# The Former Casts of Popular Shows: Most Successful and Least Successful **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992 "2013-07-31T15:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/41 "2013-07-31T19:47:07Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > Mash. . . . hell, nobody did a lot. I guess Alan Alda, but I was always kinda surprised that he didn’t end up with a major film career. Alan Alda didn’t have a major film career? How about _Same Time Next Year, California Suite, The Seduction of Joe Tynan,_ and _The Four Seasons_, all released while he was still on M_A_S\*H? He’s been in at least one or two movies a year, including _Crimes and Misdemeanors, Betsy’s Wedding,_ and _The Aviator_. They haven’t all been starring roles, but most of them have been major supporting roles. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/42 "2013-07-31T19:49:23Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Right. Even Skippy’s had an OK career as a producer. Ok, I get it. Sorry, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/43 "2013-07-31T19:55:59Z")
Cormac262: > [@](#): > > “Cheers” > Most successful: (surprizingly ?) Woody Harrelson > Least successful: (sad to say) Rhea Perlman (has she been in anything since ?) Have to disagree - Most successful would be Kelsey Grammer, least would be George Wendt. Rhea Perlman had a short-lived sitcom of her own called “Pearl,” don’t recall her doing anything aside from that, though. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/44 "2013-07-31T20:06:59Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > _Everybody Loves Raymond_: > > Doris Roberts seems to be getting by on bit parts (including a guest appearance or two on _The Middle_) I don’t know for sure but I’m guessing she’s semi-retired, having had a long and active active career. She’s certainly made enough during Raymond’s run and from rerun residuals that she’s probably doing more than just getting by. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/45 "2013-07-31T20:15:19Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I’d give Leonardo DiCaprio–who was a regular during the last season–the edge over Pitt. Oh yeah, completely forgot he was on the show! Don’t know who I’d pick as the more successful, but DiCaprio takes the edge due to being a regular cast member. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/46 "2013-07-31T20:24:28Z")
_Remington Steele_ Best career since: Pierce Brosnan (Steele) and Doris Roberts (Mildred Krebs) tied, I’d say. Brosnan had higher highs, but Roberts had a steadier paycheck. Worst career since: Janet DeMay (Bernice Foxe), who has exactly 5 credits after leaving the show, only one of which was a recurring character. To be fair, DeMay and done-much-better James Read were pretty much fired from the show. Stephanie Zimbalist, who many people seem to think dropped from the face of the planet, has actually been pretty steadily employed and seems to work when she wants to. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/47 "2013-07-31T20:27:49Z")
Man, what was the deal with _The Office_? One or two of them did some voice work in a couple of animated films afterwards, and other than that _nothing!_ Was that show a career killer or what? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/48 "2013-07-31T20:31:20Z")
“Happy Days” Most successful: Ron Howard Least successful: Either of the two guys who played Chuck Cunningham Interestingly, the race for 2nd most successful looks like a competition between Scott Baio (post “Happy Days” highlights: starred in “Charles in Charge,” supporting role in “Arrested Development”) and Tom Bosley (starred in “The Father Dowling Mysteries,” supporting role in “Murder, She Wrote”). If we allow “dated an improbable string of hot babes” as an addition to Baio’s resume, then he’ll take silver, with bronze going to Bosley. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/49 "2013-07-31T20:34:46Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > What’s Boner been up to? [Not much since he killed himself in 2010.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Koenig_%28actor%29) ---
**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:** [July 31, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/50 "2013-07-31T20:36:05Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > From “Hill Street Blues” I’d say that Betty Thomas (for directing) and Dennis Frantz (for acting) have been the most successful. Least successful is a tough category with this group. I guess I’d say Veronica Hamel, who played beautiful public defender Joyce Davenport in the series and who hasn’t been seen since. One that surprised me was Bruce Weitz. He played a popular character on the show and he seemed like a natural for at least the lead in another solid series (like Frantz for example). But his follow-up series bombed and his career stalled. He got work as a guest star but never became a regular much less a lead. He’s finally ended up working on a daytime soap opera which is usually where actors begin their career. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/51 "2013-07-31T20:36:32Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Interestingly, the race for 2nd most successful looks like a competition between Scott Baio (post “Happy Days” highlights: starred in “Charles in Charge,” supporting role in “Arrested Development”) and Tom Bosley (starred in “The Father Dowling Mysteries,” supporting role in “Murder, She Wrote”). If we allow “dated an improbable string of hot babes” as an addition to Baio’s resume, then he’ll take silver, with bronze going to Bosley. Not that I completely disagree with you, but do note that you have completely overlooked Anson Williams’ rather extensive career as a [director](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930041/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1#Director). ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/52 "2013-07-31T20:38:47Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > _Everybody Loves Raymond_: > > Doris Roberts seems to be getting by on bit parts (including a guest appearance or two on _The Middle_) I don’t know for sure but I’m guessing she’s semi-retired, having had a long and active active career. She’s certainly made enough during Raymond’s run and from rerun residuals that she’s probably doing more than just getting by. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/53 "2013-07-31T20:44:29Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I don’t know for sure but I’m guessing she’s semi-retired, having had a long and active active career. She’s certainly made enough during Raymond’s run and from rerun residuals that she’s probably doing more than just getting by. 😉 Wow, 32 minutes between double posts. You got local temporal displacement, dude. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/54 "2013-07-31T20:49:53Z")
This is a hard one: _WKRP_ Winner- Howard Hessmen, for a couple lousy parts in crap movies and sitcoms Loser- Tied, _Everyone Else!_ 😃 Well, to be fair, Mr. Carlson was the Maytag Repairman. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/55 "2013-07-31T20:57:52Z")
Here are two shows that have come back in one way or another. _Arrested Development_ (Luckily, almost the whole cast has kept busy doing fun things.) Most Successful: Jason Bateman For a while Michael Cera gave him a run for his money. But, I think Horrible Bosses probably put Bateman over the top. Least Successful: Alia Shawkat She’s mostly just had smaller parts, other than her return to the new season of AD. Which is a shame, because she is very funny. _Veronica Mars_ Most Successful: Kristin Bell Amanda Seyfried has been in some major league big things. But, I don’t think she has reached quite the height of popularity that Bell has. Least Successful: Teddy Dunn Lots to choose from, but he jumped to my head first. > [@Sampiro](#): > > Has anybody from _Boy Meets World_ done anything of note since the show ended? I never watched the show, but I believe Adam Scott played a bit part, and now he’s gone on to do awesome things. > [@cormac262](#): > > “Cheers” > Most successful: (surprizingly ?) Woody Harrelson > Least successful: (sad to say) Rhea Perlman (has she been in anything since ?) I don’t know. [Ratzenberger’s movies](http://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=pixar.htm) have grossed more than 8 billion dollars! Mostly due to his work, probably. > [@pravnik](#): > > Man, what was the deal with _The Office_? One or two of them did some voice work in a couple of animated films afterwards, and other than that _nothing!_ Was that show a career killer or what? Am I being whoooshed? Or, are you perhaps thinking of a different show? The Office just ended this year, so it would be difficult to pick most successful or least. Even the original Office has Martin Freeman, and Ricky Gervais vying for most successful. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/56 "2013-07-31T21:04:00Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This is a hard one: _WKRP_ > > Winner- Howard Hessmen, for a couple lousy parts in crap movies and sitcoms > Loser- Tied, _Everyone Else!_ 😃 > > Well, to be fair, Mr. Carlson was the Maytag Repairman. Tim Reid had a pretty good run in several sitcoms after WKRP, like _Simon & Simon_, _Frank’s Place_, _Sister, Sister_, _That 70’s Show_, and most recently _Treme_. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/57 "2013-07-31T21:06:38Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This is a hard one: _WKRP_ > > Winner- Howard Hessmen, for a couple lousy parts in crap movies and sitcoms > Loser- Tied, _Everyone Else!_ 😃 > > Well, to be fair, Mr. Carlson was the Maytag Repairman. I dunno, Tim Reid/“Venus Flytrap” did okay, probably at least as well as Hesseman - Reid was a regular cast member on _Simon and Simon_, he was the dad on _Sister, Sister_, he’s had recurring roles on _That 70’s Show_ and _Treme_, and has played many smaller roles in between, enough to keep working consistently. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/58 "2013-07-31T21:07:23Z")
What about Tim Reid? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/59 "2013-07-31T21:07:25Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Tim Reid had a pretty good run in several sitcoms after WKRP, like _Simon & Simon_, _Frank’s Place_, _Sister, Sister_, _That 70’s Show_, and most recently _Treme_. Nitpick: _Simon & Simon_ was not a sitcom. And not to sound like a broken record, but Frank Bonner did quite well as a [director](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094894/?ref_=sr_1#Director) for a while and seems to be picking it up again. > [@pricciar](#): > > Least Successful: Alia Shawkat > She’s mostly just had smaller parts, other than her return to the new season of AD. Which is a shame, because she is very funny. Nitpick: Alia Shawkat does not have small parts. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992/60 "2013-07-31T21:07:39Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Wow, 32 minutes between double posts. You got local temporal displacement, dude. 🙂 Or I’m just careless and stupid. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-former-casts-of-popular-shows-most-successful-and-least-successful/664992.md?page=4)