Viewers flip out for Riverview man's talent

In the early part of the summer, Neil Seaver decided he wanted to be on TV.

He got his wish a few months later.

"I was watching some show on television, and I remember thinking, 'Why can't that be me on TV?'"

It wouldn't have been his first brush with small-screen fame.

In 2007, Seaver's ability to flip sideways over parked cars earned him an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" after one of the show's producers saw a video Seaver had posted on YouTube.

After his most recent stroke of inspiration, he filmed some videos and took a more proactive approach.

"I just Googled 'video submission' and sent my videos to numerous talk shows - we eventually heard back from Regis and Kelly."

More specifically, Seaver learned of the "Live with Regis and Kelly" Wild and Wacky talent contest, sponsored by Trident gum.

Competitors in 20 categories won $2,500. The 20 category winners then competed for a grand prize of $20,000 and a lifetime supply of Trident gum.

Colin Sullivan of Montgomery, Ill., won the grand prize for balancing a variety of objects - including a ladder, a keyboard and a wheelbarrow - on his chin.

Seaver was grateful for winning the Flipping Out category. He learned of the victory earlier this month.

"Obviously, I was really hoping for the grand prize," he said. "It's going right into my checking - I'm a college student, so that's going to come in handy.

"The $2,500 makes my day."

A native of Akron, Ohio, Seaver, 25, is from Riverview and is studying biomedical sciences at the University of Florida.

"He's just a really good son who works hard in school to maintain his grades, and pushes himself to excel in gymnastics," said Helen Seaver, Neil's mom.

Seaver first got the idea to jump over parked cars five years ago after watching an online video of a man performing the stunt over the hood of a car.

"I've always been able to jump high," said Seaver, who played basketball and did the high jump and long jump in high school. "After watching the videos, I decided to take some gymnastic classes and learn how to tumble."

After learning his craft by jumping over garbage cans, picnic tables and some of his friends, he eventually graduated to flipping over hoods of cars himself.

"Once I did that, I started thinking, 'Why not jump over the roof?'" Seaver said.

Seaver said he's never fallen while flipping over a car and notes that, even if he did, the sideways nature of his flip would have him landing on his feet and avoiding serious injury.

Seaver said he'd like to become a physical therapist. He also isn't against capitalizing on the fame his skill has brought him.

"I'm definitely interested in showbiz, whether it's stunts, fight choreography, acting," he said. "Basically, I don't see myself as someone with a normal job."