What works: We were delighted when Bates scared us all to death as the obsessive fan in Stephen King's Misery, and her career shot upward from there. She received Academy Award nominations for Primary Colors and About Schmidt and has eight Emmy nominations to her name, all thanks to her affable, larger-than-life personality.

What doesn't: Bates as Bennett just isn't working. Bates is an actress who has to go full-speed ahead, and Bennett is a stern boss on a sitcom. The two opposing forces cancel each other out. Why waste the talent of this great actress on a role that just isn't that funny? 


Our replacement pick: Jessica Walter (Archer, Arrested Development). She'd be able to easily cut Michael Scott down to size and still be hilarious.

http://www.tv.com/five-good-actors-who-are-playing-the-wrong-roles/story/24718.html