Jimmy Kimmel and everyone else may refer to him as "The Weatherman" but we still think of Jonathan Novack as our hometown heartthrob.

He may not have won Ali's heart on The Bachelorette, but he's returning to TV Monday in a hybrid reality competition and dating show called The Bachelor Pad (airing on ABC at 7 p.m.). Novack gave an exclusive interview to CultureMap about Houston, his future, and his thoughts on Ali and Roberto.

CultureMap: This must have been a crazy summer for you. What are you up to now that The Bachelor Pad is wrapped?

Jonathan Novack: I've been out to L.A., where I had some meetings, shot the 'Men Tell All' episode, found a place to live in West Hollywood and did some stand-up at the HaHa Comedy Club.

I also just had a show last week at the Houston Improv with Slade Ham, who was headlining. I did about 10-11 minutes — it was awesome, went really great. Next week, Aug. 12-15, I'm performing at The Laff Spot opening for Jimmie Walker.

Since the show, I started blogging, tweeting, I've been delving into social networking, selling T-shirts that say 'I heart the weatherman' to benefit the ASPCA, trying to figure out some charity-type things I can do, seeing what I can get involved with out in L.A. I've been in Houston for three years and it's hard to leave. I feel rooted here, I'm bummed. I've got a lot of friends here, it's been a really good time in my life.

CM: Have you always wanted to break into the entertainment business?

JN: I've been in the news business on-air for nine years, and I've always wanted to do entertainment-type stuff, whether it was an Antique Roadshow segment on Channel 2 or hosting the local version of The Biggest Loser. I feel like now is the time to see if I can bridge over to entertainment.

If I'm in Houston the challenges are much more difficult. People know me now, I've got my agent, a publicist, and if I want to go I've got to do it now. I'm sticking with TV though, auditioning for hosting gigs and things like that.

CM: What did you think about The Bachelorette finale? Do you think Ali made the right choice with Roberto?

JN: I said it from the beginning, from when I got sent home, people would ask me who I thought Ali would be with or should be with and I said Roberto. He was the most stand-up guy in the house, and they seemed to have a connection. I'm glad it worked out for Ali — I couldn't be happier for them.

CM: Is it different to watch yourself on these shows? Was there anything they didn't air that you would have liked to show?

JN: It's tough to watch, when I see it on TV, to be honest. It's interesting. It's totally different than seeing myself if I'm doing a weather cast. For starters I have no control. Since I've started in the news business I've always been the one to put a story together, and with this I have to kinda sit back and see what gets aired.

As far as what didn't make it to TV, there was a thing that happened between Jesse B. and Craig M. I don't think people realized Craig M. was trying to get into a fight with him and for that reason people thought it was just me and him, but the only reason I said anything to Ali was because the guy was seriously off his rocker and trying to start stuff with everyone. I don't know if they had the time to show a lot of that, though.

CM: How did you come to be on the show?

JN: I was nominated for the show a year and a half ago and they called me up. I never watched it, I didn't know who was on it, but I did a little investigating. I knew Ali and Gia, and was hoping one of them would be Bachelorette, but you don't know who it's going to be, so you go into it as an experience, and maybe it'll work out with whoever they pick, but you have to just say, "Hey, this is a life experience and lets see what happens."

Check out a Pad peek and get more of the shirtless Novack: