I know you all woke up this morning, asking yourself this very question as you slipped a string necklace over your head and adjusted it's jewel - a black flair pen - around to the front. And just like Jimmy Fallon reunited the cast of Saved by the Bell (sans Screech, thank God), I decided that if I had my own talk show, I'd work on reuniting the cast of the literacy-promoting show Ghostwriter.
David López Alejandro "Alex" Fernandez Barely surviving the humiliating smear fliers, this Queens-native was a character voice on the Grand Theft Auto video game in 2004 (for those of you GTA enthusiasts that read my website, he's in the San Andreas edition). His last documented words to the press are, "My main ambition in life is to go back to Colombia and have a family." But first, Handro stopped off at Rutgers University in 2002 and has graduated (hopefully... unless he's a doctor or lawyer that moonlights as a video game voiceover) and gone back to the motherland. (*note: Alejandro was both me and my sister's first crush, and we sent him a letter telling him that in '94, and got a postcard back with a general "Thanks for being on the team!" or some non-personal crap.)
Sheldon TurnipseedJamal Jenkins Rally J, guys. As the ringleader for most of the team's THABTO-hunting shenanigans, Sheldon decided to stay close to his Brooklyn home and attend NYU in 2002 and has since graduated. Since his alma mater is about 2 blocks from where I'm sitting now, this can only mean that a sighting during alumni week is basically guaranteed. After being nominated twice for a Young Artist Award for both "Ghostwriter" and "Mo Better Blues" (1990), Jamal has basically chilled out and is probably a normal, productive citizen. Booorrrring.
Blaze Berdahl Lenni Frazier This angsty team-member grew up to have a pretty normal adulthood, in spite of Stoop Dude's best efforts to make her crazy. Born in New York to a Broadway actor father and teacher mother, stepped away from the blank blue screen once and for all, and went off to Bucknell University and joined the same sorority as Tina (The asian one. See next). She was guest-starring for a bit on Third Watch, and got married to a guy named Stephen in '07 and now does voiceovers.
Tram-Anh Tran Tina Nguyen The Vietnamese phenom has done nothing else on screen before or after her days as Tina, the classy and sassy one (Think: Lisa Turtle of GW). After 35 episodes and a Young Artist Award nomination, Tran hung up the flair pen and went to Penn State University, and was in a sorority and no doubt was asked every single day about who's a better kisser: Alex or Jamal. She graduated in 2001 with a degree in finance, and is probably loving being 30 somewhere.
Mayteana MoralesGabriella 'Gaby' Fernandez After leaving the bodega for good, Gaby went to NYU with Jamal to study drama, and graduated in 2003. She has most recently been seen doing dinner theatre productions and uncredited roles in obscure movies. Every time I go into a deli, I still think about the brother-sister duo living above me, beds separated by sheets and talking about the mystery that they're trying to solve with the help of a literate ghost.
Todd Alexander Rob Baker Prior to his GW-fame, he was in "Lean on Me" with Morgan Freeman. Todd, whose last name is actually Cohen, was last documented high-fiving Jamal and Gaby around the quad at NYU, before he graduated in 2002. He is probably just chilling somewhere.
William Hernandez Hector Carrero The Puerto Rican slash American (from NYC, of course) made a cameo for 2 seasons of GW and has since played a priest, a gang member, a police officer, a lawyer, a messenger, and a guy named "Silvio," in various movies. His most recent role is playing himself in the Real World: Philadelphia, and is a self-proclaimed "avid Madonna fan" who left home at age 15 because his parent's weren't down with his lifestyle. He currently works as a part-time personal shopper, and has wisely chosen to not participate in any Real World / Road Rules Challenges, that would put him through some sort of gauntlet or inferno, and therefore public humiliation.
Richard Cox Max Frazier Born in NYC's Chelsea hood in '48, Max had lucrative Broadway career (really making it in "Grease," obviously. Have you seen that mullet?) and since playing Lenni's hip, beret-wearing, keyboard-playing single father, has almost 100 TV credits for playing roles from a senator to a stalker. Not bad!
Marcella Lowery Grandma Jenkins Born in the '40s in Queens, nobody was more influential to Jamal, and the team, than Ghostwriter. Sike! I'm talking about Grandma Jenkins.(Nobody knows when or where GW was born. The investigation was inconclusive during season 1, episode 1.) In '97, G-ma Jenkins was nominated for an Image Award for her role in "City Guys," and continues to be a guiding light in the life of a younger man as she now plays Donovan McNabb's mom in the Chunky Soup commercials.
and the who we don't even need to wonder "where is he now?!" about...
Samuel L. Jackson Reggie Jenkins And the "Most Improved Career" award goes to: Samuel L. Jackson. His Oscar nomination, 17 awards and 34 other nominations are just the result of his 3 episode cameo in the "Who burned Mr. Brinker's store?" debacle of '92. The intensity in his eyes, when he studied the surveillance tape, and the way he negotiated information out of Jamal and the team and Mr. Brinker to find out the true story... these were all stepping stones to his prolific career.
Samuel L, you win the "where are they now?" because we all know. Hollywood. Kicking ass and taking names.
Comments
Juli
10/06/2009 22:04
Okay, I read like the first 3 sentences abot Handro and was like 'There better effen be an entry about Grandma Jenkins!!' Thank God I was not disappointed, or there would be some flair-penned smear fliers in Park Slope if you know what I'm sayin. And Saysa, please keep your Handro crushes to yourself, I have never crushed on anyone who lives in a deli dry storage, mmm'kay?
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Julie
10/06/2009 22:06
Yes I know how to spell my name, and the word "about."
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My little tennis ball head
10/06/2009 23:33
So many comments, so little time.
1) Jandro was FOINE! Julie, it's nothing to be ashamed of.
2) Lenni was also in an "Ice Breakers" commercial ("my breath tastes A LOT FRESHER")
3) If you're down, we're making our own music video for "you gotta believe" in the Great Wall Mall parking lot.
4) I always think of Alex and Gaby when I see a bodega as well! hahaha.
5) I will never forget watching the season premiere of "The Real World: Philadelphia" with Ang and Trina, and we F-LIPPED OUT when "Willy" Hernandez said that he played HECTOR on ghostwriter. Remind me to do an impression of what Ang did for like 5 minutes after we found this information out. SO FUNNY
6) I heart you for taking the time out to write this blog.
7) I still know...
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Nate
10/17/2009 20:08
I was watching some GW episodes on youtube and did some googling on this topic. I found this blog among others.
My tidbits to add: 1) Sheldon Turnipseed is now known as Ty Gabriel. He seems now to be a naval officer stationed in the DC area. 2) Tina has a public myspace got married in 2006 to a guy with the last name Poprik. She lives in NJ. Occupation listed is "housewive/account executive" 3) Mayteana Morales appeared *topless* on HBO's Taxicab confessions with two friends singing.
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ang
11/03/2009 13:18
Where is Stoop Dude?
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Allyson
11/12/2009 09:29
OMG jenna, ur amazing. loved ghostwriter.
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marvin
06/12/2010 08:53
I found a recent photo of Ty gabriel aka sheldon turnipseed. the brothers doing big things. see link below.
http://navintpro.net/?page_id=873
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Jina
06/12/2010 23:48
I loved this show so much when I was growing up. I finally have it on DVD (thank you Amazon). Four things I did not know before:
1.) Cross Colors were the -ish back in the day!
2.) "Who Burned Mr. Brinker's Store?" was the pilot (which I knew) AND it's sooooo obvious!
3.) Gaby had at-ti-tude!
4.) Samuel L. Jackson was in both "Mr. Brinker's Store" and "Ghost Story"--I just thought he was in Ghost Story!
Jenna, thanks for putting this out in the 'Net 'Verse for all of us to enjoy! Alex was fine, Jamal was the best, Lenni was the diva, Rob was sensitive, Gaby was sassy and Tina was cool!
I thought I spotted Todd and David a few times when I lived in New York. I didn't know if it was just my imagination or for real. One sighting was definitely real (Todd at TFF)...the other one, not so sure! :)
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Seema
12/14/2010 20:54
Fantastic work! I have to make one crucial addition. Before Julia Stiles was tracking down Jason Bourne or killing people with Dexter, she was a prime suspect in Who Is Max Mouse. My favorite GW story line!
Oh! Also Joey Shea, aka Calvin - the kid we love to hate - was recently spotted bartending at a trendy club in L.A.
I am sitting here watching Ghostwriter, after ordering from Netflix. I was overjoyed when season 1 came out in DVD as it was my fav show when I was a kid. Of course, watching made me wonder where these people are now and stumbled across this blog. Thanks for the entertaining commentary. It's good to know I'm not the only one who wanted to be a part of the GW club. :-)
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Mike jefferson
02/22/2011 22:20
I played stoopdude and also played destiny preop tranny on sex and the city who threw eggs at samantha. Some actor named rodney has stolen my stoopdude credit on his imdb page.
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Eddie
02/27/2011 04:31
GW was one of My favorite shows. Watching them on YouTube will always make Me think about how life was in the 1990s and My last years at school. If any cast members actually do live here in New York I'd love to meet them someday. I can't imagine the long conversation I'd have about the show I'd have. I also enjoy the fact the the show was taped in My own backyard and enjoy when I see how the show doeal with real-life issues. Other mystery shows like Mathnet from Square One TV also dealt with problem solving, but most cases were not as realistic, such as a case for "Missing Air" or a fake guerilla on the run. Ghostwriter had cases about things ranging from drug use to gang members to video piracy. These things unfortunately attract a lot of people still today.
Imagine if the cast did a reunion episode where everyone would discuss how life is and what they're doing as adults. Would they visit the places and reminise about what the place is now? I especially like Todd/Rob's personality because He reflects My own. Shy and enjoys writing stuff.
I hope if any member of the team is reading this they can write Me. It's a good fantasy but I could say that GW misses You after 16 years off the air.
Eddoe
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jermaine
08/17/2011 06:18
I know That Gaby is still in NY. She is part of the group Pimps of Joytime and does several singing performances. You can catch them on Youtube.
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Anthony
11/22/2011 22:40
Ghostwriter... What a trip!
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Carmencita
02/03/2012 14:38
I was teaching in the university when I accidentally tumbled upon GW while surfing the TV. I got interested and had enjoyed the show since then. I am so glad that I could find it online. I want my young kids to see the show and (hopefully) enjoy them the same way I did, and be like those kids - inquisitive, logical, and real friends to each other.