It's always a gamble for an actor to leave a successful TV show or career to break into major films. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

The most popular examples of this not working are Shelley Long leaving Cheers after five seasons. Her film career didn't exactly go through the roof.

Ditto with David Caruso and NYPD Blue.

Bruce Willis and George Clooney successfully made the crossover from TV to movies.

I'm not a risk taker, so I've always felt that it's best for an actor to ride the wave of a hit TV show. The show won't last forever.

Any more examples of this working or not working out for an actor?

It didn't work well for Ellen DeGeneres- but then, she never fully quit TV to take on the movies. I haven't seen any of her films- except for 'If these walls could talk 2'- she was good in that but it was a tv movie. All her other films didn't do particularly well- but I think she might just need the right script (Dory in finding nemo was perfect for her!).

A little OT: Who out of all the cast of 'Friends' do you think will be most successful in movies, and who will be the least?

I don't see Schwimmer getting many good roles- but then, he may want to direct. I think Aniston will do best in acting in movies (she was amazing in The Good Girl!)- Kudrow never gets enough credit for how great she is- but I think soon she may get a fantastic movie. I think Matt LeBlanc will be least successful in movies.

i HATE when actors and actresses think that they're too good for TV....
especially when TV makes them who they are (Shelley Long being the perfect example)


I love Movies and TV.... but I hate when actors snub TV and think that Movies are the end-all-be-all.

Jennifer Garner is great on tv and on the big screen. So is Michael Vartan, he's great on Alias and he was pretty cute in Never Been Kissed. Victor Garber is also a good example. Hell, the whole frikin cast of Alias is a good example.

I think Patty Duke and John Astin both should have stayed with TV. But John Astin's had some very good roles in films as a supporting player, so I guess he's doing fine.

On the other hand, I for one am sick of turning on my TV and seeing Kelsey Grammer on every channel. I love Frasier, but there's one actor that could use a break.

About the cast of friends: I think they'll all do well except for David Schwimmer. His whiney voice works for Ross but probably isn't gonna get him much further. Jennifer Aniston is pretty successful in her movies but I really don't like any of them. Lisa Kudrow will probably go far.

Originally posted by barwars88
Maybe you're including him being on "Cheers".... but at least in my area -- "Frasier" only airs once a day, at 11:30PM

Frasier and Cheers are always on over here. They're on normally two at a time. The older episodes also show up on my local housing channel.