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Steve Burton comes clean about Jason's many loves on General Hospital and why his main man will always be Sonny.
SOW: What's it like being part of daytime's first male super couple?
Steve: If it's the first, I guess it's an honor. I don't know how that worked out. I think it actually started with Maurice and me becoming friends and him helping me with acting. It transferred to the screen. I was playing his right hand man and we were going through all those emotional stories. We've always joked around on appearances that Jason and Sonny are the real couple - the real love story (laughs). I guess you can only hope to have a friend that good in real life.
SOW: Do you have a friend like Sonny in real life?
Steve: If I said my wife, then that would really be funny joke. I definitely have close friends who would do anything for me. There are friends that can call after two years and it's like we haven't missed anything. Maurice and I are actually like that in real life. When I went away, when he left the show, we'd just pick up the phone and it was the same old thing.
SOW: You and Maurice have been pretty regular Daytime Emmy nominees, yet neither of you got nominated this year. Were you surprised?
Steve: I was more upset that Maurice didn't make it because he had a great year. I didn't have a lot of stuff. You need two full shows to compete for lead actor and I just didn't have it. That stuff is nice, but you want to see people who have had a great year get recognized, like Greg Vaughan (Lucky). He had a story this year that he might not ever get again. But this is just how the system works.
SOW: Sonny aside, you're in the middle of a pretty hot story right now. What was your reaction when the writers rekindled things between Elizabeth and Jason?
Steve: When they shook everything upside down it was definitely a surprise. But I didn't think it was so far out of the blue, because Jason and Elizabeth do have a past. As much as people may not have wanted all of that to go down, Sam sleeping with Ric and Jason sleeping with Elizabeth, the whole thing has provided good fallout story.
SOW: What was the fan mail like after that?
Steve: In the beginning everybody got a lot of heat. Kelly did, Becky did and I did for pushing Sam away and for taking my shirt off with Elizabeth and not Sam.
SOW: That was the worst offense of all.
Steve: People have all these ideas why I do and I don't take my shirt off. I've heard the craziest things. "He likes Becky better because he took his shirt off with her." - "His wife's more comfortable with Becky" - "He's a Christian". Yes I'm a Christian. But saying I wouldn't take my shirt off for religious reasons when I'm playing a hit man - is that not a double standard?" It just makes me laugh. Quite truthfully, I'm a perfectionist. If it's not perfect, it ain't coming off. And I like to eat.
SOW: So what prompted the bare chest?
Steve: How it all went down was, I was going on vacation so I started working with a nutritionist and I was getting in shape. Then I had to shoot a portfolio (to try to land) an endorsement agent. I said, "Okay. I'll take it a step further and try to get into the best shape I've been in for these pictures." It turned out my scene with Becky happened then too. I said, "I haven't taken my shirt off in a while, and I feel good. I'm in shape; I'm going to do it". So that's how the whole shirtless thing went down. I said, "Now is the time. Not in three months when it's October and I'm eating brownies and cookies all day. As soon as football starts, you guys are dead in the water."
SOW: Is it ever awkward working with Becky since you and your wife, Sheree and Becky and her husband Michael are all friends?
Steve: I wouldn't say it's awkward but it's a weird job to have. You're kissing another woman, then, you're going home. Michael and I are friends so he knows I am not going to be putting the moves on his wife like some other people might. There's also safety in there if you're friends.
SOW: What are your thoughts on Jason becoming a dad? Do you think it will be easier to play since you're a father of two: Makena (aged 3 1/2) and Jack (aged 1) in real life?
Steve: There's no doubt. Before (with Michael) I had to use something else to bring up that emotion. Now, it's so easy with kids. It changes everything. I just think about them.
SOW: How do you feel about working with a baby?
Steve: Would it be my first choice to do it day in and day out? Probably not because scheduling can get crazy. I went through that with Michael, and I wasn't married nor did I have kids then. I didn't have as much patience. Now, I do. Actually, it's probably better for me to do this now.
SOW: Jason has changed a bit lately. Between Alan's death and the prospect of becoming a dad. Would you agree that it's softened him?
Steve: Yes and it's been fun. It's a whole new side of Jason, more like I am in real life.
SOW: Let's talk about that. What's a typical day like for you outside of GH?
Steve: Well, during football season, there's definitely football on. Now, it's get up on Saturday and do something with the kids. Do something with the family. We like to be outdoors. We go to Disney Land and things like that. My kids are in activities now; they're in swimming and my daughter is in ballet, in a dance recital next week. I go watch them do that stuff if I have the time off. Sunday we go to church in the morning then pretty much relax all day.
SOW: Do you still keep in touch with Melissa and Scott Reeves since they moved to Nashville?
Steve: Yes. They are some of our best friends. We didn't want them to move away. But actually we're going to wind up seeing them more in Nashville because we love it there too. We take frequent trips there. It's where I did the move The Last Castle so I have other friends there. We went there for a week in the wintertime and we're going for about 10 days in the summer.
SOW: You mentioned The Last Castle. Have you reconciled yourself with not doing film? Do you think daytime works better for your lifestyle?
Steve: I wouldn't say I'm throwing in the towel quite yet. But obviously daytime is a great job to have if you want to have a family. You're not traveling everywhere. You don't have to take your kids out of school or go to Canada or wherever for four months. But if that's what it would take, I would do it.
SOW: So you're still pursuing film and prime time?
Steve: There are always projects going on, things in the works. I can afford to be a little more picky about things when I have a job like this. I don't have to do everything that comes around. What happens is you get into such a groove here. It's like coming to the factory every day. Then, you go see a good movie and you say, "Oh, man! I want to do movies" or "Oh! I want to direct". I also have a writing partner. We have some projects we're constantly pitching. It's just a matter of time and the right person saying yes.
SOW: Is there another type of character you'd like to play?
Steve: There isn't a particular character that I'm yearning to get out of here and do.
SOW: What about a Spinelli type character?
Steve: I don't know if I could pull off Spinelli. There's only one Spinelli, and Bradford Anderson has been great.
SOW: Have you enjoyed the introduction of Spinelli into Jason's life?
Steve: We have funny scenes and we have a good time. I think it shows on screen. I like the comedy aspect of it. It's cool because every funny guy needs a straight man and that's what I do. The stuff isn't necessarily out of character, because Jason wouldn't want people touching him, and Spinelli likes to touch Jason. It just works.
SOW: Who do you enjoy working with the most these days?
Steve: It will always be Maurice, but Spinelli is working his way up the ladder. It's so unfair to say who I like working with better because a lot of it has to do with the story and what the scenes are actually about. I've had more story with Maurice and there's a comfortableness there. But it's fun with someone new like Bradford, who can act. We can take it to areas that maybe a not so good actor could not.
SOW: Could you see Jason having his own spin-off?
Steve: I don't want my own spin-off. But if there was anything it would have to be me and Spinelli.
SOW: Spinelli and Stone Cold, the new Starsky and Hutch?
Steve: Exactly!
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