Best guest performances on TOS......

[Esteban]

[QUOTE=UnknownSample;7134817]

Esteban wrote:

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I don't like to think that I'm someone who can mistakenly take seriously an intentionally hammy piece of acting.
It's possible that what seemed like exaggerated acting to him at the time fit perfectly, for the frantic, unbalanced, guilt-ridden Decker. Windom was the king of guest roles on TV at the time, but offhand I can't remember his being that intense in other shows. Maybe he was stepping into new territory he was unsure of.

We cannot be sure. However, if you ever see some of his other work, say, in The Twilight Zone, you'll know that Windom was not incapable of chewing some scenery. But to my mind it was always to good effect, as it was in "Doomsday".

I try to be fair and consider the times. Even in 1967 television was only, what, 15 years old? Most of these guys--including a certain balding Canadian actor of the time--were "classically trained". I think that means yelling loudly on an off-Broadway stage.

I'm not knocking them. That's what they knew to be "acting". The fact that television is a cool medium had not quite made it through the ranks yet. Some had figured it out, but most hadn't.

Regardless, I give Mr. Windom a huge nod in making that episode forever memorable.

[UnknownSample]

My possibly neurotic little worry is over whether Windom knowingly turned in an intentionally hammy performance... and whether I "fell for it", since I did and still do consider it great.

I think other people probably protect themselves against feeling like idiots a little more efficiently than I do...

[TOSalltheway]

RE:

"Yes, I've always really liked Windom, but it threw me when I heard a few years ago that Windom had no respect for Trek, and intended his performance to be hammy and over-the-top. Then I look at Decker in the shuttle being swallowed by the Cornicopia of Doom, and I start to see it. His expressions of fear start to look ridiculous to me."

I agree his reaction is over the top, but remember this is a Captain in the midst of a nervous breakdown and emotional collapse.

[BillJ]

TOSalltheway wrote:

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RE:

"Yes, I've always really liked Windom, but it threw me when I heard a few years ago that Windom had no respect for Trek, and intended his performance to be hammy and over-the-top. Then I look at Decker in the shuttle being swallowed by the Cornicopia of Doom, and I start to see it. His expressions of fear start to look ridiculous to me."

I agree his reaction is over the top, but remember this is a Captain in the midst of a nervous breakdown and emotional collapse.

And moments away from death.

[Von Bruno]

Considering how this is a Top 5 list I am surprised Ricardo Montalban didn't get 100%. Interesting.

[jayrath]

For my money, one of the best (and most understated) performances in all of TOS was Logan Ransey as the sly, oily Roman proconsul Claudius in "Bread and Circuses." If the episode works for you at all, it's because of him. He was always so good in any TV program I've seen him.

Many actors . . . you can tell they're acting. Ramsey made it appear effortless. It's a shame he's not better remembered.

[BillJ]

jayrath wrote:

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For my money, one of the best (and most understated) performances in all of TOS was Logan Ransey as the sly, oily Roman proconsul Claudius in "Bread and Circuses." If the episode works for you at all, it's because of him. He was always so good in any TV program I've seen him.

Many actors . . . you can tell they're acting. Ramsey made it appear effortless. It's a shame he's not better remembered.

One of my favorites as well.

[Gary7]

I'm glad to see Mark Lenard won this little poll (RIP). Well deserved, although that doesn't belittle the other guest stars, many of whom were terrific in their own right.

jayrath wrote:

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For my money, one of the best (and most understated) performances in all of TOS was Logan Ransey as the sly, oily Roman proconsul Claudius in "Bread and Circuses." If the episode works for you at all, it's because of him. He was always so good in any TV program I've seen him.

Many actors . . . you can tell they're acting. Ramsey made it appear effortless. It's a shame he's not better remembered.

I'm glad you mentioned him. I feel the same way about his performance. One of the best, a true television thespian.

[E-DUB]

Steve Ihnat as Garth brought the crazy pretty good too.