When Bravo revamped Million Dollar Listing last year, the elaborately primped and blow-dried Chad Rogers became its breakout star. His obsessive-compulsive organizational skills fostered close relationships with clients (like NBA star Cuttino Mobley) but provoked a sometimes-visceral reaction from viewers, including The Soup host Joel McHale. Now, as the real estate reality show returns tonight, Rogers talked to Movieline about his reputation, growing up lonely, the weirdest recognition he's ever received, and hanging out with 95-year-old Jack LaLanne.
How will your second season on Million Dollar Listing differ from your first?
I have a daughter. And I don't want to give away too much, but she's the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life.
You had a kid?
Well, no, I didn't say a "child," I said I have a "daughter." She's very cute and very furry.
That's unfortunate if it's a real child. Does your pet affect business for you? She runs into a house, secures you a deal, and you run out with the papers?
I think you're onto something. Well, in the real estate market that's going down, down, down, you need to use everything you can to bring in clients and listings. So my daughter opens up the doors and I close them.
Tell me about your relationship with the other agents on the show, Josh Flagg and Madison Hildebrand. You must have some sort of fondness for one another, since you have to interact for Bravo promotional stuff.
The key word there is "have to." Let's put it this way, I'm respectful. I'm respectful of everyone, and we need to keep it professional. Honestly, with those guys, I don't really know them. I began to know them after the show, but it's just... you know, it's personalities, and the business is very competitive, and that definitely comes into play. But I'm a positive person, so I keep it real. You'll have to watch the show to see how real I keep it. I keep everything balanced, and you'll know what that means when you delve into the series.
Does being recognized from television help or hurt you in the real estate game?
I haven't achieved any recognition! I have people coming up to me, and they want to touch my hair. That's how much recognition I get. Last night I was at Jack LaLanne's birthday party, and bless his soul, he's 95. A lady came up to me and she said, "You know what's going on with the two houses on Sunset and Beverly Hills?" I'm like, "The ones on Alpine and Sunset?" If you know those, they're monstrosities. She said, "Yeah, I live right on Rexford and Sunset.'" I was like, "I'd be more than happy to back you on it," and she said, "I figured Chad Rogers was the best person to ask." Now, I didn't even know this woman, so... the show is the best advertising I could ever imagine.
This begs an important question: What were you doing at Jack LaLanne's birthday party?
He's definitely a personality, and he's an expert with all of his informercials, and weight-lifting and everything. So I thought that it'd be nice to meet him and say hi. He's definitely a very interesting person. Obviously you've seen his informercials at 2 a.m.
What's the wildest thing you've had to do for a client?
I'll really do anything that's legal. But the wildest thing? It has to do with laser. And that's all I'll say. Just remember the word "laser." I like having people use their imagination, because you'll definitely get a kick out of it when you see it.
Who is the better real estate agent: Madison or Josh?
Are either of them on my show? [Laughs.] Definitely, hands down, Madison. He's the best of the two. Madison, like myself, definitely uses a business approach to real estate. He has an office. He has an assistant. He just takes everything very seriously, to another level.
Speaking of Josh, what do you make of his recent arrest for stealing all that art?
I wouldn't comment on that if my life depended on it!
You've cultivated a very particular reputation on your show. I believe The Soup's Joel McHale called you a rectal swab and mocked your tendency to organize everything in bags.
Yeah, he did, and I love it. I ran into Joel McHale on the carpet at the NBC/TCA party. And he looks back at me and goes, "Ziploc!" And I said, "Joel!" I'm like, "Look, I just have to shake your hand. You did a good job making fun of me. Please do it again." You have to have self-deprecating humor when you're on TV, because if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?
Did it take awhile to reach the point where you could laugh at other people's snipes?
When I was younger, I was extremely insecure. I didn't have a lot of friends, and people made fun of me. I was a typical outcast type of person -- even the nerds didn't want to hang out with me. So I was very sensitive to criticism or when people would say stuff like, "Chad is a loser," or "Don't talk to him," or whatever. I was pretty much a loner. But now I have a lot of confidence, and now if I hear negative feedback, I let it go through one ear and out the other, because that's not how the way I see myself. And can I say this? Dr. Seuss has an amazing saying: Do what you want, say what you feel, because the people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind.
How is selling real estate different in the current economy than, say, two years ago?
Talking to a client now, you have to have a heart. You have to be sensitive to what they're going through because two years ago, homes sold left and right. Now, you have to really level with the person, and say, "Hey, if you really want to sell your home, this is what it's going to sell for." If you don't be honest and tell the truth, you'll be doing them and their property a disservice.
What's the worst way you've lost a client?
have the most hilarious story to tell you. Are you ready? I don't know if I'm ready. I was selling a house to a very, very wealthy client of mine. It was a house going for $7 million in Beverly Hills. We're on the street where Frank Sinatra used to live, and all these big time celebrities from back in the day. So that's in the path of the Hollywood star tours, the bus tours. So we're out in front of the house and my client is introducing me to his girlfriend and telling her that I'm a star. And I said, "I'm not a star -- just because I sell real estate on TV, that doesn't make me a celebrity. I'm just doing my job." So I say, "Let's just get back to business." So we start talking about the house.
I kid you not, Louis, about a minute into our conversation the Hollywood Star Line bus comes rolling past us, right? It rolls up about 20 feet ahead, and it stops. And this is a double-decker, right? It comes rolling back, and I wonder, "Maybe we're standing in front of a pretty significant home." I don't know! They pull up right next to us, and a guy gets on his loudspeaker and says, "Hey, everyone, we're next to Million Dollar Listing star Chad Rogers doing what he does best at work. Take your pictures now!" They all stood up, and they're going crazy, they're taking my photo, and my client just gets really pissed off. He jumps in his Ferrari with his girlfriend and drives off. I look at the people on the bus, and I was nice, and I said, "I hope you all had a fun time in LA!" And they said, "Nice seeing you, Chad!" "You too!" I drove home and never heard from the client again. I was sabotaged by the Hollywood Star Line. That's the price you pay when you're on TV.
Lastly, you're still sporting the light bulb haircut. Where did that begin, and where is it going?
I definitely am using less hairspray and I'm more friendly to the environment. My hair is going green. Literally. I have no idea how it began, I just fell into the style. I started doing it, and I like it. The only opinion that matters is mine because I'm wearing it. I have to say, people definitely remember the real estate agent with the hair.