Following the news that ABC will not be ordering additional episode of freshman drama Eastwick, costar Lindsay Price (pictured) has been named a suspected show killer. Though undeniably adorable, the actress has a long rap sheet of failed TV shows that also includes NBC’s Lipstick Jungle, Pepper Dennis, and Coupling.
Which other actors are on TV’s Most Wanted (and Least Lucky) List? Our top offenders:
• Jason Gedrick: Truly impressive versatility in terms of the number of networks he’s failed on. Victims include: Fox’s Class of ‘96; CBS’ Sweet Justice, EZ Streets, and Falcone; ABC’s Murder One and The Beast; and NBC’s Boomtown and Windfall.
• Paula Marshall: Though now starring on the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, the lovely Marshall’s victims include Fox’s Wild Oats, NBC’s Chicago Sons, ABC’s first Cupid and Snoops, and CBS’ Out of Practice. Let the record show that she also guested on the second (and last) season of ABC’s Sports Night and CBS’ Shark, and was brought on as Steven Weber’s girlfriend on NBC’s appropriately retitled Cursed.
• Eric Balfour: The star of Veritas: The Quest (ABC) and Conviction (NBC) also appeared in the pilot of CBS’ short-lived drama The Ex-List and on an episode of ABC’s one-season wonder Life on Mars. Why tempt fate?* Props to the producers of Monk for waiting until they determined it was their final season before inviting him on.
Your turn. Which actors have you noticed have a special talent for picking TV shows that die untimely deaths or have the uncanny ability of securing a guest spot on a series right when it’s about to go toe up (hello, Ted McGinley!)?
* Because occasionally, “TV Poison” (cough, Mark Feuerstein) finds its antidote.
Photo credit: Janet Mayer/PR Photos
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Prior to friends, I think both Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc were on this list.
as i recall Nathan Fillion USED to be a suspected show killer. he seems to be doing fine now! i think Lindsay and Eric will find the right shows.
I think most of the old Party of Five cast used to be there, but I can’t think of an example of it besides The 9. The Seinfeld cast definitely. Richards, Alexander and Dreyfuss all have failed sitcoms under their belts.
I don’t think New Adventures of Old Christine is considered a failure.
Watching Ellie was though. I don’t consider any of them show killers though since they’ve have successful shows at one time and haven’t become serial offenders.
Sarah Paulson. Sighhh when I heard she was the female lead in the new Cupid I knew it was doomed. I don’t get it…I like her!
ALSO. Amanda Peet…uhhh central park west? jack and jill?? studio 60 was ASKING for it with those two!!
Paula Marshall was also in the wondrefull but short lived ‘Hidden Hills’
I loved that show! So funny! I’m surprised another person has heard of it.
Jason Alexander. Post Seinfeld, he had something like 3 pilots in 3 years not make it through the fall season. A female comedian once roasted him saying “Jack-o-lanterns last longer in the fall than a Jason Alexander TV show”
Even though he’s had some flops post-Seinfeld, you can’t really consider him a “show-killer” since he was a huge part of one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. Those other shows he had were victims of lousy ideas. Jason Alexander just hasn’t been able to overcome the Seinfeld Curse.
Julianne Nicholson
Conviction, Presidio Med, The Others, Ally McBeal was cancelled the year she joined the cast, and Law & Order: CI began to FAIL when she joined the cast. I’d be interested to see how well it does when she leaves.
Lucy Liu has killed 6 shows, I understand some might give her a pass for Ally McBeal but I think we all know now that the karma of Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) and Calista Flockheart (Brothers and Sisters) kept that show alive.
- Pearl (1996)- 7 episodes 1 season
- Game Over (2004)
- Maya and Miguel (2004)
- Joey (2005)
- Cashmere Mafia (2008)
- Dirty Sexy Money (2009)
I still miss Dirty Sexy Money…
MAYA AND MIGUEL wasn’t a failed show…it’s produced episodes in four years so far. Meanwhile, Eric Balfour also sunk in HAWAII.
Lindsey Price was also on the tail-end of 90210.
She totally married Steve Sanders! I actually think her contributions to Bev Niner were better than Tiffani Amber Thiessen. WAY better than Vanessa Marcil!
Vanessa Marcil was great on 90210! She was the only reason I watched the last two seasons. I liked Lindsey too but they didn’t give her character anything to do.
Lindsay Price is too skinny these days. She had a little meat on her bones during her 90210 days. Much more attractive and interesting back then.
Lindsay Price was also a cast member of the original “Beverly Hills, 90210″ on Fox.
Of late, Kelsey Grammer. I feel bad for him–he was so brilliant as Frasier. I guess after twenty years playing the same role, people really refuse to see you as anything else.
Exactly who I was thinking of. Poor guy.
Well, it would probably help if he at least attempted to play a different character.
Sigh
Only too true. He should sit out a few years, maybe just doing guest spots (he’d be a wonderful serial killer on Criminal Minds. Kudos to Sideshow Bob).
Mary Page Keller.
I love him to death, but Christopher Gorham is a bit of a showkiller. Starring in short run series like Popular, Odyssey 5, Jake 2.0, Medical Investigation, and Out of Practice. His role on Ugly Betty has been the most stable his had in a long time.
Don’t forget Harper’s Island.
I love him as an actor, but I have to agree. when he joined the cast of Ugly betty, I wondered just how long the show would last.