Jesse Justice Smith
Jesse Justice Smith, better known as Justice on NBC's hit American Gladiators. Yes, he's big, but he's not bad! Justice calls himself both a "big teddy bear" and a "gentle giant" as he answers our questions about his popular TV show.
The Star Scoop:
Can you give us your introduction to American Gladiators? How you got involved?
Justice:
The way I got involved is one of my friends had an audition with the American Gladiators. I wasn't really interested, but I went with my friend to a private call that he had instead of on the beach [at the open call]. To make a long story short, I ended up booking it. Me and my friend look identical. Only thing that's different is our age; I'm like ten years younger than him, and I ended up booking it, actually.
The Star Scoop:
What do you do on the show, and why do you think people have really liked it so far?
Justice:
I think people really liked the show because it's exciting to watch. There's the classic David versus Goliath type feel and people like to root for the underdog, I guess you could say. It's one of those shows that the average person could aspire to.
The Star Scoop:
With the legacy of American Gladiators, what is it like for you to be a part of the show now?
Justice:
It's like a dream come true. It's like my whole life I've been working out, I've been training and it seems like I've been training for this perfect opportunity in my life. I played basketball, had dreams of going pro. I did play pro overseas, but I wanted to make it to the NBA, but my life took a different course, and perhaps it just because of my destiny that was already, I guess you could say, in process. It wasn't basketball that put me in the main stream in sports entertainment.
The Star Scoop:
What has been your favorite aspect of the show thus far?.
Justice:
The game called "Assault." I get shot to the roof about four speed and I fall in a pool and when you fall into that pool it's like falling at free fall speed at forty, fifty feet in the air. It's really fun. It's really exciting, but at first I was really scared of it.
The Star Scoop:
What is the environment like?
Justice:
It's one of the best atmospheres I've ever been in when it came to coworkers. Everybody on the set is so helpful and so loving towards one another. Maybe it's because the show just got started, but everybody supports each other. We talk to each other every day.
The Star Scoop:
Since American Gladiators started, have you been recognized more?
Justice:
Oh yes ma'am. As soon as the show aired on Sunday, I've been getting recognized on a daily basis. To make a long story short, I don't wear the mohawk in public so much. I usually wear a baseball cap. People have been recognizing me just because of that show, and I try to be inconspicuous, but I guess my size, and my height, people, they look at me and they say, Hold up, that face looks familiar now.
The Star Scoop:
What are your fans like?
Justice:
They are genuinely excited for the show. Some guy was like, I watched this show ever since I was a kid. This occupied at least 95% of my life when the show was on back in the day and I'm glad to see it's on now. And he said, It's way more exciting this time, even though it was exciting then. It's really exciting.
The Star Scoop:
What does having Hulk and Laila Ali as the hosts do for the show?
Justice:
Hulk Hogan brings that wrestling crows. Laila Ali brings that average woman, that athletic woman, that all around woman. She brings all those types of women to the show. It adds so much versatility to the show that the show has no choice but to succeed.
The Star Scoop:
What will you do after American Gladiators?
Justice:
I've been out in L.A. for the last seven years. I've been doing a lot of commercials, a lot of television. I've been working continuously every year. I just hope this brings more attention to me as an actor, as an entertainer, and as a person. I want people to know my personality. I want people to know what I stand for. I hope it's interesting to most people.
The Star Scoop:
Beyond your self-proclaimed distinct appearance, who are you?
Justice:
I'd like people to know that when they look at me, I'm a big teddy bear outside the ring. But as soon as the bell rings, I'm a beast. When the bell rings that the fight is over, I'm back to being that gentle giant, that loving person, the person that cares about the fellow man.
The Star Scoop:
What message would you like to bring across to your fans who are reading this?
Justice:
To my fans, I want to say this: if you ever have dreams of aspiring to be on a show like this, continue to watch me and support me, because that's why I do it. I do it for the fans, for the people that can't do it. The people that aspire to do it, but don't have the size. I do it for those people. Whatever you do as a young person out there, you have aspirations and you have dreams, continue sticking with those dreams until the end. It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish the race. I'm just trying to let people know, especially young people, to always remain focused on the goal. It's cool to have fun every now and then, but always remain focused on your goal.