Who is This Unflattering TV Guide Article About?

[HeyHomie]

In the current issue of TV Guide, Michael Ausiello writes:


"It's a scenario that fits the saying 'the inmates are running the asylum.' I can't name names (as much as I might love to), but play along and guess which recurring guest star has, in essence, taken over the prime-time hit he's visiting. This recent hire, apparently believing himself to be God's gift to television, has thrown the writing process into turmoil, tossing out story lines and even entire scripts. <snip> The show-runner seems to [think that] he's a genuine A-lister. He's not. [...] he's no George Clooney. He doesn't even have the marquee value of, say, George Jetson. So, any guesses?"


I got nothin'.

Any help here?

TIA

[Gangster Octopus]

Complete stab in the dark, but could it be Chris O'Donnel on Grey's Anatomy? I mean I don't know anything about the guy as far as being a pain-in-the-ass, but Grey's Anatomy is a hit prime time show, he is a occasionally recurring character on the show and he has some marquee value, but not George Clooney-esque.

[Morbo]

My guess would be Shatner joining the cast of The Practice.

[GraceTX]

How about David Morse from House? I hated, hated, hated the most recent storyline and would love to be able to blame that gawd-awful mess on someone.

[Gangster Octopus]

My guess would be Shatner joining the cast of The Practice.

Shatner is on the The Practice?

[AuntiePam]

I don't think it's Shatner. Boston Legal isn't a prime time hit, and Shatner's role is usually pretty small. Even though he's why I tune in. :)

How about Kyle McLachlan on Desperate Housewives?

[amarinth]

Seeing it's a current article about (I'm guessing) a current series - that kind of leaves out Shatner (who's a regular on "Boston Legal) and O'Donnell (who's been off "Grey's" for months)

Rob Lowe is currently on "Brothers & Sisters," maybe him? Or is anyone doing a stint on "Lost"? Or "CSI"?

[Lightray]

Given the reference to "George Cloony ... George Jetson" I'd say, look for a show with a guest star named... "George".

[MovieMogul]

Liev Shreiber is indeed doing an extended stint on CSI (subbing for William Peterson) so I believe this is about him. The fact that this is in the present tense rules out Morse, and Shatner is a regular.

[twickster]

How about David Morse from House? .....

Probably not -- from what I've heard, he's a genuinely nice guy. (Lives in Philly and supports local causes -- including arranging to have his last series filmed here.)

[Snooooopy]

Liev Shreiber is indeed doing an extended stint on CSI (subbing for William Peterson) so I believe this is about him. The fact that this is in the present tense rules out Morse, and Shatner is a regular.

I always thought that "recurring" meant that the character wandered in and out over an extended number of episodes. Schreiber is going to be there for a handful of episodes, then leave.

[Miller]

I always thought that "recurring" meant that the character wandered in and out over an extended number of episodes.

No, it just means "more than once."

[Ellis Dee]

It's almost certainly John Stamos. He recently joined the cast of ER, where George Clooney (hint hint) used to be the resident hunk. It's quite possible -- given his character's storyline -- that he's demanding rewrites. He was a recurring guest last season, and both then and now has been hyped as some sort of huge draw. ER is famous for overhyping everything, (ever seen an ER commercial?) but hyping John friggin' Stamos? WTF?

[twickster]

It's almost certainly John Stamos. He recently joined the cast of ER, ...
But as a regular cast member, no?

[mobo85]

Shatner is on the The Practice?

No, seeing as The Practice is no longer on the air. As mentioned, the poster was probably confusing it with Boston Legal (I believe they were both produced by David E. Kelley, so it isn't unusual. You stinka!)

[PunditLisa]

I don't think it's John Stamos as he's a regular. Some possibilities:

Grey's Anatomy - Eric Dane (McSteamy)
24 - Peter MacNicol (Lennox) - Could Biscuit be a real jerk?
Someone on Prison Break because of the "inmates running the asylum" comment
Desperate Housewives - Austin - though he's so young I doubt he'd make waves

Other "hits" that don't fit the bill because I can't think of a new character:

Lost, Ugly Betty, The Office, Heroes

[Ellis Dee]

But as a regular cast member, no?It's hard to tell because ER ditched the intro this season, so nobody is credited or labeled very clearly. But the ER press was that they were crushed when Jake 2.0 got picked up last season because they really wanted him, as if he were some giant star.

The article from tv guide seemed to imply that the actor is currently a recurring guest, but I think it's intentionally misleading. Stamos was a recurring guest star, but when Ausiello refers to the mystery actor as a "recent hire", that sounds to me like a recurring guest star that was recently hired to be part of the regular cast. (Guest stars are more like independent contractors; "recent hire" implies a fulltime employee.)

Add that to the fact that Stamos is considered a big star by the producers (based on interviews I've read in tv guide) plus the George Clooney reference, I came away from that article with no doubt it was Stamos the first time I read it. (Before I even finished it; the George Clooney reference at the end was just the icing on the cake.)

[Snooooopy]

It's hard to tell because ER ditched the intro this season, so nobody is credited or labeled very clearly. But the ER press was that they were crushed when Jake 2.0 got picked up last season because they really wanted him, as if he were some giant star.

That would be Jake In Progress.

[kaylasdad99]

I'm going to have to contribute the only TV show I'm qualified to speculate on:

David Bowie on The Venture Bros.

[bouv]

I'm going to have to contribute the only TV show I'm qualified to speculate on:

David Bowie on The Venture Bros.

That would be awesome if not for the fact that he didn't do his own voice.

[Gary T]

Given the reference to "George Cloony ... George Jetson" I'd say, look for a show with a guest star named... "George".
I don't believe that's what's being suggested. The George Clooney reference is a normal comparison of Mr. X to a "genuine A-lister." Then the Jetson reference shows how far from the A-list Mr. X is, cleverly using another George for the literary effect of parallel construction. It's as if Dan Quayle had been told "You're no Jack Kennedy, you're not even Jack Black." Quayle's first name is irrelevant, the Jack/Jack thing is technique.

[Lizard]

My guess would be Shatner joining the cast of The Practice.

*clearing throat* It's more accurate to say Clooney is no Shatner. The latter was a star (via Star Trek) when Clooney was still in grade school. Shatner's total star-power may never have been as high as Clooney's but he's been famous for MUCH longer than Clooney has. Besides, it's obvious Clooney doesn't have what it takes to face down Khan Noonien Singh.

[Ellis Dee]

Note that Ausiello didn't make the George Clooney remark. It's a direct quote. Here's the snipped bits:...tossing out story lines and even entire scripts. Why hasn't his ass been canned? Is it because he's a mega-star? Hardly. The show runner seems to agree with him that he's a genius and a genuine A-lister. But, um, how do I put this? He isn't. As one of many disgruntled cast members put it: "He's not exactly George Clooney." He doesn't even have the marquee value of, say, George Jetson. So, any guesses?One of the actual cast members said that he's no George Clooney. That, to me, screams John Stamos.

The more interesting question to me is which cast member made the Clooney snark. I'm guessing Maura Tierney.

[Abby_Emma_Sasha]

I am convinced this is Liev Schreiber. In the current Entertainment Weekly there is an article on Liev that states he would only take the role on CSI if he had a hand in the storyline. Plus, he has always struck me as the Prima Donna(primo donno?) type.

I really don't see Stamos or Rob Lowe asking for writing credits as much as I would imagine them trying to get more face time. Stamos and Lowe are pretty boys whereas SChreiber, IMO fancies himself a serious, brooding artiste .

[Sean Factotum]

That would be awesome if not for the fact that he didn't do his own voice.
And Bowie is definitely an A-lister. So it would have to be Iggy Pop in this case.

[glee]

William Peterson is taking a break from CSI? :eek:

But he is the hero of all geeks and nerds (including moi). :(

Gil Grissom must return (preferably in the arms of Lady Heather :cool: )

[Kalhoun]

Liev Shreiber is indeed doing an extended stint on CSI (subbing for William Peterson) so I believe this is about him. The fact that this is in the present tense rules out Morse, and Shatner is a regular.
(hijack) Why is William Peterson off? (/hijack)

[twickster]

William Peterson is off for a month to do a play.

I agree, Liev Schrieber sounds the most likely, esp. given the piece in EW this week.

[JThunder]

Besides, it's obvious Clooney doesn't have what it takes to face down Khan Noonien Singh.
Dude, he's Batman! Clooney can defeat Khan if he's....

Nah. I won't say it.

[astorian]

I know absolutely nothing about Liev Schieber's personality, so I can't accuse him of being a jerk, or of being the person alluded to.

I can say that I saw him on Broadway in "Glengarry Glen Ross," and he was outstanding. He won a Tony for his performance, so he's not lacking for talent.

Problem is, a Tony doesn't necessarily carry much weight in TV land, nor should it (not automatically, at any rate).

And on a show like "CSI," the actors are far less important to the viewers than the plots and the crime puzzles. That's a show on which NO performer should consider himself irreplaceable. Because even viewers who like Grissom would tune in to watch almost any other actor do the investigations, so long as the crimes were still interesting.

[Ellis Dee]

I am convinced this is Liev Schreiber. In the current Entertainment Weekly there is an article on Liev that states he would only take the role on CSI if he had a hand in the storyline. Plus, he has always struck me as the Prima Donna(primo donno?) type.Yeah, I finally saw that EW article, and I have to agree. I caught my first five minutes ever of CSI tonight just to get a feel for him in the role, and it seems plausible that he's a prima donna.

I'm thinking his role in the Scream franchise wasn't too far from his real personality.