By admin 
The HBO reality series "Neighbors" has carved out a unique niche for itself, offering a wonderfully absurd, bleak, and often hilarious encapsulation of the American experience, viewed through the prism of individuals locked in perpetual conflict with those living next door. The show, directed by Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford, typically navigates the familiar territory of disputes over fences, property lines, and the myriad other grievances that can fester between adjacent households. However, the Season 1 finale introduced a character who elevated the series to unprecedented and unforgettable heights: 72-year-old Danny Smiechowski. His arrival, clad in nothing but a yellow thong bikini, immediately redefined the show’s capacity for both shock value and poignant observation.
Smiechowski’s particular brand of neighborly dispute centers not on tangible property, but on his personal choice of attire. He has become something of a pariah on his San Diego block due to his penchant for exercising on his driveway, sporting only the aforementioned thong bikini. "The issue is showing five inches of skin," Smiechowski explains to Variety, referring to his exposed upper thighs. He articulates a keen, if somewhat cynical, observation about societal double standards: "If I was a woman dressing like this, I’d be a hero. I’d probably get a multi-million dollar television contract. But I’m a man. So they cast aspersions upon me, and they tear me down." This sentiment underscores a central theme explored in "Neighbors" – how deeply ingrained and often hypocritical societal norms dictate our perceptions of acceptable behavior, particularly as it pertains to age and gender.
Smiechowski’s journey to the national spotlight began a few years prior when he responded to a casting call seeking individuals embroiled in ongoing neighbor disputes for a new documentary television series. The call, which promised an opportunity to be featured, soon led a film crew to his doorstep, where they documented his life for two months. The filmmakers, Fishman and Redford, followed Smiechowski to Eden, a nudist colony in Florida. It was there, in a setting that embraced his comfort with less clothing, that he shed his thong and remained fully nude for the majority of the episode. At Eden, Smiechowski quickly found camaraderie among the fellow nudists. During a naked karaoke night, he met Amanda Kent, a college student whose aspirations for a music career were intertwined with her search for a "sugar daddy" to finance her ambitions. He took her on a date, buying her red stilettos, a gesture that, in retrospect, Smiechowski views as a moment of naive generosity.
The relationship with Kent, as is often the case in such docuseries, proved to be transient. Following their inevitable falling out, Smiechowski returned to his life in San Diego, continuing his routines of exercise and, notably, uploading pornographic content to the subscription platform OnlyFans. In an unfiltered phone interview, facilitated by Variety‘s discovery of his mobile number on his Instagram account, Smiechowski revealed that his neighborly conflicts persist.
When asked about his day, Smiechowski expressed a sense of contentment. "I had a great day. I had drama class," he shared. "I’m learning about acting, and the young people are helping me. I think I’m doing pretty damn good. I might have a natural ability – they tell me I do, but who knows?" His current focus extends beyond personal development to home improvement. "And now I’m just working on my house. I’m trying to improve the property and get a new kitchen, because I met all these young women. They’re real sweet girls, and many want to come over. But I can’t have them come over with a bad kitchen." This desire to create a welcoming environment for his younger female admirers speaks to his ongoing pursuit of connection and perhaps a defiance of the ageist stereotypes he perceives as prevalent.
The influx of attention he has received since the "Neighbors" finale is staggering. "No exaggeration, three million people have contacted me after the final episode of ‘Neighbors’ on HBO," he claims. Smiechowski asserts that he treats all these interactions with equal importance, dedicating himself to responding to everyone, a commitment that previously kept him awake for three consecutive days. This dedication to engagement, even when overwhelming, paints a picture of a man who, despite his unconventional lifestyle, values human connection.
The proposition of fans visiting his home is a reality. "Yeah, quite a few people want to come meet me. The other day, the cars were lined up down the street," he reports. He finds a particular resonance with younger individuals. "You know, young people are refreshing to me. Men and women in their 20s, they don’t have any issue with what I did. The people my age, the baby boomers, they judge me." Smiechowski criticizes the judgmental nature of his older peers, stating, "People don’t find the truth. They go, Well, he’s naked, so he’s bad. That’s not right. There are a lot of naked people that are good people. Look at Adam and Eve. They’re in the Bible, for the love of God." This invokes a historical and religious perspective, challenging the notion that nudity is inherently immoral and suggesting that societal condemnation is a learned, rather than inherent, response.
When questioned about whether he sees himself as a biblical figure, Smiechowski offers a nuanced affirmation: "In a way, I do. I actually do, because I’m a student of religion and history and human nature. I get many of my ideas from French literature." He then delves into historical context, arguing that modern attitudes towards dress and sexuality are a departure from the past. "In the 1940s and even 1950s, men and women were more sexually liberated. Look at President Kennedy. Look at how he dressed in South Florida; he wore tiny little – you know, what I wear. The people today, they don’t know history. Pink was a predominant color for men before World War II. Baby boys were wrapped in pink. They would never dream of putting blue on men." This historical excursus serves to normalize his own sartorial choices by contextualizing them within a broader, and arguably more liberated, human history. It suggests that current societal constraints are a relatively recent phenomenon, perhaps an anomaly rather than the norm.
The subject of his participation in "Neighbors" brings up questions about communication with friends and family. "Oh, a million people like that," he responds when asked about their reactions. A friend in Borrego Springs, he reports, "showered accolades upon me. She told me she’s proud of me, and she took pictures of me for my OnlyFans." However, he also expresses irritation at those who have "jumped on the bandwagon," implying a hypocrisy in their newfound support. "They were mean to me, and then they saw me on HBO. People are like that. They’re weak. Very weak." This observation highlights the performative nature of social acceptance, where public validation can often override genuine empathy or prior judgment.
Smiechowski remains in his San Diego home, the site of his much-discussed outdoor activities. His relationships with his immediate neighbors are a mixed bag. "The neighbor on my left, Tomás, he’s OK with me," he states. "To my right, the lady abused me horribly and then jumped on the bandwagon and acted like nothing happened. I don’t even talk to her; she can go get fucked." He largely avoids interaction with most of his neighbors, believing he has achieved a form of vindication through public opinion. "I presume they know that I defeated them by public opinion, because the comments I’m getting on the internet are running 100 to 1 in my favor." This sentiment underscores his perception of a battle won, not through compromise, but through the overwhelming support of a wider audience.
The core of the conflict, as Smiechowski reiterates, is his choice of attire. "Here’s the bottom line: I’m on my driveway wearing a thong bikini. I’m not walking down Main Street in San Diego. I’m not bothering anybody. I don’t want trouble." He emphasizes his physical vitality, stating, "I’m pushing big gears on my Peloton bike that most men my age could never, ever, ever do. And yet, these people emotionally abuse me." He attributes this abuse to societal conditioning and ageism. "They’ve got this false notion that when you’re older, you’ve got to be playing bingo in the church or in a nursing home lying on a bedpan. That’s what they believe because society has conditioned them. It’s ageism." Smiechowski posits that individual freedom of expression, particularly for older, healthy individuals, should not be constrained by outdated societal expectations. "Let’s say you’re my age, and you’re healthy as a bull, and you’re not married and you like young women. I don’t even know, maybe you’re gay and you like young men. It doesn’t matter. I don’t care who the fuck people are. But it’s none of their business what I do on my driveway. I’m not even showing the back of my thong bikini because it’s pointed toward my garage." This detailed explanation highlights his assertion of personal autonomy within the confines of his private property.
Regarding his initial understanding of the "Neighbors" project, Smiechowski admits to a degree of strategic naiveté. "That’s the $64,000 question. I had common sense, and I knew that if they asked me to jump, I would say, ‘How high?’ I knew to get out of their way. They were lightyears ahead of me." His trust in the production team, he states, was absolute. "Come on. Trusted them? Of course I trusted them. That’s an illogical question." While acknowledging the potential vulnerability of appearing nude on television, he asserts he never felt uncomfortable or exposed. "My only goal was to go before the nation and tell the people the truth of what I’m doing. And I did it to defeat my neighbors." This reveals a strategic intent behind his participation, using the platform to achieve personal victory over his local adversaries.
On the matter of compensation, Smiechowski adheres to protocol. "I don’t even know if I’m supposed to answer that, because I’m under protocol with HBO. Let’s put it this way: They took care of me. I don’t know all the rules." This suggests a financial arrangement was made, though the specifics remain undisclosed due to contractual obligations.
The segment involving Amanda Kent clearly left a mark. At the Hollywood premiere, witnessing her confession about seeking a "sugar daddy" caused him significant discomfort. "When those scenes came up I cringed in my seat. If I ever felt vulnerable, that was the only time. I embarrassed myself by naivety. I still get choked up talking about it." This experience served as a valuable lesson. Kent’s subsequent contact with the film crew about attending the premiere was met with a firm rejection from Smiechowski. He states, "I said if she would have shown up, I wouldn’t have been there." While Kent has not contacted him directly since, Smiechowski feels vindicated. "I feel fully vindicated. I’m sure she watched the show and saw the part where I railed against her. She was a – well, I shouldn’t say this." He then candidly labels her a "whore, essentially. She just wants money, money, money."
The impact of "Neighbors" on his OnlyFans account has been dramatic. "My OnlyFans has exploded by 20,000%," he reports with enthusiasm. He explicitly encourages the mention of his platform, hoping to attract more subscribers. "I would encourage you to put in my OnlyFans, if you can." While a direct link is not feasible for the publication, the explicit request highlights his embrace of this avenue for income and connection.
Looking towards the future, Smiechowski expresses a desire to have children and perpetuate his family name. "I have," he confirms, indicating progress. He acknowledges learning from his experience with Amanda, emphasizing the need for caution. However, he is actively pursuing romantic interests. "There’s one girl coming over. And she wants to be naked in my backyard. I met another girl who’s going to come over for French toast." He presents himself as an "old-fashioned guy" with a "perfect track record" of never touching a woman inappropriately. He laments that women often misinterpret his nature, assuming he is not a "good man." He then elaborates on his "pig" analogy for men: "All men are pigs. Some are good pigs, some are bad pigs and some are no pigs at all. The worst are the bad pigs, then the no pigs at all, and then the good pigs." He confidently positions himself as a "great pig," believing most men fall into the "good pig" category, while acknowledging the existence of "bad pigs" and the less common "asexual" individuals.
The interview concludes with Smiechowski expressing his gratitude for the conversation, emphasizing the pleasure he derived from speaking with the reporter. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and conciseness, preserving the raw, unfiltered essence of Danny Smiechowski’s perspective. His story, as presented in "Neighbors" and elaborated upon in this interview, serves as a provocative exploration of societal expectations, personal freedom, and the often-unseen battles waged in the seemingly quiet confines of suburban life. Smiechowski, with his unyielding self-acceptance and defiance of convention, has undeniably left an indelible mark on the landscape of reality television.