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Author Topic: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.  (Read 2542 times)

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Offline Taeylor Collins

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Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« on: July 27, 2008, 10:52:55 PM »
Does anyone know if JF just wanted to play Bramwell for a while or did he intend to never play Barney again if the show would have continued.  Wonder how many years he had on that last contract?  Does anyone know?  I always figured they intended to go back to regular time if the show hadn't been cancelled.
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Offline MagnusTrask

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2008, 12:16:10 AM »
I don't know, but I think they wrapped things up in the present and didn't intend to go back.   Well, they did have those ideas for future present storylines that ended up as that Roger Davis narrated thing (on the last DS tape).   From what's onscreen, though, it seems they presented a "happy ending" for the present, besides, that happy ending has so many obvious holes in it that I think they wouldn't have dared go back and try to continue with it.

I always thought the reason for 1840 and then PT1841 was regret over having left 1897.  Someone may have decided that the past just worked so much better for DS (more atmosphere, higher ratings) that they'd better get back to the past and stay there.   The final episode began a new storyline in 1841PT, the neck bite.    Of course that could have been our Barnabas who would later return to the RT present.
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Offline Gerard

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2008, 12:39:22 AM »
I don't think Mr. Frid said he never wanted to play Barnabas again, even on occasion as a vampire, bu that he wanted to do more.  Everyone else got to play other characters, yet he was Barnabas, Barnabas, Barnabas.  Even David Selby got to play different "Quentins;" they all had the same name, but there were two others who were not his original character.  In the 1840/41 storyline, Thayer David got to play - what? - forty, fifty different characters.  In the 1897 plot he got to play two different ones; Grayson Hall got to play two (well, one was Julia); TLATKLS got to play two.  One could even say that Nancy Barrett got to play two.

Gerard
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Offline Taeylor Collins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2008, 12:48:44 AM »
I agree he needed to stretch his limbs, I just wish I knew if the contract said he would never play Barney or he would play Barney after a certain number months had gone by etc.  I guess no one really knows.  Thanks for your comments though!!
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Offline Mysterious Benefactor

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2008, 02:03:02 AM »
From what Frid has said on the subject through the years, we can all be quite certain that his contract didn't say he would never play Barnabas again. He had absolutely no qualms about playing Barnabas. Who would? Barnabas was one of the most complicated characters ever created. What actor wouldn't dream to play the role? What his contract did say was the show had to create a character other than Barnabas for him to play. And frankly, given that every other major DS actor had already played multiple roles, that was only fair...
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Offline Taeylor Collins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2008, 02:16:31 AM »
I agree!
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Offline MagnusTrask

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2008, 02:57:37 AM »
His character was the main character, though.   It was a strange risk to take, to leave the main characters behind and start over with new ones.   The risk didn't really pay off either, since viewers really did want Barnabas there.
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Offline GooberCollins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2008, 03:05:12 AM »
He was hardly getting anything special. Barnabas - 40 IQ points + Johnny Cash makeover = Bramwell. If he had known what the writers were going to give him, he likely would have stayed as Barnabas.
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Offline Mysterious Benefactor

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2008, 03:07:56 AM »
Quote from: MagnusTrask on July 28, 2008, 02:57:37 AM
His character was the main character, though.   It was a strange risk to take, to leave the main characters behind and start over with new ones.   The risk didn't really pay off either, since viewers really did want Barnabas there.

Though not necessarily all viewers wanted Barnabas there. And if one can believe what many have written throughout the years, they even found Bramwell appealing in ways they never found Barnabas.  [ghost_wink]


Quote from: GooberCollins on July 28, 2008, 03:05:12 AM
He was hardly getting anything special. Barnabas - 40 IQ points + Johnny Cash makeover = Bramwell. If he had known what the writers were going to give him, he likely would have stayed as Barnabas.

Actually, Frid has said he found Bramwell very enjoyable to play.
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Offline GooberCollins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2008, 03:16:45 AM »
This is why, in the future, I should pick my brain for comments from the actors before I go *BAM* on the post button. [ghost_wacko]
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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2008, 04:28:49 AM »
This discussion reminds me of my own excitement at seeing Jonathan's one-man show for the first time.  I had never seen him play any other characters other than Barnabas and Bramwell, and up until that point ('91), I had never seen him out of character.  My dad made me go to bed before I could see JF on one of the late night shows back in the 60s! 

It seems as though towards the end of DS, JF was tired of playing Barnabas only, and from what I've read, he was anxious to spread his wings again, get back into theater work, and play different characters.
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Offline Taeylor Collins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2008, 04:52:21 AM »
Quote from: GooberCollins on July 28, 2008, 03:16:45 AM
This is why, in the future, I should pick my brain for comments from the actors before I go *BAM* on the post button. [ghost_wacko]

Eh it's okay Goober I have done the same thing.  And I think I have asked a lot of "OLD" questions too. I am now trying to learn that the search feature is my friend. 
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Offline Midnite

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2008, 05:54:47 AM »
Quote from: Taeylor on July 28, 2008, 04:52:21 AM
I am now trying to learn that the search feature is my friend.

 [banana]
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Offline Taeylor Collins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2008, 05:58:42 AM »
Glad I could make you happpy with that statement Mid.  And I do aplogize for posting any questions that were posted before.   [ghost_wink]
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Offline GooberCollins

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Re: Johnathan Frid's Contract renewal-demanding a new character.
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2008, 06:01:28 AM »
Oh, let's not be too hard on her. When I joined my first forum a few years ago, it took me a while to get the hang of things.
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A growing collection of humorous DS videos. Last updated 11-3-08

Did a large procession wave their torches as my head fell in the basket,
And was everybody dancing on the casket?

Note: I will not respond to private messages.
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