Stu Horvath
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
24 April 2008
Fans of the CBS vampire drama “Moonlight” are out for blood.
To ensure their favorite show gets picked up for a second season, they have coordinated with the American Red Cross for a series of charity blood drives, and the show’s star, Alex O’Loughlin, has stepped up to become a national spokesman for the charity.
“The blood drive is so fantastic. It’s just great to be a service,” says O’Loughlin. “It’s the American Red Cross. It’s awesome. I’m their vampy spokesperson!”
Fans have organized dozens of blood drives across the country, including several in New York City following O’Loughlin’s appearances at the New York Comic Con and CBS’ “Early Show.” Today, another drive is scheduled outside the “ Late Show With David Letterman.” Pledges can also be made at local Red Cross blood centers.
Fan-run actions to save beloved television shows have become increasingly popular in recent years, more so after the peanut campaign to save CBS’ “Jerico” succeeded in landing the show a second season after it was canceled. “Moonlight” co-star Jason Dohring is no stranger to fan campaigns: Devotees of his previous show, ” Veronica Mars,” flooded the offices of The CW network with Mars bars in an attempt to save the show.
“The ‘Veronica Mars’ fan base was a little more youth-oriented because we were in high school,” says Dohring. “Now it’s the mothers who come up and ask me to drink their blood.”
O’Loughlin’s heart pumps faster when he talks about his show’s fans. “Fans of the show are so devoted, so giving of their time and energy,” says O’Loughlin. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of something that people care about as much as I do.”
“I really care about this show. Actually, I bleed for the show regularly. I’m forever getting thrown through windows and actually bleeding.”
“Moonlight” follows O’Loughlin’s adventures as Mick St. John, a private investigator who was reluctantly turned into a vampire and has since devoted himself to protecting the humans of Los Angeles instead of preying on them.
O’Loughlin is hoping his turn as an immortal lasts a long, long time. “I’ve been thinking about getting my teeth ground down and elongated,” he says. “I’m thinking about making that kind of commitment to being a vampire.”
My Thoughts
- I always wonder if fans campaigns can ever actually make a difference whether a show is renewed or not. I guess it can only make a real difference, if the fans efforts actually inspire advertisers to come on board with the production.
- Glad Alex did not go as far as altering his teeth 😀 (Luckily we all know that he is a jokester in most of his interviews)
Magazine scan
Alex O´Loughlin ~ An Intense Study 