TVSquad

As AOL Television continues their look at the 50 Best TV Comedies -- Ever with their Top 10, we here at TV Squad are also looking at television comedy, but with a slightly skewed difference. Last week, we took a look at the Saturday Night Live cast members from 1996 to 2006 that made it to the big time. This week, we get a bit more serious.

There are those in the industry who say that it is easier to go from acting in a drama to acting in a comedy than it is the other way around. Yet, as you will see from the list we've compiled after the jump, there are plenty of comedic actors who have jumped from the world of comedy films, stand-up comedy, and television sitcoms into the more serious world of drama. In many cases they have had even greater success than they did on the other side of the tracks. There have even been instances where they stayed in the drama genre and never went back to being funny.

Gallery: Comedians who became dramatic actors

So what did you do yesterday? I spent the entire Sunday watching detective movies on The Hallmark Channel. Of course, when I say "detective movies" it sounds like I was watching old film noir flicks from the 40s and 50s. Actually, I was watching Murder, She Wrote, Perry Mason movies, and Matlock.

Yes, I have the social life of a 70 year-old woman.

I've always been a sucker for these shows, going back to the NBC Mystery Movie and Columbo and McMillan and Wife. Those shows were probably better produced and written than the stuff you see on Hallmark Channel, but I think the new shows are quite entertaining and fun, and it's good to see favorite familiar faces on TV again: the McBride movies with John Larroquette, the Murder 101 movies with Dick Van Dyke, and the TV movie series I'd like to talk about, Jane Doe.

To put it simply, I'm worried about Jane Doe.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

• Deadwood - Season 3
• Diagnosis Murder - Season 2
• Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season 2
• Jesse Stone: Night Passage and Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List - Season 1
• Masters of Horror - The Screwfly Solution
• The Office - Season 1 and Season 2 set
• The Practice - Vol. 1
• The Rat Patrol - Season 2
• Red Shoe Diaries - Season 1 Limited Edition
• Walker, Texas Ranger - Season 3
• Welcome Back, Kotter - Season 1
• What's Happening Now - Season 1

• Over at TV Barn, Aaron Barnhart has a few things to say about Katie Couric and CBS' coverage of the death of President Ford.
• More great stuff from Ken Levine, including one of his scripts from The Simpsons and some tips on pitching a pilot.
• Whatever happened to the girls from The Wonder Years?
• Have you ever thought to yourself, "gee, that Diagnosis: Murder theme would be great if it had lyrics?" Here it is.
• Have you ever checked out BuddyTV? Cool site.
• And here's a picture of Ryan Seacrest grabbing a giant ball.