‘Moonlight’ Star #AlexOLoughlin Wonders If ‘Twilight’ Could Have Helped Save His Vampire Series

Some fun from the past ….. an old article about ‘Moonlight’ when Alex was actually doing promotion for ‘The Back-Up Plan’ in 2010.

Just when you thought you didn’t have enough vampire-related pop culture floating around this summer — what with “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” opening on June 30, the third season of “True Blood” and ABC’s new The Gates” — the CW made an announcement that excited some and shocked other when they decided to air reruns of CBS’s short-lived “Moonlight” after summer reruns of “The Vampire Diaries.”

The announcement came only a few weeks after we sat down to talk with “Moonlight’s” leading man, Alex O’Loughlin, to chat about his romcom “The Back-Up Plan.”

What with vampires being all the craze nowadays, we figured we would talk to him about his own pre-“Twilight” fanged drama, not knowing how timely the conversation would soon become.

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“It’s a really cool genre,”

Alex told us about being a part of a vampire show.

“I loved the Anne Rice books when I was younger.

I sort of had an idea of the character before I even read the script, I had my own vampire in my head and when I read the ’Moonlight’ pilot, my character in that genre, I was like, dude, I know you. I knew how I was going to do it.”

Despite a fan base that really supported the show, “Moonlight” was canceled by CBS after its fourth episode back in 2007 and only lasted one season. The show was much more traditional than “Twilight,” meaning its vampires were susceptible to sun and silver and slept in coffins. While other shows like “True Blood” and “The Vampire Diaries” have been able to make that classic formula work, its arguably because “The Twilight Saga” revitalized the genre.

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“The vampire sort of flavor comes in and out of the entertainment world every so many years. We sort of felt like we were the beginning of this new phase,”

said Alex when we asked him if, had “Moonlight” debuted after Twilight” got big, the show would have lasted longer.

“I don’t know what those answers are, but I loved ’Moonlight.’ I put a lot into it and I got a love of amazing fans who still write to me and still rewatch [the show] — we only did a year, you know but they were very invested in the characters and the story.

I just don’t know, it’s speculative. But I thought it was a good show!”

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With our culture so infused with vamps, its hard for their not to be some overlap in style and substance, and Alex joked that sometimes he feels that actors or writers have borrowed from him and “Moonlight.”

“I have vampires in my head all the time,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m like, ’Hey, I did that before you! That’s my move!

Of all the vampire shows and films out now, Alex shared that “True Blood” is his favorite.

“It’s more than a vampire show,” he said.

“I like what Alan Ball has done for the show and all of the characters and stuff. The setting is great.”

And, though Alex’s next project is working on the very unsupernatural remake of “Hawaii Five-O,” we’re crossing our fingers he could potentially make a fanged cameo on one of our favorite vampire shows some day soon.

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11 Comments

Filed under Alex O´Loughlin, Interviews, Mick wants to kiss you gently with his fangs., Moonlight, Transcript

11 responses to “‘Moonlight’ Star #AlexOLoughlin Wonders If ‘Twilight’ Could Have Helped Save His Vampire Series

  1. vanduyn

    I don’t think it was canceled after the 4th episode?? Definitely news to me

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    • vanduyn

      Sorry . . excellent pics! Thanks so much 🙂

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    • Vanduyn, Moonlight was canceled after 16 episodes. They weren’t clear in this article that they were talking about the 4 episodes ordered after 12 do to the writers strike.
      Alex once told us we missed out on 5 additional episodes do to the writers strike. We would have gotten 22-25 episodes had it been a normal uninterrupted season. They usually order 12-13 episodes of a new show to see how it floats. If it does well they will order a full season. But the writers strike cost everyone across the board a full season. Moonlight’s ratings kept getting better and better as did the story to the chagrin of the critics who initially paned the show even before it aired. We will never know where Alex’s path would have led him if Moonlight lasted more then 16 episodes. But then we wouldn’t have enjoyed seeing him as Steve McGarrett that has fit him so well. He will always be Mick St John in my heart of hearts, but there is always room for Steve and any new characters Alex brings to life in the future….assuming he continues to keep acting when H5-0 comes to it’s conclusion. *please, please, please take a break if you need one Alex, but please ♥ keep acting* ♥

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  2. SanDee

    The vamps in “Moonlight” didn’t sleep in coffins–they slept in industrial freezers! I’d gladly get frostbite for a night with Mick in his freezer!

    I’m a big believer in fate and that things will go as they are meant to be. I would have loved more seasons of Moonlight, but Alex was destined for other things. And when H50 has run its course, he will move on to the next opportunity the universe has waiting for him and his talent.

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  3. karen

    Lots of errors in this article. You start to wonder what is true.

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  4. Regina Filange

    I wasn’t really into the whole vampire genre. I did watch twilight to see what all the fuss was about but I definitely wasn’t one of those crazy fans. So that was part of the reason I was so hesitant to watch Moonlight. After seeing Alex in Three Rivers, The Back Up Plan, and Oyster Farmer while I was waiting for another season of Hawaii Five-0 I decided to give it a chance. I ordered it through Amazon and gave it a whirl. I’m glad that I did. It was way better than I expected. While Alex will always be Steve for me I can see the appeal. I’m pretty sure it was the longer hair and the face that he wasn’t as toned as he is now😜 That made me hesitant. Both as Mick and Steve he looks good I just prefer Steve more as far as looks go. As far as emotions go I kind of have to go for Mick. Not that Steve doesn’t care about his loved ones Mick just seems more something…I can’t put my finger on it. Romantic maybe. I don’t know.

    I’m sad for Alex that he had the heartbreak of a failed show but when one door closes another opens and thank God one did because he’s very yummy.😋 And I love Five-0. I will be sad for us all when he’s not on tv on a regular basis but hopefully his hiatus won’t last long. Just long enough to heal himself and spend quality time with his family.

    This year I’m thankful for all of my family and friends as usual but I’m also VERY thankful for our mutual love and adoration for our dear Alex. To all of my fellow Americans on this site who celebrate Thanksgiving(and Alex), Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And to those around the world who follow have a great day. I must go and watch an episode or two or three or more of Hawaii Five-0 to make up for no new episode this week.

    As alway ladies thanks for all of your hard work on this beautiful site!❤️

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  5. karen

    Those of us who discovered Alex in Moonlight fell in love with him as Mick. I still love Mick more than any other character Alex has portrayed. Jack runs a close second. I like Steve, but Mick is the one for me. Thanks for all the Moonlight posts. I love them.

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  6. kathysr

    I discovered Mick in snipets on YouTube because I’ve never been interested in vampires and I had never even heard of the show. Alex is breathtaking as Mick. He really was wonderful on that show. He made me have compassion for vampires!! He played a very romantic character, full of longing and regret that he was a vampire and could no longer be a part of the human world in ways that he deeply missed. He saved Beth over and over. He was madly in love with her but knew that it wasn’t possible. Or he thought it wasn’t possible. His love, longing and yearning were palpable. You can feel it. I also love Mick’s look with the longer, wavy hair, very sensual. I love longer, fuller hair on guys. Alex is a really gorgeous guy. His hair is one of his most beautiful and sexy features. It keeps getting shorter and shorter on Five-O. I miss the longer, wavy hair in the first few years. I know, I’m shallow. Alex has gorgeous hair!

    He was also excellent on THREE RIVERS, some episodes of which I’ve been able to watch on YouTube. And just as sexy, gorgeous and breathtaking as always. I can truly see why everyone fell in love with him on MOONLIGHT. Let’s just call it his starter series.

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    • vanduyn

      Kathysr you said it so well! He was deeply in love with Beth.
      His love, longing and yearning were palpable. You can feel it — so true!!
      Although I feel Alex was born to play McGarrett, Mick will be my forever love ♥♥

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