Perrineau interview with TV Guide

[carrie3570]

Here's the link:
http://www.tvguide.com/news/lost-harold-perrineau/080530-03

Crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[losty09]

So his reaction was pretty much the same as Dominic's was: the character was underutilized. I wanted some more Michael too, but I don't know if I'd go as far as to accuse people of racial stereotyping. I honestly think that's just the way the storyline evolved, unintentionally.

[Jalocke]

I think that what Harold is trying to say is that whether intentional or not a black man left his son, and redeemed himself essentially through suicide. Now thats not how I view it but look at it from his perspective. there is definately a stereotype that black father's abandon their children or are bad parents. And when Harold sees a script for a black man trying to deal with raising his son, he might have thought that he had a chance here to show that this stereotype is a false one. And in all honesty thats what his character was about. His character was supposed to be all about his boy. But in the end, he cant face his son and he leaves him, because he cant deal with being a father in this hard time. And then he goes and leaves his son and is "allowed" to die. This kind of message could send the idea that a black man raising his son isnt important, but that the black man dying to save a bunch of other people is, when clearly this job could have been filled by many people. I dont think hes saying that it was intentionally racist, i just think he was frustrated that real redemption wasn't found, and I would definately have to agree.

[carrie3570]

I think that what Harold is trying to say is that whether intentional or not a black man left his son, and redeemed himself essentially through suicide. Now thats not how I view it but look at it from his perspective. there is definately a stereotype that black father's abandon their children or are bad parents. And when Harold sees a script for a black man trying to deal with raising his son, he might have thought that he had a chance here to show that this stereotype is a false one. And in all honesty thats what his character was about. His character was supposed to be all about his boy. But in the end, he cant face his son and he leaves him, because he cant deal with being a father in this hard time. And then he goes and leaves his son and is "allowed" to die. This kind of message could send the idea that a black man raising his son isnt important, but that the black man dying to save a bunch of other people is, when clearly this job could have been filled by many people. I dont think hes saying that it was intentionally racist, i just think he was frustrated that real redemption wasn't found, and I would definately have to agree.

That's some spin you put on what he said Jalocke. You should work for the government.

TV Guide: Were you disappointed Michael and Walt didn't reconnect before your character died?
Perrineau: Listen, if I'm being really candid, there are all these questions about how they respond to black people on the show. Sayid gets to meet Nadia again, and Desmond and Penny hook up again, but a little black boy and his father hooking up, that wasn't interesting? Instead, Walt just winds up being another fatherless child. It plays into a really big, weird stereotype and, being a black person myself, that wasn't so interesting. [Responds Cuse: "We pride ourselves on having a very racially diverse cast. It's painful when any actor's storyline ends on the show. Harold is a fantastic actor whose presence added enormously to Lost."]

How I see it is sour grapes.

What about Claire? White girl, raised without a father, gets pregnant, plays house, white father leaves, white girl must raise child on her own.

Hurley is hispanic and his father left him, only to come back after he won the lottery.

Sawyer is a white conman that's been in jail.. his father killed his mother.

Kate is a white woman that killed her father.

Jack is a white doctor that had a drunk for a father, who had an affair resulting in leaving that woman to raise the baby alone.

Locke is a white man, his father stole his kidney and pushed him out of a building!

Sun is Korean, her father.. oh geez, where so I begin?

Penny's father - see Sun

Ben killed his father....

Look I could go on, but you get my point. Lost is filled with "daddy issues", not just black daddy issues. He played the daddy role, sorry Mike, but seems most fathers end up being - well, not the most respectable characters.

It was never about "hooking up" (as he puts it). It's about the daddy issues. I feel it was totally wrong to make it about race, when you look at what's going on with fathers in the show, you can clearly see race has nothing to do with it.

[AVREY97]

I completely agree with what Carrie says above. The more I read what he says I begin to feel that his attitude has less to do with character redemption, and more to do with his bruised ego.
'Yes, his story arc was short lived, (Most likely due to the strike) but it did bring some sympathy back to Michaels character in the fans eyes. I had no "blood lust" for Michael and was glad to see his character able to redeem himself. Its sad to know he now thinks that chance was a waste of time.

[Will]

It was never about "hooking up" (as he puts it). It's about the daddy issues. I feel it was totally wrong to make it about race, when you look at what's going on with fathers in the show, you can clearly see race has nothing to do with it.

Stop crying, Michael...you're getting tears in my turtle soup.:p

[Viva]

I just want to thank Carrie for putting into words what is in my head. I could not have said it better. you rock.

[losty09]

I agree with Carrie too.

[BatDaddy]

Agreed as well.

I can understand being disappointed that your character is gone, or that acting gig, but after reading about everything that he's reading into it... well... heh, some people think us Lost fans dig too deep. Sheesh.