UCD law school grad a star on reality TV show
by Sharon Stello/Enterprise staff writer
Davis Enterprise

Davis, CA - June 11, 2006 - UC Davis law school graduate Michelle Landry is one of four young women profiled on a new reality show, “How to Get the Guy,” which premieres at 10 p.m. Monday on ABC Channel 10. The show follows these single gals as they search for love in the Bay Area.

Landry, a lawyer labeled “the career girl,” is joined by Kris, “the party girl”; Alissa, “the dreamer”; and Anne, “the girl next door”; in the six-episode series by Emmy Award-winning producers David Collins and David Metzler.

The women are assisted by two dating coaches, well-known television host JD Roberto and award-winning journalist Teresa Strasser, former host of TLC’s “While You Were Out.” Filmed at more than 150 locations throughout San Francisco, the one-hour show follows each woman’s quest to find Mr. Right.

Landry, 34, describes the show as “Sex in the City” meets “Bridget Jones.” One of her friends knew the casting person and suggested she try out. Landry was opposed to the idea at first because she had seen other reality shows and knew what they could be like.

“I really, really, really didn’t want to be on it,” Landry said.

Casting recruiters called around Thanksgiving and convinced her to do a film test. Landry recalls trudging to the location in the rain, wearing jeans and flip-flops. She and the interviewer ended up talking about dating and life as a single 30-something.

“From then on, it was non-stop calls from the producers,” Landry said.

Still leery, they flew her to Los Angeles to meet with Metzler, one of the producers. She was impressed with his vision to film the show in a documentary style. The women wouldn’t be in any kind of competition and wouldn’t be filmed 24 hours a day living together in a house.

“I kind of turned a corner after meeting him,” said Landry, who agreed to do the show and believes it was a fun, “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

She believes the show captures the trials and tribulations of real dating, “not in the mythical ‘Bachelor’ show type of way where you’re living in a chateau and don’t have to worry about work in the morning.” 

From January through March, they filmed her working, hanging out with family and friends, receiving dating tips with the other women and going on dates.

The first episode focuses on “getting a guy’s attention.” Throughout the show, the women use an online dating service, accept blind dates and go on a “signal party” where everyone wears a pin that says whether or not they’re available.

“They just put us in situations where we would meet people the way anybody would,” Landry said.

Landry admits that she’s “not much of a dater.”

“If it wasn’t going to work with the UPS guy, I just wasn’t going to end up with anyone,” said Landry, adding that her brother once called her “a dating disaster.”

“It was easier in school because you’re in an environment where you’re meeting people all the time,” Landry said.

In law school, Landry and her boyfriend-at-the-time were making plans to move after graduation to the Bay Area. She snagged a good job with a large law firm in San Francisco, but then the couple broke up during their final year of law school.

Landry decided to move to the city anyway, even though she didn’t know anyone there. It turned out great. She made wonderful friends and after six years, became a partner with the law firm Sideman & Bancroft. In October, Landry left the firm to pursue a career in writing and handle personally rewarding legal cases such as class action lawsuits aimed at protecting the public.

Although her professional life flourished, dating remained a challenge. In San Francisco, she said, there are so many great women that it’s difficult to stand out from the pack.

“It’s like a smorgasbord for men,” she said.

But, Landry admitted, she has probably been too picky, waiting for “the perfect guy.” Her list, which she actually keeps on her Palm Treo, includes: tall, dark and handsome, “sexy-smart” but down-to-earth, funny and active — to match her outgoing hobbies like rock climbing and sailing.

Landry said she has been in a couple of long-term relationships over the years, but said more often than not, she has been stuck in long-term singleness. Landry simply didn’t think dating was much fun.

“It felt painful. It felt like a job interview. And if something isn’t comfortable to you, you just avoid it and throw yourself into everything else,” Landry said. With work, friends, hobbies and volunteer activities, she didn’t have time to realize something was missing from her life.

On the show, she received some good advice and “went on some really fun dates.” So, did she find love? You’ll have to wait and watch the show, she said.

Landry plans to watch the premiere at a fund-raiser screening for her favorite organization, Real Options For City Kids, which provides school-based and after-school learning enrichment programs with sports and fitness for children in the troubled Visitacion Valley section of San Francisco.

Landry, born to Michel and Patricia in the small town of Fitchburg, Mass., grew up in Las Vegas, Nev., where the family moved when she was still an infant. Landry has two sisters, Kristina and Katherine, and a brother, Michel.

Landry graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas, where she was the captain of her debate team, won a national writing competition, and hosted a news program for teens. She earned a bachelor’s degree in writing, literature and publishing from Emerson College in Boston, working her way through college at the campus library and as a live-in nanny. Landry went on to attend UCD’s law school, graduating in 1997, and pursued a law career in San Francisco.

In her spare time, Landry volunteers for ROCK and serves on its board of directors. She is also a member of SF Spinsters, established in 1929 as a philanthropic organization now boasting a membership of about 200 unmarried women.

Landry also sails competitively out of the South Beach Yacht Club, helping to crew on a Saber 36. She is an avid reader and movie-goer, and also enjoys rock climbing and golf.

— Reach Sharon Stello at sstello@davisenterprise.net or 916-747-8043.