Y&R: Not!Malcolm Interview

[Chris B]

It would be like recasting Nick with Carl from B&B. Can't you look at that pic and see he doesn't have the sex appeal to play the role? Can Rosanne play Jill? It's not pigeon holding the character or being shallow. Certain things are required for certain characters.

This is why I don't want Dru back either in the form of a recast or Victoria Rowell. These writers either don't care or don't realize how important these characters are. If Dru returns she'll probably be like the black characters on other soaps. Sitting on the sidelines, wheeled out for their kids or to be secondary to their white co-star in work related stories.

[SFK]

Well like I said in my last post, I think his skin color is PART of the equation, but the greater issue is one of bone structure. Not that DM didn't have his female fans back in the day, there were plenty of girls who crushed on Eddie Winslow, but point blank, he is no Shemar. Even Boris is more brown-skinned, but he garners that same Shemar-like reaction.

This issue is bigger than Malcolm, but I do tend to think that the predominantly white PTB have too often in the past played fast and loose when it comes to recasting black characters. You can't give me Alimi Ballard and Jason Olive or Monti Sharp and Terrell Tilford and expect me to believe that this is the same men. Generally speaking, such truths within the black community get ignored on soaps so I suppose it doesn't even matter to a lot of people, but simply put, it's hard for me to reconcile that such disparate looking versions of a character have lived the same life.

[DRW50]

I think people might be slightly more positive if the show hadn't had such open contempt for their black characters over the past year and a half. It's just uncomfortable either way, because either this is some form of, "They all look alike," or they are, as they have done before, setting the recast up to fail and then saying, "Don't blame us, we tried," which I also believe they had in mind with the horrible Tyra/Singing Child, Tyra the new Dru, Tyra/Neil, and finally the Tyra/ Devon in Taboo Genoa City Style stories.

[SFK]

That's what I'm saying. No matter what mental/emotional journey of development Malcolm took, his looks were intrinsic to the character, and his popularity and staying power. You can't just remove that from the equation, and it really does seem ballsy/stupid/shocking/laughable that they would.

[classicmoment]

Agree with bolded

[SFK]

I honestly think that in the particular case of Malcolm, things like good acting and recasting with a familiar face yadda yadda take a back seat to what fans expect to see in that role, which is eye candy. They aren't going to recast Brnadon Beemer with Shawn from Boy Meets World. Some gorgeous new non-acting model would have garnered a more positive reaction than DM. Even KSJ, a good looking man, but at this point, even he could have been more easily recast with DM. You just can't ignore the fan reaction based on looks that SM had, fans are shaking their heads and laughing.

[DeeeDee]

:lol:

How he keeps getting cast is STILL a mystery.

[SFK]

DeeeDee, fix your pic!

[Khan]

It's going to be really sad, though, when Darius wins the Emmy next year. ;-)

[MoTheGreat]

She not only a strong black woman but she'e too dark look what they did to the lady that plays Olivia.

[DRW50]

Yes, I had the same thought. I also thought the woman who played Kim was a very good dramatic actress, but again, she was dark.

I just read the part where Darius said he goes around calling the actors by their character names.

At least he knows he has Irna Phillips in his corner!

[SFK]

Oh if Ms. Phillips was writing the show, Darius would be in his corner all right.