The actor is probably best known for his role as the gullible, lovestruck Will on ABC’s “Alias.� It was, admittedly, a weak role. Will was basically the series’ whipping boy – the guy who constantly found himself used, abused and beaten senseless because of his affection for Jennifer Garner’s Sydney, who was in love with another guy.
Still, Cooper imbued the role with sweetness, intelligence and wit, and made us actually care about this poor sap.
Once the writers didn’t know what to do with him anymore, he was written off that show. He’s worked steadily since, on decent shows, but none of them has lasted long.
USA’s “Touched By Evil,� and the WB’s “Jack & Bobby� were two shows to feature Cooper, and they were both axed. This season, Cooper finally got a chance to headline a show, Fox’s cute, funny “Kitchen Confidential,� based on the great book by Anthony Bourdain.
Granted, it didn’t have the scathing wit of its lead-in “Arrested Development,� but “Confidential� was a great vehicle for Cooper, who ate up his role as a brilliant but troubled chef. The show really gave him a chance to shine.
So, of course, it’s been canceled. It will be on tonight, 8:30 p.m. on Fox, and will feature a guest shot by Cooper’s former “Alias� co-star Michael Vartan. However, I don’t know if Fox plans to air any more episodes, or if this will be the last we see of the show.
I’m hoping that it won’t be the last we see of Cooper. Why can’t this poor man have a hit show? He has a great screen presence, is funny and, it must be said, is great to look at.
So great, in fact, that I literally blush every time I see him (proof not just of his attractiveness, but also of my inability to keep my cool around good-looking guys, even when they aren’t actually in the room with me).
Cooper, apparently, won’t be wanting for work, despite his show’s cancellation. He’s co-starring with Julia Roberts in a Broadway play next year, is expected to be part of the cavalcade of guest stars that “Alias� plans to trot out in its final episodes.
But real fame continues to elude him. Poor Cooper. He deserves better. We all do.
A Brief Aside: I must mention another actor on “Confidential� who’s had an equally tough time landing a hit show, the delightful John Francis Daley, star of my all-time favorite (also canceled) show “Freaks and Geeks.� What a funny, likable actor he is. Granted, he doesn’t look like a TV star, with his wide babyface and offbeat looks, but he’s always fun to watch.
Hopefully, he’ll also land on his feet.