Tony Villacana

[Jo Pierce - GAH Noir]

Ok. Of all the kids, I have to say that Tony Villacana was the most developed and most Major Minor on the show.

We know that Tony's character was dropped because of Michael Pare's other obligations, as he worked on his own career. But he was one of the better developed Minor characters - certainly among the kids.

That's him in the background...

[Houdiniderek]

How can you say that? The only reason that is the case is because they forced the part on him. I will grant that Pare played the part well, but he is only the most major Minor because no one seemed to recognize how great the other three main kids were.

[Jo Pierce - GAH Noir]

houdiniderek said:

How can you say that? The only reason that is the case is because they forced the part on him. I will grant that Pare played the part well, but he is only the most major Minor because no one seemed to recognize how great the other three main kids were.

I agree that the other three main kids didn't get their share of the love. Certainly Cyler and Paco never did, even though they were in the 3rd season.

I actually mean that we see more character development in Tony than in Cyler (Who I LOVE!!!) and Paco (Who is the silent Master). Rhonda is either a close second, or perhaps, when you consider her in Reseda Rose, gets as much as Tony.

In terms of family life, we know a bit about Tony's, a bit more about Rhonda, but I think nothing about Cyler and Paco.

In terms of aspirations, or maybe lack thereof?, we know more about Tony's and Rhonda's than the others.

Cyler certainly shines in many scenes. And Paco holds back until he comes in for the kill in Hand Painted Thai....

Now I don't mean that every time Tony shows up, he shines. In Best Desk Scenario, his apprearance is forced...

The fact that Tony & Rhonda were dating set us up for a lot more interaction too, which you couldn't bring out with the other two guys. In DitDBS, the whole jealous Tony subplot was good character development material. And in Fire Man we see it too. We also see his relationship with Ralph really take off. And we are interested in him enough to wonder if his relationship with Bill could have developed...

[Houdiniderek]

I'm not interested enough...you are generalizing everyone. I think he probably ended up in jail after he left Whitney because Ralph wasn't there to stop him. In fact, Bill probably busted him.

I think the DEVIL IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA was forced when Tony was the hostage. Why couldn't Rhonda or the others have been kidnapped? Too many times they were forced to the front, probably based on the fact that they were white where Cyler and Paco were not. Especially since Tony was the worst actor of the four.

[ThatGirl]

I don't think any of them were consummate actors exactly. The writers create the characters and the shallow producers decide what's going to be a "money maker". Paré had whatever that "thing" is that makes some actors stand out, whether they are the most talented or not. There have been so many great shows that were not even given a chance beyond three episodes because somebody just wasn't a ratings grabber. They don't care if it's a great show or not and they don't care if the performances are outstanding. They care if people will keep tuning in to watch the ads and buy the sponsors' toilet paper.

[Jo Pierce - GAH Noir]

It's really hard to say what a good actor is without knowing what they are really like in real life. Are they really acting? Or is that their actual style, mannerisms, speech patterns?

I tend to think that cervantes was probably not that ditzy.
I tend to think that Goins was not that much of a punk.
I tend to think that Grant was not that bubble gum chewing.
I tend to think that Pare was not that much of a punk.


Being a big Pare fan, I bet you have seen interviews of him. (I have only seen the GAH one on DVD). What is your take on the actor?

[ThatGirl]

I think he is very talented. When he is in a part with great writing, he is terrific. He has good comedic timing, and can make you cry. He's the perfect hero-type. I also think he would be terrific in remakes of some of those "snappy" old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies. I am sorry he has found a niche in horror movies because they hard for me to watch. He got to have a bit of a comic, sarcastic turn in "Bloodrayne 2, Deliverance", so it was enjoyable.

I hope there are still great things in his future.

[Houdiniderek]

I think he does great work portraying Tony, but I am talking about the Tony character and not the actor. To me, Tony was forced to the foreground for no good reason when all of those kids deserved the spotlight more without it being forced.

[ThatGirl]

I don't think they deserved it more. He had a star quality and marketability that the producers recognized. He still makes several movies a year, because there is just "something" about him that people like. They may not be great movies but he is a constantly working actor in a town with a lot of unemployed actors.

[Houdiniderek]

But so is Jesse D. Goins. Faye Grant did for a number of years too before she got married and stopped working so much. I just find it somewhat sad that he was marketed above the others when they all had a quality that kept them working...even now...well except Paco.

[ThatGirl]

I loved Faye Grant in "V". She was the only reason I watched because it was GROSS!