It's so great to catch up with Perez Hilton, the original social media influencer.

Perez & I last chatted in 2015, when he was starring in the hit Off-Broadway show Full House: The Musical!. I loved that interview because I got to see a different side of Perez.

Now, I get to Party with Perez as he readies himself to be the celebrity host of Chippendales Las Vegas this July!

In this interview, Perez once again answered my call, but this time around he strips down and reveals:

• How this venture with Chippendales came to be
• Which male celebrities he'd like to dance beside him
• What he feels is the biggest misconception about himself
• So much more

Connect with Perez: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Perez will be the celebrity host at Chippendales at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas from July 26-September 2, 2018.

1. Last time we chatted you were starring in Full House: The Musical!, and this summer you are about to star as the celebrity guest host with the Chippendales dancers in Las Vegas. How did this endeavor come to be? Well actually in a very similar fashion to that of Full House: The Musical! I don't know if I shared the story last time of how I got Full House: The Musical! gig, but it came to be because I am friends with, Jason Wise, a choreographer who had choreographed some of the other shows that Bob and Tobly McSmith created prior to Full House: The Musical! I got a meeting with them and told them that I want to be in their next show and they cast me in their next show.

With the Chippendales show, Michael Caprio, the Chippendales' publicist, e-mailed me announcing that Tony from Dancing with the Stars was going to be the celebrity host for the spring and that just set off a lightbulb in my brain. Around that time I was starting to think about Summer and planning for it and one of my big mantra's in life, as a single father of 3 1/2 children, my two daughters, my son and my mom, is "Make more Spend less. How can I make more? How can I spend less?"

I e-mailed Michael back saying, "I'd love to do this" because it seemed like the perfect fit. It seemed like something I would enjoy, that I'd seen before, so I knew what I would be getting into, that I liked, that I wanted to be a part of, that made sense with my brand, now my readers/followers are predominantly female and younger and that is the audience that predominantly goes to see Chippendales. Michael e-mailed me back to say they were interested and I took a meeting and here we are.

2. What is it about this venture that you are most excited about? What I'm most excited about is getting to experience the energy every night of 100s of women having the best time. There is nothing like it. That feminine powerful contagious energy is so intoxicating and I'm also looking forward to just being in Vegas for six weeks with my whole family and being less busy than I am in Los Angeles. I won't have to take my kids to school everyday which normally takes me an hour & a half in the morning. I won't be taking meetings at my house and performances of musicians and all the other distractions of everyday work life. I'll just be able to focus on the show, having fun as well as my regular job during the day.

3. What is making you nervous? Nothing. Nothing. I'm just excited.

4. What should fans know about your role before coming to the show? Don't expect me to be a Chippendales guy. Some of the other celebrity hosts have kind of played that role. I see myself as a master of ceremonies, the ring leader, the MC, your best friend there to make sure you are having the absolute best time.

Perez Hilton and the Chippendales dancers

5. What was your first meeting with the Chippendales dancers like? It hasn't happened yet, but I unofficially met a few of them when I saw the show for my 40th Birthday back in March and they were all very nice.

6. Is there anything special you are doing to get ready for your hosting duties? Even though I don't think I'm going to be taking my shirt off, a lot [laughs], but I may in a joking manner, you know, to bring some comedy, I still want to be in as best of shape as possible. I have really stepped up my training and healthy eating. I have not had a cheat, at all, of any kind, in a month and a half.

7. What do you think this experience will teach you? I don't know. I think that is to be determined. I embrace new and different and challenges and am always trying to learn/grow, so I'm sure something will present itself as a teachable moment.

8. Since your run is called Party with Perez, what is your ideal kind of party to throw? A free one! [laughs]. There's nothing better than throwing a fabulous party than with someone else's money.

9. If you had to cast the Chippendales dancers with male celebrities, who would you pick to dance around you? Zac Efron is the first person that comes to mind. I'd also like Chris Hemsworth. They both would frame me quite nicely [laughs].

10. I have component to my interviews called "I Can See Clearly Now," where I try to clear up misconceptions about my interviewees. What do you feel is the biggest misconception out there about yourself that you would like to clear up right now? I would say the biggest misconception about me is that I'm a douche bag [laughs]. I'm just an opinionated person, that's my job. People might get upset with some of the things I say, but I'm just an entertainer who has a big heart and is a great dad.

Perez Hilton, Photo Credit: Brian Doherty Online

More on Perez Hilton:

The original influencer, Perez Hilton changed culture and has been trailblazing since 2004. A New York University trained actor, he entertains millions daily on his eponymous website and social media channels.

Over the years he has written three books, launched two YouTube channels and one very successful podcast - The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker.

His theater credits include NEWSical: The Musical (off-Broadway) and Full House The Musical (New York and Toronto).

On television, he's been seen as an actor in Glee, Girl Meets World, Victorious, Law & Order: SVU and countless other shows.

In the reality space, he's appeared on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Celebrity Big Brother in the U.K. and won America's Worst Cooks: Celebrity Edition for the Food Network.