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Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Blames Everything On Snitsky. Yes, Even THAT.
Posts: 17,056
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Post by default on Apr 17, 2009 4:15:59 GMT -5
This thought hit me yesterday before I went to sleep and despite wanting to post it, I was too tired.
I had started thinking about all my favorite TV shows currently on the air and how pretty much all of them have a strong focus on a recognizable movie star.
My Name Is Earl has Jason Lee from Mallrats, Stealing Harvard, A Guy Thing...
Lie to Me has Tim Roth from Reservoir Dogs, Planet of the Apes, Incredible Hulk...
and although not the main characters, still important ones... Sons of Anarchy has Ron Perlman from Hellboy and Burn Notice has Bruce Campbell from Evil Dead
It just seems that over the past few years a lot more "movie stars" have been willing to make a jump over to TV and most with success. It seems television writing has definitely improved some with more creative shows, while movies have seemingly stagnated a bit. I'll admit, none of those stars I mentioned are really A-class and movies to TV is nothing new, I guess. George Peppard from The A-Team starred in Breakfast at Tiffany's and had a nice list of movie roles.
There's also the benefit of steady work, although Bruce Campbell mentioned in an interview about Burn Notice that he passed on most TV roles as he didn't like ending up in a rut from TV shows, in general, being the same place and doing the same thing.
I just figured I'd open this for discussion and when it really began again. I personally see Kiefer Sutherland as being responsible.
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Post by Sir Woodrow on Apr 17, 2009 4:33:17 GMT -5
Harvey Keitel in Life on Mars.
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Post by OGBoardPoster2005 on Apr 17, 2009 5:52:17 GMT -5
Harvey Keitel in Life on Mars. He was my favorite character on the show and made the actors around him better. |
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Grendel
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
But ... why is all the rum gone?
Posts: 17,593
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Post by Grendel on Apr 17, 2009 5:53:49 GMT -5
What about Chuck Norris in Walker: Texas Ranger? ;D
Seriously though, the man bankrolled the first few episodes out of his own pocket and shopped it around to the networks. Say what you will, but the series lasted 9 seasons, had 2 made for tv movies, and won some awards.
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Post by G✇JI☈A on Apr 17, 2009 6:03:50 GMT -5
Laurence Fishburne is now like the main guy in C.S.I now if I'm not mistaken.
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sloride
Unicron
Doesn't Suck Up. Or Does She?
The Greatest Entertainer to have ever Lived
Posts: 3,196
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Post by sloride on Apr 17, 2009 6:12:20 GMT -5
I was actually reading an article on this yesterday in The Times. In the 90s movie actors going on TV was the kiss of death. The West Wing comes along in 1999 and features two A-list stars in Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe and suddenly movie stars going on TV is career reinvention and success. Now they pretty much all have huge stars who were known as movie stars. My Name is Earl has Jason Lee, 30 Rock has Alec Baldwin, 24 has Kiefer Sutherland, Laurence Fishburne in CSI etc.
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Post by Joe Neglia on Apr 17, 2009 6:35:35 GMT -5
Not to mention Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer on 2 1/2 Men.
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Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Blames Everything On Snitsky. Yes, Even THAT.
Posts: 17,056
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Post by default on Apr 17, 2009 7:26:48 GMT -5
What about Chuck Norris in Walker: Texas Ranger? ;D Seriously though, the man bankrolled the first few episodes out of his own pocket and shopped it around to the networks. Say what you will, but the series lasted 9 seasons, had 2 made for tv movies, and won some awards. Yeah, I was going to mention him, but didn't know he bankrolled episodes. That's awesome. As I mentioned, it's been going on for a while I know, hell Vincent Price guest starred on Batman several times, in the middle of his very established film career. I know in the 80's and into the 90's, it seemed like every cast had at least one person from soap operas. |
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Jobes
Unicron
Posts: 3,199
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Post by Jobes on Apr 17, 2009 10:29:12 GMT -5
This thread begins and ends with Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock.
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Post by Cela on Apr 17, 2009 10:46:13 GMT -5
George Clooney did it in reverse.
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Post by thefunkytiger on Apr 17, 2009 10:52:04 GMT -5
George Clooney did it in reverse. Tim Allen did too. R. Lee Ermy went from Full Metal Jacket and Saving Silverman to Mail Call on the History Channel |
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Post by CrazySting on Apr 17, 2009 10:56:19 GMT -5
Sometimes it doesn't really work because some actors are almost "too big" for the small screen. I can't imagine Harrison Ford in a tv show, he's too famous.
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Post by Bobafett on Apr 17, 2009 11:13:02 GMT -5
George Peppard on A- Team
Borgnine on Airwolf
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233 
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Post by Tarik Dee on Apr 17, 2009 11:22:10 GMT -5
Steve Carrell on The Oficce
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Post by Paul Servo on Apr 17, 2009 11:59:01 GMT -5
Christian Slater in MY OWN WORSE ENEMY.
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Post by shadowforce420 on Apr 17, 2009 12:10:18 GMT -5
Glenn Close on The Shield and Damages
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Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Blames Everything On Snitsky. Yes, Even THAT.
Posts: 17,056
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Post by default on Apr 17, 2009 12:54:41 GMT -5
Christian Slater in MY OWN WORSE ENEMY. Yeah, that one slipped my mind as I enjoyed that show. Taye Diggs also went from How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Go, The Wood, etc. to Kevin Hill which lasted 22 episodes and Day Break which lasted 13. At least he apparently has Private Practice now, although I don't really watch anything on ABC... or CBS for that matter. |
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Post by Cela on Apr 17, 2009 12:58:36 GMT -5
George Clooney did it in reverse. Tim Allen did too. R. Lee Ermy went from Full Metal Jacket and Saving Silverman to Mail Call on the History Channel I'd say Tim Allen was a lot bigger as a TV star than a Movie Star. If we're talking in terms of Greatness. Also most of the cast of That 70s Show |
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