Phil Viardo Plays Dad to Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight in Mother Russia

Every family trip needs two things: A Dad, and bull penis eating. Phil Viardo served as the former for the WE TV special “Chris and Adrianne do Russia”. He shlepped with friends, clients, and still newlyweds Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model ‘03) and Christopher Knight (Peter Brady ‘70s, IT Industry Guru ‘90s) to host the Mrs. World pageant in Russia recently.

Manager extraordinaire and fellow- straight - male - in - the - entertainment pr-world Phil (Creskill H.S. – NJ ’95, Berklee Music College ’99, Harvard ’99) brought this project to life. For that, he was hauled in by TheCHIMP.net for a KGB style interrogation:

• How would you compare the show to any of the iconic cinematic journeys: "Beavis and Butthead do America", "Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey", or “Me You, and Dupree”?
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PHIL:Are you implying that I am “Dupree”??? HA, No, I think the trip was a nice blend of all of the above.

• What’s the one thing you want people to know about the show/trip that will end up on the cutting room floor?

PHIL:Haha… there was so much good footage that it’s hard to say. I guess on my end, they left out a lot of my womanizing on the trip J I just wanted to show the world Russia’s OTHER beauty.

• What first spawned the idea for Russia '07?

PHIL:I booked Chris and Adrianne to host the 2007 Mrs. World Pageant that took place in Russia. I was tapped to be a celebrity judge (they have really low standards for the term “celebrity” over there), so it seemed like a good idea to exploit the opportunity of us already being there. Hence, Jeff Androsky (our director) and I cooked up the idea and quickly got it green lit.

• You’re the rare Harvard man in Hollywood. What came before that?

PHIL:I started out school in Professional Children’s School in NYC along with Mac Caulkin (though he was younger), Sarah Gellar was in my class, Don Faison – all the kids that were and are working in the biz. I then moved to Jersey and went to Cresskill High, graduating in 1995.

• At what moment did you stop and have a moment of clarity: I am in the middle of Russia with a Brady and a Top Model?
  

PHIL:Well, I am from there, so me being there was not such a big deal. Me being there with a Brady and Adrianne… with cameras in tow – 5 years ago I’d never even imagine, but more recently – we talked about it a lot. We have traveled to other countries together and they have always expressed interest in visiting Russia with me, so when this opportunity came along – it truly just made good sense.

• How is Russia “like” or “not like” Rocky IV?

PHIL:HA! Well, there are no more bread lines and you can’t use jeans as currency anymore… Although, the political climate is changing there right now towards the old days. Only this time – the country is LOADED and ARROGANT, so I hope we get to avoid another cold War. So, as long as one stays under the Radar and enjoys the best the country has to offer – all is good.

• Who got recognized more on the street in Russia and what was the weird thing they remembered or would say to that person?

PHIL:You know what, Me.

Russia has their own version of Top Model and Brady Bunch doesn’t play there. This was JUST FINE with Chris and Adri. They like the anonymity, especially when they are working . My dad was and is a very famous musician there, so I still get the residual of a “Son of a Famous Person” kind of recognition…. Dare I say, kind of like a Sean Stewart? (Yikes!)

• Do you now have to go to the Fox Reality Awards now and present next to Danny Bonaduce?

PHIL:Funny you should say that. I was at the last one and we were all sitting with Danny when it all went down. It was Adrianne and Chris who egged him on initially. None of us knew what was coming, but I was laughing my ass off. I will present next to Danny any day. He is good people, just don’t try to hump him.

The show racked up huge numbers for WE so set your TIVOs, or check the repeat schedule.