Words uttered by Alex in an interview with TV Addict. He discusses why he thinks Moonlight failed.
Before we get into your guest appearance on tonight’s CRIMINAL MINDS, I of course have to first ask about MOONLIGHT. Were you surprised it was cancelled?
Yes and no. It was a tough show for everybody in a sense that it was a high maintenance girlfriend. You love her, she’s great in bed but it takes so much of your time to appease her [laughs] that you’re left going, Okay, is this worth the end result. From the very beginning, there were huge amounts of changes: Five different showrunners, from the early days when it was Twilight we fired everyone, recast the show, re-shot the pilot, called it MOONLIGHT, changed the showrunner. [Producer] Joel Silver and the network were butting heads constantly about the creative direction of the show. It was a lot of stuff to deal with behind the camera, maybe too much in fact. But to answer your question, I was surprised we were canceled because it was doing so well.
On tonight’s CRIMINAL MINDS, you play Vincent, a serial killer who couldn’t be more different than MOONLIGHT’s Mick St. John. How did this guest appearance come about, and did you purposely look for a role that was Mick’s polar opposite?
In terms of CRIMINAL MINDS specifically, the writer, Simon [Mirren] is a great friend of mine, and he said, “listen, I’m writing a role with you in mind. Would you read it,” and I did and the rest is history. I love playing different roles, the more variety the better. Once I’ve played a role I don’t want to play it again.Was there any apprehension about playing a serial killer?
No apprehension because as far as I’m concerned Vincent is a redeemable character. When I first read the part, I could see how sympathetic he was. In terms of how I prepare, obviously not by going out and slaughtering anything. My main preparation with this character was the obsessive compulsive stuff because that’s the thing that rules his life and keeps him doing what he does time and time again. His OCD is at the core of his physical being.A lot of your scenes are with a young actor [Jake Cherry] who plays Stanley. Before accepting the role did the old Hollywood adage about not working with kids or animals ever cross your mind?
(Laughs) That’s the old rule man, no kids or animals! But I love working with kids, I’ve never not enjoyed it. But then again maybe I’ve never had a bad kid. The thing about working with children is that there are no walls there, no barriers between you and their vanity. When you’re working with adults, we all have vanity, narcissism, whatever we have that has to do with our ego can potentially get in the way of our work. With kids there is a purity and an innocence regardless of what character they’re playing within them. And so to tap into that is just extraordinary to work with because it’s so true.What can you tell fans about the THREE RIVERS [the pilot that Alex O’Loughlin recently shot for CBS]
Set in Pittsburgh, it’s a medical drama told from the perspective of the organ donor, the organ recipient and the surgical team. So every episode, someone may live and someone may die. Meaning the stakes are very high.Was it a difficult decision to sign on to what potentially could be seven years of playing the same character versus the idea of playing different characters between films and occasional TV guest appearances?
Very good question and yes it his hard, it is daunting I got to say and i don’t think any actor would disagree with me. Once you’ve done a couple of films, I think the whole idea of being a movie star — well I don’t know about the ‘star’ thing — but the idea of working regularly in feature films that’s my dream. To go from one character to the next and get to tell a million different stories, that would be wonderful, I’d love to be able to do that.But the thing about television is that the job security, you cannot beat. I’m a family man and I have to think that way. But I definitely do get scared I’ll get stuck in one character and never find my way out. That other people aren’t going to trust me that I can’t find my way out to find one of their characters. So there is that.
That being said, after experiencing what I’ve experienced on both THE SHIELD and MOONLIGHT there is also joys and benefits to playing a character for a long time because you discover things and get to live out things you discovered about the character. There have been so many times in my life when I’ll finish a play or a film and a week later I’ll wake up and say, “Ah F*ck, that’s what I should have done with that scene, that’s the missing element.” And so in TV you get to live that out and discover so much more it’s great. but it’s definitely a catch 22 situation.
Have you started shooting The Back-Up Plan?
I start shooting in about a minute!Aside from the opportunity to work with Jennifer Lopez, what attracted you to the project?
Nothing, just J.LO… No, just joking. The film is great, it’s funny, well written and I’ve never really done a lead role in a romantic comedy over here yet in America. Also, the director’s a pal, the great Alan Poul, who has a really smart clear vision for the film. And Jennifer being attached didn’t hurt.
Alex is great. J lo i dont particularly like
she seems so full of herself
Okay I hope everyone has had their say… I don’t want to close the comments on this thread but it is starting to heat up in here. If you are looking for a distraction perhaps stop by a new thread and tell me who YOU think Alex had the best chemistry with:
http://www.alexoloughlinonline.com/333/alex-oloughlin-can-drum-up-chemistry-with-a-door-knob/
Sorry, hit submit before I was finished – Anyway back to my point. It is that small group of “fans” who have become “demanding and disrespectful” because they have done nothing but make negative comments about Alex, his choices, and those of us who have chosen to move on. It’s funny to read some of the negative posts that now are being “taken out of context”. A negative comment is still a negative comment regardless of how the writer tries to sugar coat it or how they now try to explain what was meant by that comment. There is always that condescending “tone” to TS’s comments that many of us find offensive. Just make a comment, leave out the attacks on the writer. We seem to have forgotten. myself included, that these are just opinions – there is no right or wrong here but we must be civil when making our comments. Respect gets respect. The focus needs to go back to Alex and the talent that he has shared with all of us and hopefully, soon, will be able to continue to do once “Three Rivers” gets picked up.
Well said Tiffany!
Linda:
Only a portion of your post shows up, but your comments are absolutely correct.
Alex doesn’t deserve the bad rap he’s getting from SOME fans(?) for
1) Re-signing with CBS
2) Taking a role other than Mick St.John in order to pay his rent
3) Trying to put Moonlight to rest in the minds of the fans who refuse to face reality
I found it very sad when I read the TV Guide article where Alex felt he had to literally PLEAD with his fans to give his new show a chance.
This sensitive man should never have been made to feel that he had to plead with anyone!
There have been times lately when I feel ashamed to be called a Moonlight fan.
It’s heartening to know that most of us are mature, loyal fans of both the show AND Alex, but it seems to have brought out the worst in some people…….
An important thing that stuck out to me in that interview was the idea that Moonlight was a High Maintenance Girlfriend. Of course no girlfriend would want to be referred to that way… at least I wouldn’t! But I think we can all agree that some women, some men, some jobs, some projetcs, etc, are high maintenance and emotionally and physically draining. I think devoted fans will want to avoid being “high maintenance fans”. Does Alex have to watch his words carefully to avoid angering us, pick projects that appeal more to us than himself, and generally always try to please his fans before he pleases himself? The answer to all 3 should be NO! Of course a certain amount of tap dancing is required in this business to begin with as fans can make or break you but I hope Alex stays true to himself and does what he feels in his heart. I may not always agree with everything he does or every role he plays but I will still support him and try not to let my opinions interfere with his career.
Note to Christi – your comment was right on but you forgot to add the other negative comment that was made by that poster who now is saying that her comments were taken out ot context and that would be “Alex was sounding demanding and disrespectful to his fans”. Once again, bashing – At no time has Alex every had an unkind word to say in regards to his fan base. It appears that it is those “fans” who as Christi said, feel “entitled” or feel
“
I’m sorry, but implying that Alex has been in some way “disloyal” or to accuse him of “disappointing his fans” is most definitely Alex-bashing!
Celebrities who make themselves as available to their fans as Alex has are few and far between. Alex owes us no explainations for his actions, yet he attempts to give them to us anyway.
I felt that Alex’s performance on Criminal Minds was as gripping and sensitive as all of his other characters. Who are any of us to critique Alex’s acting skills or the roles he chooses to play?
It would seem to me that this is another example of the attitude of “self-importance” and “entitlement” SOME of the more rabid and dogged Moonlight/Mick fans have…
If you don’t like seeing Alex in a role other than Mick St.John then don’t tune in; but don’t use an Alex-based fan site to bash it’s namesake!
As I said before, words can be spun to suit the reader and may not be in the context the way the writer intended but it seems that when there is a disagreement, those who are not of the same opinion as others are now being commented as being “she wolves who are devouring ourselves”, or from a previous posting from that same writer, are “giddy females going ga-ga”. Why do all of the postings from this individual have to include a personal insult along with the comment? I believe that the majority of those of us posting are not teenagers so those type of insulting comments are uncalled for an unnecessary. And who is to say that one persons’s comments are more honest than those of someone else? You can be honest without the insulting comments because maybe the reader of your comment has taken it out of context and vice-versa. If you do not like what you’re reading then please choose your words carefully as not to offend others, unless that is your intent. The focus should be ALEX, so let’s not forget that.
One thing I had liked about this site was that we were not a bunch of she-wolves here devouring oursleves…Now all of a sudden this appears to be such a case…
I am angered that what I said in regards to Alex’s comments are being taken as Alex bashing… If Alex were my own son I would admonish him for sounding demanding and irespectful of the fans that actually brought him, in the US, where his popularity is at present… Now, ladies & gents, that is not bashing; it is saying he made a statement that can be, and was by others as myself, that made his fans feel let down and unappreciated… And, as one fan did state, Alex is working for CBS &, though it may have been his own words, or someone elses, it is felt that he has to work so he may be at a position in his career when the boss is the law… this does not, in anyway, make the man a puppet, just a good employee; so please do not take all that is written out of context and make it appear to be bashing…
If I were not a fan or Alex’s, I would not give a diddly what he said, but I am a fan, but an honest one… I think even Alex would appreciate honesty; if he gave a bad performance, he’d want someone to honestly say, “That stunk”…
The man is a “mortal; he is not Mick St John, an immortal… He is not a god, nor will I make him one; to me this is being an honest and caring fan… I will not ogle over his every appearance, I will not rave about all the shows he does if one does not, in my opinion, suit him to better his climb up his career ladder… Why? Because I am his fan truly, not one who feels “He leads…we follow” as now is the logo of another Alex fansite…. Ladies this is absurd, this frame of thinking is why Alex fans, at times, appear so immature… Now before you all get this twisted, I did not call anyone immature… but thinking back to last year’s rally in front of WB & the chanting and yelling; now to me that was immature… Just darn lucky no one called the cops on the lot of the “fans” of Moonlight & Alex… If you want to have the good graces of the man, use honesty; he’d appreciate it more than anyone following him like a lost puppy…
And, yes, I am a Alex fan but in all honesty did not know who he was until Moonlight…And I am aware there will no longer be a Moonlight TV series & this is where you folks are missing the point…We who still back the Moonlight uprising are not stupid, we know there is Moonlight, no more, on TV… And I feel Alex meant that also, but I still feel he would not turn down the chance to resurrect Mick one more time for a Moonlight movie… I also feel it is not going to happen if we all do not back it and aske Joel Silver to go ahead with the plan he told Alex about in mid-December, 2008…
As far as this being an Alex site, fine, but many here, came here, are from the Moonlight Campaign… I will continue to be honest, I will not be called a so-calle fan of ALex’s; I am a fan of his, just like I am a fan of Patrick Dempsey, etc; Long is gone the days when I sqealed in an audience for a star, long is gone the days when I hung on every word the star unttered or was written that the star was stated as saying… I am a fan of Alex’s acting, but I am not his worshiper…
Many great comments, Ladies – it seems that there are a lot of us who have taken the high road and are all in agreement that the Alex bashing and bashing those of us who have chosen to move on is uncalled for. We all dearly loved “Moonlight” but because we have chosen to let it go and put our focus on projects like “Three Rivers”, some people just can’t accept it and have become downright rude with their comments such as calling us “giddy” or accusing us of being “ga-ga” or the old, tiring comment “actor-centric”. I loved what Tiffany said awhile back that this is a fan site for Alex, not specifically for “Moonlight” and we need to respect that and each other. Oh, BTW, read Tiffany’s comment regarding “The Buzz about Three Rivers” – sounds promising. 🙂
It’s so easy to blame when there is disappointment and even grief. Anger is a step in the grief process and some people are really, really stuck there. People blame Alex, they blame Nina Tassler and CBS, they blame Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. The truth is, that for reasons we do not understand and will never really be privy to, the show ended. Shows end. It’s not a matter of loyalty or disloyalty, it’s simply the ebb and flow of show business.
Alex was telling the truth about what the situation was like for him. A very difficult set of circumstances in which to produce a quality show; which they managed to do but the cost (I think especially to Alex) was enormous. You can love something and dislike something at they same time, and I think that’s what Alex was saying. He loved the fact that they were creating this wonderful show, but the cost of doing it in terms of exhaustion and effort and emotional turmoil was almost too much for him.
Thanks you Alex, for being such a wonderful actor and hanging in there the way you did.
I’m sure Alex is extremely thankful for Moonlight making him famous around the globe, and I know he did all he could to keep the show alive. He worked endless hours and basically took over show runner duties. He held it all together. Please don’t bash him for being honest! Before Moonlight, I had never heard of Alex, but after seeing the other characters he played before this show and reading more about him, I learned he has the wonderful ability to pour his heart and soul into a character, yet he also has the wisdom to detach himself from a project when the problems outweigh the benefits. This is a very healthy attitude. I’ll always follow Alex to whatever project he decides to work on, because I respect his choices.
The comments made by the supposed “fan” named Tish S are not only an ungrateful response to Alex’s months of loyalty to all of his fans, but they are ridiculous to the point of being laughable!!! Alex speaks his mind; these are NOT comments “scripted by CBS” – just because they are not in accord with what you want to hear!
I’d have loved to see the reaction if Alex had turned on his fans last fall after he was shamefully embarassed by the actions of a few ‘rabid’ fans (including some felony-level embezzling by a certain Administrator of a ‘certain’ board that shall remain nameless).
Maybe he should have just washed his hands of all of us then???
Do NOT bash Alex!
ALEX IS DOING NO BASHING. HE DESERVES WORK LIKE ALL ACTORS DO. HE STATED SOME FACTS THE WE FAN DID NOT KNOW, HEARD OF, AND IN DEALING WITH CBS NOT SUPRISING. IAM FOREVER A LIFELONG FAN OF MOONLIGHT AND ALEX. I HATE THAT IT WAS CANCELLED TOO, BUT I UNDERSTAND, HE NEEDS TO MOVE ON. CBS BITES FOR CANCELLING THE ONLY ONE TRUE HOUR ON TV WORTH WATCHING, BUT THEY ALSO SAW THE GOLDMINE THAT WE HIS FANS SAW IN HIS MICK ST. JOHN CHARACTER ON “MOONLIGHT. THE TALENT HE DISPLAYED AS MICK ST. JOHN WAS AWESOME. ANY FUTURE CHARACTERS I AM SURE THAT HE IS SELECTED OR HE HAS HIS CHOICE IN PLAYING WILL CONTINUE TO SHOWCASE HIS TALENTS. ANYONE WITH A EYE FOR TRUE TALENT SEES JUST HOW GREAT HE REALLY IS (CBS/NINA TASSLER DID). I AM NOT A FAN OF CBS/NINA TASSLER AND I DO BELIEVE HE WILL GET SHAFTED BY THEM AGAIN. BUT, THAT’S JUST MY ON OPINION AND IT DOES NOT MEAN MUCH. THAT’S HIS CAREER. HE WAS THERE FOR MOONLIGHT 110% IF NOT MORE AND YES HE WAS HURT,JUST LIKE US FANS OF “MOONLIGHT” TO SEE THE SHOW CANCELLED. IT SEEM TO ME THAT HE REALLY PUT HIMSELF INTO HIS WORK AND THE PROMOTING OF THE SHOW. I SAW HIM IN A FEW INTERVIEWS AND HE LOOKED SO TIRED, EXHAUSTED, AND ABOUT TO FALL OVER FROM BEING OVER WORKED, ALONG WITH DEALING WITH THE BEHIND THE SCENCES DRAMA. HE’S THE PAUL NEWMAN OF THE SMALL SCREEN AND HE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING EVEN A GREATER PRESENT OF THE MEGA SCREEN. COME ON PEOPLE, STOP YOUR ALEX BASHING AND GIVE THIS YOUNG ACTOR THE CHANCE HE DESERVES. HE GOT BURNED BY SOMEONE AT CBS/NINA TASSLER BY THEM CANCELLING “MOONLIGHT” AND AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS RIGHT THERE FOR HIS FANS WORKING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AS WELL AS BEHIND THE CAMERA, PROMOTING THE SHOW, AND AT THE SAME TIME, DEALING WITH CBS THINKING THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE SHOWS (“MOONLIGHT”) DIRECTION AND ALL THAT DRAMA. WE, YOUR TRUE FANS UNDERSTAND ALEX’S MOVING ON. I ONLY WISH HIM ALL THE SUCCESS IN HIS CAREER AND I TRULY WILL MISS HIS FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE OF MICK ST. JOHN IN “MOONLIGHT” ALONG WITH THE REST OF THAT AMAZING CAST. ALEX O’LOUGHLIN, YOU GO MAN AND DO YOUR THING. A MAJOR FAN SUPPORT! DONNA GILLIAM / DONNAG / DOKAGI
Alex is a great actor. It’s fun to see him in different roles. Yes, I loved Moonlight and have the DVD set to watch on cold rainy Sundays. But, hey, he has to work – like all of us. If my boss told me to do or say somthing, I would have to do it. I like my job and I like money. I would think Alex likes to work and likes money, too. Moonlight ended a long while ago. Let the man move on!! Geez! He deserves movie roles and a new series! I am just glad he has some new jobs in the works!
I agree with Linda, i was very… upset when Moonlight was cancelled, i loved that show, but i’m over it, it is time to move on. You will see Alex…In more movies and shows, thats what matters to me ! Stop bashing Alex…..Your are not a true fan!
It is hard for people to accept change but in the case of accepting an actor trying to change, it becomes even harder. As Tiffany said, actors do not lke to be pigeon -holed into one type of character. As far as Alex’s so-called “defamation” of Moonlight – he was simply stating facts that “Moonlight” was a difficult project from the beginning with different casts and pilots. The writer’s strike last year also did not help things. Maybe my definition of “fair-weather” differs from others but it sounds like people are acting like children who only want to play a game when it only is played the way they want it to be played and when it is not, they want to pout, quit, and take their toys home. Maybe those of you who suddenly have turned your backs on Alex because things are not going the way that YOU want them to or because Alex has not asked for YOUR permission to move on should find another game to play or another actor to criticize. Alex has done nothing but given us 110% in everything that he has done and he will continue to do so. If you want to be along for the ride, great, if not, move on. The Alex bashing is getting old already. 🙁
So Alex is nothing but a puppet? I am not sure I think that is fair to him. I for one happen to think he is probably speaking on his own. As an artist of sorts myself I too would be very frustrated if people were so consumed with my PAST work and achievements they could not and would not see that I had moved on to other projects. If a writer comes out with two new books and all people say is..”well I wish you do a sequel to that one you wrote 3 years ago” I would be one unhappy person and I too would be telling people to get over it already… I am not doing a sequel. Please support me as I am.
Actors HATE to be pigeon holed into one role. That is actually career suicide. Perhaps he is just doing what he thinks he needs to do to further his career.
As for the Criminal Minds show…it was VERY different. Actors like to test their abilities and play characters that are really different. I don’t think the part was wrong for him I just think some people just want to see him romantic, hero roles…me included. I was still impressed by how he played OCD even if it won’t be on my favorite performances list. I didn’t care for his role in The Shield either.
I am not sure why Alex is being bashed by his fans for not pursuing Moonlight. He didn’t defame the show at all. It baffles me.
Fair weather fans are ones who do not see that it is CBS choreographing these “so-called” messages from Alex…As any of us know, he takes direction as any of us who hold/held a job or get fired…
I privately asked other Moonlight/Alex fans and they feel the same and are a bit perturbed that he is doing this defamation of a show that made him a household word…As one of them stated…”Mark my words, Alex will eventually admit he was wrong after Nina cancels Three Rivers…. Plus many did not like this performance in Criminal Minds, script was so wrong for him…” It was put more vividly and livis than that, but you get the idea…
No firm numbers but it is looking like 11 millionish. I think the Obama speech hurt things…people must have turned off their TVs and went to the movies. Fox did not air the speech and they got 14 million viewers.
http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-4-30-tv-ratings-no-obama-no-problem-for-fox-wednesday
We need to wait until Tivo numbers are out.
Question – does anyone know what the ratings for “Crimial MInds” was last night?
Shame on the “fair-weather” fans who, because they can not let go and move forward, as most of us are doing, what Alex is trying to do, now have nothing but negative comments to make. Alex is an actor and he played a part, a part that we all loved but IT IS TIME TO LET GO. As he commented ” my true fans will follow me” -yes we will because it is you that we want to see, in whatever it is that you’ll be doing. To call him a traitor is uncalled for. He has not let the fans down and has had nothing but kind words for us thanking us for the loyal support. He does not need a wishy-washy person to be a part time fan. If you’re a fan, than REALLY BE A FAN – stop the whining about what was, get over it and move on! 🙁
Hi Tish, I don’t think Alex is being disloyal he said to Joel Silvers he was in for a movie. Did J. Silvers change him mind? Maybe the other star in the TV show did not want to be in a movie or would not be available. I guess we will never know. Alex has to move on in his career. No one loved Moonlight more that me and I still hope we will have a Moonlight Movie. Keep your chin up, I think Alex knows the TV show Moon light made his fan base. signed hopeful
Just as I said: All scripted replies staged by CBS because of the dissatisfaction of CBS with Moonlight fans…And Alex, contracted to CBs for now, must do as the “boss lady” says…Funny he never made comments like this when the show was airing or when we were fighting for a second season, now did he???
I am really upset for him turning traitor toward the show…I am upset with him for being disloyal to his own fans who want a Moonlight closure…
“For shame, Alex O’Loughlin, you forgot what role really made your name known here in America!!!”