team Troy plays for. The screwball plot has Kyle pretending to be Tiffani’s boyfriend so he can get close to Troy in a romantic way, even if it means teaching him how to score with women.

Verraros met with PGN to discuss his acting and singing careers, as well as his sexy scenes in “Eating Out 2.”

PGN: Jim, you may be more well-known for singing than for acting — how did you get involved in performing? Would you rather be an actor or a singer?

JV: After I was eliminated [from “American Idol”] back in 2002, I wasn’t even thinking about music to be honest. I had taken such a beating from that show that I was just focused on acting. That was my niche. My cast mates would say, “Jim, you’re fucking hilarious, be in a sitcom or something.” I got an e-mail from my producer about [Q.] Allan Brocka, who was the director of the first [“Eating Out”]. I met him, read the script, fell in love with it, auditioned and he cast me. I don’t really want to choose between either. I want both.

PGN: Were you surprised that you were a supporting character in “Eating Out” but the lead part here? How did that come about?
JV: People connect with my role. I don’t know one gay man who does not feel they aren’t “good enough.”

PGN: Your character, Kyle, is not a confident guy, which hurts his relationships. How are you when it comes to relationships — shy or in control?
JV: People think that I would be the shy one — to be taken control of — but I’m kind of the more aggressive one. I don’t bullshit. I don’t have time to waste.

PGN: Kyle has to pretend to like women to get the hunk of his dreams. Have you ever dated a woman? How far did you get with her?
JV: Yeah, I did date [a girl] in high school. It clearly didn’t work out, but she’s a great girl and I learned a lot. I learned that I’m gay! I’ve had pussy — I’m definitely gay. When I went down on Tiffani in the film, that was method acting — that was going back to the days when I tried to avoid it at all costs.

PGN: In the film, your character kisses many men and women. Who gave the best lip lock?
JV: Rebekah is a good kisser; I just had to react badly to it. Marco [who plays Troy], for being a straight guy, is decent. But the men who I had to kiss in the film — what really impressed me was their professionalism, knowing that I was gay in real life. There are two types of straight men. One who is a bit more insecure about his sexuality, who’s homophobic and then you have the straight man who’s like, “Hey, this is work. It’s a fucking kiss and I’m not going to make a big deal out of it.” And the latter is how they were. They made me feel comfortable.

PGN: Can you discuss the scene where you teach Troy about the fine art of cunnilingus? How were you and Marco not bursting out in hysterics licking each other’s fingers?
JV: It looks funny. I was worried how it would come off. I wanted to ask about women, if they watch that scene and think it’s hot/get off on it. And some girls are like, “I was a little moist.” So we delivered. That’s all that matters. I know, I’m so crude!

PGN: Most of the cast gets naked. But you are wearing two shirts in every scene!
JV: Before we shot, I had worked out for two-and-a-half months so I could feel better about taking my shirt off. It was actually written in the original script that when Octavio [Adrian Quinonez] takes his shirt off [during his love scene with my character], he was supposed to unbutton mine. It never happened. Kyle doesn’t need to [get naked]. I think his character is a bit more conservative.

PGN: You had three songs of yours on the soundtrack of the first “Eating Out;” did you try to get a tune in “Eating Out 2”?
JV: I submitted some brand-new stuff to Phillip [the director], and he loved [the songs] but there wasn’t a place for a full song clip in the film. It just didn’t work. I was fine with it.

PGN: So while you are waiting for your next film role, are you working on another album?
JV: Yeah, I’m halfway through it. It’s going to be different. It’s going to be rock-ier, but I’m going to throw in some twists just to screw with people. A ballad, and something that’s a bit more urban. I am edgier and sexier than the boy bands. “Idol” molds you into this cookie-cutter thing and when I came out with my album, I think people were excited because it was so different. It had its pop moments but there were some sexual moments, where people went, “Holy fuck, did he just say that?” I kind of like getting that reaction.