Bidding for JP
JP was born in Middlesborough, England, but grew up in Chicago, where he honed his musical skills with his band Color, playing gigs in and around the American Mid West.
He then continued his studies in arts and music at Brown Community College in Pompano Beach, Florida, his last permanent residence before arriving on Malaysian shores.
So what is it like to be part of a zany bunch of people at Channel [V]?
'Great fun. We're a large cookie family 'C everyone's a character. This atmosphere really keeps the creativity going,' JP enthuses.
His trip to Malaysia and stint on Channel [V]'s Bid It are both tales of sheer coincidence. Originally, he came to visit his grandma but a brief stay slowly turned into something longer.
'I was doing casting and freelance work when the producer suggested I go for a screen test. I read the script and everything kind of fell into place after that.'
The auction concept has caught on in a big way and countless individuals around the world spend hours placing bids on desirable items on eBay and other similar sites. Channel [V]'s Bid It, a reverse auction programme, has been plying a similar route as well and JP finds the whole concept intriguing.
'I'm really amazed how people have found a way to capture a concept like that. I love it because it's a game of chance. Television is a medium of communication and in this case, it works both ways.'
JP admits that with Bid It, it does take some getting used to but the concept gets simpler with frequent participation.
While role models in this trade may seem few and far between, JP does look to comedians like Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx and Sam Kinison for inspiration.
'I mean, I've yet to get a good feel to all of this but (fellow VJ) Joey G has definitely been a big brother of sorts. He's coached me through his experiences.'
Not everyone can get to be a VJ. Concerns include aesthetic appeal and of course an attractive personality.
'The most important thing is to be yourself. Nobody wants to watch a fake. A good personality goes a long way 'C viewers want to see someone they can relate to, someone who shares some common ground with them. While aesthetic appeal plays a part, I personally think it has only a small role,' he opines.
The job may still be new to him but JP has certainly tanked up on some memories he'd treasure and others he'd ... well, not forget, but take as learning experience.
'I have no shame and I've made an ass of myself before,' he eagerly offers. 'I enjoy doing this and have no regrets. It strikes a chord in me because I'm just like that. My favourite moments on the job are when we're shooting Bid It.
'We've done episodes with various themes 'C Batman, X-Men, James Bond, just to name a few. Recently, we shot one episode at the Desa Sri Hartamas fire station and it was great fun sliding down the pole and stuff.'
JP assures us that the pole was only used for sliding, and not swinging strip club-style. We'll never know for sure, will we?
Much of his entertainment experience comes from his love for all things music related, though he describes blues and rock as keen areas of interest.
'I learned to play the saxophone and clarinet when I was much younger. Later, I learned to play the guitar, bass and drums. My stepfather's a drummer and my mum played the piano so I was exposed to everything 'C Bach, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, The Steve Miller Band, Muddy Waters and Robert Cray.
'It's great to hear how music developed over the years, for instance, like how Jimi Hendrix was influenced by Chuck Berry,' says PJ, adding that he is not crazy about country music.
Receiving heavy rotation on his CD player at the moment are The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Axis: Bold As Love, Deftones, Hoobastank and James Blunt, to name a few.
The person he'd most like to meet in life is the late blues legend Muddy Waters.
Kanye West is someone he'd most like to meet on the current front. 'He's a brilliant musician and businessman. He's not scared to voice his opinion and he wears his heart on his sleeve.'
Outdoor activities hold an equally great fascination for JP. He loves extreme sports. 'I like rock climbing, surfing, diving, snorkelling and riding BMX bicycles.'
And who does he think will win the 2006 FIFA World Cup? 'I think Brazil stand a good chance but I think England could go far, too,' he says. So, will it be case of football coming home or England going home ... early? You can bet your last ringgit JP's rooting for the first scenario.
Bid It is back by popular demand and while the first season was a resounding success, the second promises a fresh new look and twist, and fabulous prizes, naturally.
Bid It is aired on Channel [V] (Astro Channel 72) on Thursdays at 8pm. The repeats are on Fridays (midnight, 3am, 9am, 2pm and 7pm), Saturdays (2am, 8am and 5pm) and Sundays (5am, 10am, 3pm and 9pm).
The prizes up for bidding on June 22: Motorola V3x, Nokia N71, Sony Ericcson W900i; June 29: Canon IXUS izoom (Maroon), Creative Zen Vision:M, Sony PSP. For details, visit www.channelv.com/bidit.
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