Non-MX Interviews: Michael Easton (8/08, 9/09 TV Guide)
Excerpt from TV Guide 8/13/08: Michael Easton
The Dark Knight
By Nelson Branco 2008-08-13
One Life to Live’s ultimate loner John McBain may be misunderstood, but his portrayer Michael Easton believes he’s an open book. Plus: Easton’s heading to Toronto to promote his new graphic novel, Soul Stealer
TVGuide.ca: It’s nice to finally speak to you. Todd and John are by far my favourite One Life to Live super-couple!
Michael Easton: Thanks. I love working with Trevor St. John [Todd]. The only problem we have when we work together is we can’t stop laughing. The first time we worked together was when Todd and John were looking for Marcie and Tommy. We were told we’d never work together again after that storyline, but when the scenes aired everyone loved them. Trevor and I had a lot of fun and hope their rivalry continues.
TVG: Are you happy that John’s lighter side is being explored through his romance with Blair? I loved the scene when Blair asked John if he owned anything that wasn’t black.
ME: Yes, I am! I’ve always tried to bring out John’s comedic side but the majority of the time it would have been inappropriate. I think comedy is important in daytime. I’ve been fortunate in my career to work opposite very funny actors. For instance, on Days of our Lives, I worked with Robert Mailhouse [ex-Brian] and Matthew Ashford [ex-Jack]. And of course, Tuc Watkins [ex-David] here on One Life to Live. Blair, David, and Todd are the perfect characters to help bring John out of his shell, so that’s why we’re seeing more life in John.
TVG: When Roger Howarth [Paul, As The World Turns] left as Todd, I immediately thought of you for the part because I was huge fan of yours when you played the breakout role of Caleb the vampire on Port Charles. I read recently One Life offered you either Todd or John. Can you explain why you chose McBain over Manning?
ME: You know, I’m not sure how true any of that is, Nelson. I don’t remember that ever being the case. Once, I was asked if I wanted to play an existing or new character, but they never mentioned Todd. As an actor, I would always err on the side of taking on a new character. And I think it worked out, because Trevor is perfect as Todd. I had known Roger in passing, but wasn’t so familiar with the role of Todd.
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TVG: Confession time: I’m a closet John McBain fan. I know it’s popular to hate on John, but in the past year I’ve been really digging him.
ME: Listen, I don’t think I liked John in the beginning, either. He’s definitely the hardest character I’ve ever played. It took me a year or two for me even to remotely like him. [Conversely], Caleb was so interesting to play because he was this outpouring of emotion - almost like an open wound. Then you have John who is really guarded, so it was a huge departure for me. Everyone John’s loved has been killed, so he’s closed himself off emotionally.
TVG: John’s a very rare and unique breed of soap character. I hate when soap characters aren’t affected by the death of a loved one. When John’s lover Caitlin was murdered, it threw him - and rightfully so - off his axis. Usually in the soap world, characters mourn for a few scenes and then move on.
ME: Which is why John was unlikable for a while. I give the audience a lot of credit though for hanging in there and giving him a chance. Slowly people are warming up to him, and John’s [experiencing a rebirth of sorts now].
TVG: Of all the soap characters out there, I relate most to John. Five years ago, my lover died. All my friends worry about me because I haven’t been with anyone romantically since then. I think John and I are pretty loyal in that respect - although, unlike John, I have a great sense of humour. In this soap universe of ours, you lose your soulmate and another one pops up [hello: Bo Buchanan]. I’d like to think true love is rarer than most soap writers would have us believe. I also think it’s refreshing to watch a character who doesn’t suffer from verbal and emotional diarrhea like John.
ME: As an actor, it’s been fulfilling yet challenging to find other ways to express John’s pain and sadness. And you’re right - it’s been [groundbreaking] to play a character that never said, “I love you” for three years. And then when he did, John retracted it! Daytime writes these fantastic romantic male characters who are wealthy, but of course John’s the complete opposite of that ideal soap hero. It’s a difficult world for John to live in. He doesn’t have a lot to offer anyone. But I think the audience sympathizes with the character even if they may not like him so much. Though I hear from fans who are married to cops that John is a [realistic depiction].
TVG: Who are you more like as a character, Tanner, Caleb or John?
ME: I’ll tell ‘ya, Tanner was so long ago I don’t even remember [working on Days]! I was only supposed to play Caleb for 10 weeks, but something strange and beautiful happened with the role. Caleb certainly resonated with me because it was a real departure for me as an actor. But I’m more like John. I’m quiet, reserved and a little damaged.
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TVG: So we’re not going to lose you now that you’re a successful author? There are always these rumours that you’re leaving daytime, which puzzles me.
ME: I don’t get it either. I don’t know where these rumours start. Fans probably assume I’m thinking of [bolting] because I had a series of short contracts on Port Charles. I like short-term contracts because I never want to overstay my welcome. But I’m very fortunate to be on daytime, and play a great role like John. One Life to Live is the only show I’ve re-signed with. Most of my TV projects get cancelled! I really love everyone I work with, and I’m not just saying that. As long as there is more story to tell, I’ll be here.
TVG: I doubt you’ll ever overstay your welcome. Daytime needs more unique actors like you and Trevor.
ME: Thank you. I think Trevor is fascinating to watch. He certainly was robbed of an Emmy nomination during Todd’s execution storyline. I’m sure everyone who was nominated that year was worthy, but in daytime there’s a certain level of performance you need to reach to be recognized for an Emmy Award. But Trevor and I try to stay within the means and realities of the writing and characters and not [indulge in histrionics that usually merit nominations]. Which is why I don’t think it’s within my grasp to earn an Emmy nomination.
TVG: You’ve been in daytime since 1989. Are you worried about the future of daytime TV?
ME: You know, we were talking about this the other day. Look at Gossip Girl, they are on the cover of every magazine in the country, but we [attract the same ratings] five days a week. It’s kind of interesting. I certainly think more people are watching soaps than the Nielsen’s suggest. Having said that, daytime needs to stop telling the same stories over and over again. We need to challenge our audience so we can engage them. Port Charles certainly did that. There's one good thing about facing cancellation and that's you tend to be riskier and more creative.
TVG: Are you psyched about the burgeoning Todd-Blair-John-Marty quadrangle? It’s quite the controversial and risky storyline.
ME: Yeah, but Susan Haskell, speaking of Toronto people, and Trevor are doing really interesting things with the story. Susan’s a fantastic actress. Hopefully, we’ll build towards something explosive with this group of characters. I wasn’t sure if I was happy about John and Blair’s romance, but [I’m reserving judgment until I see it play out]. I try not to ask a lot of questions. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meeting with Ron Carlivati about storyline. I never sat with Dena Higley nor Josh Griffith and Michael Malone. There was a story out there once that I liked to sit down with the writers all the time, but that’s not true. We’ll talk when we pass each other in the hallway, but that’s it.
TVG: Most fans still think John and Natalie are a couple! I don't think they got the memo.
ME: I know. And it’s been what - two years?
TVG: I’m a little worried about your chemistry with Susan Haskell. Have you worked with her yet?
ME: Not really. I’m excited to work with her, but we haven’t had an opportunity yet.
TVG: Do you have any other plans while you’re in Toronto? Is your wife coming with you?
ME: Actually, the weekend I’m there marks our anniversary of meeting in Toronto, so we’re going to [re-live] that night. We were also engaged in Toronto. I can’t wait to visit again, for sure. I have fond memories of Toronto and I love visiting there.
TVG: We’ll have to get you a key to the city, but don’t tell Susan.
© TV Guide
TV Guide 9/2/09: Michael Easton
Michael Easton's Soul-ful Second Job
by Michael Logan September 02, 2009 03:49 PM EST
One Life to Live star Michael Easton (John) is causing much excitement on the sci-fi/fantasy circuit with his newest graphic novel Soul Stealer: Blood and Rain. It’s a follow-up to his 2008 hit Soul Stealer, about a 3,000-year-old lovesick Etruscan warrior who retrieves souls from hell. Easton recently intro’d the sequel at Chicago’s Wizard World (it’s available at dmfcomics.com/). Next year, he’ll release Soul Stealer: Last to Die, the final installment of the trilogy, and yet another graphic novel, Tales of the Green Woman (DC/Vertigo), which he co-wrote with acclaimed horror king Peter Straub (The Talisman). I caught up with Easton at San Diego’s Comic-Con where many fans knew him from the soaps but many more knew him from his other life.
Your career is the wildest. You’ve consistently straddled the worlds of soap and sci-fi, including series roles in Mutant X, Total Recall 2070 and VR.5. And you really mixed it up on Port Charles-going from priest to vampire.
I love the whole sci-fi/fantasy/horror subculture. One time I had a guy take me down to [the vampire goth club] Coven 13, where people file down their teeth. Fascinating! You see everything at Comic-Con. Just today I met this great group of kids called the Victorian Steam Punks. They’re approaching life as if steam is still powering the world, as if the world stopped with the steam culture. Their dress is gothic, they have the pale skin, the Victorian hats, they do the whole Victorian thing. There’s great, exciting creativity here.
Your Soul Stealer saga is dark, depraved, intensely romantic, spiritually transcendent-certainly not your standard superhero fare. In fact, there’s nothing like it. What’s going on in the heart and soul of Michael Easton? What do these graphic novels say about the real you?
There’s so much disposable entertainment these days. I think we’re all looking for the same thing-something that makes us feel something. My intention with Soul Stealer is to create something that stays with you a while. I’m overly dramatic and romantic and all that silly stuff and then [Soul Stealer illustrator] Chris Shy comes in and creates these beautiful images of men and women that are powerful and brutal and operatic.
It’s a great match. Shy is a superstar in the comics world. Every illustration in your books is breathtaking and gorgeous enough to frame.
Isn’t he amazing? Chris is working as a visual consultant on the new “Conan the Barbarian” movie. How we met is the craziest story. I had taken my idea for Soul Stealer to a company that tried to pair me with various artists. They were all good but their work was very bright and colorful and happy and that’s so not Soul Stealer. It just wasn’t going to work. So then I’m walking through a Virgin Record Store in Los Angeles and find the book Studio Ronin and I knew from the cover art, which was done by Chris, that this was the artist I wanted! I bought the book and carried it with me for an entire year. I kept being told that Chris didn’t do graphic novels. I got drunk one night and expressed to my wife, Ginevra, how frustrating it was to not be able to find the right artist and how much I wanted Chris. Ginevra said “Email him.” So I did. Here’s what I wrote: “I have an idea for a graphic novel. Would you like to hear it?” And he emails me back and says yes! Chris lives and works in Madison, Wisconsin, so we started working together over the internet and by phone and we didn’t meet until a year later. We kinda did the Elton John-Bernie Taupin thing! We were 100 pages into the first book before we actually met face-to-face. He’s a fascinating, great guy, completely non-compromising. His integrity humbles me.
With your life as an author going so well, are you still happy in Llanview?
I’m very thankful for my day job. It means I don’t have to pander to anybody. Chris and I had offers to do Soul Stealer at bigger publishing companies but we chose not to because they started to have a lot of restrictions. They wanted creative involvement. One company wanted to cut out all the mythology.
That’s the guts of your story!
Exactly! In some ways I feel like I compromise myself on the soap. We all compromise to a certain extent, no matter what we do for a living. Like the Bob Dylan song says, ya gotta serve somebody. But this is the one place where Chris and I are not serving anyone-we got together with the people at DMF Comics who believed so much in Soul Stealer that they literally said, “As long as you come in with this exact page count, we’re fine with whatever you do.” That’s rare.
What’s your advice to anyone wanting to crack the comics world?
Do what you want to do and do what you think is good and you’ll find an audience. You don’t need 800 million people liking what you do. You may be at a booth at Comic-Con with only 30 people in line, but they are your audience, and that’s good. Success is a funny thing. When I started work on VR.5 there were big trailers and champagne and fruit baskets. But after a while they weren’t even fixing my plumbing, and that’s when you realize the show’s in trouble. Our producer was John Sacret Young, who did that great series China Beach, and I remember someone on the crew saying, “John, I don’t think we’re going to make it to a second season.” And John said: “The Prisoner only last 17 episodes.” That always stuck with me. When I was young, I lived in Ireland for four years where The Prisoner was revered. It still is, all over the world. The only booth at Comic-Con I absolutely had to stop at was AMC’s because they’re remaking The Prisoner [as a mini-series] and I wanted to watch the previews. Just because something doesn’t last long doesn’t mean it doesn’t last.
It seems like the whole sci-fi/fantasy genre is one of unlimited possibilities and ever-expanding popularity-quite a contrast to our shaky soap scene.
One of the problems with daytime is that the shows have become projects-by-committee. Everybody has to justify their position and have input. Everybody compromises. Everything gets a little watered down. And that can kill you in the end. You look at a terrific show like Guiding Light going off the air and you realize that none of us can afford to be complacent. You can’t wait until you get cancelled to develop a sense of urgency. You have to study and understand the marketplace long before that happens, and figure out what people want and deliver it. You can’t just be hanging on. I think that’s what the soaps have been doing for far too long. It’s like that Richard Bach book, Illusions, where all the little creatures are hanging on for dear life, afraid to let go and let the river take them somewhere new. Sometimes you just have to let go and jump in. The soap medium still has great possibilities. We just don’t realize our potential.
© Tv Guide