Matt Freund, other serious poo-fessionals, break up TV host Larry King

NORTH CANAAN — Matthew Freund is generally a laid-back guy, so it was no surprise that he appeared at ease, even enjoying himself, during a July 6 appearance live on television.

Despite having had weeks to get nervous about an interview on “Larry King Live,†and wanting to make every second count toward valuable promotion of the family’s new business, manure-based Cow Pots, Freund couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

He and his wife, Theresa, flew to Los Angeles the day before Friday’s CNN broadcast. They stayed over the weekend to visit cousins, including one they had not seen in 45 years. By the time they arrived home at midnight on Monday, their Web site was marking a tremendous number of hits.

“It was great. We couldn’t be happier,†Freund said early Tuesday, already back at work on the dairy farm. He could see on a tape of the show the first seconds when his eyes flitted in numerous directions, although it was mostly noticeable to him. And he went on the air knowing no more about what to expect than when he was first contacted by “Dirty Jobs†host Mike Rowe.

Rowe’s tremendous success with the show that focuses on people with jobs few would want to do was what King was interested in.

Rowe, impressed with dirty, entrepreneurial guys like Freund, wanted to promote them, and that he did.

Also appearing were “honey wagon cleaner†(septic tank cleaner) Les Swanson, “avian cosmetologist†Don Cicoletti and Los Angeles sewer cleaner Johnny Pool.

“We had no clue until we walked into the room what was going to happen,†Freund said, recounting the whirlwind that precedes a live show. “Larry didn’t speak to us before and after the show, he had to hurry off somewhere. They sit you down and give you 10 directions at once. They’re adjusting my mic, my clothes, hitting me with the powder, telling me where to put the pots and telling me what camera to look into. Of course, as soon as they counted down and we went live, I forgot which camera I was supposed to look at. Then I figured it out. I had no idea I was going to stay there for the rest of the show.â€

Freund called Rowe extraordinary.

“He’s a warm, vibrant, intelligent individual. He greeted Theresa with a hug. During the show, he kept redirecting the attention on us. As far as Cow Pots, he’s pulling for this thing as hard as we want to push it.

“It was great that we got to comment and joke around throughout the show. We were like homies. I can’t tell you much about Larry King, but this was an unbelievable opportunity.â€

King opened the show and came back from commercial breaks with lines such as, “Mike Rowe is our guest. A psychologist will follow.†Several times, after another in a series of puns like “crappy job†and “this one is for the birds,†King was so overcome with the underlying humor that he had to stop to collect himself. At one point, he said he didn’t think he could go on.

Freund said it was obvious this is not the kind of celebrity interview King is used to doing. He had clearly met his match in the quick, dry wit of first Rowe, then Swanson and Freund. Cicoletti and Pool followed with tales of owl vomit and gold watches in storm drains, making it one very unique show.

One thing they weren’t telling was how much they make. King was persistent, but the message his guests put across was that they love what they do. It’s not just about the money. And Swanson noted that with milk prices what they are, Freund deserved a break.

“It’s a little bit of celebrity, and that gives you validity, no matter how good a product you have,†Freund said.

That said, he reported growth trials by big growers are sending back very positive outcomes. For now, they will continue to market to growers and retailers. Now that he’s back on the farm, Freund needs to find time to jump on the excavator parked across the river and dig a foundation hole for a new Cow Pot building. They will start with 60 by 80 feet, leaving room to expand.

He also urges folks to vote for him. He’s in the running for favorite “Dirty Jobs†episode. The top 10 vote getters go to San Francisco to be part of a two-hour special.

Go to discovery.com, click on TV Shows, Dirty Jobs, Mike’s Office Party, Season 3 and vote for #2 — Cow-Poo Pot-Maker.