I wouldn’t be too worried for the career of Steve Carell after he leaves “The Office” tomorrow. Although his film career thus far has been spotty at best, including one of the most hated comedies of all-time ( Evan Almighty), Carell has enough roles already lined up to sustain him for awhile.
The same can’t be said for the following 10 actors and actresses, who left their hit TV shows hoping for something bigger and ended up instead finding—well, they found a lot of made-for-TV movies.
Lecy Goranson (“Roseanne”)
Fame: Known to fans as the First Becky, Goranson played Roseanne and Dan’s oldest daughter on the mega-popular show for four seasons, when she left to pursue her education at Vassar College. To cope, writers sparingly used Becky, but this soon became a problem, and Goranson was replaced with Sarah Chalke, a.k.a. Elliot on “Scrubs.” New Becky quickly jelled with the rest of the cast, and audience members began to forgot Chalke was a replacement cast member—until Goranson re-joined the show in its eighth season (except for two episodes, one involving an all-important wedding)…and left again before the show’s ninth, and final, season.
Ever Since: As someone who went to and graduated college, I’d just like to say: if I were in Goranson’s shoes in 1992, knowing what I know now, I’d have stayed on my top-five show—it certainly couldn’t have hurt her career, which has resulted in one-episode appearances in “Fringe” and “Sex and the City,” and that’s about it. She now has a tattoo and, all that having been said, a better post-”Roseanne” career than her on-screen brother, D.J.
Shelley Long (“Cheers”)
Fame: You’re the gorgeous star of a top-five show that’s won you an Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, along with the other three times you’ve been nominated—but you still want to leave. That’s what “Cheers” actress Shelley Long did in 1987, after five seasons of playing waitress Diane Chambers, for reasons still mostly unclear, although supposedly she constantly picked fights with the cast and crew.
Since Then: To quote Moe Szyslak, after Homer asks where his waitress went, “Oh, she left to pursue a movie career. Frankly, I think she was better off here.” You ain’t kidding, Moe: Long has never replicated the success she found on “Cheers.” She’s appeared in a bunch of largely forgettable movies—like Dr. T & the Women and the Brady Bunch films—and one spectacular bomb: the sperm-donor comedy Frozen Assets, which Roger Ebert once called “perhaps the worst comedy ever made.” But her most heinous offense: making Kirstie Alley a star.
McLean Stevenson (“M*A*S*H”)
Fame: Stevenson originally auditioned to become Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, the eventual breakout star on “M*A*S*H”, but that role went to Alan Alda. Stevenson, instead, played Lt. Colonel Henry Blake, but soon grew jealous at the popularity of Hawkeye. So, after only three seasons, when the show was ranked #5 in the Nielsen ratings, he asked to leave, and the writers obliged by killing his character off (the plane he was on was attacked over the Sea of Japan), making sure he could never return.
Since Then: With a name like his, it’s amazing Stevenson never became a marquee name. But how he did try: first, “The McLean Stevenson Show,” which lasted 12 episodes, then “In the Beginning” for 9, followed by “Hello, Larry,” which everyone hated, and lastly, 13 episodes of “Condo,” about a white family and a Hispanic family moving in next to one another in a condominium. Later, he played Baby’s father in the TV version of “Dirty Dancing.” Then he died in 1996. Show business is a bitch.
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I think it was quite an honor for McDonalds to name a sandwich after Stevenson.
New Becky quickly jelled with the rest of the cast, and audience members began to forgot Chalke was a replacement cast member…
Is this a revisionist history of Roseanne? I’m not sure new Becky ever “jelled.” She was essentially the beginning of the end.
You shouldn’t call Johnny Dangerously a bomb, Josh. My brother called Johnny Dangerously a bomb once… … once.
Toby Huss killed on Carnevale, absolutely brilliant. Excellent list just the same.
I absolutely love Johnny Dangerously, but that movie bombed.
“You know your last name’s an adverb?”
Easy on the gorgeous labels.
Only a fargin’ icehole would call “Johnny Dangerously” a bomb
trivia: who was the first?
Danitra Vance?
@ Matt – You would go straight for the grammar joke.
Or Yvonne Hudson, but I can’t ring in twice.
you failed to mention Becky from Roseanne’s current fortune telling career.
How could you leave off the first and still the greatest? Pernell Roberts!
Artie is one of the greatest characters in the history of television.
“Hello, Larry,” which everyone hated
YOU SHUT YOUR WHORISH MOUTH!
I actually remember “Condo.” The Hispanic neighbors were named Jesus, Maria, and Joseph just to set up a joke about how they had so many Christmas lights on their house, it must’ve been so the Wise Men could find them.
@The Mutt–only semi-related, but: “Weren’t there three Indians last year”
And as long as we’re on the subject of Johnny Dangerously: whatever happened to Amy Heckerling? She directed Fast Times, European Vacation, and Clueless, but nothing since 2007, although I’m hoping Vamps is decent.
“In and of itself, [Islam] is an Allah-worshiping, Kamikaze Nation, exactly like pre-World War II Imperial Japan. Its Bible, the Koran, can be read like Hitler’s Mein Kampf. It demands to rule the entire human race.”
What’s dumber here?
The insinuation that calling the Koran “Allah-worshiping” is somehow damning? It’s like calling the Bible “God-worshiping”?
Or the assertion that it can be read like Hitler’s Mein Kampf? Yeah, it can be read that way. A box of Wheaties can be read that way too, if you’re dumb enough and paranoid enough.
I feel like Craig Kilborn should be on this list for The Daily Show, but that would imply that I care about Craig Kilborn.
Only Fargin Iceholes talk poorly of Johnny Dangerously
Kilborn should be on twice – for TDS, and The Late Show, both of which improved after he left.
David Caruso should get some kind of honorable mention too. I know he’s on a popular show now, but that’s only because America likes crap, and for years, his career was in the toilet after NYPD Blue.
And didn’t Olivia d’Abo leave Wonder Years at its height only to go on to do nothing?
Oh and Lisa Bonet.
Shelly Long was in ‘The Money Pit’. Gotta count for something.
McLean would have been in greater demand had he been named McRib.
No one insults Phyllis Neffler! No one!
/realizes probably no male reader here will understand her reference
@Lenny – Hey, riding a cello down a mountain with James Bond should count for something!
Huh? It’s the other d’Abo? Oh. Carry on…
@Mel I’m down with the Troop!
The chick who begged off NCIS after two seasons!
/most watched show on television, bitches
Man, this list sucks. I’m going to have to break out my .88 Magnum. It shoots through schools.
@Lenny d’Abo’s had a decent career. Granted, starring as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan and doing voiceover work for Invader Zim and The Clone Wars isn’t the same as being in one of the greatest shows EVER. But it’s not bad, either.
@kaka It was a bad call for Sasha Alexander to leave NCIS, but she’s one-half of the should-be lesbian duo, Rizzoli & Isles, which is somehow popular, despite its title, premise, cast, writers, network, etc.
@Otto
“Or the assertion that it can be read like Hitler’s Mein Kampf? Yeah, it can be read that way. A box of Wheaties can be read that way too, if you’re dumb enough and paranoid enough”
Very true, unfortunately there seems to be ample number of people who meet this qualification. For both their interpretation of the Koran and Wheaties boxes
Down Periscope would not be the number #1 sea based Kelsey Grammer comedy of all time without the help of Toby Huss’ Nitro Mike blowing up every scene he’s in. Literally. He was the weapons expert. – Peter Hammond
Wasn’t Lauren Holly in Down Periscope?
@DancingBaptist
Yes but so was an actual demon, aka Rob Schneider.
thanks for the pete and pete flashback…………classic!
Toby Huss also did Khan as well as Cotton and probably 50% of the extra voices on King of the Hill. He was also great as Big Mike on Reno 911. I know he’s just an honorable mention but his name doesn’t have anywhere near the negative connotation as Piscopo or even poor, poor Kilborn.
Wow, I remember watching Pete & Pete with my (then) young daughter (she’s 22 now) and Artie was just fucking amazing. That show was so grandly silly when he was on it. But what I never realized is that he’s the same Toby Huss who later had 2 guest roles on News Radio (still my all-time favorite sitcom), once in 2 episodes as a bumbling security guard along with the great Tone Loc, and much later as Jack Frost, a “security consultant” hired by Jimmy James who turns out to be a compulsive imposter. Toby Huss is just a great comedic character actor.
@Kaka – Sasha Alexander left NCIS because she was moving to Switzerland with her new husband and to start a family. Now she’s done that, she’s come back to Hollywood. Plus NCIS sucks balls.
Anthony Edwards left ER because he was the lead character on a show for eight seasons. He had a young family and just wanted a break. Wouldn’t call that a failure. Anyway, he now directs and produces in the theatre world.
@Smegga. So she’s done starting a family now? What’s it been six years? The kids are good to go at that point I guess.
@Josh K. I had never heard of Rizzoli & Isles, but that may just be because I subconciously ignored every single commercial for it. From what I’ve just read it’s far more Rizzoli (Harmon – not Mark) than Isles (Alexander).
And yes, NCIS sucks, but it’s still eminently watchable.
@Kaka – I guess so. Maybe she decided that it was now her time again. Rizzoli & Isles is awful, but very popular. Alexander has talent in starring in poor shows.
NCIS is so terrible it makes me angry for some reason.
whoa, whoa, whoa
theres a movie titled “hitler meets christ”?
netflixing that shit
Quran (2:191-193) – “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]…and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”
Bukhari (52:256) – The Prophet… was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, “They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans).”
Anthony Edwards gets a free pass from me for anything he does for the rest of his life because the man was Goose, goddammit.
/stares at at dog tags and throws them off aircraft carrier
So they never found a successful vehicle for Ellen Cleghorne?
Hmmm, since leaving L&O Michael Moriarty won another Emmy, something he didn’t do while on that show. He’s been semi-retired for a few years now and works when he wants to.
Nice catch there, Dancing Baptist. Its a damn good thing there’s nothing like that in the Judeo-Christian Bible.
(Deuteronomy 17:12) “Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel.”
(Leviticus 20:13) “If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.”
(Exodus 21:15) “Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death.”
(Deuteronomy 13:7-12) “If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him. Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you. You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst.”
(Deuteronomy 13:1-5) “Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, ‘Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,’ do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul. Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you.”
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22) “But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.’ You may wonder, ‘How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?’ If the prophet predicts something in the LORD’s name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared.”
Ten TV Stars Who Left Hit Shows And Now Appear in Made-for-TV Movies
Lecy? Nope. Shelley? Nope. McLean? Nope.
There better be 10 “stars” who actually appear in made-for-TV movies over the next 2 pages, or I’ll be mighty pissed.
Actually, the first major pop-culture use of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World” medley was in the 1988 film “The Serpent and the Rainbow” and don’t forget, Anthony Edwards’ popularity really began with his role as Tom Cruise’s co-pilot and best bud in “Top Gun”
I hate mean spirited crap like this. It is a tough,tough business,most dont make it.Some have some success for a while.Most people,like the author and those commenting ont his blog,have never been in ANYTHING,wouldnt have the guts or talent to ever be in ANYTHING,ummmm…..Ever.
Life is a wheel of karma,you soulless,bitter trolls.We all are just doing the best we can.
I hear Dancing Baptist is available for childrens birthday parties and bar mitzvahs. If you hate your kids.
@spazmodic It’s a tongue-in-cheek title, and considering an original idea mentioned Hitler, be glad this is the final solution, as it were.
/I’m Jewish, it’s cool
Wait, I thought Toby Huss was in a lot of stuff, like playing “the Wiz” on Seinfeld, Harvey Birdman, and Down Periscope? Oh Christ, I just defended “Down Periscope” as legitimate. I gotta go lie down.
Man, You forgot Kyle Maclachlan
Toby Huss’s greatest role is the trailer park dude from “Reno 911.” End of discussion.
WHERE IS DAVID CARUSO???? Aside from CSI Miami, what else did he do between NYPD Blue and that?
Well, we’re just cats and we don’t know any better.But trivia: who was the first? Garrett Morris. But our old-time mom told us that.
Becky was in Boys Dont Cry which some people think was a good movie. Won awards for some people
the guy from er’s wife is a billionaire. No need to keep working every day.
Damn, Josh, you sure can get the commentors a-goin’.
@Cooter Who knew people cared so deeply about Johnny Dangerously and “that girl from NCIS”?
@Smear Agent Cooper has become one of the go-to character actors since leaving Desperate Housewives. Unless you’re referring to Twin Peaks, in which case, you’re an idiot. Plus, I’m sure he can live off those Dune and Showgirls residuals for the rest of his life.
so…. Anthony Edwards made his name on tv? Anthony Edwards from Top Gun and Revenge of the Nerds? might have that backwards.
In WHAT Twilight Zone universe would ANY-ONE find the annoying and bland Shelley Long ‘gorgeous’?!! She couldn’t wag her tail in front of some old toothless homeless dudes on 85th in front of a garbage can bonfire. And Toby Huss was also the spectacular but stupid Dale Gribble I wouldn’t say Micheal Moriarty went ‘nuts’ he had a stroke probably fried his brain or did something to him. What NO David Caruso the man who basically built Hollowood’s H bomb?!!