One more reason not to post or read All That Chat... or...The "why isn't _____ playing Tarzan?

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:15pm

I rarely start threads and don't feel passionate about Tarzan either way, other than how poorly cast it is but there are such absurd suggestions as to who would have been a "better" Tarzan on ATC (like most everything that gets said there) that I feel I must add my two cents.

They mentioned Cheyenne Jackson and Patrick wilson. Now I know both have their die hard fans and I appreciate that, but the two could not be more wrong on every level. Even moreso than Strickland. I won't get into the obvious reasons why they're both so wrong as not to offend and it's not what my post is about.

If we're really scratching our heads and doing the "why isn't this person playing the part" thing, than let's throw in some men that make PERFECT sense. How about Scott Porter, Andy Karl, or even Richard Blake? Porter is darn near perfect, Andy Karl looks so much like the animated Tarzan, it's uncanny(and is in incredible shape) and while not a HUGE Blake fan, he STILL makes more sense.

And please don't tell me any of the aforementioned read "too old". Only blake looks a little rough around the edges, which wouldn't be a problem on stage. Karl and Scott don't look a day out of College. Someone mentioned that Disney is against anything or anyone that has any viable sexual "heat". That's the only reason I can think they hired the almost "Ken Doll-ish" Strickland.

End of rant. I'm not saying it would cure *all* that ails Tarzan, but it sure would make a dent to have the TITLE CHARACTER, someone far more exciting (IMHO).

[jimnysf]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:22pm

I think Richard Blake would be an excellent choice although I don't agree that he looks "rough around the edges".
I stopped posting on ATC a few months ago. I got tired of seeing posts deleted and if you make the mistake to ask in a post why a certain post was deleted, they suspend your account until you contact them.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:24pm

I disagree about Richard Blake but Andy Karl and Scott Porter would both have been incredible ideas. As for ATC's ideas, please, not even worth discussing. I think it's the Disney "fear" thing too.

[liotte]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:26pm

I wish people would stop bitching about Tarzan, especially since most people haven't even seen it and are just basing their opinions on other people's posts about it.
Go see the show, Josh does an excellent job and is great as Tarzan.
If you want to make a difference, go work for a casting agency and bitch to them.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:28pm

I only ever joined this board BECAUSE All That Crap was such a despicable place. To add to the "suspension" thing, it all depends on who they favor as far as posters go. I've never seen monitors work that way. I have long wished they'd go out of business. But back on topic, if Andy Karl was playing Tarzan, I would book my ticket and fly 3,000 miles to see him asap.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:30pm

I haven't seen TARZAN, but I've seen pictures and can definitely say Josh Strickland doesn't fit my idea of what Tarzan should look like, so why shouldn't I be able to say that? I mean I think Lea DeLaria is really talented too but I wouldn't want to see her as Peter Pan.

I'm always amazed when people's idea of defending a show they love is to say people who don't feel the same way should stop bitching about it.

I like the Scott Porter idea too. I want to see a hunky MAN playing Tarzan.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:31pm

Liotte, no one is bashing Strickland, at least that wasn't the purpose of my thread. I was disgusted with the over the top BAD suggestions mentioned on ATC. Btw, I know the problem starts with casting and said as much in a thread, yesterday. I never fault the actor. Can you blame me for wanting to see the guys i mentioned in loincloths, don't think so.
Updated On: 4/16/06 at 01:31 PM

[FosterChild]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:37pm

I think Andy Karl would be PERFECT for the part and Disney would be lucky to have him. BUT I don't know that I'd want him to have to say all that terrible dialogue (yes, liotte, I DID see it). I mean, wasn't all that "HSS Donkeyballs" stuff from "Slut" bad enough?!?

[liotte]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:37pm

Bree, I'd be all for Cheyenne in a loincloth and playing that role. But I'm sure the casting director chose Josh Strickland for a reason, and until you see his performance, don't judge. In regards to his looks and what Tarzan should look like- that will vary with every person, there will always be people who aren't happy. Rather than criticize that Josh is too skinny, not enough muscle and bulk, etc, just go see his performance as Tarzan and try to get over that not every single person looks the same in real life as you would like them to in your mind. I bet most of us don't look the way we should or would like in our minds either.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:39pm

The movie Tarzan DEFINITELY had a body on him.

[liotte]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:41pm

He has no waist, his face looks like Jay Leno's chin, he has no butt, and his feet are enormous. He also has no facial hair or body hair, I wasn't aware the Tarzan had a razor in the jungle.

And you want to use that picture as a realistic comparison to real life??

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:42pm

I did see it Liotte. Nuff' said, as you seem very passionate about JS. Let's put it this way, the animated figure was based on Mel Gibson, if memory serves. It's as odd as casting Benanti to do Wedding Singer. And for the record, in case I didn't make it clear, I think Cheyenne Jackson would be laugh out loud, hold your sides, WRONG.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:43pm

Liotte,

Since when is Disney realistic? You think Shuler Hensley looks like a monkey?

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:44pm

It's really off casting all around. Again, not the fault of the actors Liotte, so no need to so vehemently defend Strickland.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 1:48pm

If for nothing else, this thread is a welcome and refreshing diversion from all the JLY speculation.

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:30pm

From seeing the pictures of Strickland, I kinda like him. Granted, I've not see his performance but other than being a little skinny, he's got the look. I totally think he should have body hair; if anything other than lack of Schick Razors in the jungle, it adds to his ape appeal. And of course, in a cartoon they aren't going to have a hairy-chested Tarzan; but if you add an A&F model-worthy actor on live stage, it could come off looking tooooo perfect, like a Disney World stage show.

~Sam

[amperage]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 7:02pm

Here's a novel idea: how about casting someone based on talent, who also fits the physical demands the role calls for, whether or not they have credits to their name.

[pandajen14]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 7:10pm

Andy Karl would be AMAZING. But I agree with FosterChild- I wouldn't want to put him through all that!

Patrick Wilson was considered? I can't see that at ALL. He just doesn't strike me as the Disney show type.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 9:14pm

""Rather than criticize that Josh is too skinny, not enough muscle and bulk, etc, just go see his performance as Tarzan and try to get over that not every single person looks the same in real life as you would like them to in your mind. I bet most of us don't look the way we should or would like in our minds either. ""

And while we are on the subject...

Could someone please explain the age old blooper of why Tarzan doesn't have a beard??

Did the Apes teach him to shave or something???

[anne3]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 9:21pm

Scott Porter was offered the part of Standby... He turned it down.

And I think Josh looks damn good up there. I feel like if they hired someone bigger he would have looked too old. If we are trying to be realistic Tarzan should prob be in his late-teens early-twenties and Josh embodies that very well.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:31pm

Two words:
Aaron Lohr

[liotte]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:34pm

Two words:

Um, no.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 11:41pm

two more words:
why not?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 12:17am

Andy would be good. I don't think Josh Strickland looks right either. As I was at the DRS stage door, I was walking by the Tarzan stage door and he was out there signing and I told my mom "that's tarzan" and she was like "him?" --- he just doesn't physically look like what Tarzan should look like. And who cares if he has a shaven body. Obviously Disney is not going for realism. I mean they have human monkeys? I don't get that argument at all.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 12:40am

not sure the origins of tarzan's parents in the books, but it is possible for him not to have any hair, facial or otherwise, depending on what part of the world his lineage is derived. Think Bel Ami boys, most are naturally hairless. I have a friend of russian decent that, lucky guy, doesn't have to shave at all, and his bod is mostly hairless, save for the nether region and light hair on his legs. Also, most of the tv/movie actors were quite hairless, from Weissmuler to Ely and most in between. There must be SOMETHING to it that maybe we aren't privy to, as to the hairlessness of Tarzan.

As far as body goes....He was raised by those who walked on all fours (most of the time) swung from vines (think olympic rings) and ate mostly fruit and fish...he should have a rockin bod, maybe not bodybuilder type, but really really fit. If anything his upper torso should be rock solid from all that upper body use throughout his young life into manhood.