tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post116282641796072597..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Brought to you by the letter DAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162967418150910402006-11-08T01:30:00.000-05:002006-11-08T01:30:00.000-05:00anonymous poster above:What Alan said. Alan's Ledg...anonymous poster above:<BR/><BR/>What Alan said. Alan's Ledger column concerned Neil Patrick Harris, and how Harris managed to find a role that has allowed him to shed his Doogie Howser past. My comment wasn't meant to reflect on Chiklis' abilities as an actor per se -- just on the difficulties he might have had in getting serious roles after _The Commish_. <BR/><BR/>And yes, jim treacher, Chiklis has to go through _Daddio_. But Harris had to go through _Stark Raving Mad_. Everybody has to pay some dues. Just wait till you see what Matthew Perry's _next_ project turns out to be.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes time helps, too. Rob Morrow just doesn't evoke Joel Fleischman for that many people anymore, and Gerald McRaney eased from Rick Simon to genially gruff father figure for a while before his turn on _Deadwood_. Tom Selleck has followed a similar route, and I think he's just about due for an interesting role.<BR/><BR/>Also, I don't know how this works in foreign markets. Did the British think it was weird when Robbie Coltrane went from _Nuns on the Run_ to _Cracker_? I don't really know what sort of career he's had in the UK, but before _Cracker_ I always thought he was just known for his comedy.<BR/><BR/>AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162933275199215252006-11-07T16:01:00.000-05:002006-11-07T16:01:00.000-05:00"And where were you guys with all these great sugg..."And where were you guys with all these great suggestions when I was writing the column? Huh? Huh?"<BR/><BR/>Heh, do your own work ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162919253928270112006-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:002006-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:00Yeah, wasn't Chiklis on some sitcom playing a stay...Yeah, wasn't Chiklis on some sitcom playing a stay-at-home dad right before he landed The Shield? Well, no matter what else happens in his career, he's got to be happy that everybody's pretty much forgotten Wired.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162917575597156552006-11-07T11:39:00.000-05:002006-11-07T11:39:00.000-05:00The point on Chiklis is that very few TV stars are...The point on Chiklis is that very few TV stars are allowed -- whether by casting directors, network execs, or audiences -- to ply their craft and play roles significantly different from the one that made them famous. <BR/><BR/>And where were you guys with all these great suggestions when I was writing the column? Huh? Huh?Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162899170877921092006-11-07T06:32:00.000-05:002006-11-07T06:32:00.000-05:00"I think Michael Chiklis deserves mention as a muc..."I think Michael Chiklis deserves mention as a much more recent example of a TV actor reinventing himself."<BR/><BR/>Reinventing himself? I don't know whether to quarrel or not. Chikilis does what actors are supposed to do: playing different characters as different characters.<BR/><BR/>Look at his work in all of his biggest projects (The Commish, Daddie Dearest, The Shield, Fantastic Four and, yes, the Three Stooges bio-movie.) These are fully realized personalities, distinctly and consistently drawn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162876614261849222006-11-07T00:16:00.000-05:002006-11-07T00:16:00.000-05:00Alan, I liked the examples from your article, but...Alan,<BR/><BR/> I liked the examples from your article, but I think Michael Chiklis deserves mention as a much more recent example of a TV actor reinventing himself. Jack Klugman for Oscar/Quincy and Ed Asner as Lou Grant/Lou Grant come to mind as well. Also, although she didn't have _two_ hit roles (I think), Betty White has often walked the line between saintly characters and bitchy characters. But I'm sure you have a much more comprehensive list.<BR/><BR/>AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162870593369071362006-11-06T22:36:00.000-05:002006-11-06T22:36:00.000-05:00I thought the deuce ecch machinist at the end of D...I thought the deuce ecch machinist at the end of Darkly Dreaming Dexter worked within the context of the novel. If I can take it on board that a crime scene technician is moonlighting as a serial killer who only preys on serial killers, that ending wasn't much more of a leap. But I won't know how they'll deal with it on the show until the DVD box set comes out, so I'll shut up now.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and another TV actor who reinvented himself: Rick Schroder. Although NYPD Blue was kind of a blip, wasn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162861832491938582006-11-06T20:10:00.000-05:002006-11-06T20:10:00.000-05:00Re: that question about TV actors who reinvented t...Re: that question about TV actors who reinvented themselves... a tip of the rabbit ears to Susan Dey, from Partridge Kid to "L.A. Law" female lead, one of the best female dramatic roles on TV during its time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162852935709998792006-11-06T17:42:00.000-05:002006-11-06T17:42:00.000-05:00If they're following the book (as they apparently ...If they're following the book (as they apparently are), Rick's wrong, but sort of right. And the ending of the first Dexter book (with the reveal of the Ice Truck Killer) is one of the lamest dei ex machinae ever, especially given that it's intended to be psychologically profound.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00295270766215749309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162851667436630462006-11-06T17:21:00.000-05:002006-11-06T17:21:00.000-05:00I was wondering if you meant deus ex machina inste...I was wondering if you meant <I>deus ex machina</I> instead of <I>deux ex machina</I>, but I wasn't sure, because one means "from the machine, God," and the other means "from the machine, two," which is appropriate for the number of times Doctor Who has gone to that plot device over the years...David J. Loehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730376433424754068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162850289434977192006-11-06T16:58:00.000-05:002006-11-06T16:58:00.000-05:00I don't normally watch Desperate Housewives but th...I don't normally watch <I>Desperate Housewives</I> but that was a very good episode. You know something? Brenda Strong? She's tall. Really Tall. Freaking GARGANTUAN.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162849781349930982006-11-06T16:49:00.000-05:002006-11-06T16:49:00.000-05:00I think "Dexter" the show is losing me, which is u...I think "Dexter" the show is losing me, which is unfornate, because "Dexter" the character is totally winning me over. It seems like the show is a little too much CSI and a little too little The Sopranos. Also, I have a strange hunch that his sister is the "ice-truck killer," but maybe that's just what they want me to think.<BR/><BR/>I'll keep watching. Michael C. Hall is too good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162841383337522152006-11-06T14:29:00.000-05:002006-11-06T14:29:00.000-05:00It took me a long while to convince myself that, y...It took me a long while to convince myself that, yes, that is Kim Kelly on ER - a testament to how well Busy Philips is playing two very different characters. (And I keep hoping the writers push her and Sam together)Tosy And Coshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466315384515717261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162841197598705082006-11-06T14:26:00.000-05:002006-11-06T14:26:00.000-05:00Re-watching this season of 'Doctor Who' after catc...Re-watching this season of 'Doctor Who' after catching the bit torrents of the British broadcasts, I'm so impressed by the details that play into the overall story for the year. Especially as Real World factors had to be taken into consideration with relatively short notice, it all gels together perfectily by the season finale. (You'll see....)<BR/><BR/>Never even considered the Ricky and Jake dynamic; but I can totally see now where hints of it still exist It's a shame now that it couldn't have been left in.<BR/><BR/>I also was a big fan of Mrs. Moore in her four minutes or so of the spotlight. I'm still holding out hope that the actress and character can be brought back on either 'Doctor Who' or 'Torchwood', but of course as her counterpart in the Doctor's original dimension.<BR/><BR/>However, if things work over there as they do with the production of 'Lost', that might be a problem. I've read the actress has been a naughty girl in the legal problems department....<BR/><BR/>Next week should be of interest to "TV historians" as they go back to the early days of the industry in Britain.Toby O'Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999037844031101965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162837436270119342006-11-06T13:23:00.000-05:002006-11-06T13:23:00.000-05:00I thought the different reactions from Kara and Ti...I thought the different reactions from Kara and Tigh said more about each as a character and less about their losses. Yes, Kacey is still alive, and no, Kara didn't try to kill Kacey. But, Tigh's return to the bottle says more about his weakness, and Kara's ability to pull herself together is another sign of her ability to persist and survive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162836811643541682006-11-06T13:13:00.000-05:002006-11-06T13:13:00.000-05:00On the article, how about Marcia Cross (Melrose Pl...On the article, how about Marcia Cross (Melrose Place/DH) as someone who has excelled at playing two very different characters?Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02113168955236758821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1162836746540952622006-11-06T13:12:00.000-05:002006-11-06T13:12:00.000-05:00I probably picked the wrong week to start listenin...I probably picked the wrong week to start listening to the Galactica podcast, huh? Bit chaotic. But it was nice to have Moore's explanation for why this episode didn't really work. The one thing I liked was Tigh, who's turning into Quint in space.<BR/><BR/>I've only seen the two episodes of Dexter that they put on the Internet for free, but in the books, I'm pretty sure Deb is Harry's biological daughter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com