View Full Version : It Amazes Me How Georgia Engel Has Made A Career By Playing The Same Character!?


Brian Damage
10-18-2011, 10:40 PM
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUN-NjMm9pgfswcawXxqIUdgCxBCIGMi_szqVSjMDiowjJCD_MhA

Is it me or has Georgia Engel basically played the same character on TV for years and years? It doesn't matter what show it is, Ms. Engel plays Georgette Baxter. The mousy often times ditzy character who deep down is a somewhat intellectual.

Marvo301
10-18-2011, 10:47 PM
Georgia Engel may play basically the same character all the time but she plays that character very well! That's why she keeps getting cast in sitcoms.

Brian Damage
10-18-2011, 10:53 PM
Georgia Engel may play basically the same character all the time but she plays that character very well! That's why she keeps getting cast in sitcoms.


I guess you are right about that Marv, she seems to be an actress who made a nice living out of being typecast. lol

scotsguy
10-19-2011, 04:28 AM
Yes she was the same character on "The Betty White Show",in fact she seemed just slotted in there,to give Joyce(Betty) someone to talk to at home.

Suppose you could say Lucille Ball played the same kind of Lucy character too although Lucy Ricardo was the craftiest of all the TV Lucy's.

I find Georgia killingly funny,she's found a winning format as a space cadet

so why not,carry on?

Brian Damage
10-19-2011, 10:12 AM
Yes she was the same character on "The Betty White Show",in fact she seemed just slotted in there,to give Joyce(Betty) someone to talk to at home.

Suppose you could say Lucille Ball played the same kind of Lucy character too although Lucy Ricardo was the craftiest of all the TV Lucy's.

I find Georgia killingly funny,she's found a winning format as a space cadet

so why not,carry on?



I agree! I am not condemning her for playing the exact same character, it's just been an observation of mine through the years. I do wonder however, if she is really like that in real life?

scotsguy
10-19-2011, 04:35 PM
I've seen her interviewed and she talks like Geoprgette.

Georgia clearly has a toughness in her to still be acting all these years after

TMTS in a highly competetive business.

Retro4Life
10-19-2011, 05:38 PM
She pretty much played Georgette during her tenure as Exidor's girlfriend/wife on Mork and Mindy, too.

It is remarkable in a way, though others do it, too. It's hard not to love her, isn't it? :)

Mr. Television
10-19-2011, 06:19 PM
She also played the same type of character on Coach and Everybody Loves Raymond. Gotta love her. :lol:

born2late
10-20-2011, 12:20 AM
Just seeing her on the screen makes me smile. :)

Schmoopie
10-20-2011, 12:35 AM
Have to mention Kelsey Grammer here. He played Frasier Crane for 20 years and even with his new show "Boss" where his character is NOTHING like Frasier, I will always think of him as Frasier. Same with David Hyde Pierce as Niles, even though both he and Kelsey are amazing talents and can portray any type of character incredibly well.

I haven't thought about Georgia Engel in years but I definitely remember her. Loved her character of Georgette. I guess some actors/actresses like playing the same kind of characters over and over; probably because they are comfortable in the roles and know they'll be accepted and that they'll do a good job.

Kristen
10-20-2011, 02:06 AM
I've definitely noticed this about Georgia. It's kind of hard not to. The moment I first saw her as Amy's mother on Raymond, I could see Georgette in her right away! Never saw her on Coach, but I'm not the least bit surprised she was the same on that series, too. I don't see anything wrong w/ it at all. I mean, if something works for you, why not stick w/ it? Just like I've seen David Ogden Stiers (Charles Winchester on MASH), and have also seen him in other roles besides that. He always seems to kind of play the same character, too. I know there are other actors who fall into this category, too, but those two definitely come to mind for me!

- Kristen

Leigh Ann
10-20-2011, 09:20 AM
Have to mention Kelsey Grammer here. He played Frasier Crane for 20 years and even with his new show "Boss" where his character is NOTHING like Frasier, I will always think of him as Frasier. Same with David Hyde Pierce as Niles, even though both he and Kelsey are amazing talents and can portray any type of character incredibly well.

I haven't thought about Georgia Engel in years but I definitely remember her. Loved her character of Georgette. I guess some actors/actresses like playing the same kind of characters over and over; probably because they are comfortable in the roles and know they'll be accepted and that they'll do a good job.

I agree with you about Kelsey & DHP of course. They will always be Frasier & Niles to me! :D

And same with Georgia...I think maybe it's her voice that makes her play Georgette-like characters. I don't know. But the few times I've seen her on Everybody Loves Raymond, I immediately think about Georgette!

PGood97041
10-20-2011, 04:19 PM
Aw, Leigh Ann, you kinda stole my thunder.

Loved Georgia on TMTMS and she definitely does the ditzy, space cadet facade with intelligence underneath to a T.

But with that distinctive voice, I don't think she has any other choice. Not to say she couldn't do another type of role, but I'd have a hard time envisioning it. But kudos to her for recognizing what she has and carving out an excellent career!

BTW, I don't know her, but I'd bet she's just the nice, intelligent part in real life, without the ditz.

Marvo301
10-20-2011, 04:56 PM
Aw, Leigh Ann, you kinda stole my thunder.

Loved Georgia on TMTMS and she definitely does the ditzy, space cadet facade with intelligence underneath to a T.

But with that distinctive voice, I don't think she has any other choice. Not to say she couldn't do another type of role, but I'd have a hard time envisioning it. But kudos to her for recognizing what she has and carving out an excellent career!

BTW, I don't know her, but I'd bet she's just the nice, intelligent part in real life, without the ditz.
I was thinking the same thing. That she was the same nice intelligent person in real life just without the ditziness. She has carved out an excellent career by recognizing and playing to her strengths.

gopyle
10-22-2011, 09:23 AM
Georgette was Ok in extremely small doses. Unfortunately, she was used way too much, along with SueAnn.
With that voice, it is doubtful she could play any part without it reminding one of Georgette.

Brian Damage
10-22-2011, 10:30 PM
Georgette was Ok in extremely small doses. Unfortunately, she was used way too much, along with SueAnn.
With that voice, it is doubtful she could play any part without it reminding one of Georgette.


Is that Georgia's real voice?

gopyle
10-23-2011, 10:01 AM
Is that Georgia's real voice?

In one of those cast reunion shows, that was how she sounded as they discussed the show.

Cloud9 Lorraine
10-23-2011, 11:15 AM
I see it as the bitter sweet case of typecasting. Being lucky enough to be in a popular show or series playing a beloved character, but being so identified as that character or type of character, that you can't get any other kind of work.