by John Hobbs
Photography by John Skalicky
www.skalickyphoto.com

Patrick “PJ” McCarthy

Age: 23
Job: Celebrity Publicist
Home town: Fremont, Calif.
Single or Taken: Depends on the day
Turn-Ons: Great smile, confidence, wit, cute ass and soft lips
Turn-Offs: Fake tanner, jorts [jean shorts], biting your fingernails and romantic comedies
Celebrity Crush: Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl)

Being a celebrity publicist in the Age of the Scandal is not for the weak of heart. Twenty-four hours a day, the only thing that stands between you and all-out panic mode is one drunken rampage, one sex tape, one psychotic meltdown or one revealing pap shot. Sexy cover model Patrick McCarthy is at the forefront of this battle every day, stridently working to keep his clients clean—even when the mud slinging seems to have hit its fever pitch. We convinced the hottie to turn off the BlackBerry for just a couple of hours to do a photo shoot and interview for IN Los Angeles.

In the past, you’ve been approached to do a reality show about your crazy life. What about your life warrants reality TV?

Every day I wake up not knowing what to expect. I get to work with amazing celebrities that people only dream of meeting and go to events that people are dying to get into. I have had the opportunity to meet people I idolize and respect. And with publicity, work never really ends as scandals, rumors and pregnancies can happen at any minute. Balancing life, work, love and friendships while separating my life from the limelight is a dramatic but fun and entertaining thing to do. There is never a dull moment.

You’ve not yet committed to the project, but if you did a reality show, what would it be like?

My reality show would surely be a Survivor and Devil Wears Prada meets The Hills, set in West Hollywood [and] co-starring rejects from Gossip Girl. Definitely right up the alley of MTV, Bravo or Logo.

Publicist pop quiz: Let’s say your client (wearing jorts) just stole a pregnancy test from a drug store and, while fleeing the scene, bumped into a baby carriage, knocking the baby over and then wound up driving down the 101 the wrong way. Spin it positively. That is the craziest thing I have ever heard! I would never let a client wear jorts!

How are you most likely to spend a three-day weekend?

I would love to spend it on the beach, with a margarita in one hand, another margarita in the other, with my phone turned off, hanging out with my friends, listening to the Ting Tings and enjoying being young and living in this amazing city.

What’s one thing you’d change about yourself if you could?

I am a pretty stubborn guy. I have yet to master the art of forgive and forget, but I’m working on it.

What physical feature are you shamelessly vain about? A professor once told me I could sell anything with my smile, so I take extra good care of my teeth and always have chapstick in my pocket to keep my lips nice and soft. When all else fails, I just smile.

In love, are you more likely to be a player or to be played?

Ha! Umm—definitely a player, but not on purpose! I am the guy who meets someone and thinks that this person would be a great friend, but I guess I am just a little too flirty and send the wrong message. Oops!

We’re always on the lookout for Starring guys. If you’d like to grace the pages of IN Los Angeles, please submit photos and a brief e-mail introducing yourself to editor@inlamag.com.