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.
Michael Boatman, he’s Carter on Spin City and was also on Arli$$
The woman who plays Lisa Simpson was a lead character on Herman’s Head.
What about Phoebe on Friends, and her twin sister Ursula on Mad About You?
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
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.
Nancy Walker was a regular on both “McMillian and Wife” and “Rhoda.”
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.
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.
I can’t believe that this board has forgotten the most frequently cited example, Heather Locklear appearing simulaneously on T.J. Hooker and Dynasty.
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.
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)
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
Sideshow Bob is hardly a regular on the Simpsons.
Lisa Nicole Carson played both Renee on Ally McBeal and Carla on ER in the same seasons.
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.
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.
Um…Greek gods, although I sort of like “Freek gods” too…
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.
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?!
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.