One of the fun things, for me at least, about having read Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Books . . .
. . . prior to watching the True Blood series on HBO (which is more or less based on those books) . . .
. . . is the added insight it gives me into these complex television characters, and the fictional lives they are destined to lead in the future. Sometimes, it makes me feel downright telepathic . . .
Well . . . maybe not telepathic, but at least like someone who has the “inside scoop” on things.
And while Alan Ball has certainly exercised his right to CHANGE a few things from the books, in creating the show . . .
Not DEAD!
Not a mild-mannered, girly-girl clothing store owner.
Will not GO AWAY!
. . . one thing he HAS adhered to pretty faithfully, is author Charlaine Harris’ colorful cast of characters, and the various ways in which they impact Sookie’s universe.
For this reason, I predict that it won’t be too long, before a certain hunky personal trainer, named J.B. DuRone, graces our television sets on Sunday nights. (Because, lets face it, Alan Ball LOVES his sexy men!)
For the uninitiated, J.B. DuRone is Bon Temps townie, born and raised in Louisianna. He was friends with Sookie and Tara back in high school, and even took Sookie to her senior prom.
“Like my pretty prom dress, y’all? My Grams bought it for me!”
Now, J.B. works as a popular personal trainer at the local Bon Temps gym, and lives in one of those apartments behind Merlotte’s that Sam rents out. J.B. has always been a loyal friend to Sookie, and even harbored a little crush on her for a short time. (What guy didn’t in this series?) Later in the books, he functioned as an unusually healthy and well-adjusted love interest for Perpetual Dater of Losers and Nutjobs, Tara . . .
“It’s about DAMN TIME!”
In terms of character traits, J.B. has a little bit of Jason . . .
. . . a dash of Hoyt . . .
. . . and a dollop of Sam . . .
. . . all rolled into one glorious package.
Like Jason, J.B. has the looks of Hollywood Heartthrob, and the body of a male model. He also shares Jason’s not-so-keen intellect. J.B. isn’t exactly the sharpest crayon in the box . . .
And yet, like Hoyt, J.B. is charming, and sweet, and polite, almost to a fault. He is the quintessential Southern Gentleman.
With Sam, J.B. shares a protective, almost paternalistic, relationship with Sookie (and later with Tara). He is always ready to help her out of a jam, even if he doesn’t always no HOW to help, or what the heck is going on.
So, of course, all of this begs the question, who should Alan Ball CAST in the role of J.B. DuRone. Well . . . I’ve got a few ideas . . .
Below you will find my Top Five casting picks (in no particular order) for Bon Temps’ Favorite Bodybuilder.
Age: 30
Where you’ve seen him before: the romantic comedy She’s the Man (starring alongside Amanda Bynes), those Step Up dance movies, the action flick, GI Joe, the anti-war drama, Stop Loss, and that chick flick, Dear John.
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Like J.B., Channing Tatum is a native Southern boy, having grown up in a small Alabama town. So, not only will Channing be able to effortlessly pull off the Southern charm necessary for this role, he will also be able to provide fans with a remarkably authentic Southern accent, (something which, honestly, is hard to come by on this show). In addition to all that “Southern stuff,” Channing clearly has the physique of a bodybuilder, and the chiseled looks to match. A very young-looking 30-year old, Channing is also “age appropriate,” in that he is believable as someone who would have gone to high school with Sookie and Tara.
2) Nick Zano
Age: 32
What you’ve seen him in: the WB sitcom, What I Like About You (also starring Amanda Bynes) and the ABC show, Cougar Town
Why he’d make a great J.B. :
Not to typecast or anything, but the character of J.B. DuRone is remarkably similar to Vince, the character Zano played on What I Like About You. Both are charming ladies men, who are capable of being disarmed and “tamed” by the right woman. Both have startlingly beautiful bodies that are painstakingly well-cared for. And both aren’t too bright, at least in the traditional sense of the word. Then again, maybe I’m just shamelessly angling for a chance to see Nick on my TV screen again . . .
3) Cam Gigandet
Age: 28
Where you’ve seen him: the teen drama The O.C., as Bad Ass Bully, Kevin Volchok, the film Never Back Down, as Bad Ass Bully, Ryan McCarthy, and Twilight, as Bad Ass Vampire, James. (Notice a pattern here?) Cam will also be featured in the upcoming movie / musical, Burlesque and the upcoming teen comedy Easy A.
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Under that douchey exterior, and penchant for bad boy roles, there’s a heartthrob inside Cam Gigandet, just waiting to get out. And this is the perfect role to bring it out of him. True, Cam would probably make for an edgier J.B. DuRone than the one mentioned in Charlaine Harris’ books. But, then again, to be a believable match for someone as edgy and abrasive as True Blood’s Tara, maybe he will have to be. I can just imagine the chemistry between Rutina Wesley and Cam Gigandet, and it would SIZZLE!
In terms of physical appearance, Cam has the body of fighter — someone who spends hours and hours at the gym, just like J.B. DuRone. In fact, I’ve never seen a film with Cam Gigandet, where he WASN’T throwing a punch, or exposing those enviable abs in some way! To top it off, Cam is EXACTLY the same age as Anna Paquin and Rutina Wesley, which would work out perfectly for the J.B. character. Seriously, how often do actors actually get to PLAY characters their own age, anymore?
4) Tom Hardy
Age: 32
Where you’ve seen him: the Guy Ritchie-directed, trippy action-romp, RocknRolla and the recent box office blockbuster, Inception
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
No modern day male actor exudes more inherent masculinity than Tom Hardy. Ever word out of his mouth, and every inch of his body just screams “MAN!” This is exactly the type of guy Tara needs in her life. He is strong, and a protector. But he is also remarkably stable, and lighthearted. This is a guy who can soften Tara’s rough edges, and make her laugh. Yet, when it is necessary, he can also give a royal beatdown to any evil vampire or werewolf stupid enough to get in her way.
Age: 32
What you’ve seen him in: the long running teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, as the loveable hopelessly romantic, Pacey Witter, the sexy teen film, Cruel Intentions, the teen slasher pic, Urban Legends, and currently, the sci-fi mystery-of-the week show, Fringe
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Joshua Jackson is the ideal TV Boyfriend. End of story. In his role as Pacey Witter, we saw Joshua’s ability to melt girls hearts with a single crinkle of the eyebrow, or a knowing smirk, or a gentle touch. Pacey, though never particularly ambitious or “wise,” in the traditional sense of the word, was a true believer in true love. And he would sacrifice anything to protect the object of his desire and make her happy. These are innocent motives he shares with J.B. DuRone, who is also somewhat of a hopeless romantic, with an inherent need to “care” for the women he loves.
In his more recent roles, Joshua Jackson has had the opportunity to exhibit a manly side. Sure, he can be soft and cuddly, but he can also be tough. This is a guy, who’s not afraid to throw a punch, if the recipient truly deserves it. And I’m pretty sure, J.B. has thrown a few punches in his day too.
So, there you have it. My casting choices for Charlaine Harris’ loveably lunkhead, J.B. DuRone. Alan Ball, if you’re reading this . . . take note!
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