# Two shows at once **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307 "2001-10-04T02:00:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/21 "2001-10-04T14:24:07Z")
No, Adam Arkin doesn’t count, because he was only a guest star on _Northern Exposure_ and he only came back to play Adam once after _Chicago Hope_ started. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/22 "2001-10-04T14:25:58Z")
Michael Boatman, he’s Carter on Spin City and was also on Arli$$ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/23 "2001-10-04T17:22:30Z")
The woman who plays Lisa Simpson was a lead character on _Herman’s Head_. ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/24 "2001-10-04T17:30:49Z")
What about Phoebe on Friends, and her twin sister Ursula on Mad About You? ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/25 "2001-10-05T08:56:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > You forgot to mention that [Richard Andrews] was the first person to play the same character on two different shows on different networks at the same time. > > I didn’t because he wasn’t. Note my post, which mentioned Jim Backus and Goldie Hawn.\*\* Yes they were on different networks. But they were not **playing the same character** on different networks. Richard Andrews was the first person to do that. He may very well be the only person. At least I can’t think of anyone else that has done it. Lok ---
**Author:** ![MattTheCroc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/26 "2001-10-05T15:45:04Z")
> [@](#): > > He may very well be the only person. At least I can’t think of anyone else that has done it. Well, Buffy and Angel haven’t started here yet, but from what I understand, Buffy’s on UPN and Angel’s on WB, so if there’s any crossovers they’ll do it too. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/27 "2001-10-05T17:48:52Z")
Nancy Walker was a regular on both “McMillian and Wife” and “Rhoda.” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/28 "2001-10-05T18:41:57Z")
> [@](#): > > ## quote: > > He may very well be the only person. At least I can’t think of anyone else that has done it. > > * * * > > Well, Buffy and Angel haven’t started here yet, but from what I understand, Buffy’s on UPN and Angel’s on WB, so if there’s any crossovers they’ll do it too. The Practice and Ally McBeal are on different networks (ABC and Fox) and they’ve had a few crossovers. But I don’t think anyone has played a permanent roll on two networks like Richard Andrews did. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/29 "2001-10-05T21:00:08Z")
Richard Belzer deserves honorable mention in this category. He’s played Det. Munsch on something like four shows. Unsure how much simultaneity there was in the portrayals, though. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/30 "2001-10-05T21:56:22Z")
I can’t believe that _this board_ has forgotten the most frequently cited example, **Heather Locklear** appearing simulaneously on T.J. Hooker and Dynasty. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/31 "2001-10-05T22:51:51Z")
Those of you arguing about Oscar Goldman’s portrayer should know that his name is Richard **Anderson**. Robert Picardo, long before becoming an EMH, played the basketball coach on The Wonder Years at the same time he was an army doctor on China Beach. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/32 "2001-10-06T01:32:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MattTheCroc \* > \*\* > Well, Buffy and Angel haven’t started here yet, but from what I understand, Buffy’s on UPN and Angel’s on WB, so if there’s any crossovers they’ll do it too. \*\* I believe part of the reason that they killed Buffy off at the end of the last WB season was to end the possibility of any crossovers. Neither network is all that secure about advertising the competition. And even if they did do a crossover, it would be the same as The Practice and Ally McBeal crossing. A special occasion, not a regular role like Richard Anderson (Thanks Saltire, too much quoting, not enough thinking on my part. :o) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*Richard Belzer deserves honorable mention in this category. He’s played Det. Munsch on something like four shows. Unsure how much simultaneity there was in the portrayals, though. \*\* Yeah, Munch is probably the all time winner for the same character appearing on different shows and networks. At least 5 shows and 3 networks.( **Law & Order** , **X-Files** , **The Beat** , **Law & Order: Special Victims Unit** and **Homicide: Life on the Streets** on **NBC** , **Fox** , and **UPN** ) But he has only been a regular on two of them ( **Law & Order: Special Victims Unit** and **Homicide: Life on the Streets** ), the rest he was just a guest star. And those two were not on at the same time, L&O:SVU starting after the cancellation of Homicide. Although he did appear on the Homicide TV movie at the same time as his L&O work. And he will probably add to the list soon with a visit to the new show, **L&O: Criminal Intent**. Lok ---
**Author:** ![shmigheghi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@shmigheghi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shmigheghi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/33 "2001-10-06T01:39:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*Well, Kelsey Grammer of course–Fraiser and Sideshow Bob. \*\* Sideshow Bob is hardly a regular on the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/34 "2001-10-06T21:14:15Z")
Lisa Nicole Carson played both Renee on _Ally McBeal_ and Carla on _ER_ in the same seasons. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/35 "2001-10-07T02:20:02Z")
Leo G. Carroll was Alexander Waverly on both the Man and the Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Richard Deacon was Mel Cooley on Dick Van Dyke while still playing Fred Rutherford on Leave It to Beaver. Should we count Kermit the Frog on both the Muppet Show and Sesame Street? And if you count variety shows and game shows, the list can get staggering, such as Ed McMahon on both the Tonight Show and Star Search. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/36 "2001-10-07T17:16:07Z")
If we count syndicated shows, can we include people like the actors who played the Freek gods on both Hercules and Xena? They were “semi-regulars” at best but still, same actor, same character, many different networks/stations. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/37 "2001-10-07T17:17:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Freek gods Um… **G** reek gods, although I sort of like “Freek gods” too… ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/38 "2001-10-11T13:51:18Z")
Wait, I just thought of another one last night, probably the king of current TV workaholics: **Ian Gomez**. He plays Javier on _Felicity_ and Larry on _The Drew Carey Show,_ and for at least a couple of years while he was on both of those shows he also played Danny Sanchez on _The Norm Show._ I never watched _The Norm Show,_ so I don’t know how substantial that role was, but he was prominent enough in the other two that it must have been hard to juggle them. ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/39 "2001-10-11T16:20:26Z")
A few years ago here in the UK **Craig Charles** was on 3 separate shows, on different networks, and (IIRC) all on the same night! BBC2 - _Red Dwarf_ ITV - _Funky Bunker_ CH4 - _Captain Butler_ He had a starring role in all of them too (_Funky Bunker_ was a sort of chat/variety show of which he was the host). Can anyone beat that?! ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307/40 "2001-10-13T18:33:27Z")
I think Abe Vigoda starred in his spin-off _Fish_ while still appearing on _Barney Miller_. I’m also pretty sure Bob Barker’s duties on _Truth Or Consequences_ and _The Price Is Right_ overlapped for a few years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-shows-at-once/85307.md?page=3)