All-Time Television Breeding Grounds
A Seriously Random List XXII / Dustin Rowles
Seriously Random Lists | November 17, 2008 | Comments (47)
Though it’s come a long way, more often than not, television is still a last-stopping point for washed-up movie actors heading out to pasture (see, Martin Sheen). Sometimes they find a second-life (see, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Jason Bateman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Lee, Alec Baldwin, Kyra Sedgewick, most of The Desperate Housewives), though most often, they’re either relegated forever to television (Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Love Hewitt, probably Jason Lee), or they fade into oblivion (probably Christian Slater, Brooke Shields, among many, many others so deep into oblivioun that they’re names escape me).
There are a lot of notable shows, to, that are so successful that the actors are forever associated with it, making the transition to the big-screen difficult, regardless of how popular they are (see, the cast of “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” “Cheers” (save for Woody). But what about those shows that launch the careers of movie stars who, eventually, are able to distance themselves from the show. I’m talking about the television equivalent of The Outsiders or Dazed and Confused, shows that introduce new faces that eventually rise the ranks of Hollywood studios and make bigger names for themselves in movies or other television shows.
Here are the top five television breeding grounds:
5. “In Living Colour”. Launched the careers of: Jim Carey, Jamie Foxx, Damon, Keenan, and Shawn Wayans, Jennifer Lopez.
4. “Felicity”. Launched the careers of: Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, Scott Foley, Greg Grunberg, Jennifer Garner.
3. “St. Elsewhere”: Launched the careers of: Howie Mandel, David Morse, Denzell Washington, Mark Harmon, Alfre Woodard, and Chad Allen. Both Ernie Hudson and Helen Hunt also had early career stints on the show.
2. “Freaks and Geeks”: Launched the careers of: James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan, Rashida Jones.
1. “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place”: Launched the careers of: Ryan Reynolds and Nathon Fillion.
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Comments
Posted by: Cindy at November 17, 2008 3:14 PM
I'm not sure there is any way to argue with your list or change placement around - or that placement even matters.
"ER" also spawned a couple of careers, and resuscitated (pun intended) a couple as well.