# There has never been a better time to be a bad actor. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626 "2017-11-03T23:05:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/1 "2017-11-03T23:05:32Z")
I’m glad someone besides me has noticed some sketchy acting performances. The explosion of original programming for various streaming services is employing a lot of B list actors. People we used to see in martial arts and direct to cable productions. 🙂 Your typical teen slasher films that Full Moon Productions specialized in. They’re one of my guilty pleasures. It won’t last long. Some of these new actors will get better with experience. Supply and demand will catch up and streaming services will find better actors. > **[There has never been a better time to be a bad actor](https://theweek.com/articles/734152/there-never-been-better-time-bad-actor)** > > The golden age of TV is also the golden age of bad acting > [@](#): > > This explosion in content has, we’re often told, been a major boon for consumers. But it’s also been good for actors — and bad actors in particular. As demand for acting grows, so do opportunities for people who are not very good at it. Bad actors have never had it better; never before have so many received so much for performing their jobs so poorly. Thanks to our unflagging thirst for new shows, more shows, better shows, any shows, the so-called golden age of TV is dissolving into a new golden age of bad acting. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/2 "2017-11-03T23:16:37Z")
If anyone ever dreamed of acting. Give Amazon or Hulu a call. They’ll probably be interested. 😃 Ouch, that’s a hit harsh. Sometimes bad acting can be hilarious. I love Troma Films and Full Moon. Give me a six pack, a bag of Frito’s, and I’ll watch the Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet dvd’s any night. Camp doesn’t get any better than this. [http://cdn2us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/article\_width/public/2016/04/the-toxic-avenger-iii.jpg?itok=Yqzt\_jYJ](http://cdn2us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/article_width/public/2016/04/the-toxic-avenger-iii.jpg?itok=Yqzt_jYJ) > [@](#): > > Emotional inauthenticity of this variety is not the only sin committed in the new golden age of bad acting. Gestural gimmicks and silly voices are all present in equal, if not greater, number. Winona Ryder’s crazy facial contortions — eyes dilating, nose pinched, mouth aquiver — gave the first season of Stranger Things much of its emotional vibrancy, but she returns to the gimmick so often in the second season it’s as if she’s permanently one frame away from dissolving into the “melting Nazi” gif from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Remove the dialogue and Ryder’s scenes could easily pass as stock patient footage in an ad for medicine to fix opioid-induced constipation. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/3 "2017-11-04T13:13:51Z")
I’ve been watching “Master of None” on Netflix, and Aziz Ansari has cast his actual parents as his parents on the show. It’s obvious that neither of them are professional actors, but while his father does an OK job, his mother just seems to be reading her lines in a flat monotone. She’s so bad it just kind of yanks me out of the story whenever she appears. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/4 "2017-11-04T22:37:40Z")
I read the article and while I agree that there is plenty of bad acting to be seen in TV shows nowadays, I don’t have any problems with most of the examples (e.g. James Franco, Winona Ryder, the guy from “Amelie”). However, I definitely thought that Nicole Kidman was acting like some kind of space alien in “Big Little Lies”. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/5 "2017-11-04T22:41:09Z")
I’m enjoying the hell out of Stranger Things, but holy moses is David Harbour painful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/6 "2017-11-04T23:11:41Z")
I have [a whole digital subchannel](http://tbd.com/schedule) dedicated to bad acting. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/7 "2017-11-04T23:53:54Z")
My wife enjoys watching the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel. During prime time, they mostly air original dramas, which means that they’re producing dozens of original shows and movies every year. While a lot of their movies have one or two lead actors that have some name recognition, the supporting casts are often clearly of a lower talent level. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/8 "2017-11-05T00:03:02Z")
I honestly thought this thread was going to be about how, given all of the criminal allegations being directed at folks who range from “supporting role types” all the way up to “can carry a movie or a TV show”, suddenly (a) there are tons of spots to be filled, and (b) Hollywood is maybe going to start saying _“yeah, we’ve seen auditions from people who have a little more talent than you – but our top priority right now is hiring a guy who understands ‘informed consent’ and ‘common decency’.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/9 "2017-11-05T07:12:53Z")
Me too ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/10 "2017-11-05T15:57:10Z")
Some actors lost to scandal will be hard to replace. Kevin Spacey is an incredibly gifted actor and musician. He’s also a deeply flawed individual that may eventually go to jail. You don’t replace thirty years of experience easily. But, there’s no choice when they get caught up in scandals & illegal activities. That contributes to the current shortage of actors. But the biggest issue is the need streaming video has created for experienced actors. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/11 "2017-11-05T16:07:41Z")
Theatre Arts majors have a unique opportunity to break into professional acting. They don’t necessarily have to hone their craft on the stage and in commercials. It’s a bit like the 1960’s when there was a glut of daily soaps. A lot of young actors started in the soaps and went on to big careers. Creating a character and learning lines 5 days a week is invaluable training. Soap actors learned to work fast and dependably on soap productions. I used to watch Bravo’s series, InsideThe Actors Studio. Many successful actors credited their early work in soaps for their careers. Even James Lipton has mentioned his early training in a soap. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/12 "2017-11-05T17:09:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > If anyone ever dreamed of acting. Give Amazon or Hulu a call. They’ll probably be interested. 😃 > > Ouch, that’s a hit harsh. Sometimes bad acting can be hilarious. I love Troma Films and Full Moon. Give me a six pack, a bag of Frito’s, and I’ll watch the Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet dvd’s any night. ♬ _My name is Capulet. I got a Corn Nut for a dick._ ♬ **Cappy** : And who are you? **Juliet:** Daddy’s little Crenshaw melon. 😃 I love _Tromeo & Juliet_! And _The Toxic Avenger_. If you like that kind of film, check out [_First Man On Mars_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4562262/), a film by my best **fiend**. > [@](#): > > The countdown to terror has begun. Astronaut Eli Cologne became the first man on Mars, but something went horribly wrong. Infected by an alien organism, he returned to Earth a savage monster with an unquenchable thirst for human flesh. [Morbidly Beautiful](http://morbidlybeautiful.com/firstmanonmars/): > [@](#): > > This is a film that seems to take its comedy cues in very large part from the Troma universe. In fact, if I didn’t know differently, I would have sworn it was a Troma film. It’s not surprising that the screener was well received by the folks at Troma, who gave it big thumbs up and called it “Excellent.” > > Thus, if you’re a fan of Troma’s signature campy screwball comedy, you’re likely to really enjoy this one. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/13 "2017-11-05T17:19:30Z")
Thanks for the tip. 😉 I’ll check that movie out. I like all kinds of movies. The ones bad enough to be considered camp are a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/14 "2017-11-05T17:27:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Thanks for the tip. ; Not to promote a friend’s project, but when I saw the finished product I laughed all the way through it. I have to share. I love the one bad review on IMDb [emphasis mine]: > [@](#): > > I love good sci-fi, horror and fantasy films like most people… **Lord of the Rings and especially all the Harry Potter movies**. So this POS of a movie First Man on Mars is not only cheap, offensive and bloody, but for supposedly being a comedy it is so NOT funny. I think someone missed the point! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-has-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-bad-actor/800626/15 "2017-11-05T18:27:50Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > My wife enjoys watching the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel. During prime time, they mostly air original dramas, which means that they’re producing dozens of original shows and movies every year. While a lot of their movies have one or two lead actors that have some name recognition, the supporting casts are often clearly of a lower talent level. My wife watches a lot of those CW and ABC Family/Freeform type shows, usually about young adults with magic powers, super powers or otherwise involved in the gossipy supernatural. I’ll walk in and the acting is so incredibly abyssal that I can’t believe they get made. She actually agrees that the acting is almost uniformly terrible but enjoys them anyway as mindless candy as she crochets or works at the computer. Hey, at least someone’s getting paid.