Entertainment Weekly ran an interesting online reader's poll asking, "Who deserves more fame?" While I'm not sure I'd wish big time, privacy-destroying fame on any of my favorite performers, there are definitely some TV actors out there who are severely underrated.
Who was included on the EW list? Christopher Gorham, Ugly Betty; Allison Mack, Smallville; Sara Rue, Less Than Perfect; Nathan Fillion, Firefly; Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, Supernatural; Wendell Pierce, The Wire; David Hyde Pierce, Fraiser; Matthew Settle and Damian Lewis, Band of Brothers; the cast of Everwood; Clea DuVall and Nick Stahl, Carnivale; Mary Lynn Rajskub and Roger Cross, 24 and Tahmoh Penikett, Battlestar Galactica.
I'm not sure David Hyde Pierce is underrated seeing as he won four Emmy Awards and was nominated every year that Frasier was on the air, but I can certainly get behind most of the others on the list especially Nathan Fillion. Why that guy hasn't taken the Harrison Ford mantle by now is beyond me.
I'd probably add the entire supporting cast of Weeds to that list, along with Arrested Development's Michael Cera, Freakshow's H. Jon Benjamin and The Office's Mindy Kaling.
Any votes out there on who you'd like to see taking up more room on the cover of mags like Entertainment Weekly?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2006 @ 9:51AM
Justin said...
Glad to see Wendell Pierce (though you could include the entire cast of The Wire) and Damien Lewis (where's he been?). I would also add Walton Goggins from The Shield, Enrico Colantoni from Veronica Mars, and John Scurti (Lou) from Rescue Me.
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11-03-2006 @ 9:57AM
shannon said...
Justin, I agree on John Scurti. Like him a lot.
I've always been a big fan of Clea Duvall also.
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11-03-2006 @ 10:26AM
Ryan said...
I'd like to add the WHOLE cast of Battlestar Galactica on that list, Alyson Hannigan (Buffy, How I Met Your Mother), and Yun-Jin Kim (Lost).
Kudos to Nathan Fillion, David Hyde Pierce, the cast of Everwood, and Mary Lynn Rajskub.
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11-03-2006 @ 10:49AM
kerry said...
I think Michael Cera is due for great things, and they'll come to him naturally. He's too young to be considered under appreciated yet. I'll second David Hyde Pierce, though, since he really deserves more than being a perpetual second-fiddle. Damn, he's really good.
Oh, and hear hear to the cast of Everwood. Who knew that Scott Wolf had such range?
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11-03-2006 @ 12:02PM
SJ said...
Hasn't David Hyde Pierce already won tons of Emmys? I don't really think that makes him an "underrated" actor.
Agree with #1 on John Scurti and the whole cast of The Wire. Bubbles deserves an Emmy nod.
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11-03-2006 @ 12:10PM
Dr. Funbags said...
Allison Mack is teh hawtt
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11-03-2006 @ 1:20PM
jeff smith said...
Totally agree with the cast of Everwood it was such a disgrace they way they got rid of that show but still kept crap like 7th Heaven and One Tree Hill. Also anyone on the Wire is tops in my book.
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11-03-2006 @ 1:54PM
Brent McKee said...
Beth Lacke from "Happy Hour". She was and is the only thing that made that show even marginally watchable.
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11-03-2006 @ 2:03PM
Karen said...
I agree that David Hyde-Pierce doesn't seem to belong on that list. He's won Emmys, he's been in a lot of feature films--what does he have to squawk about?
But I would definitely vote for Gregory Smith, Emily VanCamp, and Chris Pratt from Everwood; for Nathan Fillion, who needs to get out of genre films; and I would add Jason Dohring and Kristen Bell from Veronica Mars, who are outstanding actors who ought to be getting film offers out the wazoo.
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11-03-2006 @ 3:45PM
Gwin said...
I would add Kevin Sussman, who plays Walter on Ugly Betty.
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11-03-2006 @ 6:46PM
Don Zacharias said...
Some really great suggestions here! I'd like to add Jason Segel ("How I Met Yr Mother"), he is always enjoyable to watch and I think he could carry a show.
I'm so stoked for Helo!!
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11-03-2006 @ 10:03PM
Lacey said...
Allison Mack is especially under-appreciated this season. She has bangs and is working her His-Girl-Friday bit.
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11-04-2006 @ 1:34PM
Vickie Aylward said...
Definately Matthew Settle!! I've even put his name in my Google Alert, because he has so little press...Why!!?? Damian Lewis, too! These two are every bit as talented, and handsome as any of your US weekly, and People Magazine cover boys...and I do mean boys!! Actually, they're more talented! Hollywood thinks we are idiots, and only go to see movies for the stars' box office draw. There's a difference between a movie star, and an actor! Settle and Lewis are actors!!
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11-04-2006 @ 8:18PM
jrf311978 said...
i think that Supernatural doesnt get enough publicity. it is an awesome show and should be on the cover of magazines more often.
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11-05-2006 @ 9:18AM
edd said...
Michael Sera and Will Arnett, hell even Jason Bateman
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11-05-2006 @ 11:11AM
Isobel Swan said...
I believe that Jensen Ackles (especially) and Jared Padalecki deserve more fame for their roles as Dean and Sam Winchester in 'Supernatural'.
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11-05-2006 @ 5:02PM
SO said...
Allison Mack is def. at the top of my list, I wouldn't mind seeing her on the big screen and more magazine covers..in fact I'd LOVE it.
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11-06-2006 @ 1:55AM
Dion said...
Allison Mack is an amazing actress. She deffinately acts her part well in Smallville
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11-06-2006 @ 1:55AM
Dion said...
Allison Mack is an amazing actress. She deffinately acts her part well in Smallville. She has improved alot ever since the begining of the first season of that show.
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11-06-2006 @ 7:46AM
rebecca said...
Jensen and Jared because Supernatural is a pretty awesome and original show, and they're both damn good at what they do. Yep.
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