'Tool Academy' finds recruits in Phoenix

The cast of VH1's new show "Tool Academy," including Mega (standing, hat), Celebrity (second to right, seated) and Dimitri (far right, leaning) (Credit: Courtesy VH1)

The Valley must have a high quotient of bad boyfriends per capita. In the new VH1 relationship series "Tool Academy," three of the show's nine couples call the Phoenix area home.

The show's premise is a simple one. A group of men are told they are competing to be crowned Mr. Awesome for a new reality show. It's all a ruse, however, as the men are actually "tools" (i.e. jerks) being called out by their significant others.

"I was so (angry)," says Clarence Howard of Chandler, who goes by the much catchier moniker of "Celebrity." "I didn't understand someone calling me a 'tool' on national television. It was like a huge slap in the face."

The person who pinned the scarlet "T" on Howard's chest? Longtime girlfriend Cameron Adams of Scottsdale. She and Celebrity go way back: They met 10 years ago when they were both students at Hamilton High School in Chandler.

She went along with the deception of letting Celebrity think he was in the running to be named Mr. Awesome.

"Knowing I was lying to him was the hardest thing I could possibly do," says Adams, who works as an office manager. "When he found out about it, he actually took it pretty well. Probably because he was a little intoxicated."

Once the tools learned the real reason they were on TV, the show sends the men to relationship boot camp to deal with issues in their relationships. In Celebrity's case, that involves enjoying the Scottsdale club scene a little too much. Adams sounds rather understanding about the couple's issues.

"He is a good boyfriend," she says. "He just has flaws like everyone else. Sometimes, the flaws outshine the other qualities."

Due to a VH1 gag order, the couple can't discuss what went on during the taping. They can't even say whether they're still together. But Celebrity says he has no regrets.

"I would actually do it again," says Celebrity, who works in the club industry. "It cleared some things up, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Adams also thinks it was worthwhile.

"The relationship was at a make-it-or-break-it point," she says. "It's always there at the back of your head, little things you don't really want to know about your relationship, but at the same time you do want to know. This cleared up a lot of things."

Other Valley couples featured in the show are Josh Johnson and Margaret Mims of Phoenix; and Dimitri Mitropoulos and Jill Marcinkoski of Gilbert.

Adams says compared with the other men on the show, Celebrity stands out.

"I honestly think he was one of the biggest tools there," she says.

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849.