# Can Ted Danson do it again? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396 "2006-08-19T23:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/41 "2006-08-21T09:59:49Z")
Well, Danson went from bartender in Cheers to doctor in Becker, but now he is playing a shrink - which isn’t a huge stretch from doctor, so don’t know if it is fair to call this new character “different”. Will have to see the show, but previews seem to imply he is still the anti-social doctor he played on Becker. And I believe Betty White still holds the record for actress with most television series. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/42 "2006-08-21T11:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=Askance] Good lord.Not to mention 14 episodes (2 seasons) of [The Thin Blue Line](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112194/). [/QUOTE] I think I’ve seen every one! But I don’t know that it qualifies as “a hit” or not. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/43 "2006-08-21T12:39:14Z")
[QUOTE=choie] Wait, what? _She’s the Sheriff_? That was a **hit**? :dubious: Wasn’t that on only one or two seasons, tops? However, if you exchange that with _Step by Step_, I think we got a winner. That was a big success for ABC’s TGIF lineup, six or seven seasons I think. [/QUOTE] Fair enough. But yes, **Suzanne Somers** clearly qualifies as a lead character playing two very different roles on at least two hit series. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/44 "2006-08-21T12:40:18Z")
(_Sit coms_, that is, to follow the strictures of the OP.) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/45 "2006-08-21T13:06:53Z")
[QUOTE=WotNot] One indisputable two-show star I’d like to nominate it Leonard Rossiter, for _The Fall and Rise of Reginal Perrin_ and _Rising Damp._ [/QUOTE] :smack: How could I forget him. Two of my favourite sit-coms. Oh and **OpalCat** I would say that _The Thin Blue Line_ was successful in British terms. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/46 "2006-08-21T14:59:10Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] A few years ago I head it said that Ted Danson was the only actor in the history of television to have two hit sitcoms (Cheers and Becker) playing _substantially different_ characters. [/QUOTE] Huh? Sorry, he hasn’t done it yet. Becker was a total dud. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/47 "2006-08-21T15:38:47Z")
“My future self just wants to sit around all day watching Becker, and that show’s so stupid!” For the OP, I’d like to nominate Tony Shalhoub. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/48 "2006-08-21T17:36:12Z")
Jane Curtin was a supporting player on 3rd Rock? In whose universe? I think Wayne Knight deserves a nod for Seinfeld & 3rd Rock. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/49 "2006-08-22T04:31:10Z")
Carroll O’Connor in _All in the Family_ and _In the Heat of the Night_. Different characters, different types of shows (comedy and drama). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/50 "2006-08-22T04:52:36Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] Huh? Sorry, he hasn’t done it yet. Becker was a total dud. [/QUOTE] There are total duds that come on the air every year. Becker was on for 6 full seasons. Did pretty well in the ratings too. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t make it a dud. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/51 "2006-08-22T04:56:12Z")
Kirstie Alley had a major role in _Cheers_ and was the lead in _Veronica’s Closet_ (not a huge hit but it lasted three seasons). Harry Anderson was the lead on _Night Court_ (eight seasons) and _Dave’s World_ (four seasons). John Larroquette was virtually a co-lead on _Night Court_ (eight seasons) and then did three seasons of _The John Larroquette Show_. Dick Van Dyke was the lead on _The Dick Van Dyke Show_ (five seasons), _The New Dick Van Dyke Show_ (three seasons), and later on non-sitcom _Diagnosis Murder_ (eight seasons). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/52 "2006-08-22T05:11:00Z")
And Bob Denver deserves some kind of special mention. He played the character of Willy Gilligan on seven different series; as a regular on _Gilligan’s Island_ and the cartoon series _The New Adventures of Gilligan_ and _Gilligan’s Planet_ and as a guest star in episodes of _ALF_, _Baywatch_, _Meego_, and _The New Gidget_ (plus he played Gilligan in four different movies) - this must be a record. Denver also had a major role in _The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis_ and was the lead in _Dusty’s Trails_, _The Good Guys_, _Far Out Space Nuts_. Admittedly of the seven series he was in, only three lasted more than a single season and none made it to the five year mark. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/53 "2006-08-22T05:14:03Z")
William Shatner Star Trek TJ Hooker Boston Legal Lee Majors Six Million Dollar Man The Fall Guy Heather Locklear TJ Hooker Dynasty Melrose Place Spin City ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/54 "2006-08-22T05:41:04Z")
_Matlock_ _Barnaby Jones_ _In the Heat of the Night_ Did the criteria change from two sitcoms to something else? Okay, Jack Klugman in _The Odd Couple_ and _Quincy_. Bill Bixby in _My Favorite Martian_ and _The Incredible Hulk_ (of course he’s also got _The Courtship of Eddie’s Father_, so I guess he qualifies. We won’t mention _The Magician_). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/55 "2006-08-22T12:17:15Z")
The late, great Phil Hartman for Saturday Night Live, the Simpsons, and News Radio. And a special nod for his last appearance on 3rd Rock…oh, yeah! ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/56 "2006-08-22T17:30:11Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] And Bob Denver deserves some kind of special mention. He played the character of Willy Gilligan on seven different series; as a regular on _Gilligan’s Island_ and the cartoon series _The New Adventures of Gilligan_ and _Gilligan’s Planet_ and as a guest star in episodes of _ALF_, _Baywatch_, _Meego_, and _The New Gidget_ (plus he played Gilligan in four different movies) - this must be a record. [/QUOTE] [hijack]Richard Belzer has played Detective John Munch as a regular in _Homocide: Life on the Street_ and _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit_ plus guest shots in _Law & Order_, _Law & Order: Trial by Jury_, _The X-Files_, _The Beat_ and _Arrested Development_. So seven shows stands, but apparently this is a record for prime-time.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/57 "2006-08-22T19:10:49Z")
Greg Evigan! _crickets_ ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/58 "2006-08-22T19:52:09Z")
Jason Alexander for **Seinfeld** and **Duckman**. Duckman, while not a ratings hit due to originating on cable, was still quite popular critically. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/59 "2006-08-22T20:21:02Z")
If we’re going to include drama and comedy, then Bill Cosby–I Spy to The Cosby Show. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396/60 "2006-08-22T20:58:33Z")
Faith Ford went from wholesome, naive beauty queen Corky Sherwood in _Murphy Brown_ to the sensible soccer mom in the utterly unwatchable _Hope and Faith._ For that matter, Ted McGinley was the long-suffering husband in _Hope and Faith_ after playing the empty-headed male gigolo in _Married with Children._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-ted-danson-do-it-again/369396.md?page=2)