Hats Off to That Cast!

Think about it -- can you think of another sitcom with SIX comic actors that talented?

Dave

"Strand9999" wrote in message news:[email]...

that

I agree....maybe Frasier if you count Eddie :P

"Strand9999" wrote in message news:[email]...

that

Frasier has six good characters, if you include Eddie <g>, Cheers had more than 6. They had only 1 or 2 MAIN characters though. I can't think of any where there are 6 equal MAIN characters.

Individually, I would say, they aren't particularly good actors (some are better than others), but when you put the 6 of them together, it works. But at the end of the day they would be nothing without good scripts.

Thanks

"Bryan Harrison" wrote in message news:9pc3kl$hl4$[email]...

MASH came pretty close. They had an extraordinary parade of talent flow through there, and the only character who was never interesting was Frank Burns. All in the Family had fewer people in it, as does Frasier, (though Frasier has no weak links, and Friends does.)

Yes, this is true. Even CC, whom I do not like, can do good work when she's written to express a moderate range of emotion.

Yep, which is why when the writing of this show is bad, the whole thing goes to hell. Fortunately, it generally no worse than C+ as an average for a year, which is saying quite a bit for a sitcom.

"abrahammy" writes:

NORTHERN EXPOSURE has a lot of good characters, but I guess it doesn't qualify as a sitcom.

six comic actors maybe, six actors all being equal probably not. I think the key to Friends being a great show, besides for the great writing, is the chemistry between the six actors. In Fraiser there is a hierarchy of characters, so I can't see counting it. I have only seen Cheers as reruns, so I cannot speak intelligently about the sitcom. From what I watched have watched didn't seem to have a main character but the interaction between characters were briefer than in Friends. Episodes go by where some characters don't show up, many have only a few lines in an episode. I can only think of 1 or 2 episodes where one of the characters only had a few lines, most of the time there is a large amount of interaction between them.

I guess my point is, to have 6 actors all equal working together for going on 8 seasons acting together as good as they are and not have egos get in the way is pretty amazing. MP even removed himself from the running to get an Emmy because of the category was lead actor.

-Robert

"Charles Blair" wrote in message news:3Miu7.2219$[email]...

actors

In article , "Robert" wrote:

It's been most remarkable how JA has such great chemistry with all three of her boys (as she calls DS/MP/MLB) but she could do nothing at all with Eddie Cahill as Tag Jones.

It was really about Sam Malone chasing his leading lady (Diane and then Rebecca) but in later years the show did become more of an ensemble.

This is true, while being a cast of six supporting players without a lead is what counts against them in the Emmys.

Tennant

Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton were genuinely outstanding on that show, in fact, I consider Archie and Edith two of the all-time great television characters. Rob Reiner and Sally "Save the Children" Struthers were very good, too.

AITF didn't quite have the same ensemble dynamic, though, although it's close.

as does Frasier, (though

I don't have as high an opinion about that cast as others here seem to, although I agree it's a good cast. I just don't think it's anything special, beyond KG and DHP.

I no longer think there are any weak links in the "Friends" cast, although CC(A) is my least favorite.

I think she's funniest when she's elated and "girly" -- like when she's giddy about her engagement, for example. A personal favorite CC moment of mine is when she has that phone conversation with Chip Matthews after he calls to ask her out. ("'Kay! . . . 'Kay! . . . 'Kay! . . . Omigod, we just had the best conversation!!") Also in the "Thanksgivings" ep, when young Chandler tells her she should be a chef. ("Okay!!") I also think she's funny in the one where Janine doesn't like her and Chandler.

I guess you could say my appreciation of her is growing.

Dave

In article , [email] (Strand9999) wrote:

She's always been my most favourite, except for most of Season 6 when she turned screechy. Thank goodness that didn't last.

How about when Monica was drunk at her 30th birthday party?

That's good to hear, Dave! Mind you, I must say that Jennifer Aniston is definitely the best actor of the six, (IMHO of course).

Tennant

In article , "abrahammy" wrote:

Who are you pointing the finger at, Claire? :)

Tennant

I think KG and DHP are very good, but I don't think the rest of the cast is all that special.

Cheers had more

Right.

I can't think of any

Well, sure, that goes without saying. But I'll bet the writers would agree that the actors have had a fair amount of influence on the way the characters developed.

Dave

"Bryan Harrison" wrote in message news:9pc3kl$hl4$[email]...

This is really the key. No show that I've ever seen has even attempted to put together an ensemble consisting of six actors given equal weight and approximately equal air time. And it probably wouldn't work if not for the brilliant casting. The producers must have known what an extraordinary ensemble they'd discovered, else they'd never have taken a chance on such an unusual format (nor would NBC have put it on their crucial Thursday night schedule).

Are the Friends actors great? That's hard to say. They're great team players, but none (except maybe Lisa Kudrow) has yet proven that he or she can give a strong performance without ensemble support. I was watching The Whole Nine Yards on cable the other night and was struck by how Matthew Perry was essentially playing Chandler. What was striking about this was that he wasn't very good at it. Chandler is only interesting -- and funny -- in the context of the show, where he has the other characters to react to. Playing opposite Bruce Willis, Perry seemed lost and off-balance.

Sign up for a ninth season, Matt. Same goes for the rest of the cast. You guys are made for each other.

Chris

In article , "Chris L." wrote:

That's absolutely right.

And Courteney has done her best film work in the "Scream" trilogy, which also has an ensemble cast (like "Friends" the names are alphabetical).

Exactly - especially since "Rock Star" has flopped for Jennifer.

Tennant

Is that coming out in England at all? Or hasd it come out already and I've just missed it?

In article , [email] (Seran Perry) wrote:

It was showing at screen 18 when we went to see "A.I." on Wednesday.

Tennant

AI, what a load of crap that was... Okay I have to find it round here then

On Sat, 06 Oct 2001 15:00:56 BST, Tennant Stuart wrote:

I've not even heard about it, and I hear about *every* release from the uni (I'm doing Film, and we happen to have the city's two major cinemas within walking distance, as well as two screening rooms of our own). It's not even showing at the Arts cinema, let alone the Warner Village - if it's been released here at all, it must be a very limited release if it's not even at the indie cinema.