Following the footsteps of Bret Michaels (Rock of Love with Bret Michaels) and Flavor Flav (Flavor of Love), who've sought out love on cable, former General Hospital actor Antonio Sabato, Jr. has decided to star in his own reality dating series sometime next year.

Though he first gained attention as a Calvin Klein underwear model, Sabato quickly moved on to acting as he joined the cast of General Hospital as Jagger Cates, a role he originated in 1992.  He played the complex character until 1994, and then briefly in the fall of 1995.  Most recently, he reprised his infamous role for the second season of the spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, 13 years after the actor last stepped into Jagger's shoes.

According to Variety, Sabato's new show will be integrated with a soap opera theme as well as a feature narration by the 36-year-old actor as he and contestants engage in various challenges such as replicating steamy love scenes or skydiving in a gown.  The show, which will air on VH1, has yet to be formally titled though shooting is expected to kick off late this year.

Sabato has been married once to Alicia Tully Jensen.  The pair divorced in 1993 and since then, he has been twice involved in long-term relationships.  He and actress Virginia Madsen have a 14-year-old son, Jack, while Sabato has a daughter, 6-year-old Mina Bree, with longtime girlfriend Kristin Rosetti.  Now, the Italian-American actor is seeking the most alluring, seductive and exotic single women to embark on the romantic adventure of a lifetime.

"At the age of 36, I'm finally ready to settle down," Sabato told Variety.

VH1 vice president Jeff Olde refers to Sabato as a "fantasy man" for many of the network's viewers, including both women and men, and is expected to offer a non-musical spin on the often-tweaked dating format.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Variety
(Image courtesy of Wire Image)