GH'S SEAN KANAN & STEVE BURTON:
Onscreen Brothers, Offscreen Pals

Soap Opera Magazine, December 28, 1993.

by Robert Waldron.

The amazing resemblance between GH's Sean Kanan and Steve Burton makes them totally believable as brothers A.J. and Jason Quartermaine. Here, Sean and Steve reveal where the similarities end and the differences begin, not only on the show but also in their real-life friendship.

Q: How would you feel if GH created a triangle with A.J. and Jason in love with the same woman?
Sean: Our characters truly care about each other, so if this monkey wrench is thrown into their relationship, it would be fascinating to see if they could overcome it.
Steve: I've never had the "Cain and Abel" stuff with Sean. So the competition would be nice.

Q: Do you think Brenda would be an interesting woman to come between A.J. and Jason?
Sean: Yes, because Brenda is Jason's complete opposite. She's duplicitous and sneaky, and uses her sexuality. They're characteristics that Jason's on unsteady ground with. But A.J. and Brenda are birds of a feather and would have lots in common.
Steve: There's something in Brenda that we both would be attracted to, as opposed to Karen. A.J. wouldn't go for Karen because she's too much like Jason: nice, honest and sensitive. But Brenda's got the "bad girl" thing going. And there's always been something between Brenda and Jason - remember, they once shared a kiss.

Q: The Quartermaines are the wealthiest family in Port Charles. How does that compare to your own families?
Sean: I've been lucky. I grew up with money - although certainly not the kind of money the Quartermaines have. Like A.J, I also went to boarding schools. So when A.J. makes references to boarding school, I can vividly draw on those experiences.
Steve: I didn't grow up with much, so there's a world of difference between me and Jason. My family didn't have much money, but my mom always made sure I had everything I needed.

Q: Sean, how is Steve Burton similar to Jason?
Sean: Steve seems extroverted, but deep down I think he's a very sensitive guy. Jason also has a lot of sensitivity.

Q: How are they different?
Sean: Steve's fun, very outgoing, more athletic and less of a bookworm than Jason.

Q: Steve, how is Sean similar to A.J.?
Steve: Sean is business-driven, as is A.J. In fact, Sean's smart as hell in business.

Q: How are they different?
Steve: If I had to count on A.J. for something as a person, I couldn't. He's very cutthroat. But I know I could count on Sean.

Q: How would you describe the relationship between A.J. and Jason?
Sean: Each brother sees in the other something that they want in their own personality. A.J. longs for the stability and the "good son" aspect that Jason has. There's also a part of A.J.'s swashbuckler personality that Jason longs for. A.J.'s a boozing, fighting, woman-chasing guy in a nice business suit, but he also has an intellect.

Q: How does your real-life friendship affect your relationship on TV?
Sean: Our friendship transcends onto the screen. When I'm speaking to Jason as A.J, I could just as easily be saying any of it to Steve. I also feel equally comfortable giving him a slap on his head - as he does me. There's a playfulness that comes through.
Steve: It helps a lot that I've known Sean for six years. We don't have to work at being brothers because we've always been close.

Q: How did you guys get to know each other?
Steve: We met on an audition and started hanging out together - playing tennis, going to clubs at night.

Q: How have the sibling relationships in your real lives affected your performances onscreen as brothers?
Sean: Brothers and sisters are able to share secrets with each other that they keep from their parents. On the show, Jason's always able to keep a secret for A.J. Also, there are times when you have an antagonistic relationship, where you compete for your parents' attention. I try to throw a little of that in with Jason.
Steve: I have two stepbrothers, both younger. So it's totally different than on the show because with them I play the big brother role. But I can relate to how A.J. tries to look out for Jason because I was always doing that with my stepbrothers.

Q: Do you socialize together away from the set?
Sean: We don't spend a lot of time together, but we try to have dinner every couple of weeks. We also have lunch every day we work together.
Steve: We also play video games. Going home from work we sometimes stop at a video arcade for a couple of hours. I kick his butt at "Mortal Combat" and he beats mine with "Streetfighter."