I recently had the chance to sit down with Rhode Island native Kevin Broccoli, creator of the blog, "100 Dates, 100 Boys." It could be NBC's next hit sitcom, without a doubt. It is also the singular inspiration for this blog.
The following is my exclusive, one-on-one interview with the Dating Grand-Master. For any of you who may be dating-impaired, read closely. In fact, don't just read closely... STUDY.
Celebrities Defined: Looking back on the guys you've dated during the blog, what's your biggest regret?
Kevin Broccoli: Wow, this going to sound amazing, but I don't think I have one.
Celebrities Defined: What was the biggest highlight?
Kevin Broccoli: I couldn't name just one, but probably the ending will be!
Celebrities Defined: What will you do when you’re done with the 100 dates blog? Will you start another countdown?
Kevin Broccoli: Not another countdown, no, but something has come up recently that I might want to look into. It’s a lot more on the serious side though.
Celebrities Defined: Want to give us any clues?
Kevin Broccoli: This guy I used to date - he's even mentioned in the top five dates blog - he contacted me and I thought he had completely disappeared off the face of the planet, but the call was kinda sketchy and it sounded like something was wrong with him, so I kind of want to find him and make sure he's all right. I've already done a little digging, and I think this might be an endeavor.
Celebrities Defined: And this will be the topic of your next blog series; finding him?
Kevin Broccoli: Possibly. I'm definitely not starting anything until September.
Celebrities Defined: Describe your perfect first date.
Kevin Broccoli: One with a good connection. It doesn't really matter what I do on a date, it's more about how strong the connection I have with someone is.
Celebrities Defined: Is your favorite restaurant still Paragon?
Kevin Broccoli: You know what, I'm going to go trashy and say Johnny Rockets.
How can you be trashy with a taste for 1950’s diners?
Celebrities Defined: What’s your favorite drink? (That was partially a joke; Kevin doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages).
Kevin Broccoli: (laughs) Sprite!
Celebrities Defined: You work in a library, so you must have read a lot of books. What's your favorite book?
Kevin Broccoli: East of Eden.
Celebrities Defined: What is your least favorite book?
Kevin Broccoli: Tess of the Durbevilles.
Celebrities Defined: If you were getting married tomorrow, (try to disregard the personal affects of a couple's song), what song would you want as your first dance?
Kevin Broccoli: “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George.
Celebrities Defined: Favorite recording artist?
Kevin Broccoli: Tina Turner.
Celebrities Defined: Least favorite?
Kevin Broccoli: Sheryl Crow.
Celebrities Defined: Favorite movie?
Kevin Broccoli: It's a Wonderful Life.
Celebrities Defined: Least favorite?
Kevin Broccoli: Josie and the (f___ing) Pussycats
Celebrities Defined: Is that a re-make we’ve missed, or are you throwing random profanity in there?
Kevin Broccoli: Random profanity.
Celebrities Defined: As long as we're on the same page.
Get it, same page, and he works in a library? Ok moving on...
Celebrities Defined: If you were going to adopt a newborn baby tomorrow, what sex would you prefer to adopt and what would the child’s name be?
Kevin Broccoli: A boy, Ethan.
Celebrities Defined: Why Ethan?
Kevin Broccoli: I like the sound of it
That is important, to like the sound of your own child’s name.
Celebrities Defined: What was the "final straw" in creating the 100 dates blog?
Kevin Broccoli: The last breakup. It was in the last blog - the top five dates - I dated a guy and it just ended horribly strictly due to fate, and I just thought, “okay, so I'm terrified of dating again, so let's just dive right in, and make it fun!”
Celebrities Defined: And that got you 100 dates in just over a year?
Where do I sign up for that course?!
Kevin Broccoli: Well, the goal was always to have it done in a year. When you give yourself a deadline, you end up forcing a lot of things to happen that wouldn’t' normally happen.
Celebrities Defined: What advice would you give to those who can't seem to meet their dating "goals"?
Kevin Broccoli: Whenever you're on a date, be the most honest version of yourself that you can be, put as much out there as possible, and that way you're giving the other person the opportunity to take it or leave it.
Celebrities Defined: With date 100 fast approaching, (two documented dates away), will you continue to chronicle your dating life in another blog?
Kevin Broccoli: Absolutely not! I believe in leaving the party while it's still going on. Once something is done, it's done. Writing about dating - for now - is done.
Celebrities Defined: Do you think you may have subconsciously avoided getting into a relationship with any of the guys you've dated during this blog in order to finish the blog?
Kevin Broccoli: Well, if you read early on, I pretty much declared that I was going to finish it no matter what, even if a relationship came along. I think we've given up that glorious period where you can be dating someone and dating other people at the same time. I feel like now, when you go on a great first date with someone, you're expected to follow that through myopically until you know where it's going to end up, and immediately cease exploring any other options, and that just doesn't make sense to me. I probably would have dated the person on a semi-serious level, but still continued to go out on dates with other people, and let the other person know that was the case. Had I found someone, hopefully they would have hung around long enough for me to finish. Let's say I found someone at date 90 and was like, “oh my God, this person is perfect!” All they would have to do is hang around for ten more dates.
Celebrities Defined: But why would you make that person hang around if you felt they were a perfect fit? Is it sacrificing life for the sake of journalism?
Kevin Broccoli: No, because I would never know if someone was a perfect fit from one date or even ten. The perfect fit would be the guy there at the finish line, in my opinion. Or at least, the guy closest to a perfect fit.
Celebrities Defined: Who do you perceive to be waiting for you at the finish line?
Kevin Broccoli: I don't know, I'll guess I'll see when I get there. But I mean, what does "waiting" for me mean? I wouldn't ignore that person. I still see Charlie and Jesse all the time. Waiting for me to say "let's be boyfriends?" I think the one thing I learned from doing this blog is that it's not that simple.
Celebrities Defined: For many, the end of your blog is much like the ending of a television series. Some feel as though they're losing a connection to something they feel a part of. What can you say to those people?
Kevin Broccoli: Take up stamp collecting... just kidding! I love love love love talking to people, so I'm going to remind everyone at the end of the blog to leave me their e-mail addresses or contact info so that if something new does happen in September, I can let everybody know about it.
I'd like to thank Kevin from the bottom of my heart for everything he’s done with the blog; for sharing his life online and giving us all something to look forward to as he posted each date.
Kevin - best of luck in all your future endeavors, personally and professionally. I know you'll go far!
"100 Dates, 100 Boys" can be viewed at http://100dates100boys.blogspot.com/.
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