# You can become a cast member of any TV show ever. What would you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252 "2011-07-16T15:47:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/21 "2011-07-16T21:56:01Z")
Absolutely Fabulous, because I think it would be crazy fun to work with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley every day. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/22 "2011-07-16T22:09:26Z")
Definitely _The Dick Van Dyke Show_. We recently discovered the MeTV channel (Memorable Entertainment?), one of the digital channel offshoots, and it hosts lots of shows from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, so we set our DVD to record Dick Van Dyke and Bob Newhart. I’d love to work near Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/23 "2011-07-16T23:05:07Z")
I’d pick Twin Peaks, for much the same reason that **silenus** chose Buffy. Lynch works with the same people again and again. Plus it’s David Lynch, how trippy would it be to be around him for weeks on end? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/24 "2011-07-16T23:16:37Z")
_Top Gear_… the BBC version of course. I’d get to check out all the pretty new cars. And the guys are hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/25 "2011-07-16T23:31:25Z")
I agree wholeheartedly with the OP’s choice of Sid Caesar—he, the writers and fellow cast members, at least in Sid’s first two variety series, culminated in a true and iconic comedic powerhouse. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? In those bygone days of television antiquity, where cynicism was eschewed in favor of pure unadulterated hilarity, cast-members truly seemed to support one another for the sake of the laugh, enjoy their job immensely and be cursed/blessed with a low threshold for breaking character when they just couldn’t hold their laughter in any longer. By all appearance it was a unique admixture of innocence and sharp wit, with the cast simpatico with the audience—not very common these days So, my television cast member genre of choice is comedy-variety, with a nod toward the oldies. In descending order of preference, my list includes: **Your Show of Shows** **Caesar’s Hour** _ **The Steve Allen Show** _ **The Carol Burnett Show** **The Smothers Brothers** **Show** (strife certainly existed between hosts and management, but harmony seemed apparent between cast members) \*\*Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In \*\*(this was a tough one. I chose this because cast members appeared to really enjoy making the the show, and it was cutting edge and pretty funny at the time. But the humor of this show, more than any other, in my opinion, holds up least well to modern eyes and ears. It’s almost embarrassingly unfunny). The following hosts didn’t have shows with much in the way of supporting casts, but had they, I’d choose to be on them as well, since they always struck me as naturally funny, quite professional…and nice guys: **Red Skelton** **Ernie Kovacs** \*\*\*\*Johnnie Carson \*\*\*\ ***Dean Martin** **Flip Wilson** **Jackie Gleason** Alternately, I’d love to be on an old sit-com whose humor I identify with and whose cast members all seemed to get along. The Dick van Dyke Show, as a fourth member of the Allen Brady writing team, exchanging witticisms with Rob, Sally and Buddy, throwing bald barbs at Mel and groping Laura when the opportunity arose. Or, the Andy Griffith Show, as Aunt Bea’s wacky cuckolded husband perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/26 "2011-07-17T00:42:03Z")
I would like to be a researcher for that Hollywood auction show. Imagine, getting to see all the props close up \ ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/27 "2011-07-17T01:13:28Z")
_Supernatural._ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/28 "2011-07-17T01:25:05Z")
_Cheers_ – looked like a really fun group, though I maybe I’m wrong about that. Who knows, maybe I can pick up some of Sam’s cast offs. My second choice would be the _Carol Burnett Show_ – I think it was the funniest show ever done. Third choice – the _Bob Newhart Show_. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/29 "2011-07-17T02:33:21Z")
_Blackadder_. One of the most rewatched shows ever, plus it’s just hilariously funny, jam packed with top British comedy talent. To have been somehow mixed up in that would be glorious. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/30 "2011-07-17T02:56:42Z")
The original _Saturday Night Live,_ **of course!** ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/31 "2011-07-17T03:35:39Z")
Community. Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Joel McHale, and Donald Glover- well, and Gillian Jacobs too, I guess- being around me all day? I like the sound of that. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/32 "2011-07-17T04:08:51Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > Community. > > Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Joel McHale, and Donald Glover- well, and Gillian Jacobs too, I guess- being around me all day? I like the sound of that. DAMN I must be getting soooo old. I have never heard of this show or a single one of these people. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/33 "2011-07-17T04:18:30Z")
_Arrested Development_: I’d like to be the forgotten brother who suddenly shows up after GOB has to depart due to an “extended enlistment in the CIA Covert Magic Action Squad” (ref: Kristy McNichol’s sudden disappearance and replacement on _Empty Nest_). “Isn’t there still money in the banana stand?” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/34 "2011-07-17T04:20:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The original _Saturday Night Live,_ **of course!** SNL a little later, with Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Martin Short, Lovitz, Hartman… can you imagine the cast parties? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/35 "2011-07-17T06:50:54Z")
I’d go with _Law & Order_, original recipe. A steady gig for a decade or more would be cool, and I could catch reruns of me at seemingly any time of day or night! ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/36 "2011-07-17T07:25:36Z")
_Monty Python’s Flying Circus_. Can’t imagine it was boring. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/37 "2011-07-17T08:22:42Z")
I’d say _Glee_, except that I can’t sing. Oh wait, they can just autotune me. Alright, I’ll say _Glee_. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/38 "2011-07-17T10:51:22Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > _Top Gear_… the BBC version of course. I’d get to check out all the pretty new cars. And the guys are hilarious. oh I want to be famous so I can be the star in the reasonably priced car … “and your lap time was …” **leans forward** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/39 "2011-07-17T16:58:20Z")
Dukes of Hazzard “Daisy, I’m behind you all the way.” ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252/40 "2011-07-18T01:43:58Z")
Hmmm … Big Bang Theory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-become-a-cast-member-of-any-tv-show-ever-what-would-you-choose/589252.md?page=3)