Ready To Rumble!
John McCook brings out the nasty side of Eric!
FYI
Step in time: As a piano player in the Army, McCook had to improvise a bit. "You can't really march with a piano," he notes. " Instead, I'd have to play the glockenspiel or the cymbals, which is not the much fun."
To Sir Anthony, with love: Anthony Hopkins is the star's favorite star. "Every role he plays surprises me. I'm proud to be an actor after I see one of his movies."
There is such a thing as "too sexy": McCook's advice for soap newbies? "Don't play handsome. You were cast because you are handsome. If you try to play handsome, it's redundancy, and you just come across looking silly."
For years, it seemed that while Eric sat at the head of the Forrester dinner table, those gathered aroud it know that his on-again/off-again wife, Stephanie, truly held the seat of power. But in the wake of her nearly debilitating stroke, her hubby has proven once and for all who wears the pants in the family. And lest anyone question how far Papa Bear would go, considering how he decimated son Thorne's relationship with his former stepmom and sister-in-law, Brooke.
"That was nasty," admits John McCook. "It's not very characteristic of Eric, but he feels it's completely justified."
How Could He?! (With Relish!)
In fact, McCook says that his alter ego really may be making up for the mistakes of the past by finally putting Steph at the top of his priority list.
"What's risen u pin Eric is this resolve to be committed to Stephanie, to take care of her and make her happy."
In any case, McCook admits he loves his character's newfound pugnacity. "When my wife saw what Eric had devised for Thorne and Brooke in Venice, she said, 'Oh my God! It's so awful to see!' It's really monstrous stuff."
Love Among The Ruins
Although Mrs. McCook, Laurette, may disapprove of her spouse's on-screen misbehavior, he has more than won her favor in real life. In February, they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in one of their favorite cities: Paris.
"Twenty years is a big deal," marvels McCook. "We stayed in a small hotel and just enjoyed the restaurants and walking around."
McCook was especially jazzed about checking out some new areas of the Paris underground - literally. "We have a book callled Rough Paris that has offbeat things to do," he explains. "I was really excited about touring the old sewers. People hid out down there at the turn of the century."
Sewers? McCook sure knows how to set a mood for romance! Seriously, though, the beauty of the City Of Lights didn't escape this rock-solid couple. "We love to just soak up the atmosphere," he says.
The World On A String
While in Paris, the McCooks found time to do some shopping. "There's a shop on the Ile de Cité that just sells marionettes, some of which are very old and valuable," he offers. "Last time I was there, they had a Don Quixote marionette that I wish I'd gotten."
The classic hero of literature is on of the crooner's favorite characters to play. IN fact, he has portrayed Cervantes' hopelessly romantic fool in Man Of La Mancha so many times that he practically sing the songs in his sleep. "It's too wonderful a piece to ever get bored with," says McCook, who likes to perform in a musical every few years just o keep on his toes. "I haven't decided whether or not I'll do a show this summer. But his spring I'll snoop around."
Family Feud
Meanwhile, McCook is thrilled to be showing Eric's snarky side. And even as Brooke jangles her ex's nerves by stirring things up in his company, he promises that Bid Daddy won't go down without a fight. "He may be pissing people off, but as long as viewers are tuning in, that's great."
Amy Helmes
Soaps In Depth, 25 April 2000