Bond agent heads to Alabama for dating reality show stardom

Bond New York’s Michael Chadwick and Devin Grissom, the woman he’ll be vying for on CMT’s “Sweet Home Alabama”

If his online biography is to be believed, Bond New York agent Michael Chadwick is used to attention. “Complete strangers often stop Michael on the streets of NYC, just to let him know he looks like Tom Cruise,” his website reads. “Asians seem to like him a lot, especially Koreans.” (No one ever said modesty was a necessity in New York real estate).

So it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that Chadwick, who specializes in apartment rentals in Midtown West and the Upper West Side and also bills himself as a model, actor and musician, is the latest victim of the industry’s reality television bug. According to an announcement from Bond’s press representative, Chadwick is set to star in County Music Television’s new dating reality show, “Sweet Home Alabama,” which premieres Thursday at 9 p.m.

Perhaps unfortunately for Chadwick, the object of his affections on the eight-episode series is not Korean, but rather a bona fide “Southern belle” from Alabama, who’ll be choosing, “Bachelorette”-style, from among 20 men hailing from both the small country towns she’s used to and from the “big city.” That’s not to say she won’t appreciate his ability to say “Thank you” in 18 languages, or to speak in Southern, as well as New York City dialects, per his online resume. Chadwick, who was raised in Howard Beach and Rochester, is cast as one of the show’s 10 “city slickers” and is featured as the man “who has had his heart crushed by his last girlfriend,” but who “goes to Alabama to give love another chance.”  

The trailer, complete with tears, cheesy music and even some blood, is below. Maybe Chadwick will fare better than the Corcoran Group’s Matthew Lenahan did on “Survivor” last year, but if not, we hear HGTV is still casting. — Sarabeth Sanders