With Ziering’s ‘Sharknado’ success, Chippendale sees respect for pecs

Sometimes reporters just don’t know the right question to ask.

Last summer, Ian Ziering explained that a secondary motive of getting his body ripped to guest host the Rio’s Chippendales revue was the ability to audition for superhero movies.

He didn’t mention he had already shot a movie nine times more awesome than “The Avengers,” probably because he didn’t know the made-for-cable “Sharknado” would become a pop-culture sensation.

Ziering completed his June run in Chippendales last summer just a week before the movie aired. A first airing led to a second and a third, eventually making it the most-watched of any of Syfy’s cheesy monster-movie originals.

Now it’s by plan, not coincidence, that Ziering must leave the Chips on July 20. “Sharknado: The Second One” airs July 30, and he must do a round of TV talk and entertainment shows in between.

Now 50, Ziering explained last summer how and why he got himself buff enough to be on stage with dancin’ dudes half his age: “I couldn’t see being part of the Chippendales franchise without dressing the part.”

“I look at this as another role, actually. There’s been preparation and research. I like to immerse myself in the characters I’m playing. Now I’m playing a Chippendale.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.