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Listen up, reality TV lifers Speidi, Rob and Amber, and all those nameless, faceless, tasteless contestants on “Real World/Road Rules Challenge 87: The Medieval Rack”: Here’s a guy who found a novel way to regain the spotlight:
HE ACTUALLY GOT A JOB IN BETWEEN.
Hardy Hill, the sweet himbotastic model from “Big Brother 2″ in 2001 (he’s the one who had his toothbrush dunked in the toilet by a mean girl) is one of the stars of Bravo’s “Miami Social,” a new show following the movers and shakers of Miami Beach’s glitterati.
Currently, Hardy’s the CEO of the Hill Hospitality Group, hosting and promoting parties with hot young people all around South Beach. Before that, he’s worked for the Opium group, as the director of Prive (the special VIP “you can’t get in” room at the Opium night club) and at Skybar at the Shore Club (another “good luck getting in here” place.) He was also one of “Extra”‘s most eligible bachelors in 2007.
None of this is about ensuring world peace, obviously. But in the eight years that Hardy has been off TV, he’s been working really hard at a job that plays to his strengths (meeting people, remembering names, networking and being charming). I know this because back during his “BB” season, I was on the Hardy Hill beat at the York Dispatch, one of the hometown papers of York, Pa., his home town. (I also saw him in Miami a couple of times, where he let me and a few York friend into his clubs, although not into the top rooms. Apparently, knowing the boss only gets you so far if you don’t look like a model. I’m cool with that.)
Besides going to weekly parties at a local bar with Hardy’s family and friends, which raised money for the American Heart Association (his mother died of heart disease), I got a chance to talk to him on the phone a couple of times. One of our conversations stuck in my head, and came to mind when I saw his “Miami Social” ads. I asked him what his immediate plans are, and he said he was, just a few days out of the “Big Brother” house, planning meetings and auditions in L.A.
“I figure I only have a few months to make this (show) pay off,” he said. “If I wait too long, there will be another cast on and nobody will care if I’m Hardy from Big Brother.”
Wow. Smart. The auditions didn’t yield anything, but going to Miami and getting into the club scene, working his way up from door guy to management, did. Hardy was something to see – the first time I saw him at Opium, it was about 85 degrees and humid, and he was wearing a black blazer and a turtleneck. Cool as a cucumber. He was like the mayor of Clubland. Again, none of this is important outside of the beach, but Hardy’s career has been a glittery version of the blue collar work ethic of his hometown. You figure out what you’re good at, you start at the bottom, you work like heck, and shake hands like you mean it.
I don’t know if “Miami Social”‘s gonna be any good. But I’m glad to see somebody using their reality show time as a springboard to an actual career, because even though he’s now back on a TV show, he actually has something to talk about. Besides the last time he was on a reality show.
Hardy was one of the best looking guys ever on the first few seasons of BB; quit watching BB eons ago.
But, am glad to see him with this new opportunity. And, even if this doesn’t make him a star, it sounds like he has a great solid job, and, probably a more than decent salary. Somthing that he worked his butt off to obtain, for many years.
After all, some people just don’t ‘break out’ until they have some life experience, in their “real life”, so, they actually have a personality, and, can think and talk about stuff other than their brief time on a reality show.
Way to go, Hardy!!
Looking forward to seeing Hardy..I am a big fan of Big Brother and I find Hardy absolutely YUMMY!
OMG! Hardy Hill loved him on big brother best outdoor shower scenes EVER lol Cant wait to see him again.
With this show featuring our wonderful Hardy and the new season of Big Brother starting ….. I will be in reality heaven!!!
I bet that ugly pig Shannon (from Big Brother), wishes she had not touched his toothbrush now. He is such a good looking suave guy. Really hot!!!
I just watched Hardy on “Miami Social.” He isn’t the sweet guy we remember from BB2. He’s a schmoozer, and seems like a fake guy no one can trust. He still looks good.
BimboKay: I totally agree. I actually had to look him up to see if he was the same person. I think he has lost his innocence in the past few years. He looks much older and a bit sleezy.
I truly believed you were the HOTTEST when I first laid eyes on you on Season 2 of Big Brother. So there I am watching Miami Social and saying to myself over and over again…Hardy…Hardy…(why is this name sticking in my head?. Then it hit me…OMG it can’t be!!! I wish you all the success in the world. You are still smoking hot and you will go far!!!
When I saw the ad for Miami Social, seeing Ed was bugging me because I couldn’t remember where I’d seen him but I knew I had. Then it hit me and I googled him and came to your interesting article. He’s clearly a very smart guy and has worked hard getting to where he is. Not exactly working towards world peace and Miami sounds like it is even more shallow than Hollywood, but, you have to give it to him for finding something he seems to enjoy and is successful doing it.
Why is Hardy Hill and most of the other cast of Miami social have russian accent? he can not hid it no matter how fast he speaks…Anybody knows about his real name (mom&dad) and his real his origin? I do not buy his act.
I live in Miami and met Hardy a couple of years ago. We have the same hair stylist. He was very nice when we met, but imo, he IS very superficial and all about “the right look.” If you’re overweight or over 40, Hardy won’t even consider having you as a friend. His “image” might get ruined, lol.
When I saw the ads and I heard the name Hardy, I said to myself the only Hardy I have ever heard of was Hardy from Big Brother. I looked and looked ans watched the show and had to google him. Well, he didn’t age that well he used to be smokin hot and now he is so superficial and long in the tooth. Such a shame he was so sweet and nice.
Did Hardy go to Bishop Moore?
Hey, This is a great post. I found you on bing. Keep up the work.
I used to work with Hardy. He was an outside Sales Rep for a large telecommunications company then.
I remember all the girls thought he was sooo dreamy, and yes…he’s good looking, but I remember thinking he was kind of an airhead. He reminded me of a surfer dude (“totally mann!”), but he was always very nice.
I also remember when he came to the Christmas party, and his girlfriend was obviously WAY prettier than everyone else there.