Wednesday, February 15, 2023

TV Shows With Extraordinary Casts

Have any of you ever watched certain TV shows and thought that the chemistry between the onscreen characters was extraordinary? And so extraordinary that it appeared they were born to be onscreen together? Watching them, you couldn't imagine any other actors/actresses playing those parts? And watching them was sheer perfection?

Well, I have.

As someone who used to be a stage actor myself, I'm especially in awe of watching exceptional chemistry between actors because I know how rare that can be. There were plays and musicals I've been in where the chemistry between myself and the other actors seemed natural and effortless. Yet, other plays and musicals where there was ZERO chemistry. And let me tell you, it's especially tough when that happens if your character is supposed to have an intimate relationship with one of the other characters and there is no chemistry. That's when you have to pull out your bag of acting tricks and use "technique." Which I hate to do because I'm very much an organic actor. I prefer to just let it happen and not analyze it too much.

Today I'm going to share six TV shows I used to watch religiously. Not only because I thought they were well written and directed, but also because of the great chemistry between the cast members.

Now, mind you, I hardly watch TV anymore. In fact, I don't even own a television. I'm more of a movie watcher. And if I do watch TV shows, I stream them through my 25" computer monitor. One of the cool things about the Internet is that you can search for TV shows and movies (old and new), and watch them at any time.

So, without further ado, here are six shows with extraordinary casts and chemistry...

I Love Lucy (1951-1957) - My favorite characters were Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), and Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) -To me, Lucille Ball was a comedy goddess. And what was genius about her was that she played the comedy for real, which made it even more hilarious. Her show was the first of its kind. They filmed it in front of a live audience, as in the theater. She and Desi set the standard for how sitcoms work today. I watched I Love Lucy every single day when I got home from school. It was an addiction. That was the first time I realized just how important onscreen chemistry was and that I wanted to do comedy. Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred were like finely tuned instruments that created the most hilarious music. And what's truly amazing is that the comedy in this show is timeless.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) - My favorite characters were Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman), and Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) - I have this show bookmarked on my streaming website because I watch it A LOT. And by that, I mean, like every single week. I have such wonderful memories of my mother and I watching this show when it aired on Saturday nights because she loved it as much as I. And talk about an extraordinary cast! Each one, in their own distinct way, added a drizzle of magic to the show. Each one, so talented, that they all went on and had shows of their own. Betty White was the last of the cast to pass away. I bet they are all up in heaven, putting on a good show and making everyone laugh.

The Golden Girls (1985-1992) - My favorite characters were Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) - I still watch this show via stream and laugh my ass off even more so now than I did when it originally aired. Each of these ladies was so strong in their characters and had impeccable comedic timing. Their chemistry was like a perfect marriage. God, how I miss these four actresses. They were top-notch!

Sex and the City (1998-2004) - My favorite character was Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon). I know I'm in the minority with my opinion, because most people feel Miranda was the cold and uninteresting character in the series. Yet, to me, she was the most well-rounded and in depth of all the characters because Miranda had so many levels (and notes) to her personality. Yes, she could be cold and sterile at times. But she could also be sensitive, vulnerable, and sexy. I feel that her character went through more of a metamorphosis during the 6-year run of the show. You never knew what to expect from Miranda. And I liked that. It's not that I didn't enjoy the other three characters. I did. However, I thought they were written in a single note. *P.S. Oh, and I didn't care for the reboot in 2022. I watched the first 20 minutes of the first episode and then turned it off.

Six Feet Under (2001-2005) - My favorite characters were Nate Fisher (Peter Krause) and Ruth Fisher (Frances Conroy). This HBO series was truly one of the most brilliantly conceived and written shows I have ever seen on TV. It was so unique. And it still is. Even when I go back and watch certain episodes again, I am blown away by how phenomenal it was. It was a drama, but had so much humor woven through it. One minute you were moved to tears, the next you were laughing. And the plots were so compelling and diverse. You really cared about these people. I was truly bummed when this series ended. But what I admired about the writer/director is that after a strong 5-year run, he was smart enough to end the show at exactly the right time. At the peak of its success. Every show, no matter how good it is, has an expiration date. And he knew that.TV shows today need to comprehend that instead of always coming back with a reboot. Which, in my opinion, never works.

Will and Grace (1998-2006) - My favorite characters were Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), and Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) - In fact, I loved them so much that I thought they should have their own show entitled, The Jack and Karen Show. Sean's and Megan's comedic timing was flawless. And as someone who was an actor myself, I can tell you that comedy is much, much harder than drama. But I have to say, I didn't care for the reboot. I wanted to love it. I truly did. However, I watched one season, but then lost interest. Will and Grace was one of those brilliant shows that had a thriving 8-year run. And it was perfect the way it was.

I'll leave you with a photograph that was taken at NBC Studios in New York, during a visual promotion for the reboot of Will and Grace. I went to Manhattan that day with the girls. Here I am, sipping a glass of champagne next to Jack in a bubble bath. And notice the look on his face. I accidentally grazed his bum with my right hand as I was reaching for the bar of soap. I was a little tipsy. Sorry, Jack. LOL!