Jonathan Brandis: What You Need to Know!
Sidekicks Was A Surprise Summer Hit—A TV Series Is Next: Get Ready!!
16, October 1993
Chances are you fell for that blond Brandis babe when he sprung onto the big screen in Sidekicks this season—that karate-choppin', heart-tugger was a winner. Betcha didn't know that Sidekicks was actually filmed two years ago, when Jon was only 15 In fact, 16 bets there's lots you don't know about Jonathan Brandis: but sure would like to! And that's where we come in—with all the facts, quotes, news 'n notes on a teen talent who's sure to be next season's big heartthrob!
Here's whatcha need to know!
BACK TO BASICS
REAL FULL NAME: Jonathan Gregory Brandis
BIRTHDAY: April 13, 1976
AGE: 17
BIRTHPLACE: Danbury, Connecticut
FAMILY: Mom is Mary; dad is Greg. Jon has no brothers or sisters.
HEIGHT, WEIGHT: 5'9", 140 lbs.
HAIR, EYES: Blond, blue
PETS: A dog named Megan and a cat named Marbles
LIVES: With his parents in the San Fernando Valley section of LA
HIS ROOM: Has movie posters "plastered all over the walls"
ROLL THE CREDITS!
HE GOT STARTED: At the age of two, as a baby model
HIS FIRST SPEAKING ROLES: Were in commercials, which he started at four
FIRST TV SERIES: At six, he was a semi-regular in One Life To Live
FIRST MINI-SERIES: Poor Little Rich Girl
MOST FAMOUS MINI-SERIES: Stephen King's "It"
OTHER TV ROLES: Jon has guested on Blossom, Who's The Boss? and Full House
FAMOUS MOVIES: Ladybugs, Sidekicks
OTHER MOVIES: Wrong Guys, Stepfather II, Neverending Story II
NEXT BIG ROLE: Jonathan will co-star in the NBC series seaQuest, which is produced by movie great, Steven Spielberg, and will air on Sunday nights at 8 PM, starting in September.
NOTES N’ QUOTES
On seaQuest: “The whole show takes place on a submarine in the year 2018 — so it's the not-too-distant future. I play this highly brilliant teenager named lucas. He lives on the submarine 'cause that's where his parents kinda dumped him. But he's a computer whiz and a real important member of the crew. He actually helps to rebuild the ship."
How seaQuest compares to Star Trek: "A lot of people are going to compare them-and compare my character to will wheaton's wesley — but that's cool. I think we're different 'cause we don't have any aliens in the show-everyone's human!"
Why he wanted to be in seaQuest: "I’ve always been a big fan of Steven Spielberg's – I mean, who isn't? But ever since I saw his first tv movie called Duel, I've dreamed of working in a Spielberg project. And also, I was up for a lot of other tv shows and stuff that I lost out on, so when I got this, it was even better."
SCHOOL STUFF
GRADE HE’S IN: Eleventh
PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PRIVATE? Jon attends private school when he's not filming; otherwise, he's tutored on the set
BEST SUBJECTS: History and French
WORST SUBJECTS: Chemistry and Algebra
FAVORITES
MUSIC: U2, Spin Doctors
ACTOR: Beau Bridges
ACTRESS: Laurie Metcalf
MOVIE: JFKTV SHOW: Quantum Leap, CopsCOLOR: Midnight blue
RESTAURANT: Jerry's Deli in Los Angeles
CLOTHES: Ripped jeans or baggy pants, T-shirts and flannels
SPORT: Basketball
THE DATING GAME
DOES HE HAVE A GIRLFRIEND? Nothing serious
DOES HE HAVE A CURFEW? "I'm probably the only one who does — it's 1 am!”
KIND OF GIRL HE’D GO FOR: “Honest, caring, talkative, willing to have fun.”
KIND OF GIRL HE WOULDN’T GO FOR: "Loud and obnoxious, a person who lies."
A GREAT DATE: "Could be almost anything-the movies, dinner, a coffee shop to talk and get to know each other."
HAS HE EVER DATED A FAN? "Not yet, but I would – it really depends on the person."
Jonathan Brandis Calling! Don’t Hang Up! Make a Long Distance Love Connection!
Who's that on the phone? It's Jonathan Brandis checking in with you!
Teen Beat Superstars, 1995
Ring! Ring! "Hi, it's Jon. What’s up?”
You never know—if you've written Jonathan Brandis a fan letter and included your telephone number, you just might be hearing those words! Jon has been known to call fans out of the blue, but admits that often it doesn't turn out as well as he expected. "I'll call out of curiosity," he admits. "And they'll say, 'It's not you!' and then they hang up!"
Well, to avoid that disaster, here's the formula for phone fun with Jon! First of all—stay calm!! Jon loves it when a fan treats him like a normal guy; when you can talk to him about everyday things, topics that interest most people.
Stay away from showbiz subjects—Jon is involved with that 24-7 and when he's getting to know someone new, he wants to discuss anything but.
And just what is Jon into these days? Just check out our JB Phone Guide in case it's your number he dials next!!
Jonathan Brandis Phone Guide!
* What Jon's Listening To Now: Boyz II Men, Elastica, Nirvana, Cranberries, Hole
* Best Hollywood Pals: Brian Austin Green and Jenna von Oy
* Fave Sport: Basketball—"I love going to Lakers games."
* How Jon Relieves Stress: "I just get in my car and go."
* Biggest Turn On: "Girls who understand me, are supportive and listen to me talk about stupid things for hours on end."
* Biggest Turn Off: "Girls who don't completely open up over time; they just hold on to a façade.”
* Dream Crush: "Geena Davis. She's a goddess—enough said."
* Most Prized Possession: "My 18-year-old Star Wars lunch-box."
* Where You'll Find Jon When He's Hungry: Taco Bell
* Most Amazing Fact: Jon's afraid of bugs, but he also claims, "For $100,000 I would eat a bowl of live crickets!"
* Most Surprising Fact: "I hate the beach."
* What You Would Find In Jon's Refrigerator: "Jello pudding, Yoo-Hoo and bottled water."
Okay, you've got the basics, so why not drop Jon a line and see what happens?! You can write to him c/ seaQuest, NBC-TV, 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, CA 91505—and maybe, just maybe, it'll be you who gets a surprise call from Jonathan!
So, now you know Jon Taylor Thomas loves to talk. not to make your decision between the two guys even tougher, but we feel it’s only fair to tell you that Jon Brandis loves to shoot his mouth off just as much. This chatty guys has even been known to fall asleep on his telephone while talking to his buddies late in the night! Picture yourself chillin’ on your couch, with a portable phone in hand and listening to JB’s voice on the other end…
Tutti Frutti, 1994
RRRRIIINNG!
While filming Sidekicks with Chuck Norris…
"There was one scene where I had to be up on stage during the karate tournament and we were actually shooting in front of 2,000 people. They gave me a set of about eight or nine clay bricks that I had to break in front of everybody. I went down and smashed 'em and every brick broke but the last one and I got booed! It was horrible!"
RRRRIIINNG!
While filming Ladybugs with Rodney Dangerfield…
"You know, Rodney was great with me. There are a lot of things said about him and I've heard a lot, but what it comes down to, was that he was great with me. There was never a problem with him. He invited me to his room, we read the script together, we rehearsed to-gether, we went out together, we went out on the town... there was like 55 years difference in our ages, but it was great, it really was!
RRRRIIINNG!
On waking up in the morning…
"I usually get up around 6 a.m., then I try to go to the club for a little while to work out and wake me up. I'm the worst in the morning! I just can't get up! Then I go to the set and try to maybe sleep in my dressing room. Then, of course, the assistant director has to come in and wake me up!"
RRRRIIINNG!
On his seaQuest character, Lucas…
"He's not a trouble-maker-he's highly brilliant, but he's not taken seriously because he's half the age of everybody else. He's kind of like the comic-relief genius. He doesn't really have a family, so he tries to find that in each member of the crew. He's also a wizard, so they always call upon him."
RRRRIIINNG!
A message to fans...
"Keep watching seaQuest! You'll never see anything like it again on television! It's amazing! Also, stay in school and don't drop out. Graduate I know school is hell, but you need the credits to do things in life!"
seaQuest Sets Sail For Another Season—And You Made It Happen!
16, 1995
Everybody said it couldn't be saved—that low ratings, cast quarreling and high costs had capsized the sub and totally sunk seaQuest. But Jon, Darwin and company will be returning this fall in a brand new time slot (Wednesday at 8:00 PM, ET) with brand new adventures and an even bigger role for the Brandis babe-all thanks to your encouragement and enthusiasm! Proving in a big way-never underestimate the power of love and letter writing!
BACK TO THE FUTURE!
Along with the new time slot, seaQuest will experience some other changes as well.
At the end of last season, the ship had been captured by a UFO, but this fall, the mighty sub will emerge safely, six years in the future. Roy Scheider, who portrays Captain Nathan Bridger, will only be around for a few episodes and, according to insiders, the show will be even more youth-oriented-and that (hope-fully) means tons more TV time for the object of your underwater affection, Jon (natch!)
WILL LUCAS GET THE GIRL?
Jon has very definite opinions about his character, Lucas. According to the blue-eyed babe who plays the brainiac, it's about time Lucas got some real responsibility—and a real girlfriend. "I'd like to see him grow up a little," says Jon. "I'd like to see him wear a uniform, maybe have a little more command—and get a girl for once."
Just as Lucas takes more responsibility on board, 19-year-old Jon is hoping to take more responsibility behind the scenes-writing and directing. "I was able to write and produce the ‘Siamese Dream’ episode last season," Jon tells. "And hopefully, if I write another one next year, they'll let me direct as well. Writing and directing are both really my first loves.”
And your letters to the powers-that-be at seaQuest proved, beyond a doubt, that Jon is your first love. Once they read about how much you loved the show, and couldn't live without your weekly dose of Jon, they couldn't possibly cancel it. So thanks to you, there'll be another season of undersea adventures and serious Brandis-watching. Full speed ahead!
Now that seaQuest is back in business, what better time to write a "Congrats!" note to Jon (or any of his castmates)?
HE BRINGS GIFTS 4U!
We noticed when Jon came in that he had something with him—but until he produced these brightly wrapped packages, we had no idea what it was. Ah, but Jon Brandis is one smart dude. He had a hunch that since it was so close to his own birthday, 16 just might try 'n spring some sort of surprise on him—and decided to beat us to the punch!! Jon brought a bunch of gifts for us to give away to YOU! (If you'd like to be one of three lucky fans to win one, turn to page 82 and check off the Jonathan Brandis Birthday Surprise box!!)
...BUT WE BROUGHT A GIFT 4 HIM!!
So, he was right—we did have a couple of happy birthday surprises up our sleeve. Our first surprise was in this box…
“Ahh—what did you guys do?" Jon asked as he peeked inside.
"Itza furry teddy bear," he exclaimed as he cuddled close to his new pal. We looked for a Darwin-like dolphin, but alas, this is what we found!
"And he talks!" Jon found that out by squeezing the bear's belly!
JON’S BIRTHDAY BASH CONTINUES!
Presents are cool n all, but what's an 18th birthday without a cake? We knew just the place to take Jon for one with all the trimmings—Planet Hollywood, where else?!
LET'S DO PLANET HOLLYWOOD!
JON MAKES A WISH...
We couldn't really tell if he was surprised, but he made a good show of acting that way (well, he is an actor!!) when several Planet Hollywood waitresses sashayed over to our table with an 18-candled birthday cake. Jon blew 'em out and made a wish—but no way was he tellin' anyone what he wished for!!
CUTS THE CAKE...
Naturally, the birthday boy did the honors, and served each of his guests (that included his dad, Greg, 16's Randi and our photographer Roger) a chocolatey slice.
YUM. IT'S GOOD!
The taste test—all right! Though Jon still believes that chocolate is not wonderful for anyone's complexion (we keep trying to tell him that it has nothing to do with it) he dove right in to his seriously delicious cake and enjoyed every last bite.
How does Jon commit pages of dialogue to memory? Very Easily.
BOP, 1995
It’s something you just gotta wonder: How do actors memorize all those lines? Some actors find memorization more of a problem than others, of course. But when Jon Brandis, 19, gets a new script, getting the dialogue into his brain isn't that much of a problem. Jon just takes into consideration a few key points: Who wrote the script? How much time do I get to memorize this? Am I memorizing a two-hour movie here, or a small TV guest-starring role?
Once he has those things answered, the rest of the process is a walk in the park. "I can memorize a whole paragraph in 20 minutes," he's told us, "and make it sound good."
Jon, who has had to memorize like you wouldn't believe for films like 1993's Sidekicks and, of course, his weekly TV series seaQuest DSV, says the key to whether learning lines is going to be a pleasure or a pain is knowing whether the person who wrote the script is into details or not. Some seaQuest writers, Jon has told us, don't really care if he misses or changes a word or two or 26. If he doesn't have to get every word exactly the way it is written, Jon can make speedy progress learning lines.
On the other hand, some writers want Jon and his castmates to recite the dialogue word-for-word. In that case, Jonathan goes over the script "constantly, constantly, constantly" at his place in Orlando, Florida, away from the noisy, distracting set.
Luckily for Jon—especially when he's faced with an intense memorizing session—he usually has a lot of time to study his lines. After they get a script for an episode of seaQuest, the cast has about 15 days before the episode starts filming. If he's not needed in the first scenes being shot, Jon might have a little longer to get his lines down.
Even with this long to prepare, Jon gets plenty of chances to get things down pat. On days a scene Jon is in is being filmed, he gets the benefit of a half-hour-or-so rehearsal before the camera starts rolling. After that, the crew needs about two hours to set up for the scene, leaving time for Jon to go over any lines he might have blown during the run through.
Then, just before the camera rolls, the cast rehearses one last time. "If you don't know it by then," according to Jon, "you're in trouble."
But Jon doesn't get into this kind of trouble very often, however. In fact, the whole process of memorizing seems pretty second-nature to this guy. When we've asked if absorbing dialogue is at all difficult for him, he's said simply, "No. Not at all."
On New Year's Day, Jonathan Brandis spends time reflecting on the past, not getting all obsessed over what's ahead.
Big Bopper, 1994
Making New Year's resolutions isn't a big item on Jon's list of things to do. Not that he thinks they're a terrible idea or anything. He has even made some in the past. But, in his experience, they just don't seem to stick. "I do make resolutions things like, 'I'm going to stop biting my nails,' or I'm going to keep my room clean," he tells us. "But I always forget on January 2!"
Another reason why Jon tends to play down the whole New Year's thing is that, in his opinion, January shouldn't have a monopoly on fresh, new beginnings.
"You never know when a good year is going to start," explains Jon. "It may start on May 13, or it may start on November 5. I think people look at January 1 and go, 'Oh, good, maybe this year will be good!' You always have good hopes for the next year. But you never know when anything good is going to start."
Jon does think that this time of year marks more of an ending than a beginning. For this reason, he feels it makes more sense to spend his energy appreciating the past rather than wondering—or, for that matter, trying to somehow control—what the next 12 months will bring.
Says Jon, "I think the end of the year is a time for reminiscing about what important events happened. You know, it's like when you move out of your house, and then you remember all the things that happened there. It's the same thing. When you're moving on to a new year, you remember all the events that occurred that maybe you were kind of oblivious to, and then you notice how important they were."
It's hard to believe Jon has been oblivious to the important events of 1994, a pretty monumental year by anyone's standards. Jonathan passed one milestone on April 13, when he turned 18. Then there was the month-and-a-half-long experience last spring of living in a foreign country—the Czech Republic—while filming Good King Wenceslas. In late summer, Jon moved from his parents' home in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley to the new-and-improved seaQuest set in Florida. Though his parents, Greg and Mary, helped get him settled, these days, Jon is living on his own for the first time in his life. sea Quest is doing great in the ratings, and Jonathan is a bigger star than ever.
Hmm, J.B., we can't help but wonder what's in store for you in 1995!
Jonathan Brandis—Is He In For A Bumpy Ride? The Behind-The-Scenes Scoop On His Own Private Waterworld!
Nineteen-year-old Jon predicts this is going to be seaQuest 2032’s best year yet!
Plus! Win His Signed Tee!!
Superteen, 1995
Is the quest over? Has Jonathan Brandis' futuristic sub finally run aground? Well, that's the question lots of Hollywood insiders are asking now that seaQuest 2032 (how 'bout that for a title change!?) has sailed into its new season in uncharted waters. Now seen at a different time—Wednesdays at 8:00 PM—the seaQuest is light a few crew members. Roy Scheider, who plays Captain Nathan Bridger, will appear in only a few episodes; Mario Sanchez, Sensor Chief Miguel Ortiz, will not be returning at all, nor will Rosalind Allen as the Doctor. What's more, one of the more seasoned actors has been telling reporters that morale on the seaQuest set is at an all-time low.
S.O.S.?!
Even Jonathan has made a comment or two about the direction of the series when it went from being sci-fi to fantasy, observing, "I think we went a little overboard with some of the shows last year." And to top it off, when the remaining cast—and newcomers Michael Ironside as the new captain, Michael York as a recurring villain and John D'Aquino, who returns after a year off, as Benjamin Krieg— returned to the Orlando, Florida set, they were faced with a shut-down due to Hurricane Erin! Not a very good beginning!
The Positive Side!
Don’t despair! seaQuest still has a lot going for it (Jonathan Brandis, for one!) and Jonathan thinks things will turn around. First of all, your fan mail to Jon and the rest of the cast helped bring back the series for another season. And Jonathan is determined to reward your loyalty. Last season he wrote "The Siamese Dream" episode and he's hoping to not only write but direct an episode this year. "Writing and directing are both really my first loves," he explains.
Jon would like to see his character, Lucas, grow up a bit this year. "I'd like to see him wear a uniform, maybe have a little more com-mand—and get a girl once in a while," he says. On that note, Jon is giving his all to seaQuest and sees everyone else on the set responding in kind. Since there are whispers that this may really be seaQuest's last year, Jon urges: "It would be nice to put in a good season before we go out."
JON TEE-SHIRT CONTEST!
Get up-close-and-personal with Jon—win one of his very own super Radio Aahs tees (they're from Jon's favorite kids' radio network!). The tees are autographed by this blue-eyed babe, and SuperTeen has two to give away! All you have to do to enter is fill out the coupon above and mail it back to us. We'll choose two winners at random and their names will be announced in an upcoming issue! Good luck!
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects, Hosted by seaQuest's Roy Scheider & Jonathan Brandis
May 22, 1994 | 7:00PM
Hollywood's biggest special effects secrets!
How cities are destroyed!
How aliens are created!
How people fly in space!
Featuring
ALEC BALDWIN, JIM CARREY, BOB HOSKINS, RAY LIOTTA, JOHN LITHGOW, GEORGE LUCAS, LESLIE NIELSEN, PATRICK SWAYZE, SIGOURNEY WEAVER and many more!
We've written stories about Jon's acting technique; his interest in directing; the movies and TV shows he's worked on; his favorite food; his friends, family, fashion sense, fears, hopes and dreams; the types of girls he likes and the types he doesn't. We've written about Jon's travels and troubles. We've discussed his pets and his house and how he spends holidays and how he got his driver's license and his favorite subjects in school and his prom and graduation. We've told you the silly things and the serious things Jon has done. We've printed what he thinks is cool and what isn't, and we've even written about how Jon likes to write.
But we haven't said much about Jon and politics.
Big Bopper, 1995
BB: Do you think it's important for kids who aren't 18 yet to be involved in government?
Jonathan: Yeah, I think so, because I think the government listens to everybody's points of view about things, if the ideas are smart.
BB: Regardless of age?
Jonathan: I think everybody has something to say if they've been following any kind of election seriously.
BB: What if teenagers don't care about what's going on in our country?
Jonathan: I think they should definitely think about it. You don't want to reach age 18 totally oblivious to what's going on, you know, to the politics of the world. You have to pay attention, because you have to be prepared and you're going to have to know what's going on.
BB: How can teenagers become more aware? How can they form opinions on issues like gun control, abortion rights and things like that?
Jonathan: I think not by rebelling against their parents' views, but by taking their own stand on issues. A lot of kids listen to what their parents are voting for and then follow that. If they kind of listened to both sides of the story and then took their own point of view, then—you know what I'm saying.
BB: How can they find out other people's points of view?
JON: Just follow it on TV, because that's the way you're going to learn.
Looking ahead to the next election
In 1992, then-16-year-old J.B. was pretty interested in the presidential election that year.
As you may recall, the election pitted Bill Clinton (who won, obviously) against George Bush, who was in the White House at the time, and the candidates were pretty much neck-and-neck. Though Jon admitted that he and his friends "don't go out on Saturday nights and talk about politics," he was definitely more involved than he had been during the election four years before, when Jon was 12 and "cared more about skateboards and stuff."
Jon couldn't vote in this past election, but if he could have, he was pretty adamant that he would have chosen Clinton over Bush: "Because, well, because he's not an idiot!" He also liked Al Gore, Clinton's choice for Vice President, because Gore takes a strong stand on environmental issues.
When the election rolls around next year, you can expect Jonathan—who is 19 and can vote now—to be more interested than ever in who winds up in the White House.
Well, the new title – seaQuest 2032 – is not the only change on the Orlando, Florida set of TV's popular sci-fi fantasy series. To some, it seems that 19-year-old Jonathan Brandis has decided he is too old, too mature for the fans who made him a shining star. At the very least, he is definitely sending out mixed messages and confusing even his most diehard supporters.
BOP, 1995
"I kiss JTT's feet for taking it away from me!"
Take for example his response when he was recently asked by a roomful of reporters if he felt his teen idol image has held him back. Jonathan diplomatically answered, "I don't think so. I mean, there's been a number of transitions so far. I've been doing commercials since I was four and I'm still working now."
Sounds like he's pretty comfortable with who he is and the fans who have given him his popularity doesn't it? Well, there's another side of Jonathan that seems to take this support as a joking matter. That side has surfaced quite a bit lately, such as in the sarcastic comment he made in a recent magazine profile: "I imagine 20 years from now, I can say, 'Way back when I was this teen idol' and they'll say No way! and I can whip out one of the magazines...
GROWING PAINS
For quite some time Jonathan has seemed to be on a campaign to rid himself of his "teen" image. And that attitude spilled over to his character on seaQuest. "I'd like to see Lucas grow up a little," Jonathan has said quite often. "I'd like to see him wear a uniform, maybe have a little more command – and get a girl for once!"
And when faced head on with the "teen idol" question, that he seemed to be turning away from his teenage-girl fan base, Jonathan didn't deny it. He admitted, "I have done teen magazines for a number of years and I think it is time to [turn it over] to somebody else like Jonathan Taylor Thomas... I kiss JTT's feet for taking it away from me!"
In his next breath, Jonathan adds that he feels he has finally achieved growth in his seaQuest character this year. "Thank God, (Lucas) has matured quite a bit. I'm not (trying) to exclude the younger viewers or my younger fans, I just think that it's time to move on from certain teen publications, you know.... It's great (being in the magazines) for the first couple of months. I stopped doing them about two years ago and I knew if I stopped then, I would be out of them by the time seaQuest's third season started. It takes forever, you know – the mail keeps coming…”
Hmmm, Jonathan, with that attitude, the postman may be skipping your house pretty soon!
Even though Boppers have loved Jon Brandis since 1990, he didn't really consider himself a star until 1993.
BOP, 1995
Boppers have always thought of Jonathan Brandis, 19, as a star. But Jon himself feels he only achieved real fame after landing the role of Lucas on seaQuest two years ago. Granted, Jon graced the covers of BOP and BB long before his big break. But he claims that his status as a full-fledged celeb can clearly be credited to his being on a serious TV show. "Girls who wouldn't give me the time of day before seaQuest are writing to me now," Jon told YM.
Not that Jon's work before seaQuest—including TV guest-starring roles and movies like 1993's Sidekicks—hurt his recognizability in any way. In fact, being recognized by teenage girls as the guy from Ladybugs (or whatever) definitely helped draw them to his show. "The thing about getting on a series," Jon has told "is if you've done stuff before the series, then they recognize you so much more."
Whatever the reason, Jon has definitely enjoyed a major increase in his popularity over the past two years. He has received as many as 4,000 fan letters a week, mostly from girls. And whether those girls are fans of Jon's from years back or new devotees, it isn't surprising to see so many going gaga over him. After all, he's a cutie.
But Jon has another take on his appeal. "I seem like a nice guy," he said to the Los Angeles Times, "and maybe they like my work."
With all these things working in his favor—TV series, looks, good personality—does Jon think he's destined to be in the spotlight forever?
Well, when asked by the Times what it takes to be a teen idol, Jon has said modestly that luck has a lot to do with it. "It happens inadvertently," he said, adding, "Being able to sing and being on a sitcom helps."
(That last bit was most likely a jab at Joey Lawrence, who has both an album, 1993's Joey Lawrence, and a sitcom, the now-defunct Blossom, under his belt. But just for the record, there's no record in Jonathan's future, mostly because despite his many other talents, the guy can't carry a tune! Luckily, given all that Jon already has going for him, he won't need to sing any pop to stay on top.)
Even if his fame disappears once his fans get older, Jonathan feels he has definitely made his mark already. As he told the Times, "I imagine 20 years from now, I can say, 'Way back when, I was this teen idol,' and they'll say, 'No way!' and I can whip out one of those magazines." Like this one, for starters.
superman vs. the sub
when abc and nbc pitted steel against water last fall, boppers stared remotely at their remotes. what to watch on sunday nights? lois & clark: the new adventures of superman or seaquest dsv? a romance/fantasy with delightful teri hatcher and hunky dean cain (in tights, no less)? or an underwater action/adventure epic with adorable jonathan brandis? we talked with a bunch of you boppers to see how these shows fared during this past season. and on the bright side, now that everything is in reruns, maybe you can catch whichever series you missed.
Some say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but Jonathan doesn't want to be separated from his special someone—once he finds her, that is.
BOP, 1994
Like many teenagers, Jonathan Brandis, 18, thinks finding lasting love in the near future is about as likely as, say, being struck by lightning or starring in a television series. Okay, so that might not be the best analogy, since Jon does star in seaQuest. Regardless, Jon so far hasn't gotten lucky in the true-love lottery. He has been attracted to different girls over the years and has even had the occasional brief relationship, but he has yet to enjoy anything long-term. "I just don't think I have been in love to the full potential yet," he says.
But instead of letting that ruin his romantic optimism, Jon is satisfied just to wait and see what develops. "My instincts tell me that I know love exists for me," says Jon, "and that I can be in love." Jon isn't sure how to define "being in love" yet, since it hasn't happened, but he thinks it might mean really, really missing his chosen one when she's not around. "I think you define love on how you feel after you are away from them for a long period of time," he guesses.
But that kind of I-can't-stand-it-when-you're-not-here feeling carries with it a whole bunch of problems for Jon. While he hopes to someday meet Ms. Right and enjoy the security of having someone special, he also dreads the thought of dealing with distance.
"The most difficult part about love," he maintains, "is coping with being away from each other, and my work would make that harder."
Indeed, Jon's back-and-forth situation between the seaQuest set in Orlando, Florida and his home base in Los Angeles would put a strain on even the strongest of bonds. He fears the heartache on both sides—that would follow these long separations. Once Jon has committed himself to someone, he couldn't bear leaving her. And that would be sure to happen at some point if he continues acting, a career in which you have to go wherever the job takes you.
So Jon's solution, for the time being, is to put romance on the back burner.
"Actually," he confesses, "I'm trying to avoid the whole relationship thing right now. I know it's bad to avoid things, but I hate to walk away from anything especially when I've started it and I'm growing very close to someone."
Since setting up camp in the Sunshine State to work on seaQuest DSV, Jon Brandis has ventured from his hotel home in search of amusement. Here, Jon’s mom, Mary, tells BOP’s Cathee what her son does for Florida fun!
BOP, 1994
Cathee: Last month, you told us Jon would rather play pool than swim in a pool.
Mary: Yeah, there is a billiard parlor that is right around the corner [from our hotel]. But it's not walking distance; he has to drive to it.
Cathee: Is Jon still driving the car the seaQuest people loaned him?
Mary: Yeah. A gold Toyota Camry, brand-new. He has been driving around, getting to know the area. He is finding his way around, which is surprising. It was a brand-new area, so we got maps, and he asked me to write out directions on little 3x5 cards to things like malls and the movie theater, to and from the studio and [the video store]. He carries them in his car, but I knew that once he did it a couple times, he wouldn't need them.
Cathee: So I take it that Jon the movie buff has been seeing some movies?
Mary: One of the first things that he did when we got here was go and find the nearest video store so he could sign up and start renting movies! And he found a really nice movie theater complex. He has gone to the movies with me, or he goes with his dad [Greg, when he's visiting from Los Angeles]. I don't know if they've gone to the movies together, but Jon has been hanging out with Ted Raimi and Marco Sanchez from the show. He has gotten a lot closer with the returning cast members, like Roy Scheider, Don Franklin, Ted and Marco. And, of course, Darwin!
Cathee: Has Jon made other friends in Florida?
Mary: Yeah, he's met some people in production. There are some young people working in the production office, so he'll go get a coffee and just sit there and talk to them.
Cathee: Are there any cool coffee houses nearby?
Mary: That is one of the things that he misses, that they don't have a lot of. That and the vintage shops. Jon really misses [coffee houses] and Venice Beach and [the shops on] Melrose Avenue.
Cathee: So where does he go instead?
Mary: He's been to Disney World and Epcot Center and the Disney Studios. Jon has gone to Disney World three times already. He does the voice [of Mozenrath, the evil wizard] on the Aladdin cartoon for Disney so, well, they take him around to anything he wants to go on, and he loves it. It is nice that he gets that special treatment and all they ask is that he pose for a couple of pictures. Oh, he also hangs out at the Hard Rock Cafe. He has been there several times. It is right on the Universal lot. There's also a Sea World that Jon's been to with one of his friends. He's also been to the new Planet Hollywood restaurant.
Cathee: Well, it sounds like there's enough to keep Jon entertained!
what is jon missing most?
in case you haven't heard, the whole set of sequest moved this summer from universal studios hollywood, which is right down the street from bop/bb hq, to universal studios in orlando, florida, which is considerably farther away. jon brandis, of course, went along. luckily, jon will be back here at home when his show isn't filming. but we miss him, and we bet he is a bit homesick. here's a collection of people, places and things jon is leaving behind.
