It’s been a pretty exhausting week, the kind where I want nothing more than to come home to an uncomplicated, unchallenging kind of TV show — and that’s led to a steady diet of crime-procedural reruns. Last night, my DVR and I settled down for a Without a Trace episode called "Res Ipsa," which featured a guest performance from an actress named Camille Guaty (The Nine, Prison Break) that was so hammy, I half expected surprise cameos from Honey Mustard and Swiss Cheese.
Since the sight of Guaty scrunching her face and literally wringing her hands during the climactic interrogation scene proved to be 1-800-too-much, I instead focused on Marianne Jean-Baptiste, playing FBI agent Vivian Johnson, and started wondering to myself, "What’s an Oscar nominee like her doing in a jank scene like this?" I mean, seriously, Jean-Baptiste was so remarkable back in 1996’s Secrets & Lies (watch a clip of it, after the jump); now, she’s stuck in a role that asks so little of her, I bet she could mentally compile her grocery list while she’s shooting, and nobody would notice.
Wouldn’t it be nice if CBS rewarded Jean-Baptiste for her years of service on Without a Trace by greenlighting a juicy TV movie or miniseries built around her? Yeah, I know, they’ve been too busy developing Greatest American Dog*. But it got me thinking: What other actors need rescuing, or at least a day pass, from their long-running series roles? Speak now — your favorite thespians are depending on you!
* Not that I’m not totally DVRing that mess.
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I always thought S. Epatha Merkerson could do more than what she’s given on Law and Order (even though she’s great in that role). She won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Lackawanna Blues a few years back, so I’m surprised she hasn’t been given more opportunities to showcase her talent.
I always thought S. Epatha Merkerson could do more than what she’s given on Law and Order (even though she’s great in that role). She won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Lackawanna Blues a few years back, so I’m surprised she hasn’t been given more opportunities to showcase her talent.
i think david caruso should do the csi franchise a BIG favor and go into real estate.
I agree about Marianne Jean-Baptiste…although she does have the distinction of being the only regular character on the show who isn’t doing, and has not to the best of our knowledge, done one of their coworkers. But just watch a lame divroce plot come along…
Any of the actors on that new Molly Ringwold show about the pregnant teen. Worst Writing Ever.
I nkow he hasn’t even started yet, but I died a little when they announced Jeff Goldblum is going to star in Law & Order. Also, why are people still watching these show? Law & Order, CSI, Without A Trace, Cold Case = Exact Same Formulaic Show!
I know he’s been nominated for an Emmy and people love him (and he DOES do a good job), but I’ve thought for a good while that Christopher Meloni is kind of wasting his time on L&O: SVU, especially since the show has been producing more episodes that are just downright bad in recent years more often than not.
I first noticed him in “Oz”, and I’d loved to see him in more edgy roles like that (as opposed to the faux-edginess of the L&O franchise). Or how about more comedic roles. I thought he was absolutely brilliant in a guest spot on “Scrubs” as a pediatric version of Dr. Cox.
I also think Omar Epps is mostly wasted in “House.” I mean, I know he’s no Olivier, but he did a solid job headlining a few movies in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
He has his moments on “House”, but he’s mostly wasted on the show playing the least interesting and most humorless person on there a lot of the time.
Hugh Laurie. The first season of House was brilliantly written and Laurie elevated the writing to a whole other level. Now he’s wasted on quippy one-liners and crap writing. Would love to see him in more great movie roles.
Holly Hunter and Laura San Giocomo in “Saving Grace”. That show’s just plain awful. Can’t help but wonder why in hell did they choose to participate on this. Oh yeah, money…
Also, Peter Krause on “Dirty Sexy Money”. He’s Ok on the show, but he could do so much more had he been the lead of a more intelligent, more challenging show.
And I agree about Meloni. Such a great waste of talent doing such a straight cop when he could pursue more meatier roles.
Gary Sinise! I watch CSI:NY because I think he’s awesome (and for the yumminess that is Eddie Cahill), but the scripts make me want to bash my skull in with a hammer. Get this man some quality writers! Please!!
Oh, and also (and I know there will be people hating me for this) Rachel Griphiths. She’s Ok on “Brothers and Sisters”, but when you watch the show, and see the scripts they give her, I just feel sorry for her. She’s a great actress, she deserved so much more.
I’m gutted every time I have to see poor Marin Hinkle mugging away on that awful “Two and a Half Men.” She was a revelation on “Once and Again,” layering her emotionally complex character with brilliant nuance. I mean, I’m happy she’s getting a steady paycheck, but she should be strutting her stuff in stunning films, not slumming it in the land of lame sitcoms.
Speaking of Oscar-nominated actors stuck on crap procedural shows – someone rescue Gary Sinise from CSI: NY! He doesn’t get to show any of his talent at all.
I can only third the suggestion of Gary Sinise (and second the comment about the yumminess of Eddie Cahill). The scripts and storylines for CSI NY are dreadful.
S. Epatha Merkerson
Stephen Fry on Bones.
I have seen him a couple of times on Bones as a mentor but he’s just such a brilliant comedic actor that a cameo is kind of an insult.
Christopher Meloni is great on SVU and Rachel Griffiths has plenty to do on “B&S” so those I don’t get, but I agree that everyone on “CSI:NY” needs to leave, especially Malina Kanakaredes who was so good on “Providence” and all her beauty and talent is going no where!
Bethany Joy Galeotti on One Tree Hill. She’s such a brilliant actress and has the ability to turn muck into pure gold…but she’s so underused and DEFINITELY better than the material. I hope when this miserable show ends she finds a show or movie that appreciates her abilities cause this show doesn’t.
I’m not sure “rescued” is the right word, since she’s the best thing on on of the most underrated shows on the air, but Maura Tierney (“ER”)could (and should) be a much bigger star.
I second Rachel Griffiths.
Just an FYI: Camille Guaty was one of the semi-finalists on that awful WB show “Pop Stars” a few seasons back, the one that resulted in girl-band/one-hit “Eden’s Crush”, which had Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls and Rosanna Tavarez.
I watched the first CSI: NY and vowed never to watch it again after the cheesy 9/11 reference and then the pan to a starry NYC sky. When was the last time you could see stars in NYC??
To Scott K:
Because they’re easy to follow and requires no viewer dedication from episode to episode, making them convenient to watch. I can deal with a few of them in small doses, but after a while, they do tend to converge.
Speaking of which, don’t remind me about Gary Sinise’s awful performance on CSI: NY (only done worse by Miami’s David Caruso). I almost couldn’t stomach him playing Stu Redman when I finally managed to watch The Stand miniseries six months ago (thanks Sci-Fi Channel!). He did significantly better in that Stephen King adaption compared to his lousy acting in CSI: NY. He deserves better than that inert crime drama.
Simon Baker–man, I hope his new CBS pilot is good because he is one yummilicious piece of man candy.
@Scott K. “Also, why are people still watching these show? Law & Order, CSI, Without A Trace, Cold Case = Exact Same Formulaic Show!”
Because the shows are interesting. That’s why they are the number 1 dramas on TV right now.
Please rescue Kate Walsh from Private Practice and return her to Grey’s. She is sorely needed there. And you can “rescue” Katherine Heigl right off the air anytime.
I second the person who said Bethany Joy Galeotti. She’s really great and brings such a life to Haley on One Tree Hill. She’d be even better in a better role, something with more meat and depth to it.
Sarah Lancaster from “Chuck”…she’s been right on the brink of making that big step from co-star to star for a couple years now and it needs to happen now. She’s unquestionably gorgeous and was brilliant on What About Brian…and is the only reason I watch Chuck
Everyone on criminal minds! that show is the worst piece of garbage(!) on the air right now. And please explain why david caruso is a primetime tv star! he would be even be awful on a soap opera!
Judith Light (who gives Ugly Betty some zip), Anne Archer (who has to try to outact Jennifer Love Hewitt’s breasts), Jason Dohring (second banana to a vampire in the cancelled “Moonlight”, Patricia Wettig (reduced to food fights with Sally Field on “Brothers and Sisters”, Justine Bateman (a drug dealer on “Desperate Housewives”, and Eric Close (stars on one of the nameless crime procedurals). All these actors have proven themselves in better roles and deserve a showcase of their own.