"Never felt a bond with a single person on Heroes", Thomas Dekker Interview Options

[Marzipan]

Dekker talks to TV Guide about his new series. He mentions Heroes less than fondly:

TVGuide.com: Sounds like it wasn't a difficult decision to leave Heroes to take the role on Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Dekker: It wasn't at all. I was only supposed to be on Heroes for the first episode, and I never had a contract. Every episode I had after that... was a surprise. So I was auditioning the whole time I was on the show and I auditioned for [Terminator]. When I got it, I wanted it so badly. Of course, they weren't very happy when I got it. I had a three-hour phone call with Tim Kring sort of asking me not to go. But I respect so much the writers and the producers of [Terminator] and I feel a bond with [them]. I never felt a bond with a single person on Heroes and that's very important to me if you're going to be creating something.

Yeah... dissing your former employer in TV Guide? Not a good move.

[Begemot Geroi]

At least he's being honest, I guess.

[CharlieNakamura]

I read that too, and I found it odd that he would say that since the rest of the cast always says that they all get along great, to the point of feeling like a big family. I wonder if the bad feelings came as a result of that whole "Zach is gay/no he isn't" debacle.

I still think it's not a good idea for him to come off sounding so negative. Heroes is the only thing I know him for, (and I liked his character), and now I know he hates everything to do with the show.

I'm still planning on watching The Sarah Conner Chronicles though - mainly because it has Summer Glau. I freakin LOVED her as River Tam on Firefly.

[Begemot Geroi]

I read that too, and I found it odd that he would say that since the rest of the cast always says that they all get along great, to the point of feeling like a big family. I wonder if the bad feelings came as a result of that whole "Zach is gay/no he isn't" debacle.

That might be part of it.

What kind of got me was that he was only supposed to be signed on for one episode, and then they kept having him reaudition for subsequent episodes -- I'm not sure if guest stars usually have to do that, though I can see where that may have caused a bit of contention. Also, not everyone gets along well with everyone else for whatever reason. He may have just had personality conflicts with some of the cast and crew.

I miss Firefly. That was such a great show.

[Aerdna]

That's sad to hear since it seems everyone gets along great, but it just comes to show that not everyone has the same experience. I can actually sort of empathize with him. When I'm on crew for plays at school, I don't tend to form bonds with anyone myself, and it makes it feel like more like a chore or a way to show participation in extra-curricular activities than something I like to do. The less connection you have with something, the less devoted you are to it. So, I don't blame him at all for saying any of those things, and I even respect him a bit more for not sugar coating it.

I don't see it as a total slap in the face, though. Just because he never bonded with any of the cast or crew, doesn't necessarily mean he had conflict or tension with them.

[dref22]

Reaudition for subsequent episodes? I didn't get this. He was playing the same character, why would they need him to do that?

I agree, we always hear how friendly the Heroes cast is, now this is really surprising. I remember that gay/not gay talk, this definitely effected him.

[themightytruk]

That sucks that he didn't have much of a good experience. Weird that he had to keep reauditioning.

A bit surprising considering the positive experience I've heard from the main cast.

This post has been edited by themightytruk: Jan 11 2008, 04:40 PM

[HERΟ]

I miss Firefly. That was such a great show.

Yeah, I concur, that show should've continued. You can still ocassionally catch it on SciFi and of course, there's the dvd set, too. I thought it was cool that it's also on hulu.

That sucks that he didn't have much of a good experience. Weird that he had to keep reauditioning.

I interpreted it that he kept auditioning for permanent roles (not as Zach) elsewhere, and then he landed the part in Terminator: TSCC... But I could be wrong.

Guess if he didn't find a "home" with HEROES cast members, that's cool he did with the new series crew.

[pngaou]

^

I think he means he was auditioning for other roles while he was on HEROES. It's really sad that he didn't have an enjoyable time on the show. I would think he'd at least have some kind of friendship with Hayden considering they did their roles together.

I don't understand the diss towards HEROES though. I mean, unless they treated him badly, I don't know why it'd be that bad of a job. Hell, most actors would consider themselves lucky to be on a prime time show, even as a minor character.

When I went to the promotional event, I brought a picture of Claire and Zach for Thomas to sign. Lena Heady asked if that was Thomas in his HEROES role. I guess he just doesn't talk about it much if his other coworkers don't recognize his previous role.

[maz57]

It seemed to me that he was working without a contract on Heroes, never knowing if he was going to even be on the show anymore. Was never offered a full time role with a contract. He gets the role in the Terminator show and then Kring has a long talk and wants to keep him on the show.

Makes me think they only wanted to give him a contract now that he was ready to leave, but as long as he had no where to go, they were fine just calling him when needed. So he probably wasn't always on set, only coming in for his scenes and leaving. Makes it hard to bond that way. And makes it seem that were just taking advantage of his situation. If they really wanted him on the show they should of offered a contract and not have wanted until they HAD to give a contract to keep him.

[kitty]

Poor Kring, groveling to that kid... Yeah, I don't like him that much. So why am I still going to watch the Sarah Connor Chronicles? urgh!

[lauryn]

I'm watching the SCC because there is nothing better to watch... I don't think it was a good move for Tom to diss heroes though.. is SCC fails (which is probably wont because of the strike and like i said.. nothing better on) he's going to have a hard time getting other roles because of how he might diss them later.

[kitty]

SCC comes on tomorrow right?

[Aerdna]

Yep, it's a two hour premiere. The first half is on tomorrow, and the second half is on Monday.

[kitty]

I'll see if I can make it back upstate in time for it.

[Marzipan]

And makes it seem that were just taking advantage of his situation. If they really wanted him on the show they should of offered a contract and not have wanted until they HAD to give a contract to keep him.

I don't really think offering a full contract is the worst thing a showrunner can do to an actor - most actors would probably KILL to be made series regulars, in fact. Plus, you never hear Zachary Quinto whining about getting a full-time contract around the same time he got the Star Trek role. If the showrunners played a little bit of hardball by waiting until Dekker got a better offer, c'est la vie, that's business.

I don't know, I certainly don't like hate Dekker based on one sentence in TV Guide, but it makes me less inclined to give the benefit of the doubt if future stories come out that he's full of himself.