Rob Lowe, the only actor NOT nominated for an Emmy from the main cast of West Wing, insisted on a salary increase and, after they stopped laughing, the producers have decided to can his ass. This is the same Rob Lowe who couldn’t get a job for years after his sex scandal during the Democratic Convention in Atlanta. Does he not learn that these opportunities do not grow on trees?
Whitney Houston - top of the world, top of the charts, top of the popularity contest and having a real shot at a film career…chucks it all for a crack pipe and an abusive, idiot boyfriend?
Billy Joel - can’t stay sober enough to finish a 2 hour concert?
What is wrong with these people? Talk about throwing up the proverbial free lunch…I am aware money can’t buy happiness, but it sure as hell has to be enough to pay for a good therapist.
(I am not including people like David Caruso who stupidly left NYPD, and Shelly Long leaving Cheers - both for non-existant film careers. Those were at least attempts to bolster their career…stupid attempts, but at least they were trying.)
Any additional nominations for
IDIOT CELEBRITIES THROWING AWAY THEIR LIVES,
(or is on their way to being there)?
They must surround themselves with yes men who don’t look out for their best interests. But at least David Caruso is getting another chance with CSI-Miami.
Also, for the record, when Shelley Long left “Cheers” in 1987, she did have a successful movie–“Outrageous Fortune”–under her belt. Granted, the success of the movie may have had to do with the fact it co-starred Bette Midler (who was the #1 female box office draw that year), but Long’s film career at that point certainly looked a lot more promising than another TV star who was also trying to break into movies–Bruce Willis.
It’s not just that money doesn’t buy happiness, it’s that money directly causes unhappiness.
And apparently Lowe hasn’t received a raise since he started, and they are diminishing his role at the same time as they add new characters. So I don’t think he was entirely unjustified in quitting. Additional seasons of the West Wing aren’t going to do anything more for him.
That is all. When you look up “wasted talent” in the dictionary, his name is next to it. And he’s a brilliant songwriter as it is. Well, he was for a long time. He still tours, with embarassing results at times.
I also wonder about the self-destructive tendencies of celebrities and also athletes. For example, there is an established football player. He’s got a contract for, say, 3 years for millions. Plays poorly? Still gets the money. Gets hurt? Still gets the money. Plays exceptionally well? Can renegotiate for even more money. The only thing that can prevent him for getting the millions is if he does drugs.
Agent: “All you have to do is your job and don’t snort the coke, and you’ll be set for life.”
I’m sorry, Annie-Xmas, I’ve had E/R confused with ER. I remember E/R, but I didn’t remember that George Clooney was on the show. I enjoyed the show, but I would hardly call it “very successful” - it was only on for one season.
So we are talking about what he did after the three sitcoms. Well, then I can add a very successful stint on the drama “ER,” which he left to do the three movies above, among other things. After the sitcoms and before “ER,” he was a regular in a number of other TV series, none of which was too successful, but they must have seemed like good ideas at the time. (See the OP.) He also had a few movie roles.
While starring in “ER,” he also starred in the movies “From Dusk to Dawn” and “Batman and Robin.” Either during his run on ER or just after leaving ER, he also starred in “Three Kings,” for which he received considerable critical aclaim.
You asked, “What has he done since [the three sitcoms]?” A lot, in my opinion.
Broderick was/is in the most successful Broadway musical of the modern era, The Producers, plus he’s banging Sarah Jessica Parker every night.
Barry Sanders shouldn’t be brought up because he didn’t do anything to screw up his life, he just walked away from the game near the pinnacle of his playing abilities.
So what?
Jim Brown did the exact same thing and no one screeches and bleats about that.
The accident was in 1985. Since then, in addition to The Producers, he has done other Broadway shows and several movies, including Biloxi Blues, Glory, Godzilla, and Inspector Gadget.
If you want to talk career screwups, why did Alec Baldwin only play Jack Ryan in one movie (The Hunt for Red October)? He could have hung around for a couple more.