Guest stars.
Think of them as spiking the punch. Sure, it's bright red, tasty, and fun to drink already. But dump in that flask of
rum and it gets even better. Of course, the type of rum makes all the difference. You start playing around with the
cheap stuff that comes in the non-descript plastic container and costs less than a gallon of milk, then you're begging
for a headache and hangover. But if you suck it up, mortgage the house a second time, and fork over the newly acquired
funds for a juice-box sized bottle of the spiced stuff from an unpronounceable coastal Puerto Rican village... well,
you're gonna have a good night.
That being said, five guest stars who didn't give me a headache and a hangover:
1.) Bob Saget [Himself, Entourage] - Saget guested as one of Vince's new neighbors midway through the second season. If we're to believe that Saget's part as himself was true to life, then he's a woman-loving, sex-crazed, brothel addict. As Turtle so wisely put it, nothing is more embarrassing than being "cock-blocked by Bob Saget".
2.) Emily Proctor [Ainsley Hayes, The West Wing] - From the first moment we met her when she ripped Sam apart on television, Ainsley Hayes won me over. She was just the right amount of smart and naïveté which made it fantastic to watch someone take her down a notch only to see her turn around and dish it right back. I'm overjoyed that she's on the short list of folks who will make another appearance before The West Wing wraps up.
3.) James Badge Dale [Timo Gavin, Rescue Me] - First off, what happened to him? He appeared in three episodes from the first season and we never heard from him again. Denis Leary's character has two brothers, but we mostly got acquainted with Johnny (played by Dean Winters). I thought JBD was a much better choice as the go-to brother when Leary had a cop question. I hope he makes a return in the upcoming third season.
4.) Scott Baio [Bob Loblaw, Arrested Development] - This is the one that spawned this column idea in the first place. You really can't go wrong, even if he was only in four (or was it five?) episodes of the third season. Bob Loblaw's Law Blog? Genius.
5.) Anthony Anderson [Antwon Mitchell, The Shield] - Is there a role that this guy can't play? I think he's a spectacular actor and while I have a hard time picturing him as anything other than the Burger Shack guy from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, I totally bought him as a stone cold thug in The Shield. That one scene from the fourth season where Antwon stepped on Shane's face, forcing him to watch as Antwon shot that little girl... that was intense.
Okay, there are some of my favorites. I could have certainly kept going but I'll leave that up to you guys. Who else belongs in this group?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-19-2006 @ 3:07PM
Michael Cicconi said...
If anyone saw "The Aristocrats" by Penn & Teller they'd know that Bob Saget, despite his wholesome image from "Full House", is one of the sickest minds in Hollywood.
Once, he was visiting Sarah Silverman for her birthday. His gift? A box of slim fit tampons. He suggested that she "leave them out on a coffee table so that when she brings men home to her place, they will think she's 'tight'."
Reply
3-19-2006 @ 5:59PM
Douglin said...
I have to put forward Henry Winkler in Arrested Development if only for the jump the shark gag.
and Adam West as 'Mayor Adam West' in Family Guy
Reply
3-19-2006 @ 6:39PM
Lacey said...
Oh man, That episode of Entourage was one of my favorites.
My other favorite....The episode where Val Kilmer guest stars as the Sherpa....HYSTERICAL.
And in responce to #2....Mayor West is my favorite family guy character. lol
Reply
3-19-2006 @ 6:43PM
dirtgirl said...
First of all, who is James Badge Dale? Doesn't guest starring imply that the person is a well-known star? And unlike you, I was a little confused when his character first appeared. I just assumed they'd recast Dean Winters' role. But his character was entirely forgettable and barely had any lines in those three eps.
My favorite guest appearance on season 1 of Rescue Me (which I just watched on DVD this weekend) was American Idol contestant (and skin mag model) Becky O'Donahue and her twin sister. They played twins that Shawn and Franco briefly dated and couldn't tell apart. In case anyone's wondering... she's a horrible actress.
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3-19-2006 @ 7:02PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
James Badge Dale played Chase Edmunds in the third season of "24." So I'd say he's pretty well known.
Reply
3-19-2006 @ 7:11PM
Jimmy said...
I completely agree with your assessment of Emily Proctor. She played a Republican on a show with a liberal bent and to Aaron Sorkin's credit he wrote an interesting, non-wingnut character we could really get relate to. Sadly, she is very wasted on CSI: Miami. On West Wing she played a strong, intelligent woman; on CSI: Miami she's little more than David Caruso occasional partner. The men on that show are far better developed.
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3-19-2006 @ 7:35PM
Kujo said...
Yeah, Anthony Anderson was sensational on "The Shield". Having only seen him do comedic roles, I never thought he could be that good a dramatic actor. He again shines in the few guest spots he's done this season.
Forest Whitaker should be on the next list for his performance on the "The Shield" this season. It will be a travesty if he's not nominated for an Emmy.
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3-19-2006 @ 9:50PM
play games said...
Bob Saget was also pretty funny in the movie Half Baked, in a really quick cameo scene. He was great in that Entourage episode, which is one my favorite shows on television.
Reply
5-13-2006 @ 7:38PM
Khamel said...
this is a fantastic list. i would have put emily proctor first because she was easily my favorite character on the show. her and rob lowe. why do the good ones leave early??
also, bob saget played a parody of himself on huff as well. he was 'americas favorite tv dad' and a coke addict who was hiding in the desert instead of filming his show. he was fantastic there as well.
bob loblaw law blog.
im not sure henry winkler or adam west can be considered guest stars. while they aren't part of the cast, they have been in every season.
as an aside, i was so happy when they got rid of that curly haired girl on west wing after the first season. i don't even remember he name because she was such a waste of screen time.
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