What If Peter Burke Wasn't Peter Burke?

[elrhiarhodan]

I just came across this old article about USA greenlighting the production of the White Collar pilot, back in October, 2008.

"White Collar" is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey (Bomer), an incredibly charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, G-Man extraordinaire Peter Stokes (DeKay). When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Peter nabs him once again. "

I know that I still have a bit of trouble with the whole Diana Lancing/Diana Barrigan thing, but the thought of Peter Burke as Peter Stokes is JUST PLAIN WRONG.

And in the comments:

"I would really like to get excited for White Collar. A show with two guys teaming up and fighting bad people? That's something missing from tv for a long time.

But knowing how USA tv works after a few episodes someone will go online, read a few slash fiction, get scared and add a dumb bimbo as a female love interest and screwing the show.

Been there, done that. "

Comments

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

Burke just seems the right fit; I read stokes in article and I can't imagine Peter saying that when he is questioning suspects. And can't imagine Elizabeth as a Debbie that just does not fit; El works much better and can you imagine Stokes Premiere Events; that is wrong in so many ways; Burke premiere events sounds much better. I like that in the finale we got to see Elizabeths work place; not happy fowler showed up there but nice to see the B on the outside of building. Burke to me fits Peter much much better then stokes. Of course going off topic but always wondered did he help her start that business; and its nice to see its a success; that el doesn't struggle for business. OK off topic see get me talking about Burkes and I do that.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

Chiming in for conversation's sake, I wrote a fic where El started her business during the course of the three years Peter was after Neal. It worked for me because it made her very proactive in that time (rather than just "dutiful wife sits around while he husband is off at work for long hours and probably often out of town" or whatever), and that makes it six or seven years later, so it wouldn't be a total stretch to see that's the business is successful now, probably with return clients for annual things and what not.

OK off topic see get me talking about Burkes and I do that.

I do that too. They're a topic I like!

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a nice story; did Peter help her start the business??? I always wonder with how much he would be makeing as a field agent if he helped her get the business rolling and sounds good where helped keep her busy while he was looking for neal; nice backstory on the couple.