Tuesday, November 22, 2005

AND HE'S ALSO DADDY OF TOEPICK!: Back a long time ago, when I used to watch JAG religiously, I always enjoyed the episodes in which Captain (and later Admiral) Thomas Boone made an appearance. The CAG had been Harmon Rabb the Elder's wingman the day he was shot down over Vietnam, and the actor playing him brought a certain gravitas to the role, tempered by a twinkle in the eye. I was happily surprised when he showed up on Alias a number of years later, playing FBI Director Kendall with the same wink-behind-the-deadly-serious-aura. It seemed particularly fitting that Kendall was the one to reveal what Sydney was doing during her two years of missingness -- on a show full of secrets, Kendall always seemed to have an extra one or two tucked away somewhere.

When it came time to cast JJ Abrams' newest show, only one actor didn't have to audition. JJ had written the part of Locke specifically for him. Upon being offered the role, the actor talked it over with his wife, held a garage sale to sell off their possessions from their Maryland home, and moved to Oahu. A tabula rasa, he's called it in interviews. From Lost's first episode onward, he's been the soul and spirit of a show that's full of lots of souls and spirits. It pains me to watch his flashbacks -- nothing happy ever happens there -- and I eagerly await the trademark twinkle whenever he sees into the truth behind someone else's pretense. We haven't seen much of him these last few episodes, but I suspect that's going to change once Locke meets Mr. Eko (or is it Mr. Ekcol?).

All of this is more or less by way of background to my actual thanks. Some time ago, I was noodling over a couple of things to write about, and happened upon the Fuselage, a sort of officially sanctioned TWoP for Losties. There's a section of the board where one can pose questions directly to the various actors (as well as anyone else involved with the show, from writers to producers to production assistants). Most of Lost's actors have answered a few questions here and there, but there's only one who takes the time to respond to every single posting by a fan. (Now that I think about it, there are two -- Jorge Garcia does an impressive job as well.) And it's obvious from what he writes that he is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be involved in a television phenomenon that has elevated him from HITG! status. In a world where fame and celebrity often seem to fall upon the most undeserving of people, it is gratifying to see it happen to someone who both deserves and appreciates it.

For all of this, I am thankful this Thanksgiving for Terry O'Quinn. Long may he walk the Island.

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