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what actors need a good TV show and why?

Gary Sinise

Whether or not you like CSI: NY, it's not exactly a show that utilizes his talents. Could you imagine Dennis Franz and Andre Braugher simply going through the cop motions on Law & Order?

Of course, Sinise is rolling in money because of CSI.
 
Scott Bakula- He hasn't been in anything since Quantum Leap- I'd love to see him in a series again!


I kid, I kid...kind of. :lol:

Honestly, though, I would say Bruce Campbell, I saw him in some series on USA- but it didn't look like my kind of show nor was he the star. I wish Fox would have given Brisco County more of a chance.

William Ragsdale- I always loved him on Herman's Head. I was shocked that Hank Azaria gained the popularity he did. Never cared for him on Herman's Head or in anything else he has been in. I loved the first few years of Fox- they had some of the craziest shows on that nowadays wouldn't be given a season (re- look back at Brisco County- they only gave it a season- had it been a few years earlier it probably would have lasted a few years).
 
Another vote for Andre Braugher. I've just finished watching Homicide Season 1 on DVD and he is brilliant. Can anyone tell me if Thief, the series he did a few years ago is (a) available and (b) worth buying on DVD? I'm not sure if it was a mini series or a cancelled series. If the former, I'd probably buy it for his presence.
 
Another vote for Andre Braugher. I've just finished watching Homicide Season 1 on DVD and he is brilliant. Can anyone tell me if Thief, the series he did a few years ago is (a) available and (b) worth buying on DVD? I'm not sure if it was a mini series or a cancelled series. If the former, I'd probably buy it for his presence.
Region 2 DVD set of Thief still has the status "To be announced" on Amazon. The series was planned to go on longer but was cancelled - there was obviously more story to tell by the time the series ended.

It was pretty good - Braugher put in a good performance, though his character was not really likeable, what with him being a criminal and all.
 
James Marsters and Alexis Denisof were two of the better actors on BtVS/AtS and are more or less unemployed or were for a long time (Alexis, in particular--James does get a few projects here and there--Brainiac on Smallville being notable).

Alexis Denisof did end up with Bell's Palsy during season 5 of AtS, but it's still a shame that he barely appears in anything other than just a couple episodes of his wife's show YEARS AGO and only one random television appearance beyond that. And apparently it's not due to not wanting to work because James mentioned seeing him at some of the same auditions he was at. I feel so sad for Alexis when all the baby news stuff only ever talked about Alyson Hannigan--and if they did mention Alexis at all, it was a one sentence blurb about them meeting when Alyson and he were on BtVS. Alexis was arguably the best actor in that franchise, but entertainment news outlets seem to be almost completely unaware that AtS ever existed.

They're doing a new series of The Saint, and I'm praying they've had the sense to go to Denisof for that...

As for Connor Trineer, IMO the guy was born to play Felix Leiter, so - much as I like Jeff Wright in the role - they really missed a casting coup there
 
Mary McDonnell is doing a recurring role on The Closer. In her second appearance as Force Investigation Division Captain Raydor (the name sounds like an injoke) she faced off with Kyra Sedgwick. Being the show's internal affairs officer, naturally her storyline brings out the Ann Coulter in Brenda Johnson. But the show has McDonnell openly mentioning the Rampart scandal. Wow!
 
Honestly, though, I would say Bruce Campbell, I saw him in some series on USA- but it didn't look like my kind of show nor was he the star. I wish Fox would have given Brisco County more of a chance.

If you like The A-Team or Mission: Impossible, Burn Notice is sort of a 21st century version of it, with the way they help people and all the clever spy things they do.
 
They should also reunite the cast from Boston Legal and make another show called ... Boston Legal. Oh wait. :lol:
 
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You know who I'd like to see get their own show? Christopher Rich, who's probably best known for playing Melvin Palmer, the good ole boy attorney who constantly irritated Alan Shore in Boston Legal ('You are a hoot, I say, a hoot'). He's a great scene-stealer in anything he appears in, from BL to Desperate Housewives.

I'd like to see a suitable vehicle for him, to make the sort of leap from character actor to lead, the way eg Tony Shalhoub has with Monk. Perhaps a sort of My Name is Earl concept but rather than a petty criminal, he could be a corrupt politician or lawyer who sees the light and tries to go on the straight and narrow. I can really see him in that sort of role.
 
Lauren Graham. She was simply perfect on "Gilmore Girls" and I miss seeing her on a weekly basis.

There are several votes for Connor Trinneer... yeah, I liked him on ENT. He could probably do a good job if he's given the chance.

Alexis Denisof. I've only ever seen him as Wesley Windham-Price, but that character underwent such a dramatic evolution over the several years. We've seen him do it all. I'd really be curious to see him tackle another project where he can flex his talent like that.

Kristen Bell. I liked "Veronica Mars" and I liked her stint on "Heroes".

James Callis. I'm not sure if he'll ever top his performance as Gaius Baltar, but I'd like to see him try.
 
What's Michael Madsen up to these days?

Good lord! Go to his IMDB page and look at how many projects he has lined up with 2009 as the release date!

For quite some time now (I think I even remember reading an article about this), he's been making a ton of b-movies where he gets to be the star and then a bunch of studio movies where he's in a supporting role.
 
Amy Acker.

What a great and underrated actress she is.
She really deserves to be doing more.

Heather Graham.

Well, because she's......Heather Graham.
..and she's been under the radar far too long.
 
Skeet Ulrich and Lennie James also deserve work. They were both great in Jericho, and I thought Ulrich was awesome in Scream.

Yep, also Sprauge Grayden. My fourth pick from that show, Esai Morales, has already got his gig.

Wasted Actor Rants:

A couple of Prison Break character actors: William Fichtner and Paul Adelstein. The former has been cast on an instantly-forgettable cop show (not sure if it's been picked up to series) and the latter is being frittered away on Private Practice.

I'd like to see Brent Spiner in another successful series other than TNG. I enjoyed him on Threshold.
Ditto. Which reminds me, his co-star Peter Dinklage, will be palling sound with Sean Bean in Game of Thrones for HBO.

What's Michael Madsen up to these days?

Good lord! Go to his IMDB page and look at how many projects he has lined up with 2009 as the release date!

Yikes! What is he, triplets? :rommie:
 
You know who I'd like to see get their own show? Christopher Rich, who's probably best known for playing Melvin Palmer, the good ole boy attorney who constantly irritated Alan Shore in Boston Legal ('You are a hoot, I say, a hoot'). He's a great scene-stealer in anything he appears in, from BL to Desperate Housewives.

I'd like to see a suitable vehicle for him, to make the sort of leap from character actor to lead, the way eg Tony Shalhoub has with Monk. Perhaps a sort of My Name is Earl concept but rather than a petty criminal, he could be a corrupt politician or lawyer who sees the light and tries to go on the straight and narrow. I can really see him in that sort of role.

I'd love to see him in something- I got such a kick out of him on BL. Heck, I'd like to see William Shatner in something again too.

Perhaps I'll break down and give Burn Notice a shot- at least it isn't a CSI type show. Don't get me wrong I love CSI but so many shows are in that vein now.
 
I remember Christopher Rich from The Charmings! Or The George Carlin Show. Or The Joy Luck Club. Or as the obligatory partner of the star who dies at the beginning of Flight of the Intruder.

He also played a bad guy on The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. named... Doc McCoy.
 
Perhaps I'll break down and give Burn Notice a shot- at least it isn't a CSI type show. Don't get me wrong I love CSI but so many shows are in that vein now.

I'd recommend it. It's good, light-hearted breezy fun, doesn't take itself too seriously, has a nice sardonic voiceover by the lead and an attractive cast. I too don't care for all the CSIs, Criminal Minds, Numbers etc and like you I like Boston Legal so you might enjoy BN too.
 
I'll start with an obvious candidate:

Connor Trinneer. Why does he not have a lead role in a series by now?!? Preferably sci fi but only because sci fi is my favorite genre. To keep him from getting too typecast, I'd prefer it be one of those modern-day sci fi premises, and that he not play a nicey nice guy. Maybe even a scene-chewing villain (but one we can take a bit more seriously than Michael from SG:A).
I am totally behind seeing Connor starring in a new series (heck, I'd settle for his being added to the cast of a current hit -- among my favorites NCIS, Burn Notice, Numb3rs, The Closer... :cool:)
His SciFi movie "Star Runners" (gad I hate that title!!) seemed to have a decent premise (a Firefly derivative, but that's not the worst thing you can say about it). I'd just prefer stronger writing and production values.

Scott Bakula- He hasn't been in anything since Quantum Leap- I'd love to see him in a series again!

I kid, I kid...kind of. :lol:
Well, it's not like he's been living on the street the last 4 years...
Doesn't he have a series coming up with Ray Romano about a bunch of 40something guys coping with mid-life crises? And he's appearing in a movie with Matt Damon that shows a lot of promise.
Honestly, though, I would say Bruce Campbell, I saw him in some series on USA- but it didn't look like my kind of show nor was he the star. I wish Fox would have given Brisco County more of a chance.
Actually, while he isn't "The Star" of Burn Notice, Campbell has a terrific role in Burn Notice. Sam is smart, loyal, quick on his feet and has a fantasic personality that perfectly complements Michael and Fiona.
 
1 Patrick Stewart=I know he loves doing theater but I think the time is right to see him return to another high profile tv gig as a star.

2 Lance Hendrickson=It's proably asking to much to see him as a star, but he would make for a great supporting character on the right kind of show.

3Clancy Brown=Another high caliber character actor that needs another high profile show.

Jason
 
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