The recent rumors about Charlie Sheen being replaced by John Stamos on Three and a Half Men got me thinking recently. What’s the big deal here? Remember back during Bewitched when Samantha’s husband was Dick York one season and then Dick Sargent the next? They didn’t even have her remarry. Darrin just became an entirely different actor and we accepted it willingly.
I think there’s a reason for this. It only dawned on me the other day when I was talking to my girlfriend about all the people I’ve known in my life and how I sometimes wonder what happened to some of them.
Her take was amazing simple, yet so amazing. “Isn’t it great to know that you’ve had such an interesting cast of characters in your life. You’ve had some for a really long time, and now you have new ones to enrich it, too.”
How cool is that? I have a cast. That, of course, led me to what I refer to as the “Darrin Conundrum.”
We all have our own casts. If you think about it, you already knew that. For instance, the role of the husband may have one time been played by “Warren” but now “Rob” is handling the part. Or the ditzy girlfriend used to be played by “Diedre” but now it’s “Dee Dee.” We all have casting changes and rarely have problems with making them. So what’s the big deal with Charlie when Darrin was a no-brainer?
Many people have graced my cast over the course of My Life. Some are still co-starring in this episodic adventure I call life. The role of faithful friends has been played by Cassie, Cathy, Mike and Bobby for just about 30 years.
That’s a long time to be on a show in prime time, but look how long Susan Lucci has played Erica Cain on All My Children. Obviously, this cast of characters has had to deal with my never ending changes in location, last minute plots, ad-libs and miscues. I don’t know what I would do without my regulars. I only wish they had an awards show for these guys. They all deserve “Best Supporting Actor or Actress.”
Many of the other cast members have changed over the years. Perhaps they just weren’t working out in the plot anymore and had to be written out of the script of My Life. Others wanted a bigger, juicier role and tried to upstage me. Of course, as the star of my own life I can’t really let some egomaniac steal my show. They had to go away, often in a dramatic episode where someone has to move out and say it’s over for good.
As you can imagine, this has led to more than one sudden location change of the show. While I liked the small town twists of living in Port Orchard, the weather didn’t often cooperate. Sunny Florida is much a better venue and the backdrops of the palm trees really gives the show a tropical flavor that was missing up in the great Northwest.
But I digress. Back to the Darrin Conundrum. As I thought about casting, it occurred to me that never changing the cast would have really made the show feel kind of dull and stale after a time. It would always be the same plot lines and eventually, we’d have problems keeping the show fresh.
The way it’s cast now, I have a never ending array of special guest stars who grace this stage in My Life. While the many co-stars continue to deliver day in and day out, new guests come along from time to time, all with their unique and at times quirky talents that just make the show a lot more interesting. Sometimes I don’t even know the twists and turns of the plots that unfold before my eyes.
As I look back on the show, I am forever grateful for my one time regulars. The role of the borderline psychotic girlfriend, played brilliantly by Connie. Heather bravely accepted the role in the early episodes of the high school sweetheart who suffered a broken heart. And what would I have done without Donna, who had the thankless role of playing my mother all these years.
Of course, there have been others who have had more fleeting roles on the show. Some appear in just a few episodes, others try to keep their storyline going long after the audience has grown tired of them. And some, years down the line, return to the cast, creating nostalgic reunion episodes.
Unfortunately, as we all know, chemistry is essential with a cast. It’s like ingredients in a perfectly made blender drink. Every ingredient has to complement the other, otherwise all the booze in the world isn’t going to make that drink palatable.
Some people test really well but once you drop them in the cast, chaos ensues. I’ve caused some real chaos too over the years, particularly when I’ve made poor choices in the casting of a girlfriend or wife. There have even been moments when my regulars have walked right off the set, furious at my choice of actresses.
Of course, in the end they were right. All the booze in the world couldn’t make the drink go down smoothly. Changes had to be made in the casting of the role of the “significant other” or the show could gave gone down the dumper.
I can safely say that the current cast of characters are by far the most eclectic and interesting I’ve had. It’s a great mix of old and new who really keep the plot hopping. It’s probably more artistic, intellectual and smart than it has been in years. And I thank all those who have been in the cast for years, those who have returned after a time and those who are new. It’s an ensemble for the ages.
I don’t think we’ll be doing a “Darrin Stevens” anytime soon. Or even a “Shelley Hack.” Remember her? Of course you don’t. Fame is ever so fleeting.
Out on the Treasure Coast coming up with new plot lines and adventures for the cast,
— Robb
For the trivia buff, Shelley Hack took on the role of a Charlie’s Angel after Kate Jackson left.