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TV Second Fiddles:
Tertiary characters that make the show…
Every so often, there comes a time in a television show when it has exhausted all its possibilities. Also known in pop culture circles as "jumping the shark," this show loses whatever charm or innovation it once possessed.Luckily, this show is sometimes salvaged by what we take for granted - the supporting actor or actress. This person, billed third, fifth or even last in the credits, often goes unnoticed by Entertainment Tonight, the Emmys, and the general viewing public who may have watched the show once or twice. Sure, we know that Joey is a Matt LeBlanc vehicle, and also stars Drea De Matteo, who got whacked on The Sopranos. But do we even recognize the fine work that Andrea Anders does as his tomboyish next-door neighbour Alex? Or Jennifer Coolidge, as Joey's flaky but assertive agent? Can we deny that we watched Frasier in its last three seasons purely for neurotically lovable Niles, and not increasingly aggravating Frasier?
Usually, shows that are hyped to the point of television suicide fizzle after their first or second season. This is usually because the plot arc becomes redundant, or we become sick of the top-billed actors, who usually lead a more interesting life in the tabloids, or become really annoying characters to watch (for a flash in the past, think Brenda Walsh, Buffy Summers, the cast of "Friends," and any Bachelor ever chosen).
But before you tune out (which would be very understandable), peruse these second fiddles to see if they can throw a lifeline into these shows.
"Arrested Development"
Although the show's future is up in the air, what with FOX needing its sacred scheduling time for another season of "The Simple Life" or Pamela Anderson's "Stacked," "Arrested Development" is one show where stocking up on DVDs is worth it. Through the magic of DVD, you might actually start to notice Michael Cera, who plays Jason Bateman's son, George Michael Bluth (if you're wondering about the origins of the name, and if he's indeed named after that singer, you'll have to catch season one on DVD - and if you're wondering if I secretly work for FOX or its DVD distribution company, wonder no more…I do not). Cera, who is from our neighbouring city of Brampton, works his magic as hapless and misunderstood George Michael, a teenager who is just starting to come into his own. In season two, we thankfully get off the kissing cousins subplot and move on to his relationship with Anne, a pastor's daughter who is unknowingly disliked by George Michael's father. Through some amusing misunderstandings, Anne and George Michael almost get married but decide to have premarital sex instead, although you get the feeling that George Michael isn't quite ready. Cera's acting is superbly understated and strongly consistent, and as George Michael, he'll make you laugh and want to rescue him from his crazy family all at the same time.
"Gilmore Girls"
After five years on the WB, the Girls have become all about the chatter and less about the substance. Mother Lorelai is too busy annoying her new beau Luke to watch after her daughter, Rory, who has become, shall we say, a bit too loose for someone who doesn't even talk to her best friend about sex. Ah yes, every season they talk, they eat, they break hearts. Enter the recurring extras, also known as the "townies" of Star's Hollow, and they show becomes bearable again. As Lane, Keiko Ageno does a stellar job as Rory's "best friend," and doesn't seem to mind or notice that Rory has basically ditched her after the first season to canoodle with all the men in Star's Hollow and at Yale who are hot for her body. In contrast to Rory, Lane actually has some deep issues to overcome - like trying to appease her strict Korean mother, who is unwilling to grant the independence that Lane craves, embarking on a new relationship, and getting her rock band off the ground. And Yanic Truesdale is a delight to watch as Michel, Lorelai's French assistant manager at her imaginary inn (and he's from Québec to boot). Last year, the Daily Variety voted him as one of the top ten "Actors to Watch." Every time he gives Lorelai's spoiled ass some attitude, I swear you'll giggle in delight.
"House"
Thanks to "American Idol," "House" went from a quick cancellation to one of the hottest new shows in prime time. And that's quite all right, because in all actuality "House" is a good, riveting show chock full of likeable characters. English actor Hugh Laurie plays Doctor House, a socially stifled physician who scorns patients and staff but always gets the job done and saves tons of lives. Contractually obligated to put up with House are Dr. Eric Foreman (Omar Epps) (not to be confused with another character on FOX), Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), and Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spence). The junior doctors are no match for House's one-liners, but they do pretty well with the doctor part. When House continually asks Dr. Foreman to break into patients' houses, there is no better astonished expression than Epps's jaw dropping. When House rebuffs Dr. Cameron's romantic advances, there is no better signifier of sexual tension than Morrison's clenched jaw. And when House needs some ass kissing, there is no better lips-to-butt ratio than Dr. Chase's puckered lips. (The first season's "Three Stories" episode cleverly uses storytelling as a means to describe each doctor's personality conflicts.) Catch these supporting players on "House" before the show goes over to network limbo, which, for any good show on FOX, is inevitable.
"Law & Order"
With about 5,246 seasons under its belt, the original "Law & Order" continues chugging along, sometimes landing in the top twenty for the week, and sometimes being beat by the 4,210 "CSI" spin-offs that are currently airing. We've all heard about the revolving door casting, which doesn't seem to hurt this show as much as it has with others. Still, with Jerry Orbach's departure, things looked bleak. What was to become of the "Law" part? Fortunately, Jesse L. Martin stuck around as Detective Ed Green, and what a fine job he does from week to week, even when he's playing opposite crusty Dennis Farina. Watch as Detective Green takes down a perp in a manly take-charge way! Watch as Detective Green butts heads with the D.A., because he's a damn good cop with principles! Watch as every female guest on the show hits on Detective Green, because he's that hot! Watch as Detective Green tries to act his lines like he's not secretly all that! Frankly, if you only watch the first half hour of "Law & Order," where they feature the investigation portion of the case, it'll be more than enough to see that Martin is its shining star. (Martin is currently on hiatus from the show, and is being temporarily replaced by "The Sopranos"' Michael Imperioli. But he'll be back!)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
It's a little ironic that Ice-T, the man who once penned and rapped "Cop Killer" back in 1992, would end up co-starring in a show where he portrays a cop. As Detective Odafin Tutola ("Fin" to all his friends, witnesses, and suspects), Ice-T exerts the "street vibe" that has been a staple of all cop shows at one time or another. Although his acting leaves something to be desired, Ice more than makes up for it in his "angry" scenes. He does "angry" pretty well. His roughing up of a child molester or rapist is pretty convincing. As his partner, Richard Belzer (who plays Detective John Munch) also keeps the show interesting - he fulfills the "paranoid conspiracy theorist" portion of the cast - especially when we've all become sick of lead Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). Honestly, how many times can we watch Stabler make the case "personal," or endure another scene where a creepy sex offender hits on smokin' hot Benson? Another one to watch is D. B. Wong as Dr. George Huang. You might remember him from "Oz," but if not, catch him on this show. As the forensic psychiatrist, Wong plays his scenes effectively and effortlessly. You'd swear he was a real psychiatrist! Plus, George Huang and I have very similar last names, and I also majored in psychology. We could have been related, had he spelled his last name slightly differently, and had he not been an entirely fictional character.
"The Apprentice"
Forget Donald Trump and his possessed hair. Forget the eighteen candidates who are embarking on the longest job interview of their lives, and about half of who act like they're attending some weird fashion/anger management boot camp instead. The real stars of the boardroom are George Ross and Carolyn Kepcher, Donald Trump's trusted advisors. Carolyn is perhaps the only woman in this world that has not gone through a divorce, prenuptial agreement, or sexual harassment suit with Trump. And for that, Carolyn rocks. She knows how to drill the candidates in the boardroom better than Trump himself, who is too busy lecherously staring at someone's (ahem) "assets" to notice that she botched a task. George is a grandfatherly, no-nonsense kind of man, who looks nice on the outside - in fact, you might at first glance think he's going to offer you some hard candy - but is tough as nails on the inside. He'll be quick to tell you when he thinks you're bullshitting, or that you should never, ever yell at him. One gets the feeling that without Carolyn or George to guide him, Trump would have easily let Erin slide into the top four. And we all know how much Trump needs another bankruptcy suit filed on his behalf.
"The O.C."
I went to the Orange County, I saw all it had to offer, I left with a bitter taste in my mouth. But before I swore off spoiled teenagers and their twisted and uninteresting love triangles, I realized that there was one salvageable character in the lot. And her name is Summer, played by cutie Rachel Bilson. Rachel Bilson/Summer Roberts is the anti-Mischa Barton/Marissa Cooper. For starters, she eats, and when she wears a halter-top, we're not subjected to her protruding shoulder blades. And she would never be caught with a contrived identity crisis that would lead to lesbianism for sweeps. She's fiercely loyal, she's the only character on this show that has shown growth, and she's the only person who seems at the very least self-aware of who she is and what her actions mean to those around her. Summer literally lights up any scene she's in, and knows how to cover up Barton's non-acting. And she keeps the chemistry going, on-screen and off-screen with boyfriend Adrien Brody. If you need to go to "The O.C." for whatever reason, make sure to pay Summer a visit.Don't Forget the Reality Show Hosts
Ryan Seacrest, Janice Dickinson, Phil Keoghan, Jeff Probst, Mona Scott - all of these reality show staples have helped to keep their respective shows fresh and interesting. Day in and day out, they appear on camera to guide us through the hour's event, often with wit, charm, and a little drama as needed. Plus, they have the best, most soothing voice in town. The best moments, arguably, are when these hosts secretly have their favourites, and will do anything to give everyone else a hard time, or call them on their asinine behaviour. Or when they completely lose it because of some random contestant's idiocy. Or when they suddenly give someone the stink eye for talking over them or making them look bad. Yes, folks, they're just keeping it real for the rest of us. ¤ C.Ho.
