User:Davehollies/Todd Rivers

Todd Rivers is a fictional character created by Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness and played by Matt Berry.

The Man
Todd Rivers is a largely unsucessful actor and singer most famous for playing the role of Dr. Lucien Sanchez in the television series Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.

His life and career has been affected by persistent alcoholism particularly between the years 1979 and 1994. In fact he can be heard drinking 68p cans of beer on the 'Darkplace' DVD cast commentary. His drinking motto is 'never too early; never too late'.

He has also filed for bankruptcy and been imprisoned although little is known about these incidents.

As far as is known Rivers currently resides in a one bedroom flat in Tooting and is in a relationship with a woman many years his junior. He is still available for acting or voice-over work through his agent Richard Pit.

The Actor
Career

In estimated chronological order

Appeared in 'Love's Labours Lost' with Peter Wyngarde

Auditioned for the role of James Bond but lost out to Timothy Dalton

Played Dr. Lucien Sanchez in televison series Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

Did advertising voice-overs for a number of butter companies including Lurpak

Can be seen on episodes of Deano's After Dark hosted by Dean Learner, it is unclear whether he was a guest or audience member

Played an adulterer in the music video for folk singer Merriman Weir's 'Gallowsman' from the album of the same name

Reprised the role of Dr. Lucien Sanchez in Garth Marenghi's film 'War of the Wasps'

Lent his voice to an XFM advert

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

Unfortunately for Todd and all involved the television series made in the 1980's was only seen in Peru before its repackaging and release in the UK in 2004. Even then it was watched by few and did little for Rivers' career.

Todd Rivers was attracted to 'Darkplace' by Marenghi's 'brave and forward thinking' script. Todd hoped that he could replicate the effect of his novels on screen.

He was told by Marenghi and Dean Learner that the series had the backing of a television channel and that he would be paid for his efforts; these were both lies.

In Production

Due to Dean Learner throwing most of the episodes in the River Thames before a police raid on his property and Todd's alcohol induced memory loss much of what occurred during production is lost forever. A few facts, however, are known.

As the most experienced actor on set (Learner's garage) Rivers was given the freedom to interpret the character of Sanchez as his wished. He tried to understand the effect of Sanchez's time in The Falklands 'super-gluing men together'. He decided that Sanchez was the kind of surgeon who took no 'S**t', who would perform surgery only if and only if he felt like it.

Rivers also generously helped the other actors on set, notably fist timer Dean Learner playing Thornton Reed. Before Todd's intervention Learner would blink rapidly and continuously during his scenes.

Director Marenghi piled the pressure on the other actors by allowing them only one take. He would spend the majority of each day attempting to get his own scenes 'perfect.

Fred Baron

Rivers is still incredibly angry about the actions of Fred Baron who played the padre during the series. Baron threatened to assault Rivers and have him kicked out of his brother's flat if Rivers did not get him a part in the show. Rivers did so possibly by convincing Marenghi and Learner that he was the star of the 'Padre Movies' of the 1970s. Learner still believes that Baron appeared in 'Papa Padre' and 'Nunchuck Vicar'.

Upon Completion

Rivers' view of the UK version of the series in slightly unclear. In official interviews he is very postive about the storylines, performances and special effects by deanamatronix. However, in the more relaxed setting of the DVD commentary he clearly does not enjoy watching the series. Like many he feels that the exploding ambulance in the opening credits is the only highlight of each episode. He also hates the rooftop epilogues and added cast interviews.

Such criticism is not appreciated by Dean Learner who thinks that Todd's negative outlook is a defence mechanism that distracts from his 'wasted life'.

Butter Scandal

Todd once provided the voice for the advertising campaigns of several competing butter companies. When he was discovered he was sued by each.

He is now legally barred from working for any butter based organisation.

Acting Philosophy

Rivers states that his time on the stage was the best training he could have received and that it is something modern TV actors do not understand.

He considers himself to be a 'human drumkit' performing to a personalised rhythm. He adds that his 'Darkplace' co-stars did not know anything about acting rhythms. Todd suggests that Marenghi's rhythm is a slow and monotonous one. And that Dean Learner's rhythm is similar to the sound of a 'mentally retarded' person let loose on a drumkit.

Despite his career setbacks Rivers is no longer bitter. He says that he prefers to bow out gracefully than be a part of the 'modern day freakshow' that is popular television.

The Singer
Todd's singing career is largely confined to his performance of 'One Track Lover' (Feat. Dean Learner) on 'Darkplace'. It has since spread via illegal download which has not benefitted Rivers in any way.

Todd has been dropped by every record company he has ever been associated with.

The Lover
Todd Rivers is a notorious ladies man who especially likes younger women.

On the set of 'Darkplace' he is said to have slept with several of the female extras. He was even caught and photographed naked on set. Co-star Madeline Wool and the actress who played 'Brocolli woman' managed to resist his overly aggressive advances. The Brocolli actress even asked Marenghi to remove Todd from the series which, of course, he could not do.

Todd found a kindred spirit in Dean Learner who he has seen 'make a lot of love'. On one occassion the pair brought identical twin sisters back to their caravan. Due to partner and bedroom based confusion the two happily spent the night swapping lovers.

Rivers has, however, revealed the downside to dating younger women. He thinks that they do not accept as much bad behaviour as older women. Once he told his young girlfriend that her father was a thief (which is true). The next morning she poured scolding coffee over him. Rivers simply went on holiday for two weeks, when he returned the girlfriend had calmed down.

Garth Marenghi often criticises Todd for his lifestyle but Rivers answers his critics eloquently:

''A man who behaves like a beast shall never suffer the pain of being a man. Yet a man without love is like an orchard without cherry blossom''

The Thinker
Rivers has many interesting political.

He, like Garth Marenghi, believes that doctors should be allowed to carry guns in order to deal with drunked and disrespectful patients.

In fact he thinks that gun use is acceptable in general. His own experiences have led him to believe that one can end up in a situtation where the only way out is through the use of a gun. The guns used by Dr. Sanchez are actually Todd's own weapons.

Rivers also believes that political correctness is unecessary. This is reflected in his humour. He once joked that make-up for black women should be called 'Ethnic Cleansing'. Although Dean Learner thinks that Todd has confused not being politically correct with simple rudeness.