Ty Harper
Ty Harper | |||||||||
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Neighbourscharacter | |||||||||
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Portrayed by | Dean Geyer | ||||||||
Duration | 2008–2009 | ||||||||
First appearance | 27 March 2008 | ||||||||
Last appearance | 30 April 2009 | ||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
Introduced by | Susan Bower | ||||||||
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Ty Harperis a fictional character from the Australian soap operaNeighbours,played by singerDean Geyer.He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 27 March 2008. He was introduced to the show as the cousin ofTaylah Jordan(Danielle Horvat) and as a potential love interest forRachel Kinski(Caitlin Stasey). He departed on 30 April 2009.
Casting
[edit]During 2008,Neighboursunderwent a major revamp and formerAustralian Idolcontestant Dean Geyer joined the show as regular cast member, Ty Harper.[1]Producers also recruited modelsImogen Bailey(Nicola West) andErin McNaught(Sienna Cammeniti) in a bid to "sex up" the cast.[2][3]
Geyer had to undertake a screen test withCaitlin Staseywho playsRachel Kinskito secure the role.[4]He also worked with theNeighboursdrama coach, Mike Bishop, for four months to help prepare for the role and took vocal lessons to help with hisSouth Africanaccent.[1]On joiningNeighbours,Geyer said that it was "definitely a stepping stone."[1]Commenting on his first day on set Geyer stated: "The first day was pretty nerve-racking, but I was doing a performance with the band and that's something I'm obviously very familiar with."[4]
Geyer quit the role of Ty in November 2008, so he could pursue his music career.[5]He also admitted that he had struggled with some of the sexier storylines involving his character. Geyer, who is a Christian, said "In some instances my personal beliefs maybe were contradicting with what the character was doing".[5]However, he also added that the storylines had no influence over his decision to leave the show.[5]Geyer filmed his final scenes in December 2008.[6]
Character development
[edit]Whilst interviewed byTV WeekGeyer described Ty stating: "He's a singer. Ty was doing law at uni, but decided to drop out because music is so close to his heart. He wants to be a rock star. He's the cousin of one of the regular characters."[4]Speaking of possible romances he added: "The first girl he meets is Rachel. There may be a bit of chemistry there, but we'll have to see. Ty may set his sights on an older woman."[4]The Daily Telegraphsaid "Ty is a university drop-out with musical aspirations."[1]
Network Tendescribe Ty as being "charismatic, talented and impossibly handsome."[7]His cousin, Taylah, tries to set him and Rachel up, but they do not get on well at first and when Rachel tries to initiate a conversation with him, she is "thwarted at every turn."[7]Ten added "now that he has landed himself a job behind the bar at Charlie's it can only be a matter of time before he's an integral part of the Erinsborough community."[7]
Storylines
[edit]Ty is first seen at an all-ages music gig attended by his cousin Taylah and her friends. Ty speaks to Rachel at the bar, commenting on the poor service before getting on stage to perform with his band. Taylah decides to play cupid and bring Rachel and Ty together, but Rachel rejects every move that she makes. Ty is unhappy to seeDonna Freedman(Margot Robbie) at Charlie's as she had been following him for a while. Ty explains to Rachel that Donna is an obsessive fan and Rachel helps him to get Donna to back off. Ty is later offered a job byStephanie Scully(Carla Bonner), after he is caught sleeping behind the bar. He explains that he does not have a job or anywhere to live and he is invited to move in with her andLibby Kennedy(Kym Valentine). Ty develops a crush on Libby and they almost share a kiss, but Libby tells Ty that it would be wrong to pursue a relationship when he liked Rachel. At the Erinsborough Highschool formal,Ty allows Rachel to sing a song that he wrote, called "Unforgettable".[8]Although Ty develops feelings for Rachel he does not act on them due to Rachel's on-going love forAngus Henderson(Jonathan Wood). After Angus leaves Rachel for a job in South Australia, Ty gives her an electric keyboard to make her feel better. Rachel thinks the keyboard is from Angus and decides that she does not want it. Ty explains that he is the one who brought it for her and Rachel is angry that Ty is buying her gifts so soon after Angus left. Ty apologises for upsetting her and tells her that the only reason he wants her to be happy is that he cares about her.
One night while Rachel is babysittingBen Fitzgerald(Blake O'Leary) andCharlie Hoyland(Jacob Brito) someone sends her text messages and turns off the power. Armed with a cricket bat, Rachel hits the stalker when they come into the house. When the lights come back on Rachel sees that she has attacked Ty who was coming home. Rachel accuses Ty of being the stalker and he is taken to the hospital to get checked over. Ty questions how anyone thought that he could do that to Rachel and he asks her how she does not know how he feels about her. Rachel discovers that a classmate is responsible for stalking her and she apologises to Ty. He does not accept the apology and tells Rachel that he is hurt. Rachel invites Ty to a mystery gig at Charlie's and when he turns up, they kiss. They then begin a relationship. When Rachel's brother,Zeke(Matthew Werkmeister), goes missing following a rafting accident, Rachel turns to Ty for support. Rachel receives a scholarship to a school in London and she nearly declines as she could stay with Ty. Zeke encourages Ty to break up with her, which he does. However, he realises his mistake and races to the airport to say goodbye to Rachel properly. Ty misses Rachel and almost gives up his music career, but he is eventually talked out of selling his guitar. When he receives a text from Rachel meant for her cousin, Ty jumps to the conclusion that she is seeing someone else. However, Libby tells him that he is being silly and that he should tell Rachel how he feels. Ty is invited to join Rachel in London and the younger Ramsay Street residents have a small party for Ty. They sing to him as he leaves the street.
Reception
[edit]For his portrayal of Ty, Geyer was nominated for Most Popular New Male Talent at the 2009Logie Awards.[9]In the same year, the actor won the "Fave Aussie Hottie" award from theNickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awardsand received a nomination for "King of Teen" from theDolly Teen Choice Awards.[10][11][12]
The decision to add Geyer, McNaught and Bailey to theNeighbourscast outraged the acting industry, with some agents accusing the show of "sacrificing quality in favour of ratings".[13]ADaily Recordreporter stated "If you're into eye candy, it doesn't come much better than Ty Harper. There's no denying he's a good looking, kind-hearted lad. When he first arrived in Erinsborough, he was an aspiring musician who swept Rachel Kinski off her feet. Since she left to continue her studies in London, Ty has been moping around like a lost puppy."[14]
References
[edit]- ^abcdMoran, Jonathon (4 November 2007)."Dean Geyer to join Neighbours".The Daily Telegraph.Queensland Newspapers.Retrieved10 March2010.
- ^Kilkelly, Daniel (6 July 2008)."Model completes work on 'Neighbours'".Digital Spy.Retrieved23 June2010.
- ^"Imogen Bailey joins Neighbours cast".The Daily Telegraph.28 January 2008.Retrieved23 June2010.
- ^abcdBrygel, Jackie (5–11 January 2008). "Ramsay Street Arrivals".TV Week:14–15.
- ^abcByrne, Fiona (22 November 2008)."Dean Geyer quits Neighbours, admitting he struggled with sexy storylines".Herald Sun.Archived fromthe originalon 15 October 2012.Retrieved10 March2010.
- ^"The goodbye boy".Holy Soap.Channel 5.8 December 2008.Retrieved21 March2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^abc"Ty Harper".Neighbours.Network Ten.Archived fromthe originalon 7 June 2008.Retrieved22 February2011.
- ^"Neighbours: Music page".Neighbours.Network Ten.Retrieved24 May2008.
- ^"Logie Awards nominees".The Age.30 March 2009.Retrieved19 February2011.
- ^"Nickelodeon Winner's Gallery".Nickelodeon.Retrieved16 December2009.
- ^"Kids, Vote for Margot!".Neighbours.Network Ten.Retrieved30 December2009.
- ^"Home and Away dominates Teen Choice awards".The Sydney Morning Herald.13 August 2008.Retrieved8 October2010.
- ^Davies, Hannah (11 May 2008)."Uproar over incest storyline".Courier Mail.Queensland Newspapers.Retrieved23 June2010.
- ^"Soap stories".Daily Record.27 June 2009.Retrieved19 October2012.(subscription required)
External links
[edit]- Ty Harperat the Official AUNeighbourswebsite