COVER FEATURE
Supernatural TV studs
The world in turmoil turns to escapist fare. In dire economic times we look to uplifting stories. But there are dark themes haunting our psyches too. Television is cashing in on these peculiar diversions that seem to be captivating viewers. The HBO vampire series True Blood has been successful for multiple seasons and Vampire Diaries is doing well too, so it’s no surprise that MTV should be taking their summer series “Teen Wolf” to the next level and beyond.
For MTV The prospect of presenting a scripted drama boosted their credibility. Of course this put the network in a whole different light allowing the creativity to soar beyond the reality realm. Remember this was the network that brought viewers to the Jersey Shore. Now supernatural studs and highly charged animal instincts would kick in for a distinct change in the entertainment menu.
Tyler Posey plays one of the key characters named Scott McCall, a student who gets initiated into werewolfdom when he is attacked by a mysterious force, hence the title teen wolf. It’s based on the Michael J. Fox film of the same name but the young actor takes his inner drama cues from the Jack Nicholson movie “Wolf.” Instinctually Posey tries to project more than just the horror/supernatural angle.
“There’s a metaphor here for going from teen to young man to adult; jumping from hairless boy to hairy beast. It’s a relatable metaphor”
While the hormonal component might escape a few viewers the scary side is just what the network marketing department ordered. There is a lot of teen skin that is figured into the viewer quotient as well. The element that will sell “Teen Wolf” is a sexy brooding undercurrent that hopefully will charge-up television audiences.
Cast alongside Tyler are other attractive boy/men; Tyler Hoechlin as Derek and Colton Haynes as Jackson. According to insiders behind the scenes the beefcake element will be explored even more for the next season. And thanks to male hungry “Teen Wolf” fans the show heads for another season of sprouting hair follicles and sharpened fangs.
Tyler Hoechlin, who began acting at nine years old, had his breakout performance early on, starring alongside Tom Hanks in the critically acclaimed “Road to Perdition.” Soon after, he landed the role of Martin Brewster on the WB’S “7th Heaven.” Now as he settles into his role on “Teen Wolf” it’s easy to see that his acting chops are as ferocious as his character. Colton Haynes is another supernatural stud who is on his way to becoming one of Hollywood’s leading young stars. No stranger to the world of television werewolves, Colton starred as Brett Crezski, the town’s football star, and resident werewolf, on ABC-TV’s 2010 series “The Gates.”
Vol.37 No.4 September 2011