I have felt a special bond with Joanna Garcia ever since I was a kid, when she starred in one of my favorite mid-1990s TV shows, Are You Afraid of the Dark? Then, a few years later, she went ahead and starred in one of my favorite late-1990s TV shows, Freaks and Geeks. Fast-forward to 2008, and Garcia landed a starring role in one of my favorite 2008 TV shows, Privileged. And then, just last night, the actress played a large part in the latest episode of one of my favorite mid-to-late-2000s TV shows, How I Met Your Mother.
Sensing a trend here? It seems Garcia finds a way to wedge herself into some of my all-time favorite television shows. And nothing makes me happier — The actress is quirky, accessible, and way more talented than she ever gets credit for.
So why hasn’t she gotten her proper due? Unfortunately, with the exception of Reba, many of Garcia’s series have been far too short-lived. (R.I.P. Privileged.) Therefore, I can’t help but root for her every time she’s signed onto a project that will allow her to grace my TV screen. (And I couldn’t help but be depressed when HIMYM‘s Carter Bays told me a few weeks ago that Garcia’s guest stint would likely only be a one-time gig. Bah.) So memo to Hollywood: Let’s get Garcia another series stat, okay?
This made me wonder: What other TV stars have you found yourself constantly rooting for despite cancellations? Some more of my picks: Drea de Matteo, Kyle Chandler, Lisa Kudrow. Your turn, PopWatchers!
Photo, Joanna Garcia on Reba: Everett Collection
Tom Cavanaugh! (sp?)
yes yes yes!
Yes! Along with Julie Bowen, who played his love interest on “Ed” – and who is now doing nicely on “Modern Family.”
Yes to both of them! Ed was so great — still hoping it arrives on video someday.
Yes for Tom. Why doesn’t he have a sitcom?
Tom Cavanaugh!! I agree witrh this 100%. He is amazing but his shows always flop.
Yes!!!!! Tom Cavanaugh!!!! Couldn’t agree with any other suggestion more than this one!!!
I’ve never actually seen him in anything, but after spending some time with him this summer, I would root for him in anything. Such a nice and awesome person.
Name dropper
I agree. I liked him on Scrubs and Eli Stone.
‘Love Monkey’ was a great show! Cancelled way too early. Tom was great in it. Good Canadian boy!
I agree. I think the title hurt the show. “Love Monkey” was a lame title for a great show.
Isn’t he the voice of the Dr. Pepper delivery guy on the commercial with all of the “make believe” characters? He deserves better work than that!
ABSOLUTELY Tom Cavanagh. I was already thinking of him when I clicked on this link. I MISS Ed Stevens!!!
You have great taste! I was happy to see her on HIMYM last night as well. And Privilged was so much better than 90210. I also LOVE kyle chandler and Maura Tierney
I’m happy to see anyone from my favorite one-season wonders: Firefly, The Middleman, Freaks and Geeks, Life As We Know It…
Anyone from The Wire, Band of Brothers, Homicide, The West Wing, The Shield, Pushing Daisies, Dirty, Sexy, Money or Eli Stone.
Band of Brothers, yes! Any time I see someone from that miniseries pop up, I get excited.
Me too! Always rooting for those Band of Brothers guys – they are all so great.
Pushing Daisies for sure. I’m even excited when Swoosie Kurtz pops up on the rubber-neck-able Heroes
Band of Brothers: me, too! me, too!!
I am always checking their IMDB pages to see if they’re working!
ALWAYS happy to see a Wire alum. Thankfully, The Office has been doing its part to keep some of those actors working.
The West Wing! I LOVE Bradley Whitford and Alison Janney. I’ve even forgiven Brad for Studio 60.
Oh how I miss Eli Stone! What a cool show.
My favorite TV actors, I’m a big fan of Nathan Fillion I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Matthew Perry too.
I totally agree about Nathan Fillion! I tend to have a predisposition toward my favorite directors’ finds, including all of Joss Whedon’s alumni: Fillion, David Boreanaz (Bones), Alyson Hannigan (HIMYM), Summer Glau (Terminator), and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), to name a few. I also root for JJ Abrams’s gang whenever possible, especially Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner and Bradley Cooper.
Nathan Fillion for sure.
Totally agreed. I’m THRILLED that Castle is doing well!
yup yup.. Nathan Fillion!
i agree fillion and perry and lisa kudrow – well any of the friends gang
Matthew Perry for sure.
Matthew Perry and Alan Tudyk *hearts*
…And anyone from the Veronica Mars ‘verse, which makes Chris Lowell a double favorite! I was pleased when Private Practice actually gave him something to do (and me a reason to watch) last week.
So second the Chris Lowell nod. As much as Logan + Veronica = yes, Piz was so hella likable I couldn’t help rooting for the guy at least a little bit. Yay for new TV shows that use the kid right.
I was fine with Veronica and Logan, since that left the delicious (and musically talented IRL) Piz available for yours truly!
Half the reason I watch Gossip Girl is to listen to Bell’s sly voice-over.
Definitely. I love Kristen Bell, even as the never-seen Gossip Girl. She was also the only reason I ever watched Heroes. Hopefully she’ll get a starring project half as good as Veronica Mars someday.
Definitely Kristen Bell, from VMars to Heroes even Gossip Girl and her Ferguson interviews! Other person I’ll follow and watch anywhere is Hugh Laurie that man is unbelievably good! Kristen Bell and Hugh Laurie, two of the brightest spots in television
Victor Garber. Forever.
Dude is versatile. He was Jack Bristow (my favorite role of his), now he is Shu’s dad on Glee, he played Daddy Warbucks and I liked him on Eli Stone. Get this guy a show stat.
He was also the lead in Godspell, the movie, way back in the 70′s!
Probably my favorite role of his- the hair!
Ohhh, yes. Kyle Chandler can grace my TV doing absolutely nothing and I will say that it is riveting television.
I also have to say I’m really glad Jane Lynch has a successful show now… she’s been in so many TV roles, and she’s proven she can do comedy or drama. Her performances as Reid’s schizophrenic mom on Criminal Minds were amazing, I hope they can get her back sometime!
Kyle Chandler was so cute in Homecoming and Early Edition.
Now, he is absolutely riveting in Friday Night Lights. Best show on television today. Give this man an Emmy!
Kyle Chandler was great in ‘Early Edition’.
Kyle Chandler is amazing, I love him on FNL, and thought he was great on Grey’s Anatomy. Connie Britton is fantastic too, on FNL and when she was on The West Wing.
An Alias guy, it was hard to see Will Tippin (Bradley Cooper) get jobbed all the time until he finally caught fire with The Hangover.
I also get excited whenever I see Josh Jackson, only because it’s great that Charlie Conway made it out of Minnesota.
Lol Charlie Conway.
Quack Attack is Back Jack
Woo!!! Another Are You Afraid of the Dark fan! That show was incredible. Yeah I also root for Garcia. She should be in more, I also root for Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin. Oh and David Boreanaz.
Ah yes, much of my child hood was spent around the TV watching Are You Afraid of the Dark, I still remeber a lot of the ghost stories.
most definitely david boreanaz
ADAM BALDWIN! He needs to get a starring shot- I’d love to see him as a romantic lead in a movie.
Joanna Garcia was also in a very short-lived series called ‘The Captain’, with the father from ‘Arrested Development’. That’s where I fell in love with her!
Yes! Me too. I liked that show but knew it would likely get the ax. Too bad.
I’d love to watch Matthew Perry do any show. The reason I watched the first episode of Lost (great decision) was for Dominic Monaghan. Joshua Jackson. Busy Phillips.
I, too, started watching Lost for Dominic Monaghan! I also started watching FlashForward this season because he was in it, and was really disappointed that he didn’t start appearing until episode 6.
I heard of LOST due to it being promoted on a LOTR fan web page and when Dominic Monaghan moved on to FlashForward I followed him there. I guess that makes two shows I’ve watched b/c he was in it.
Yeah, Lost caught my eye when I noticed Dom in one of the commercials. Best. Decision. Ever.
However, due to my love for lost, I was already planning to watch Flash Forward….but when I saw that he was going to be on it you can bet I freaked out. Perfect.
Same here! Freakin Dom lured me into both Lost and FForward.
But Lee Pace dragged me to go see When In Rome too even if he was only in there for 1 minute.
Paul Blackthorne I root for as well.
Hell to the yeah re: Busy Phillips! (She’s on my list b/c of Freaks and Geeks, along with Franco, Segel, and John Daley, among others.)
Agree with your entire list. I am so glad Busy got a vehicle with Cougar Town. She is great in it!
Definitely Kerr Smith. He was great as Jack on Dawson’s Creek and nothing he has done as stuck since. I liked Justice for the short time it was around. My fingers are crossed for Life Unexpected.
I think the scene with Garcia’s popular girl and Bill in the closet at that one party in F&G ONLY worked because she was in it. She made that character so much better than it was written. Where’s her new, awesomeness?
I forgot that was her! She was made of win in that scene.
Kristin Chenoweth, Elizabeth Mitchell, JoAnna Garcia = trifecta.
I’m with you on all 3. I was so happy to see this article; I’m glad Joanna Garcia is getting some well-deserved attention!
Ah, yes – I could watch Kristin Chenoweth do anything. She’s so fun.
Absolutely! I just love her!
It used to be Bruce Campbell and Nathan Fillion but they both have hit shows now. So my root goes for Nicholas Brendon. C’mon the guy still has some talent!
<3 Nicholas Brendon! I want him to do something else so badly!
I was instantly overjoyed when he first popped up on Criminal Minds, but he gets a scene or two every ten episodes which is dissapointing. He has SO much potential!
Ha! Isn’t it funny how we do that? We feel so invested in their careers and then decide, sigh, that they can stand on their own two feet now. So, we wipe away a tear and release them into the wild.
…It’s like that for you, too, right? Right???