Monster Casting:

I have to admit, I didn't finish Dahmer, the first installment in Ryan Murphy's Monster series.  I stopped at episode three.  I love Evan Peters and Niecy Nash, but I found it a bit too exploitive and disturbing.  Maybe because it was so well done, or maybe it was after reading some of the comments from family members of some of Dahmer's victims.  I do plan on returning to finish it, I'm just waiting to be in the right mood to dive in again.

Koch

I am however looking forward to Monster's next installment focused on the Menendez brothers.  Lyle and Erik have been in prison for over three decades, and it was thought they'd be spending the rest of their lives there.  Recent reports however, have discussed new evidence about their abuse, and their is a lot of talk, their sentences may be looked at again.    

Chavez

Given they've been in prison for so long now, I'm sort of hoping they might get out.  I'm not fan of murder, or letting violent offenders out early.  There always seemed however, that there was more to the story and the abuse allegations than were considered in their sentencing.  The timing bodes well for attracting interest in the new series which was first announced by Netflix last May.

There was a lot of excitement when the series was announced, especially the casting of Cooper Koch and Nicholas Chavez as Lye and Erik.  Both Koch, 27, and Chavez, 24, were cast as the Menendez Brothers in late June of last year, but the writers and actors strike pushed the start of production to the end of the year.  Recent on-set photos of Koch and Chavez were recently published, meaning the filming is well underway with a probable release this fall. 

Koch

I don't know why, but it took the casting to introduce me to the beauty and talent that is Cooper Koch.  Not sure how I missed this exceptional talent, but have since remedied that by checking out both is vast modeling portfolio, and some of his acting projects.   I finally watched Swallowed, and understood what all the fuss was about.  If you haven't seen the film, or Koch's nude scenes, check out more on the NEXT PAGE HERE:

Chavez

I don't watch General Hospital, therefore never saw Nicholas Chavez on the show.  I did however, know who he was and posted about him before on the site. (HERE:)  Even without seeing him on the soap, I knew he was one to watch.  You could tell by the on-line buzz about his role, and the audience reaction, that his soap days were going to be temporary. 

It's difficult for soap stars to move into prime-time and film, despite the success of some like Julianne Moore, Anne Heche and Kevin Bacon, few have really made the transition smoothly.  There are many actors like Brad Pitt and Paul Walker who had brief stints on soaps.  Those two actors however, were in and out quickly, not really gaining fame or acclaim from their daytime experience.

Chavez, much like Heche and Moore, won acclaim for their soap stints, each winning Emmy's for their daytime roles.  This might make the challenge harder for Chavez, but my gut tells me that Monster will be the beginning of his primetime and film career.  Young, hot actors aren't leaving soaps like they used to, there are just not the amount of roles there used to be.  It will be interesting to see if Chavez returns to Port Charles, and if he does, for how long

The casting of new Monster also has a bit of an erotic undertone, given Koch, playing the older Kyle is openly gay.  Chavez, who identifies as straight, plays younger brother Erik.  It will be interesting to see if Ryan Murphy plays this out in anyway in the movie, especially given the relationships and circumstances of the crime, and the brothers themselves.