StarBulletin.com

Seductive Sabato


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POSTED: Sunday, February 15, 2009

Listen up, all you single ladies. If actor and Calvin Klein underwear model Antonio Sabato Jr. doesn't find the love of his life on his new matchmaking reality show, you might still have a chance. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Sabato has faith that the new creative endeavor could result in a life partner.

“;I'm completely into it,”; he said from the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort, where the series began a six-week shoot last month. “;I'm open and enjoying the whole process.”; As co-producer, Sabato has worked on the project for about a year.

The yet-untitled show—similar to “;The Bachelor,”; only “;classy,”; he noted—is set to premiere in May on VH1. And beyond the titillation, it's sure to provide another round of much-needed publicity to potential travelers from the mainland.

“;You're going to see a lot of the Big Island,”; he said. There's snorkeling in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, helicopter tours over the volcano and, of course, whale watching. “;That's why we picked this month. This place is magical and that's what we're shooting.”; Though producers considered other locations, such as Australia and the Bahamas, Sabato pushed for Hawaii. “;It's always been my favorite island, and I believe it represents a lot of my personality, a lot of the things I like to do. It's very unique.”;

Anyone who has seen the 36-year-old Sabato on “;The Bold and the Beautiful”; or “;General Hospital,”; as a guest star on shows such as “;Melrose Place”; or “;Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service,”; or in Calvin Klein's wildly successful advertising campaigns, knows that sports and fitness play an essential role in his life. In 1999 he published a book, “;No Excuses: Workout for Life,”; and participated last summer in—and won—NBC's “;Celebrity Circus.”; He graced the cover of Muscle and Body magazine last month.

Despite long days of shooting, he never misses a workout. Sabato wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. for a grueling regimen that lasts more than two hours. It includes gymnastics (he brings his own rings), core work (abs, etc.) and plyometrics (like jumping). Then he runs two miles on the Hilton property and sprints up and down a hill. More core exercises follow; he finishes with laps in the lagoon. Lean protein, such as chicken and tuna, dominate his diet.

A date with the 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound Sabato is more likely to involve outdoor activities than drinks. Except for the occasional sip of the high-end Gran Patron Platinum tequila, he never consumes alcohol. And smoking? Forget it.

Though he doesn't expect a woman to keep up with him, he is looking for “;someone who takes care of herself, who doesn't smoke or drink at all, who lives a clean life,”; he said.

She also needs to understand and support his commitment to his children—a 14-year-old son with actress Virginia Madsen and a 6-year-old daughter with Kristin Rossetti. “;I spend time with my kids every day,”; he said. “;I'm very much into their lives in every way.”;

The tattooed, Italian-born Sabato is fluent in three languages, surfs, fishes, rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and cooks. But he doesn't spend much time dwelling on his assets. “;I don't go, 'Hey, I'm a good-looking guy,' when I look in the mirror,”; he said. “;I brush my teeth and make sure I don't have anything in them. I don't like seeing myself in film or pictures. But I also don't listen to negativity.”; His focus instead: Appreciate what you have.

Here's hoping each lady who earns a date with those dimples does exactly that.