Courtesy of Josh Teasley/Hulu
A new dating show has arrived on Hulu, and some St. Louisans may recognize a familiar face among the contestants. Local recording artist Josh Teasley is making his reality-TV debut on Back in the Groove, a new dating show hosted by Taye Diggs in which three single women in their 40s look to find love with one of 24 younger men at a resort in the Dominican Republic. Teasley spent about three weeks filming the show.
“It’s one of the most unique experiences I’ve had for sure,” Teasley says. “You go into a situation with a bunch of random guys who are all alphas in their own way, and you try to accomplish a goal you set out for.”
Teasley says his goal on the show was to “have the most fun possible” and be himself, and if he could do that, then he would meet the person who was right for him.
Teasley was born in Oakland, California, and raised in St. Louis. He attended the University of Missouri, where he majored in broadcast journalism. While there, he also started his entertainment career, making music, performing with other artists, and making connections. He moved to Los Angeles after graduation, where he began acting to support his music career and released his first song, “Hit It,” which did well in Italy and had a music video that reached the MTV charts overseas.
“Music is still my passion,” Teasley says. “I’m performing shows and doing all this stuff, but in the background, I’m booking gigs…I’ve just been juggling music, film, and TV stuff since then.”
Before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Teasley says he was scheduled to be on a season of a show in The Bachelor franchise, but due to the shutdown, plans changed. One of his friends told him about Back in the Groove and convinced him to apply. He sent in his audition tape and went back and forth with casting directors and producers about what he was looking for.
“They look to see if you and the people they casted match with personality,” he adds. “Sometimes it’s not even about the best-looking guy, it’s about how the cast works together as a whole.”
Teasley says his experience during filming was great, and he had an “amazing” experience staying in the Dominican Republic for three-and-a-half weeks.
“We were at this villa, and I brought a ukulele there, and I would practice every day,” he says. “I would wake up before everyone and meditate in front of the sunrise, and read books to ground myself and make sure I approach the day [positively] ahead.”
Back in the Groove premiered December 5 on Hulu, and Teasley says he is excited to see peoples’ response to the eight-episode series. He is also interested to watch and see how the experience unfolds for viewers.
“I wasn’t thinking about what was going on; I was just trying to be present in each moment,” Teasley says. “I wasn’t worried about how it looks. So, when I left the show, I didn’t remember too much. I’m excited to watch back and see what happened, because I truly was trying to take in every moment, every conversation, and every sunrise.”
