(See Rob Saturdays On Fox Reality)

Today we had the chance to interview one of our own. Rob Hakel aka RobRob has been a member of RealityWanted.com since August 2007 and can currently be seen on Fox Reality's Solitary 3.0. I remember seeing Rob apply to Solitary and watched his application video. Rob was such a fan of the show he went as far as building his own Pod. RealityWanted wants to thank Rob, Leyna, Frank, MPRM and Fox Reality for making this happen.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Rob, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today.  I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear you landed a role on Solitary 3.0.  I remember Leyna posting the casting call and I was hoping someone on our site would be picked.  I was happy to hear two of you made it. Start by telling us all why you wanted to be on Solitary?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0:  I just loved the concept, I loved the fact it was a show about testing your personal limits and not worrying about politics or being voted out by teammates.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: I just watched the first episode and was amazed at how brutal some of the challenges/tests are.  Was Solitary the only thing you ever applied to?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: Back in 2000 or 2001 I applied to Survivor but never heard back.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com:  Well at least you didn’t throw in the towel and stop trying.  Talk to me about the pod I saw in your application video.
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: I built a pod like the one you see us locked in on Solitary.  It was about ½ the size and took me about a week to build.

(See Robs Audition Video Here)

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Did you test yourself by locking yourself in it?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: I did and I made it about 8 hours before I had to use the bathroom.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: On the first episode we saw you guys barely sleeping, having the heat turned up, walking on rocks and sitting on bowling balls. What else did you do to prepare before you went on the show?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: I did some makeshift tests at home like seeing how long I can stand on dumbbells.  I wanted to see how long I could take the pain and it did help me out on the first episode when we ran across the rocks.  I also held a can of tomato paste in my mouth to see how long I could do it.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: You definitely prepared more than most and it looks like it paid off since we get to see RobRob weekly in his pod being tested by Val. How did you first hear about Solitary?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: My college friends actually introduced me to the show.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: When I watched episode one you were excited they put you in Pod #4, why?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: That has always been my favorite number, I do things in four.  I wake up at 4:44am, when I wake up I roll dice to see if I get the number four.  I actually submitted my application to Solitary at 4:44 on July the 4th.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: You went from a Solitary fan to being on the show. What was it like when you took off your goggles and found yourself sitting inside the pod and knew you had made it?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: It was so weird, they picked me up in a hotel and blind folded me and the next thing I know I am placed in a pod and I hear breathing.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: You heard breathing? It was the other contestant in your pod right?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: At first I thought it was a production assistant messing around but when I took off the blind fold and saw another contestant I was a little mad assuming I would be playing against another person, but was happy to find out it was just for the first elimination.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: I missed the first two seasons and had no idea just how psychological this game is, one of your cast mates actually wanted to quit on episode one.
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: You’re alone for 24 hours a day. Alone with your thoughts without a TV, radio, another person and sometimes you think about things in your life like failed relationships and so on. It is much harder than it looks.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: I’m not sure I could do it, I think too much as it is. When I watched the audition video I saw a tattoo, what does it mean?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: That’s my symbol for RobRob, I made when I was 15. I also recently got a tattoo of Val on my left hip.

Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: You applied to the show via RealityWanted, submitted a photo, and made a great video. Do you have any tips for fellow RealityWanted members?
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: From what I have read and from what I was told, casting directors want to see a tape that gets their attention. I don’t think they want to see people sit in a chair and just read things off a piece of paper. Also, you need to be passionate about the show you’re looking to be on and not to apply to every show just to get on a show.

Mark, RealityWanted.com: Great tips Rob. Brendon Blincoe, casting director who has cast shows like G’s to Gents and Rock Of Love told us he wants to see people who have their eye on the prize, not just someone applying to apply.

 
Q. Mark, RealityWanted.com: Give us a teaser as to what we can expect to see this season on Solitary 3.0.
A. Rob Hakel, Solitary 3.0: You’re all going to see Val take it up to another level. There was a season where one guy made it through all the tests without pushing the red button, I don’t think there is anyway anyone on our cast didn’t push the button at some point. It’s going to be a great season!