by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight, NBC unveils its newest reality show from the minds of Mark Burnett, Dick Wolf, and David Hurwitz. Stars Earn Stripes pairs eight celebrities with eight military personnel, from U.S. Marines to Navy SEALs, to get a crash course in military exercises as well as compete in action packed challenges for a charitable cause. Among the celebs is Biggest Loser trainer Dolvett Quince who chatted with RealityWanted today about the exciting new series, what scared him, and the appreciation he gained from participating in Stars Earn Stripes.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you become involved with Stars Earn Stripes and were you game right from the beginning?
A. Dolvett: Yeah, NBC asked me if I would love to be a part of it. My second season going into Biggest Loser, I repelled out of a helicopter and I think that spoke volumes about being willing to challenge myself.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you done any military training in the past?
A. Dolvett: No, this is my first time. I'm kind of excited to push myself to the limits. Not to say that there's anything I can't do, right?!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There's a good mix of celebs and athletes on the show. Should we expect that the athletes are going to do better?
A. Dolvett: Expect some surprises. Expect to see who you would underestimate to really come out and shock the world.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You are pretty tough in the gym on The Biggest Loser. How does that stack up against the military personnel that you trained with?
A. Dolvett: Oh mano e mano. These guys are tough! These guys go through it every day. They have the mental sharpness that you need to be aware of your surroundings to get through the challenge.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your former Biggest Loser contestants must be excited to see you on the other side of things.
A. Dolvett: Yes! They can't wait to watch me get beat up for a change. They've got their lowfat popcorn ready to go.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The show has said that they wanted things to feel as real as possible so let me ask you - did it feel real out there?
A. Dolvett: Yeah, I mean, I'm shooting live ammunition. This isn't Hollywood anymore. This is the real deal. When you're jumping out of a helicopter over water 80 feet in the air, or you're shooting a live grenade, this is real. I was intimidated by the water. You put 70 lbs of material on me, including my gun and apparel overall, and swimming in boots, that scares the crap out of me!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The winner gets $100,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. Who are you playing for?
A. Dolvett: Got Your Six is a really cool non-profit military where Hollywood assists in helping military people go back into civilian life. They raise money for everything from education to jobs.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Can you give us a little sneak peek into tonight's season premiere?
A. Dolvett: It's gonna be awesome! You get the opportunity to see us, the celebrities, learn firsthand, how to become soldiers. Shooting sniper rifles, we'll talk about our non-profits, you're gonna see a lot of action, a lot of good challenges. I hope America is ready!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did doing the show change your perspective on the military?
A. Dolvett: You know what? I always say that the best way to understand the shoes of someone is to try it on yourself. I've learned firsthand how tough it is to be in the military and a first responder. You need to be mentally acute at all times and physically able to do these challenges. My hat goes off and my respect level is definitely raised.

 

Stars Earn Stripes airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa