Yesterday was my idea of the perfect Sunday, which means I spent my time glued to the couch, snacking on crackers and cheese, and catching up on a couple weeks’ worth of backlogged TV shows. What stuck out for me — aside from the fact that Desperate Housewives has finally returned to its freshman-year level of hilarity, and that I can’t seem to force myself to catch up on Heroes — was the number small, guest-starring roles that caught my attention. Three, in particular, stood out:
• Jordan Bridges (left) on Bionic Woman: The unsteady writing and acting on NBC’s freshman series has been most vexing — and steady ratings declines since the show’s debut indicate I’m not alone in my opinion — but Bridges’ work as a teaching assistant with a hidden agenda seemed to shake series star Michelle Ryan out of her usual stupor, so much so that I barely noticed the absence of Katee Sackhoff (the true Bionic headliner). Granted, I’m probably swayed by Bridges’ superfine looks (check out a behind the scenes video here), but the fact that he’ll return in his role this Wednesday stopped me from removing Bionic from my series-recording list — despite the fact that last episode’s climactic scene involved a Ryan using a cantaloupe to subdue a baddie. Seriously.
• Caroline Aaron (center) on Grey’s Anatomy: Aaron’s one of those super-familiar character actors who’s appeared on everything from Ally McBeal to Curb Your Enthusiasm, but her brief, touching turn as a chatterbox with a tumor on her tongue got me wondering why producers from all the major networks aren’t lighting up her agent’s phone line with offers to make her a series regular on something — anything — that requires both comedic and dramatic chops.
• Josh Stamberg (right) on Brothers & Sisters:Stamberg’s performance as Cliff, an almost one-night stand for Sarah(Rachel Griffiths) was fleeting but filled with warmth, humor, and sexappeal. And incidentally, it marked a mini Six Feet Underreunion, seeing how Stamberg played Sarge, David’s paintball-playingfantasy guy on the still-missed HBO series, and Griffiths playedDavid’s sister-in-law. With creepy Joe (John Pyper-Ferguson) almost outof the picture, here’s hoping the producers find a way to reunite Cliffwith my favorite Walker child.
Anyhow, those are three actors who had me heading to IMDB to double-check their credits. How about you? Any unheralded guest-starring spots that caught your attention in recent weeks?
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This is kinda a spin off of this topic Slezak, so I’m happy you brought it up! Has anyone else noticed thats its become more & more likely that said guest stars who have small roles will show up on more than one show, sometimes during the same week, and even in Heroes & Prison Break’s case, the SAME NIGHT? The new Aussie inmate who debuted in last Monday’s episode of Prison break, & claimed he encountered Whistler some years back with the French Amabassador. (I’m sorry I’m too lazy to IMDB the actor’s name), but imagine my surprise when I clicked over to Heroes (RIGHT AFTER PRISON BREAK ENDED) and saw the SAME actor working the docks in Ireland & telling Kristin Bell’s Elle where to find Peter Petrelli! & I did check his IMDB page & I COULD be mistaken, but I SWEAR child actor, Miles Hiezer, currently starring in this season of ER, was also the kid who got beat up on Private Practice a few weeks ago when he told the boy at the skate park he loved him. Is IMDB not updated or am I wrong?
I’ve noticed Jordan Bridges on several shows – first on Charmed, then did one or two shows in the Law & Order bunch (one with TR Knight from GA) and then on Conviction, where he played a newbie lawyer from a rich family that others initially thought was just “slumming” in the DA’s office. Every time, he’s caught my eye – not just because he’s easy on it, but also because he actually does a good job with the roles.
Reiley McClendon is another who’s done some great work. A couple seasons back on L&O:SVU, he actually played a brother/sister pair of twins – and was TOTALLY convincing in the female role – at first, I thought they’d just been incredibly lucky in casting two kids who looked a lot alike. He’s done a few other things, but is one to watch.
Jim Beaver as Bobby on Supernatural – Most definitely worthy of the up in air time that he’s had this season. I love the boys, I love the car, and Bobby fits in perfectly and actually steals the show at times.
Phil – I’ve noticed that too. One that struck me as really odd was when Florencia Lozano (sp?) was on L&O:SVI and :CI on the same week.
Another thing I’ve noticed the last couple of seasons is how certain plot elements will often turn up on 2 different shows within a week of each other. Both “Close to Home” and “:CI” had stories about home invasions, where a mother is bringing a girl back home after a sleepover, and the girl’s mother tries to signal the other woman that there’s something wrong, but she didn’t understand it, the daughter goes in, and later the whole family is found slaughtered. Then “:SVU” and “Criminal Minds” both did stories about rapists tracing the fertility of his victims in order to impregnate them. Sure, they’re from news stories, but still, kinda weird to have them so close together.
I will watch ANYTHING if I hear tell that Rick Hoffman is guesting, even if it is a show I normally don’t watch. Like ‘Chuck’, ‘Shark’, ‘Samantha, who?’ and others. I get so excited when I see him in any promos!!
Yes! More Josh Stamberg please. He’s so cute!
My favorite guest star is Zeljko Ivanek. Now, I had to look him up on IMDB b/c when I notice a character actor showing up in a lot of shows, I usually continue to call them by their character’s name where I first saw them. In this case, whenever I see the actor I shout “Danvers!”, his name on Homicide. He was also just on Damages as Frobisher’s lawyer, for your reference.
Sarah Gilbert on The Big Bang Theory
The guy from Harold an dKumar go to White Castle on Ugly Betty
David Blue as Cliff, a possible love interest for Marc on Ugly Betty. He completely won me over in the few scenes he was in, hope to see him in more episodes!
Brooke Smith on “Weeds.”
Her and Mary Louise Parker have great chemistry and their unlikely friendship has been a highlight this year.
I hate to admit that I watch Las Vegas, even though this year has not been good with the departure of James Caan. This weeks episode continued to suck but I did catch it just to see Roger E. Mosely (T.C.) and Larry Manetti(Rick) reunite on the screen with fellow Magnum PI alum Tom Selleck. Total stunt casting, which worked on me, but added nothing to the show. Still I got a kic out of it.
i’ve been a fan of jordan bridges since his work on dawson’s creek! i also freaked seeing raul esparza on pushing daisies a few weeks ago. i want more of him! i think carie fisher just won her guest actress emmy on last week’s 30 rock. but it’s kevin rahm as lee on desperate housewives that has me laughing the most. he’s hysterical!
How about Raul Esparza on Pushing Daisies? The guy can do anything. My only complaint is that he didn’t sing.
Carrie Fisher on 30 Rock was hilarious! 30 Rock is the master of great guest starring roles.
I am so there with you, Michael. I was really ready to give up on Bionic, but if Jordan is in it, I am so there! Now…where do I get one of those shipped to Indianapolis?
Yeah, I noticed Josh Stamberg and Caroline Aaron on B&S and GA’s too but Ugly Betty has been doing an amazing job filling all the small roles with great character actors (John Cho, Victor Garber, Illeana Douglas, David Blue) and even turned TheBeek into something memorable.
But I really want WAY more of Raul Esparza on Pushing Daisies (which too is becoming a good place to guest star on).
That Jordan Bridges video was cute, and I don’t even watch Bionic Woman.
Does he remind anyone else of Jeremy Piven?
John Billingsley seems like he is everywhere lately. I saw him on Journeyman and then he was on CSI in the same week or something. Now he’s going to be on 24, too? Are there no other character actors available these days?
By far character actor and voice over extrodinare Edward Herman who has played an intern on Grey’s Anatomy.
Curb Your Enthusiasm has the best guest stars. How Larry David convinces some of these people I’ll never know. I just love when Ted Dansen and Richard Lewis pop up. Then you have Vivica A. Fox as Loretta Black, Lucy Lawless and Brenda Strong playing two of newly single Larry’s dates. It’s genius!
I wish Will Arnett would be a regular on 30 Rock and I’m enjoying John Cho on Ugly Betty (although I pretty much love all guest appearances on that show)
Grey’s Anatomy has had some fantastic guest spots lately. Someone mentioned Edward Hermann. Love him and hope they bring him back for more. David Clennon was another. And Ugly Betty–John Cho, Illeana Douglas, Freddy Rodriguez (all semi-regulars–woo hoo!)…and now Betty White and Posh Spice coming soon. But 30 Rock has to be the best of all. The guests never really feel like “special guest stars.” They blend in easily to the warped hilarity of that world, even when they’re playing themselves like Jerry Seinfeld.
I’m with you Slezak, I am still two weeks behind on Heroes, but then, I’m not even caught up on Grey’s or The Office yet. The only shows so far this year that I stay caught up on are Ugly Betty and ANTM. Those are must watch shows.
Hands Down…John Cho on Ugly Betty..hysterical
I’m not even going to mention a particular actor…the number of worthy guest-star turns on TV is an embarrassment of riches. But while we’re on the topic, what are the odds that EW could call bull***t on the Emmy awards for taking the one category that could give all these fine, unsung character actors their due — the guest performance category — and using it entirely as an opportunity to suck up to slumming movie stars and fading luminaries? Blythe Danner, Eli Wallach, Sally Field, Leslie Caron, Laurie Metcalf…these are great actors to be sure, but they are also shoe-ins, and invariably shut out lesser-known actors in a category that by all rights should be about recognizing less established actors.
Cynthia Nixon on SVU this season – holy crap!
I’m pretty stoked about Patton Oswalt on “Reaper” tomorrow. That’s pretty much a stonergasm right there.
Bob – totally good call on the guest performance Emmy. Yeah, we all know Sally Field can act. But dudes like Charles Napier deserves some props, too.
John Cho on Ugly Betty!
Watching “Michael Clayton” was like seeing a who’s who of great Law and Order guest stars: most notably Michael O’Keefe who has kicked ass in just about anything. I also did Glenn Morshower the red-headed dad who now is on Friday Night Lights as Landry’s dad and Michael O’Neill the tall mustached former gunny from The Unit who played a secret service guy on the West Wing. Don’t know the name, but the black actor who played a child recovery investigator on Criminal Minds last week.
John Cho on Ugly Betty all the way.. seeing him in roles like this, and House really make me thing hes way underated