Jerry O’Connellis ready for an encore performance atMagic Mike Live.In an exclusive First Look at Friday’s episode ofThe Talk, O’Connell takes the stage alongside theMagic Mikedancers at the SAHARA Las Vegas in celebration of his 49th birthday on Feb. 17.Speaking to PEOPLE about his memorable birthday celebration, the actor says he would “do it again in a heartbeat.““I’m going to have to unfreeze my gym account, and I’m definitely going to have to up the pushup count I’m doing weekly,” he jokes. “But I love to do it. Listen,Magic Mikeis about having a good time and celebrating everybody, and that’s what I’m all about.“O’Connell says the birthday performance came together once he learned thatMagic Mike’s Last Dance, starringChanning TatumandSalma Hayek, would be hitting theaters this Friday.“I said, ‘Let’s do a crossover with them,'” he recalls. “Little did I know it would meanChanning Tatumhimself would be giving me notes on what I could be doing better.“Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via GettyO’Connell’s prep for the big performance also included some grooming and physical maintenance.“I went to a tanning salon,” he explains. “There was some back hair that needed to be removed. That had to happen. But mostly, I worked withChanning Tatum’s choreographer, Alison Faulk, who does all theMagic Mikestuff.“After working with theStep Upalum on the performance, O’Connell says he considers Tatum, 42, to be “a modern dayFred Astaire.““Going into this show, I did not realize how multi-talentedChanning Tatumis,” he says. “I didn’t understand the artistic talent thatChanning Tatumhas. I don’t think he gets enough credit. He choreographed this live show. He choreographs these routines, and I had the utmost respect, not only for Channing, but for everything that Magic Mike is.““It’s also, I’ll tell you, it’s the gyrating thing thatChanning Tatumis the Michael Jordan of men who moved their midsections in a fluid manner,” he adds. “He’s the Michael Jordan. And I’m pre-arthritic, so it’s a little tougher for me, but it’s been a lot of my wife watching me in the mirror gyrating move my hips while looking at myself in my reflection in a sexy manner.“Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Gareth Cattermole/GettyDespite theMagic Mikedancers being “welcoming,” the television personality admits he had some nerves ahead of his performance.“It was nerve-wracking, first of all, because you’re next to people who are in peak physical condition,” he says. “And as a 48-year-old man, I am not in the peak physical condition of my life, no matter how hard I try. But you know what? It’s more than just physical appearance. It’s really an attitude. And you know what? I feel a lot sexier these days.“He adds: “I want to personally thankMagic Mike LiveandChanning Tatumfor that… I suggest every 48-year-old attempt to dance withMagic Mike Live. It’ll really help you get your mojo back.“the talkO’Connell’s pre-show nerves may not have been warranted, however, as he received the seal of approval fromhis wife,Rebecca Romijn, who celebratedtheir 15th wedding anniversaryin July.“My wife, after the show, she was a little bit tipsy, said to me, ‘That’s the best thing that you’ve ever been in,'” he recalls. “And I’ve been on Broadway. My wife has seen me on Broadway. I’ve been in movies. We’ve all performed.“Tommaso Boddi/WireImageAs for the couple’s 14-year-old twin daughters, Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip?“My kids are, of course, mortified. But that’s my job is to mortify them,” O’Connell jokes. “I’m realizing being a father of teenage girls, a big part of my job of being a dad of teenage girls is to mortify them as much as possible to prepare them for life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Jerry O’Connell’sTake It Off on The Talkbirthday show airs Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.Magic Mike’s Last Dancehits theaters Friday.
Jerry O’Connellis ready for an encore performance atMagic Mike Live.
In an exclusive First Look at Friday’s episode ofThe Talk, O’Connell takes the stage alongside theMagic Mikedancers at the SAHARA Las Vegas in celebration of his 49th birthday on Feb. 17.
Speaking to PEOPLE about his memorable birthday celebration, the actor says he would “do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I’m going to have to unfreeze my gym account, and I’m definitely going to have to up the pushup count I’m doing weekly,” he jokes. “But I love to do it. Listen,Magic Mikeis about having a good time and celebrating everybody, and that’s what I’m all about.”
O’Connell says the birthday performance came together once he learned thatMagic Mike’s Last Dance, starringChanning TatumandSalma Hayek, would be hitting theaters this Friday.
“I said, ‘Let’s do a crossover with them,'” he recalls. “Little did I know it would meanChanning Tatumhimself would be giving me notes on what I could be doing better.”
Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty
O’Connell’s prep for the big performance also included some grooming and physical maintenance.
“I went to a tanning salon,” he explains. “There was some back hair that needed to be removed. That had to happen. But mostly, I worked withChanning Tatum’s choreographer, Alison Faulk, who does all theMagic Mikestuff.”
After working with theStep Upalum on the performance, O’Connell says he considers Tatum, 42, to be “a modern dayFred Astaire.”
“Going into this show, I did not realize how multi-talentedChanning Tatumis,” he says. “I didn’t understand the artistic talent thatChanning Tatumhas. I don’t think he gets enough credit. He choreographed this live show. He choreographs these routines, and I had the utmost respect, not only for Channing, but for everything that Magic Mike is.”
“It’s also, I’ll tell you, it’s the gyrating thing thatChanning Tatumis the Michael Jordan of men who moved their midsections in a fluid manner,” he adds. “He’s the Michael Jordan. And I’m pre-arthritic, so it’s a little tougher for me, but it’s been a lot of my wife watching me in the mirror gyrating move my hips while looking at myself in my reflection in a sexy manner.”
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Despite theMagic Mikedancers being “welcoming,” the television personality admits he had some nerves ahead of his performance.
“It was nerve-wracking, first of all, because you’re next to people who are in peak physical condition,” he says. “And as a 48-year-old man, I am not in the peak physical condition of my life, no matter how hard I try. But you know what? It’s more than just physical appearance. It’s really an attitude. And you know what? I feel a lot sexier these days.”
He adds: “I want to personally thankMagic Mike LiveandChanning Tatumfor that… I suggest every 48-year-old attempt to dance withMagic Mike Live. It’ll really help you get your mojo back.”
the talk
O’Connell’s pre-show nerves may not have been warranted, however, as he received the seal of approval fromhis wife,Rebecca Romijn, who celebratedtheir 15th wedding anniversaryin July.
“My wife, after the show, she was a little bit tipsy, said to me, ‘That’s the best thing that you’ve ever been in,'” he recalls. “And I’ve been on Broadway. My wife has seen me on Broadway. I’ve been in movies. We’ve all performed.”
Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
As for the couple’s 14-year-old twin daughters, Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip?
“My kids are, of course, mortified. But that’s my job is to mortify them,” O’Connell jokes. “I’m realizing being a father of teenage girls, a big part of my job of being a dad of teenage girls is to mortify them as much as possible to prepare them for life.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Jerry O’Connell’sTake It Off on The Talkbirthday show airs Friday at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.Magic Mike’s Last Dancehits theaters Friday.
source: people.com
