# When Bad Actors Happen to Great TV Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810 "2006-02-16T16:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/41 "2006-02-16T22:21:16Z")
Maybe this shouldn’t count, because I can’t really call it a great show, but the guy that stars in First Wave is _pathetic_. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Broken\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Wind)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/42 "2006-02-16T22:31:06Z")
I can’t believe noone has mentioned Michelle Rodriguez from “LOST” yet. Great show with a lot of great actors, but she just blows ass. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/43 "2006-02-16T22:31:11Z")
> [@nvad](#): > > That’s funny…I immediately thought of Ted McGinley. But then I noticed that the OP referenced “great” TV series… According to [jumptheshark.com](http://jumptheshark.com), he’s in a league of his own. > [@](#): > > Ted is the patron saint of shark jumping. Chances are that if Ted is anywhere near your cast, consider the show on the downward spiral. That’s not to take away from Ted’s fine acting skills. Consensus here enjoys Ted more on the big screen (Revenge of the Nerds) than on our sets. Then again, we wouldn’t have a patron saint…thanks Ted! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/44 "2006-02-16T23:18:40Z")
> [@ddgryphon](#): > > And the redheaded DA on SVU is easily the weakest link there. You insult Diane Neal? Pistols at dawn, you blackguard! ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/45 "2006-02-16T23:35:36Z")
I think most _Lost_ fans would vote Michelle Rodriguez’s Ana Lucia as the winner in that show. She is wooden; at least some part of her backstory makes up for this, but it is still painful to watch her spit out lines in the same tone every time. Picking up a doctor in an airport bar, engaged in a death match with an Other, atoning for just having shot another Lostie – all given in the same tone. She neatly replaced the other candidate for the title, Maggie Grace’s Shannon. I still think Ana Lucia’s one emotion beats out Shannon’s one and a half emotion (bitchiness and emotive bitchiness), though. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/46 "2006-02-16T23:55:42Z")
Star Trek Voyager: Captain Janeway I only ever say five episodes or so, but both her lines and her presentation of them just had her coming off as a total bitch. “Everyone I want to hear what ideas you have and I want them now.” “Well captain we think that if we do x, y, and z it will solve the dimensional wedgie and bring the ship back on course.” “Alright, well I’ll give that a thought or two but for the moment we’re going to do this my way. And I’m about to tell you what that is.” Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/47 "2006-02-17T00:47:26Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > _sigh of relief at her departure_ Is it because she’s a lesbian? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/48 "2006-02-17T01:05:42Z")
I don’t know if Callie Thorne (Det. Ballard), Jon Seda (Det.Falsone) and Michael Michele (Det. Sheppard) murdered **Homicide: Life on the Street** all by themselves, or if they were just contract killers for the writers. ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Wind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Broken\_Wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Wind)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/49 "2006-02-17T01:08:33Z")
> [@edwino](#): > > I think most _Lost_ fans would vote Michelle Rodriguez’s Ana Lucia as the winner in that show. She is wooden; at least some part of her backstory makes up for this, but it is still painful to watch her spit out lines in the same tone every time. Picking up a doctor in an airport bar, engaged in a death match with an Other, atoning for just having shot another Lostie – all given in the same tone. That’s what I meant to say when I said earlier “she just blows ass.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/50 "2006-02-17T01:22:33Z")
**Boreanaz** may not be an incredible actor, but I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of him. In his commentary, Whedon kinda echoed what everyone has said, but then said he was vetoed by the women who had turned to “puddles” when they saw him act. I know how they feel. I agree about **Michelle Rodriguez**. Yikes, what a crappy, angry actress. Where’s the TMM when you need him? ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/51 "2006-02-17T01:23:12Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The above should have read “the demented brain tumor suffering minister played by **Ray McKinnon was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen on TV and** the actors who…”. (Bolding mine to show the missing part.) > > Carry on then. I couldn’t agree more. I’m no sap, but his role drove me to tears. To answer the OP… the actress who played Troi on ST:NG really sucked. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/52 "2006-02-17T01:36:16Z")
Elizabeth Rohm, sucky as she is, is no match for another L &O lass, the skanky Katherine Erby of whatever the one with Vincent Donofrio is(crime investigation unit?).She just seems incompetent and dare I say, she looks like she probably don’t smell too good. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/53 "2006-02-17T01:48:49Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > 1. Cybil Shepherd wrecked both Moonlighting and her short-lived comedy Cybill – both of whom had outstanding supporting casts. I didn’t much care for her in Texasville or Last Picture Show, either. Two words: [Alicia Witt](http://www.strangecelebrities.com/content/item/105942.html) 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/54 "2006-02-17T01:51:08Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Elisabeth Rohm, _Law & Order_. > _sigh of relief at her departure_ I can’t tell good acting from bad acting, and usually just saying the lines is fine with me. And even I couldn’t deal with her. ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/55 "2006-02-17T02:03:46Z")
Correction: it’s not David Boreanaz, it’s David Boreanaz and his giant forehead. I don’t mind watching him attempt to crease his massive brow (er, I mean, “act”) but I never understood how any female could consider him attractive. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/56 "2006-02-17T03:10:12Z")
> [@astro](#): > > At the risk of offending Twickster who loves this show, IMO the _entire_ cast is awful, the writing is awful. It’s a near parody of procedurals (which Twickster says is the whole point) but it doesn’t work for me. Sweetie, if you were capable of appreciating the postmodern greatness of NCIs, we’d still be together. It’s not a near-parody, it has transcended parody. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/57 "2006-02-17T03:15:54Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > I don’t know if Callie Thorne (Det. Ballard), Jon Seda (Det.Falsone) and Michael Michele (Det. Sheppard) murdered **Homicide: Life on the Street** all by themselves, or if they were just contract killers for the writers. I came in here to mention them. And to foam at the mouth a bit, which tends to happen when I think about the god-awfulness that show plunged into when those folks showed up. I also nominate Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander on _Babylon 5_. Or as I call her, Squinty McSucky. There were many marvelous actors on that show, and she wasn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/58 "2006-02-17T03:45:17Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > In the fall, I saw Avery Brooks in _Othello_ and I thought he was pretty damn fantastic. Now see, I could picture Brooks being great in this situation. I think his problem in DS9 wasn’t so much that he was trying to out-emote Shatner as he was trying to out-Shakespeare Patrick Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/59 "2006-02-17T07:14:40Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > I don’t know if Callie Thorne (Det. Ballard), Jon Seda (Det.Falsone) and Michael Michele (Det. Sheppard) murdered **Homicide: Life on the Street** all by themselves, or if they were just contract killers for the writers. I saw the series in pretty much reverse order so, I got the cheesy actors first and then progressed back through enlarging greatness. As such I would say that they weren’t all that bad–still better than anything on TV–just their characters were rather cheese for the type of show it was. (Daniel Baldwin (Beau) had probably the greatest character. Clark Johnson (Meldrick) was just never able to step up and be the adorable dumb scmuck quite the same.) ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810/60 "2006-02-17T14:23:30Z")
> [@nvad](#): > > That’s funny…I immediately thought of Ted McGinley. But then I noticed that the OP referenced “great” TV series… If you deny the greatness of **Sports Night** then, sir, I challenge you to a duel! (Though I would say that McGinley’s weak, smarmy, hammy acting was actually well-cast for his small role on **Sports Night** as the everything-that-is-wrong-for-Dana foil to Casey) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-bad-actors-happen-to-great-tv-series/344810.md?page=4)