Liam Obergfoll might be joining Next Gen NYC in its sophomore season, but he’s hardly tardy for the party.

The actor, who made his name on the Nickelodeon sitcom Every Witch Way, was introduced in the Season 2 premiere as a friend of Brooks Marks, and it wasn’t long before he set his sights on another Bravo nepo baby. Fresh out of her years-long relationship with Hudson McLeroy, Ariana Biermann quickly caught Obergfoll’s attention.

“She’s just super chill, down to earth, and she’s got a great smile. We had a good connection right off the bat,” Obergfoll told DECIDER, refusing to spill on any further details about how far they took their relationship. He did, however, share that he met Biermann’s mom, Real Housewives of Atlanta icon Kim Zolciak, over FaceTime. “Me and Kim have some inside jokes,” he cheekily added.

As we know, whatever happened (or didn’t happen) between Obergfoll and Biermann was short-lived, as the latter rekindled her romance with McLeroy this last spring.

“I wish them the best,” Obergfoll said, sharing his desire to date outside of the Next Gen NYC friend group for a while. “I hope they’re both happy and doing their thing. Hudson is a good kid, and I think with time, a friendship could grow. But yeah, he’s a good kid and I hope he’s on a good path.”

When Obergfoll stopped by DECIDER’s studio, he also spoke about his Heated Rivalry audition, why he was nervous to work with Gia Giudice, and what it was like to meet Brooke Shields in the Gucci store. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: Liam, I’m so excited to have you here to talk here all about Next Gen NYC. What made you want to, after so many years of acting, get into reality TV? 

LIAM OBERGFOLL: It’s something new. I have watched a little bit of it, had an idea of the world, opportunity presented itself, and here we are. It was a great time. 

You came into the show through Brooks Marks. How did you meet Brooks? Were you familiar with his mom, Meredith Marks, at all before joining the show? 

I was familiar with Meredith. I had a little stint of watching Season [1], so that was a fantastic time. I just knew Brooks through the city. Our friendship kind of built as we kind of got to know each other through parties and dinners and whatnot. 

Was there anyone you were nervous about working with or warned about going into this? 

You’re always warned about Charlie [Zakkour]. I was a little bit nervous about Gia [Guidice], but just because she’s a personality. She’s got that Jersey [personality]. I know a little bit about New Jersey. I played hockey in New Jersey for many years. Gia did make me a little nervous, but we’re great friends now. In the end, she wasn’t that bad. Gia’s fantastic. I love her and I support her with everything. She’s the best. 

You have a million careers and hobbies. Outside of acting you’re also a ski instructor, volunteer fireman, equestrian, motorcyclist, surfer, and you play on three different hockey teams. Why is it important to you to stay so busy?

For me, staying busy [has] a lot to do with mental health. A lot of the activities I do are physical, and keep me active. As an actor, you need to fill your plate. That’s how the horse came about, right? I wanted to be ready for the Yellowstone audition. Never got it, but ended up buying a horse. So, as an actor, you want to learn as many things, fill your resume, and fill that kind of list, and that’s what I’m trying to do. 

We mentioned the hockey teams. You said you auditioned for Heated Rivalry, but you did not get the part. When you were auditioning, did you think that the show would become as big as it did, and do you know why they didn’t pick you? 

No, I don’t know why they didn’t pick me. [I’m] a little bummed. But, you know, Next Gen. What’s interesting is the audition didn’t say Heated Rivalry. It said “Untitled [HBO] Hockey Show” … Things came about, audition went, and never got it. But then Heated Rivalry came and I was like, “That must have been it, right? That had to have been the audition.”

Off Campus is huge, too. Any chance we could see you auditioning for that show down the line? 

I hope. I actually haven’t seen it, yet. I got to watch it. I heard it’s pretty good. 

Getting into some Next Gen NYC stuff, you said you watched a little bit of the season before joining the show. What did you think of that? Did that make you nervous at all coming into this crazy mix of people? 

No, it didn’t make me that nervous. I wanted to have an idea of what I was going into, but I didn’t want to base opinions, or do all that. So, it was a light watch. I definitely was doom-scrolling while I watched. But no, you got to dive into these things, and if you go in with nerves, you’re going to be on edge. 

Unlike some of your castmates, you did not come from a famous family. I know the whole talk of nepo babies is really big in this show. What did you make of your castmates who did come from parents who were already in the spotlight? Did they live up to a stereotype? Were they different than you thought they would be? 

Growing up in New York City, you run into kids who have famous parents all the time. So for me, it wasn’t really anything new, and they’re all pretty normal people. The occasional event that they’re going to might be crazy or something, but they’re all down to earth and super chill, and they don’t let it get to their head. So, it’s nice.

What did you end up thinking of Charlie? He’s a pretty controversial guy on the show.

As I say, Charlie is Charlie. We’re in an interesting place, but tune in and you’ll find out why, I guess. 

Maybe there’s a little beef there between you and Charlie? 

Maybe. 

I think he has beef with a lot of people.

I think to have a little beef with Charlie is normal.

It means you’re just fitting in with the group. 

It means you’re in the group if you have some beef with Charlie. 

You seemed to set your sights on Ariana Biermann very quickly. What was it about her that you liked? How far did you guys take things?

Yeah. She’s just super chill, down to earth, and she’s got a great smile. We had a good connection right off the bat. Tune in. 

Did you get to meet her mom, Kim Zolciak, at all? 

I met her on FaceTime. I never got to meet her in person, but me and Kim have some inside jokes. 

You said it was hot that Ariana was on probation. So what about probation do you find to be attractive? 

She’s rebellious. I think I kind of know the story and what happened, and not mine to tell, so I’ll leave it at that. But yeah, it was attractive, right? You see a girl like that, and you find that out and you’re like, “Wow. Alright. That’s something new. That’s something I wouldn’t expect.”

Some of your castmates thought that Ariana and Hudson McLeroy breaking up was PR for the show. Did that thought ever cross your mind when you were pursuing her? 

Not really. You know, me and her had conversations, so, no. 

Obviously, Hudson wasn’t too thrilled about you flirting with Ariana. How will your dynamic with him play out this season, and what do you think about them getting back together? 

I wish them the best. I hope they’re both happy and doing their thing. Hudson is a good kid, and I think with time, a friendship could grow. But yeah, he’s a good kid and I hope he’s on a good path. 

Now that they’re back together, are you into any of the other Next Gen ladies? Is there anybody else you have your eye on?

No, I’m taking a break from our friend group, I think. 

There are a couple other newbies this season, we have Rowan Henchy and Kendall White as well. Did you find yourself leaning on them at all as you guys kind of navigated this new chapter? 

Totally. Kendall is one of my oldest friends. I’ve known her since growing up in the city. We went to middle school together, and parted ways in high school, and found our way back. But yeah, definitely. I love Kendall and she’s a good friend, and through this process, became an even closer friend, and same with Rowan. She actually just sent me her script and I have to read it. I’m very excited to read it. I think that’s a sign of growing a friendship. You share your art with someone. 

Did you get to meet her mom Brooke Shields? Did she give you any acting advice?

It’s funny. I did meet Brooke Shields, but not through Rowan. I was in SoHo one day shopping with a buddy of mine, and we walked into the Gucci store. I know, I know. But we walked in and we both looked at her, and I was like, “I think that’s Brooke Shields.” We just had the moment, and I was like, “Hey Brooke, I’m Liam. I’ve been hanging out with Rowan, through the show.” We love Brooke. 

What else can you tease about what’s to come this season?

I think it’s safe to say it’s a good season for everyone. I like to say it’s the Next Gen of Next Gen, right? Everyone kind of has issues that they get to work through, and everyone kind of gets to figure their life out in this season, and I think the audience will really enjoy watching that. 

We’ll see you back for Season 3, too, right? 

Gotta tune in, I guess. But yeah, there might be some unfinished business.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Next Gen NYC airs on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.