Jon Hamm Versus Jerry O’Connell

Welcome to “Jon Hamm Versus,” where we will take a look at possible contenders for the lead role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in the upcoming film “The First Avenger: Captain America,” slated for release on July 22, 2011. For round seven, we consider Hollywood powerhouse Jerry O’Connell.

Everyone here knows who Jerry O’Connell is, and just about everyone here probably likes him a great deal. There are many important facts about Jerry that make him a super heavyweight in this battle. First, he’s been acting since he was 12 (we all know he and River Phoenix famously battled with Wil Wheaton for more screen time in “Stand By Me“). Second, he’s had siginificant roles in a number of television series, like “Sliders,” “Crossing  Jordan,” and Holy Good God did you know “My Secret Identity” had 70 episodes??? Ahem. Third, he’s appeared in a number of successful films, including “Jerry Maguire,” “Scream 2,” and he had an inspired cameo in “Can’t Hardly Wait,” and all three were important films of the 1990s. Finally, and most importantly, he’s married to Rebecca Romijn, one of Barker’s Beauties who appeared in three X-Men movies and could likely have the ear of every executive at Marvel Studios any day of the week.

So, with television and film credits that makes every wannabe in Hollywood green with envy, with a marriage to the most influential and beautiful guest star on Just Shoot Me, with the youth and charm of most lead actors in a movie about college freshmen, why not cast Jerry O’Connell? Two words: Matt Le Blanc. Like Matt Le Blanc, Jerry O’Connell has that comfortable feel of a TV star who you’ve welcomed into your home hundreds of times before. He’s no superhero, despite attempts to convince you otherwise with things like “Lost In Space.” Think about it. We’re all happy to see see O’Connell or Le Blanc in our homes, but neither of them could don Superman’s cape or Spider-Man’s webshooters.

Could you imagine if they made a Captain America movie in 1985 with superstar Ted Danson? It nearly makes sense, but at the same time it isn’t quite right. Luckily, Jon Hamm has added the leading man credits on television and the perfect supporting roles in film to make him the unshakable best bet of this face off. Sorry, Jerry. But a supporting role in these films is NOT out of the question.

Jon Hamm wins!

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Jon Hamm Versus Brad Pitt

Welcome to “Jon Hamm Versus,” where we will take a look at possible contenders for the lead role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in the upcoming film “The First Avenger: Captain America,” slated for release on July 22, 2011. Today explore the possibility of superstar A-lister Brad Pitt going to war.

Brad Pitt’s name has been bandied about for years as a great casting choice for Captain America. He’s the best looking man in the U.S. (possibly the world), and shouldn’t Steve Rogers be a handsome guy? Of course he should, but there are a few things that would make it difficult to get Pitt in the lead role. For one, he’s a megastar who commands boku bucks for every picture, but Marvel probably can’t afford to pay him $150 million dollars for at least a four-picture deal over the course of 8-10 years. Also, Brad Pitt will be turning 46 in December, which isn’t necessary a huge liability. But making him look younger will just have audiences remember what he used to look like. Go ahead, tell me you didn’t think you were watching old footage of him in “Thelma & Louise” when he was supposed to be 20-something in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Getting older isn’t a bad thing in general, but today’s Pitt is radically different than yesterday’s.

The humanitarian family man probably doesn’t need a superhero franchise on his acting resume, anyway. He’s at the height of his career and can basically do whatever he wants. Jon Hamm, on the other hand, is a rising star in Hollywood. Representing the best wartime superhero ever on screen would only make him brighter. Marvel would be crazy not to snatch him up.

Before Davy Jones and then later Brad Pitt, I didn’t think there were any shorter names in Hollywood. Then Jon Hamm, America’s Actor, came along. Watch out, audiences.

Jon Hamm wins!

Jon Hamm Fans, You Are Not Alone

As soon as Marvel decided it was going to go nuclear with releasing Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, The Avengers, Thor, and Ant-Man as Marvel Studios films over the next few years, casting suggestions have been flying all around Internets. But it takes the right visionaries to put these films together, and of course it takes the right actors to fill the tights, as it were, of our favorite superheroes. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was inspired casting. Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, good but not redhot. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, a stellar choice. Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock wasn’t my favorite. Everyone loved Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier. Others may have found Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze a bit silly. Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker was just about as perfect as you can get.

Casting Steve Rogers requires a well-tuned perception into what makes a man a hero. An actor who can portray weakness and frailty, but then later demonstrate confidence and strength, will win the role. Cap is a hero who becomes a leader because of the men and women who need him to fight. Very few gentlemen have the ability to capture that character, but one leading man in particular has what it takes.

We are not the first to say these simple words: Jon Hamm should play Captain America.

What is important is the first part of that sentence. We are not the first to say this. All across the Internet, Jon Hamm’s name has been popping up as the underdog casting choice.

• The first one to publicly suggest Jon Hamm is likely this commenter on a Slashfilm post about Cap’s Shield showing up in the Iron Man movie. This is in May of 2008!
• Thomas over at his The Movie Blog makes the first truly coherent argument to cast Jon Hamm as Captain America in August of 2008, and he comments on this Variety.com entry that likens Jon Hamm to the next George Clooney in October. Thomas’s post is required reading.
• Brilliant humorist and McSweeney’s contributor Andrew Bridgman briefly posts his recommendation in September 2008.
• Jon Hamm’s name gets tosses around as a possible contender for Green Lantern on Ain’t It Cool News, but commenters suggest he would be better suited as Captain America in early October.
• Over at Screen Rant, commenters also point out Jon Hamm’s appropriate WWII-era looks, also in October.
• Further support for Hamm-as-Rogers is seen at FlimFlam.net.
• Commenters on a JoBlo.com post about Johnston’s directing assignment bring up Jon Hamm.
• A post about the film and the casting choices over at the IGN message boards also includes support for our guy in November.
• The same day as the IGN post, Pajiba’s Dustin Rowles discusses the film’s director Joe Johnston and supports Jon Hamm because, quote, “Why the fuck not, you know? He just looks like a Steve Rogers, doesn’t he?”
• One lone commenter suggests Jon Hamm amid a sea of insane suggestions over at Film School Rejects.
• Geoff Boucher at the LATimes blogs that he’s heard such buzz on the Internet on March 13.
• Finally, critic/writer/entertainment writer Scott Mendelson cross-posted his case for the casting across three blogs, and also gives credit to Thomas’s argument at The Movie Blog.

This is not a complete list by any means. Many other voices have spoken about this in chat rooms, comic book stores, and slumber parties across the globe. JHSPCA is the place to bring these voices together, so all supporters of this brilliant casting suggestion have a place to go and be heard daily. Remember, you are not alone.

Come back every day and participate. Link to us on your blog, Facebook, your Twitter feed. Tell a friend or teacher or minister about us. Jon Hamm and the fates of “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers” may very well depend on it.

Jon Hamm Versus John Hodgman

Welcome to “Jon Hamm Versus,” where we will take a look at possible contenders for the lead role of Steve Rogers/Captain America in the upcoming film “The First Avenger: Captain America,” slated for release on July 22, 2011. Today we examine the possibility of author/actor John Hodgman taking on the Steve Rogers role.

John Hodgman, one of the elite American intelligentsia, has implanted himself into the consciousness of American media/comedy devourers for the last few years. Ask one person, he’s the PC in the Mac vs. PC commercials. Ask another, he’s the celebrated author of two brilliant books. Ask still another, he’s the hilarious Senior Expert personality on the Daily Show. Ask some other dude, he’s the guy who travels the land with musical funnyman Jonathon Coulton. Ask still even another guy, he’s the guy who shows up as Mr. Know-It-All in things like Baby Mama and TV’s Battlestar Galactica. Ask an additional man, he’s a public radio personality who guest-writes for the New York Times. Ask another fellow, he’s a McSweeney’s contributor. Ask a guy named Bruce Campbell, he’s a literary agent. Ask maybe even one other person, and he’s potentially the perfect casting choice as Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America.

We here at JHSPCA absolutely do not agree with that last fellow, but we also don’t deny the remote possibility that Hodgman may in fact appear in a film from Marvel Studios. Hodgman exudes confidence and complete knowledge at nearly every event he attends or in every acting role his assumes. While he doesn’t have the physique, acting experience, athleticism, or chiseled American hero looks, it is not impossible for Marvel to back a guy who would be “unknown” in the mainstream but have the “geek appeal” that would attract comedy nerds, literary fans, and sci-fi dorks. In our opinion, it would be much cooler to see Hodgman play one of the scientists who developed the Super Soldier Formula, which transformed debilitated Steve Rogers into the U.S.’s finest specimen of humanity and strength.

Hodgman, if they call you in to play Steve Rogers I will concede that you are the best choice for the role. But if they call you in to play a scientist or doctor, well, I’ll say say that I’m the one who called it first!

Someone start a blog called HodgmanShouldBeCastInCaptainAmerica right away!

Meantime, Jon Hamm wins!