Eternal supporting actor, Eri Johnson gives up on soap operas and becomes presenter

Known in the history of TV for comic characters, stripped down and even a little naughty, especially in plots by author Gloria Perez, actor Eri Johnson, 60, decided it’s time to end his work as an actor in soap operas. According to him, the moment is to think about turning his career around.

From next Monday (2), Eri will become the presenter of RedeTV’s new morning! called Bom Dia Você, an attraction of variety, information, interviews and cuisine that he will lead alongside Alinne Prado. “The essence will be simplicity, eye to eye, welcoming. The world is lacking that”, says the presenter.

Eri Johnson’s decision to no longer act in plots was well thought out, even if he ends this trajectory of more than 40 years without having gotten a starring role. “We lack so much and being a protagonist was also lacking, but I have been a protagonist in the theater for many years. It is God who commands these things. I think I would like to have had a leading role in a soap opera, but I have so many leading roles in theater it just isn’t fair to think about it,” he says.

The actor and presenter, who will now use his intimacy with celebrities to produce content for the new show, comments that he never felt devalued either at Globo or Record, where he made soap operas such as “Belaventura” (2017) and “Topíssima” (2019). ).

“I started out as an extra in ‘Dancin’ Days’ (Globo, 1978) and to get where I am I was a protagonist. I have no disagreement with anyone. Presenting a program on RedeTV! me,” he says. See edited excerpts from the interview below.

How do you rate your debut as a presenter?

I’ve never conducted a TV show mainly being daily. What I did during the pandemic was to present lives by Mumuzinho, Gusttavo Lima, Naiara Azevedo, but it’s very different from being on open TV for two hours from Monday to Friday, live. My relationship with the viewer is one of credibility and trust. When I was called to talk about this project, I was told that my audience was housewives and I thought that was cool. It’s going to be a challenging experience and I feel prepared. I’m learning every day, but I’m grateful for this opportunity I’ve wanted for a few years.

Is there anyone who can inspire this challenge?

If I’m going to talk about an inspiration, it will always be the great king Roberto Carlos. He presents himself in a way with politeness, affection, respect and love for those who watch him. I believe that I can be that and take information in a more truthful and organic way. The great thing is that I can be myself all the time and that’s how I feel at ease. I’ll be able to give an opinion and be myself on TV after so many characters.

How does Bom Dia Você differ from other mornings on open TV?

When we talk about the morning program, we talk about leisure, entertainment, cuisine and information. Our opinion and our view of the facts will be different. I am 42 years old and have made great friends. I will give people a chance to see my friendship with them, our intimacy. At the premiere, there’s already a chat with my brother Gusttavo Lima. This relationship I have with these friends, actors, musicians, football players, will help bring content to the show.

Worried about audience?

When I started my acting career, I was told that there was a difficulty because there were several actors competing. I heard that, paid attention, and went on with my life. Ibope is a major concern of the commercial sector, but I don’t see Ibope as the best thing. We seek to deliver quality as much as possible. Of course we need the ibope, but Boni [José Bonifácio de Oliveira Sobrinho, empresário e diretor de TV, conhecido por seu trabalho na Globo] I was already talking about quality standards. I want to deliver this.

You’ve never been a protagonist in more than 20 soap operas. Do you feel that you are only now being valued on TV?

I can’t say that, I have a lot of gratitude for Globo and Record. I had many opportunities, Gloria Perez, for example, I am grateful to her for helping me with my career. I keep thinking of names like [o dos diretores] Roberto Talma [1949-2015]Wolf Maya and Paulo Ubiratan [1947-1998] and what they would like me to do. I could learn so much from them. I am now having the chance to become a presenter, which for me is the opportunity I had truly been preparing for. I’m not afraid, I have faith. More responsibility than anything else.

Doesn’t beat boredom or a taste that could have had the chance to star in a plot?

There is so much missing for us and being a protagonist was also lacking, but I have been a protagonist in the theater for many years. It is God who commands these things. I think I would have liked to have had a leading role in a soap opera, but I have so many leading roles in theater that it’s not fair to think about it. But at this point, starring in a soap opera is no longer part of my thinking, I just want to enjoy the new phase responsibly.

Do you think about doing another novel yet?

After 42 years I come to the conclusion that my story in soap operas has gone as far as it has gone. From now on, I don’t want to do soap operas anymore, even with this taste of wanting more [por não ter sido protagonista]. Maybe just series or sitcom. This new step is much more important. I started out as a crashing extra in ‘Dancin’ Days’ (1978) and to get where I am I was a protagonist. I have no disagreement with anyone I’ve worked with on TV. Present a program on RedeTV! it will be the great turning point of my trajectory, because it depends only on me.

With the program on the station in São Paulo, how will it be without the beach and footvolley for so long?

I’ve been living in São Paulo for seven months, in a building in Vila Olímpia (south zone), in the same place where Lucas Lucco, Edmundo lives. There is a tennis court there that we turn into a footvolley court. But I’m used to the beach, I like to take a “God dip” as I call it. But now I’m going back and forth to Guarujá, it’s quick. In this new routine, after leaving the program, around 3 pm, I will have the whole afternoon and weekends to do this.

What other projects do you have in mind?

I have now finished a season of the show “Eri Pinta Johnson Borda”, in São Luís (MA). And I will do football events with former players and take the opportunity to record with them.

A curiosity about his mole, the subject of even a theatrical show. Have you ever thought about taking it off?

I’ve been a joke all my childhood, they said it was vulture poop. There was even a TV director who at the beginning of his career said that the mole would get in the way. But in adolescence she became charm. I never thought of taking it off. Time passed and she favored me, I became a reference as “the actor of the pint”. Now the damn thing is waning, but it continues to help me.