The Importance of Guest Stars

[Patcat]

I've been watching some of the older episodes, and I've been struck by some of the very fine performances given by the guest stars on LOCI. The show's casting directors do a tremendous job in finding some terrific actors, famous and not so, for different roles. In ENEMY WITHIN (the millionaire who dies in his fortress like penthouse), the French-Canadian actor Lothaire Bluteau gives a tremendous performance as the nurse who abandons his charge and plays the victim's family. The character's motives are very complex and subtle, and if Mr. Bluteau hadn't delivered as well as he did, the show would have lost a great deal of its effectiveness.

On the other hand, this past season's THE VIEW UP HERE was harmed by the ineffective performance of the actor playing the murderer.

So, what performances have others liked? Disliked?

Patcat

[romulanavatra3]

;)hi patcat i agree that the best epsidoes are the ones were the guest actors preforme the part well.

i totally agree with what you said about Lothaire Bluteau, but then again i supsoe i have liked him as acotr ever since i saw him in black robe(that was very grim).

cournteny b vance himself makes a very convincing and slimy criminal in one of the earlier seasons of law and order.

reagrds rom.

[Cassie]

Linda Lavin in the "Shandeh" episode… I liked her Yiddish accent…..

“Do something Danny!!!"

[trisha]

Actors I've been blow away by on this show are too many to count. I loved the guy who played Dougie Morgan in Con-Text (my #2 favorite episode of this show). I was also quite taken with Bobby Cannavale. And, of coarse, who could forget Claire Bloom?

Gosh, I think it would be an easier task to name off the actors that didn't do it for me as there have only been a few. I love Steven Colbert, but had a hard time getting into his character because he's made such a huge impression on me with TDS and SWC. He did a great job, but I just couldn't lose myself in it.

I don't think it was Adam Goldberg's fault that View From Up Here fell flat, though. His acting throughout was pretty solid, and was, for me, the only bright spot since the only excitement and passion I felt in the episode came from him. I think problem with that episode was the chemistry, or lack there of, between Erbe and D'Onofrio. It just wrecked the whole experience. They both seemed drained, detached, and un-emotional and it really made the episode drag.

[js]

I agree with the actors already cited and can add Karen Black in ConText. She was an excellent alcoholic, protective mom for Dougie though her appearence was brief.

For me, it wasn't Goldberg's acting that put me off. I thought is was actually good. However, compared to all the other characters, he was so scruffy looking, perhaps even dirty, that he seemed not to fit in with the rest of the condo tenants. His wife and Darla, his "girlfriend" did seem like the rest of the characters, so maybe it was a conscience decision to portray him in that way. Still, it didn't work for me. I've commented before that I don't think I could get drunk enough to hook up with someone similar to Goldberg's character.

js

[Patcat]

I was lucky with Stephen Colbert--I hadn't seen much of THE DAILY SHOW (I love the show--it's just the timing in my life is bad to catch it), so I didn't have any preconceived ideas about his performance. And I thought he was very good.

Patcat

[Techguy]

Maybe because "Cherry Red" is my all-time favorite CI episode, the performances of Dennis Christopher and Paul Dooley as the murderous father and son stand out most in my mind. Then again, maybe part of the reason this is my favorite CI episode is due to their performances.

Some other standouts: Viola Davis in "Badge," Mark Linn-Baker in "Probability," Hal Linden in "Suite Sorrow," John Savage in "Conscience, " Brent Spiner in "Shrink-Wrapped," Neil Patrick Harris in "Want," and Carrie Preston in "Magnificat."

"The View From Up Here" is such a dreadful episode, I can't put my finger on who or what is responsible. I surely didn't buy into the idea that the wife took the scruffy and loathsome Victor as a lover but I don't think the problem lies only in Adam Goldberg's performance. The entire cast, especially Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe, seemed to be either sleepwalking or phoning in their performances, which certainly didn't help matters. Dreadful and utterly forgetable.

[Sirenna]

While it isn't among my all-time favourites, I didn't find 'The View Up Here' all that bad. The flatness that some of you have noted might have co-incided with Vincent's faintings

I wasn't totally taken with the actress in Shandeh. I thought she over-acted some of the interview techniques like portraying lying in some of the scenes. I liked Claire Bloom and Doogie, especially doogie, very much. He's in a new sci-fi series with some of the guys from 90210 and Michael Jamal Warner that is not bad.

I think among my favourites would be the actor who played the burglar in 'Silver Lining'.

[Patcat]

I like Dennis Christopher and Paul Dooley very much, and the fact the two of them played son and father in the film BREAKING AWAY (a much healthier relationship) is a great inside joke.

Patcat

[Sirenna]

;D yes, I see what you mean.

[domenicaflor]

Yes to the many guest stars listed by other posters!

In addition, I would like to add Alicia Coppola for her striking performance as the "black widow" in BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

Who could forget Joel Grey as the egotistic elderly millionaire murderer with revenge plans in CUBA LIBRE?

Jay Sanders played the perfectionistic hitman in DEAD to perfection.

For child actors, the young man in BRIGHT BOY who played Robby was wonderful, as were both adopted brothers in HAPPY FAMILY. They should all have great careers ahead.

Finally, the young lady who was cast opposite Bobby Cannavale as the epileptic clairvoyant Santeria priestess did an excellent job and was very believable in character. (I'll look up her name and report back.)

D.

[Cassie]

Todd Stashwick, in my books is a rising star. He played Dr Scott Boreman aka Tarzan in the episode “Zoonotic” He gave us a great performance as the sleezeball vet. Then you could find him as the most adorable “MSN butterfly” in commercials. I like this guy, I see a real talent and range in him as a character actor. And I wish for him the best

www.improvreview.com/news_features/stashwick.htm

[LOCIfan]

The guest stars on LOCI are generally so good. In addition to those mentioned, I have to add Merrit Weaver and Tammy Blanchard, the twisted sister nannies from TOMORROW.

[blucougar57]

I don't know the name of the actor, but I loved the portrayal of the character of Connie in Sound Bodies. There was strength in that performance, and it gave the very real impression that Goren had to work hard to break him in interrogation. That, and it's the only character who ever had the gumption to physically lash out at Goren, and make it believable.

[Cassie]

Check out the latest Sprint commercial…..Its Dougie (Sean Dugan) from “Con-Text”

It’s really creepy