# TV stars in competition with themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832 "2015-05-12T02:55:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/1 "2015-05-12T02:55:50Z")
In 1964 “The New Adventures of Mister Magoo” aired on NBC at the same time as “Gilligan’s Island” on CBS putting Jim Backus in competition with himself. Are there other examples of this happening with other performers? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/2 "2015-05-12T09:54:11Z")
I believe _St. Elsewhere_ aired at the same time as _Knightrider_. On the former William Daniels played Dr. Mark Craig, while on the latter he was the voice of KITT. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/3 "2015-05-12T12:16:56Z")
The number of actors in multiple shows airing the the same season on different networks is very small: Backus, Daniels, Goldie Hawn, Richard Anderson, Martin E. Brooks, maybe a few others. Having them in the same time slot would be even rarer. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/4 "2015-05-12T14:46:19Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I believe _St. Elsewhere_ aired at the same time as _Knightrider_. On the former William Daniels played Dr. Mark Craig, while on the latter he was the voice of KITT. Don’t think so. Both _St. Elsewhere_ and _Knightrider_ were on NBC… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/5 "2015-05-12T14:49:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The number of actors in multiple shows airing the the same season on different networks is very small: Backus, Daniels, Goldie Hawn, Richard Anderson, Martin E. Brooks, maybe a few others. Having them in the same time slot would be even rarer. Agreed. Among the few people I can think of who were starring/co-starring on different series at the same time was… the young Heather Locklear, who was on both _ **Dynasty** _ and \*\*\*TJ Hooker \*\*\*at one point. But both shows were on ABC, and aired on different nights ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/6 "2015-05-12T15:54:20Z")
I would guess this happened with some regularity during the heyday of Saturday morning cartoons. The top voice artists tended to work a LOT. Mel Blanc almost certainly had it happen at least once. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/7 "2015-05-12T16:10:59Z")
Anderson Cooper and Christianne Amanpour are two CNN stars that have had regular gigs for other networks (Amanpour on ABC’s _This Week_ and Cooper on CBS’ 60 Minutes) but I don’t think their shows have ever actually aired opposite what they were doing on CNN. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/8 "2015-05-12T16:58:53Z")
I have to believe that Laurie Metcalf (Sheldon’s mom on Big Bang Theory) compete’s with herself periodically. I mean she has reruns of BBT, Rosanne and others going. And when the McCarthys was on it had to be bumping into one of those reruns. Also, I seem to remember Jon Stewart one time being interviewed on a talk show and saying, “For those of you on the West Coast, you could be watching me right now.” Or something to that affect. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/9 "2015-05-12T18:25:30Z")
Pretty sure a bunch of actors from **Oz** were also on **Law & Order** at the same time. Also, Alison Brie was on **Mad Men** and **Community** at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/10 "2015-05-12T21:13:00Z")
With thirteen-week seasons becoming popular, we’re seeing more of one actor on two shows, though not in competition. Raúl Esparza does both _SVU_ and _Hannibal._ It’s more of a problem for him since shooting schedules overlap. And Margo Martindale did a brief reprise of her role on _The Americans_ during the run of her CBS sitcom _The Millers._ ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/11 "2015-05-12T22:33:43Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I would guess this happened with some regularity during the heyday of Saturday morning cartoons. The top voice artists tended to work a LOT. Mel Blanc almost certainly had it happen at least once. I found two of these so far. Daws Butler and Don Messick respectively did the voices of Quick Draw McGraw and The Narrator on\* Quick Draw McGraw\*, and Elroy/Mr. Cogswell and Astro on _The Jetsons_. Both shows aired at 10 AM on Saturday mornings during the 1963-1964 season. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/12 "2015-05-12T22:46:28Z")
Wally Kurth is currently appearing in both \*Days of Our Lives \*on NBC and \*General Hospital \*on ABC, two daytime soaps with different shooting schedules. I’m not sure if there are still markets where they air at the same time, but it’s still strange to see his two similar characters twice in one day and not get confused about who is who. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/13 "2015-05-12T23:10:22Z")
In [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=709528&page=2) thread, **TBG** noted that Tahmoh Penikett kept appearing on both DOLLHOUSE and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: same time, different networks. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/14 "2015-05-13T04:01:52Z")
Dave Foley is in everydamn thing right now. _Spun Out Hot in Cleveland The Middle The Odd Couple Dr. Ken_ (coming this fall) He also makes a lot of guest appearances. Anyway, I’m not sure if he is ever up against himself. In the US, The Middle and _Hot In Cleveland_ are both on Thursdays, but different time slots (8 and 10). _The Odd Couple_ is Fridays at 9. _Spun Out_ is only on in Canada (and is on hiatus now) but maybe he goes up against himself in Canada. _Ooooh yeeeeaaaah._ ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/15 "2015-05-13T14:37:11Z")
Robert Reed played Adam Tobias semi-regularly on Mannix from 1969-1974 while also starring as Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. I don’t remember what networks both shows were on. I want to say that Mannix was a CBS show and The Brady Bunch was ABC (?). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/16 "2015-05-13T16:23:51Z")
Patrick Warburton surely has competed with himself; Family Guy, The Venture Brothers, Rules of Engagement, The Tick, Seinfeld, etc. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/17 "2015-05-13T16:33:46Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Patrick Warburton surely has competed with himself; Family Guy, The Venture Brothers, Rules of Engagement, The Tick, Seinfeld, etc. And such _range!_ ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-stars-in-competition-with-themselves/719832/18 "2015-05-13T21:20:57Z")
There was a time in the 1970s when Curt Gowdy was The Voice of NBC Sports (lead on baseball, football, NCAA basketball tournament) and did American Sportsman and some Olympics on ABC.