Best "Guest Star" Performance On TDVDS - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

David VP · 06-01-2004, 06:09 AM

This poll isn't necessarily meant to be "all-inclusive". But, just from the list provided, who did the best/funniest job in their TDVDS guest role?

My vote -- Ed Begley, as the Judge in "The Case Of The Pillow".

"Mr. Petrie, is it your intention to go through the entire alphabet?"

Runner-up -- Jerry Van Dyke in the sleepwalking two-part episode.

pilotguy · 06-01-2004, 08:06 AM

If I may, I'd like to include one more "guest star" name on the list....Jay C. Flippen, who played Rob's first writing boss "Happy Spangler" in the first season's "The Return Of Happy Spangler" episode.

Mr. Flippen was a veteran of vaudeville and played numerous comedy and dramatic roles in plays, films and television. I thought that he did an excellent acting job as Happy Spangler, and that episode, although maybe not the FUNNIEST of the series, rates as one of my personal favorites.

Lolac · 06-01-2004, 08:33 AM

This is a very difficult choice. I finally chose Billy DeWolfe in "The Ugliest Dog in the World." I love his performance and his deadpan delivery of his lines ( A shot would be the humane thing to do!

) (Boy, boy, it's tea time!) It was a tough choice, but I love this episode.

Lolac

CHUCK T · 06-01-2004, 10:14 AM

I liked Sheldon Leonard playing his gangster persona. It was fun to have the shows producer doing a guest shot and I love the way he plays that type of part--and I just love that episode period.

algebra74 · 06-01-2004, 01:22 PM

Don Rickles, by far!

Carrie · 06-01-2004, 02:06 PM

I liked Jerry Van Dyke and Don Rickles performances the best.

Dorothys BestPal · 06-01-2004, 08:54 PM

Boy that was tougher than I thought, I debated between Vic Damone " Ive been drinking since I was 16 and I know my casapity" " & Ed Platt "cheating, in the suburbs"

I finally went with Vic Damone

ScottD · 06-01-2004, 11:06 PM

That was really tough, but I have to go with Jerry Van Dyke. I've always loved him as Stacie!

Wannabe Rob · 06-02-2004, 12:27 AM

Can't forget Jacques Bergerac in "The Square Triangle (episode #56), Lola Albright in How to Spank a Star" (episode #86) or Chad & Jeremy in "The Redcoats are Coming (episode #114).

Not far behind would be pre-Mission:Impossible Barbara ("Cinammon") Bain in "Will You Two Be My Wife? (#47). Speaking of pre-Mission:Impossible Greg ("Barney") Morris was in two episodes, "Bupkis" and "That's My Boy???". Remember Wally Cox in "the Making of a Councilman" and Room 222's Michael Constantine as the director in "You Ought to Be in Pictures". Honorable Mention to Paul Winchell in "Talk to the Snail"

And while they don't qualify as guest stars numerous early appearances of M*A*S*H's Jamie Farr and a the singular one of Love Boat's Gavin MacLeod as the jewelry salesman in "Empress Carlotta's Necklace" are fun to watch in retrospect. Pre-"F-Troop" Ken Berry was in several shows. A pre-"Hogan's Heros"'s Bob Crane really wanted to play opposite Cleopatra.

For classic Star Trek fans, Michael "Joe Coogan" Forest starred in the episode "Who Mourns For Adonis?". Classic Star Trek fans will also remember Roger C. Carmel, the tight-fisted accountant in "It Wouldn't Hurt Them to Give Us A Raise" , as Harcourt Fenton Mudd. Other cameos include character actor Bernard Fox in several episodes (e.g., "Teacher's Petrie") before Dr. Bombay in "Bewitched" and most recently in "the Mummy".

Quite a few other "before they were stars" which are fun to watch knowing what we know now.

David VP · 06-02-2004, 12:39 AM

Yes, Wannabe.

I considered all those you mentioned...plus Allan Melvin in "Harrison B. Harding" (which was a good & meaty guest role for Allan, who also doubled as Army buddy, Sol on occasion). But my final list is derived more from what I'd call a "Major Guest Star" listing. Whereas, Ken Berry, Sandy Kenyon, Gavin MacLeod, and Jamie Farr, etc., are more in the bit-part realm.

Yes, I could have added "Jacques" and Wally Cox and a few others, but the list was getting long as it was.

Gavin's appearance as "Maxwell" IS hilarious, I'll admit. His "shoehorn" belly-laugh is highly rib-tickling.

Mel -- "You see, Maxwell doesn't have any overhead."
Buddy -- "Kind of runs in the family, don't it?"

jehobden · 06-02-2004, 08:01 PM

I voted for Ed Begley, since his appearance as the judge was hysterical, and I never knew of him as a comedic actor. He reminded me a bit of the exasperated judge at the end of the film What's Up, Doc? Barbara Bain was hilarious in her appearance too. I loved her gleeful hysteria as she clobbered Rob w/ her shoes and everything else she could find.

Lolac · 06-02-2004, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jehobden
He reminded me a bit of the exasperated judge at the end of the film What's Up, Doc?

"What's Up Doc?" is one of my all-time favorite movies!

Lolac

Carrie · 06-03-2004, 09:32 AM

Me too! The chase scene gets me laughing hysterically every time I see it!

View Poll Results: FROM THIS LIST, WHO WAS THE BEST "GUEST STAR"?
Bob Crane (In "Somebody Has To Play Cleopatra")	0	0%
Jerry Van Dyke (In His Season 1 "Sleepwalking" 2-Parter)	3	33.33%
Jerry Van Dyke (In "Stacey Petrie Parts 1 & 2")	0	0%
Ed Platt (In "A Nice, Friendly Game Of Cards")	0	0%
Ed Begley Sr. (In "The Case Of The Pillow")	1	11.11%
Robert Vaughn (In "It's A Shame She Married Me")	0	0%
Don Rickles (In His 4th-Season 2-Parter)	2	22.22%
Vic Damone (In "Like A Sister")	1	11.11%
Danny Thomas (In "It May Look Like A Walnut")	0	0%
Godfrey Cambridge (In "The Man From My Uncle")	0	0%
Sheldon Leonard (In "Big Max Calvada")	1	11.11%
Billy DeWolfe (In "The Ugliest Dog In The World")	1	11.11%
Richard Dawson (In "Racy Tracy Rattigan")	0	0%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

06-01-2004, 06:09 AM	#1
David VP Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 29, 2004 Posts: 310	Best "Guest Star" Performance On TDVDS This poll isn't necessarily meant to be "all-inclusive". But, just from the list provided, who did the best/funniest job in their TDVDS guest role? My vote -- Ed Begley, as the Judge in "The Case Of The Pillow". "Mr. Petrie, is it your intention to go through the entire alphabet?" Runner-up -- Jerry Van Dyke in the sleepwalking two-part episode.
	Last edited by David VP; 06-01-2004 at 06:28 AM.

06-01-2004, 02:06 PM	#6
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	I liked Jerry Van Dyke and Don Rickles performances the best.
	__________________ psychedelicSiM Designs

06-01-2004, 08:06 AM	#2
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	If I may, I'd like to include one more "guest star" name on the list....Jay C. Flippen, who played Rob's first writing boss "Happy Spangler" in the first season's "The Return Of Happy Spangler" episode. Mr. Flippen was a veteran of vaudeville and played numerous comedy and dramatic roles in plays, films and television. I thought that he did an excellent acting job as Happy Spangler, and that episode, although maybe not the FUNNIEST of the series, rates as one of my personal favorites.

06-01-2004, 08:33 AM	#3
Lolac Dolce far niente, Carissima! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 1,487	This is a very difficult choice. I finally chose Billy DeWolfe in "The Ugliest Dog in the World." I love his performance and his deadpan delivery of his lines ( A shot would be the humane thing to do! ) (Boy, boy, it's tea time!) It was a tough choice, but I love this episode. Lolac

06-01-2004, 10:14 AM	#4
CHUCK T Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2002 Posts: 84	I liked Sheldon Leonard playing his gangster persona. It was fun to have the shows producer doing a guest shot and I love the way he plays that type of part--and I just love that episode period.

06-01-2004, 01:22 PM	#5
algebra74 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 337	Don Rickles, by far!

06-01-2004, 08:54 PM	#7
Dorothys BestPal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 25, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 132	Boy that was tougher than I thought, I debated between Vic Damone " Ive been drinking since I was 16 and I know my casapity" " & Ed Platt "cheating, in the suburbs" I finally went with Vic Damone

06-01-2004, 11:06 PM	#8
ScottD Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Location: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Posts: 71	That was really tough, but I have to go with Jerry Van Dyke. I've always loved him as Stacie!

06-02-2004, 12:27 AM	#9
Wannabe Rob Member First Time Poster Join Date: Jun 01, 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1	Can't forget Jacques Bergerac in "The Square Triangle (episode #56), Lola Albright in How to Spank a Star" (episode #86) or Chad & Jeremy in "The Redcoats are Coming (episode #114). Not far behind would be pre-Mission:Impossible Barbara ("Cinammon") Bain in "Will You Two Be My Wife? (#47). Speaking of pre-Mission:Impossible Greg ("Barney") Morris was in two episodes, "Bupkis" and "That's My Boy???". Remember Wally Cox in "the Making of a Councilman" and Room 222's Michael Constantine as the director in "You Ought to Be in Pictures". Honorable Mention to Paul Winchell in "Talk to the Snail" And while they don't qualify as guest stars numerous early appearances of MAS*H's Jamie Farr and a the singular one of Love Boat's Gavin MacLeod as the jewelry salesman in "Empress Carlotta's Necklace" are fun to watch in retrospect. Pre-"F-Troop" Ken Berry was in several shows. A pre-"Hogan's Heros"'s Bob Crane really wanted to play opposite Cleopatra. For classic Star Trek fans, Michael "Joe Coogan" Forest starred in the episode "Who Mourns For Adonis?". Classic Star Trek fans will also remember Roger C. Carmel, the tight-fisted accountant in "It Wouldn't Hurt Them to Give Us A Raise" , as Harcourt Fenton Mudd. Other cameos include character actor Bernard Fox in several episodes (e.g., "Teacher's Petrie") before Dr. Bombay in "Bewitched" and most recently in "the Mummy". Quite a few other "before they were stars" which are fun to watch knowing what we know now.

06-02-2004, 12:39 AM	#10
David VP Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 29, 2004 Posts: 310	Yes, Wannabe. I considered all those you mentioned...plus Allan Melvin in "Harrison B. Harding" (which was a good & meaty guest role for Allan, who also doubled as Army buddy, Sol on occasion). But my final list is derived more from what I'd call a "Major Guest Star" listing. Whereas, Ken Berry, Sandy Kenyon, Gavin MacLeod, and Jamie Farr, etc., are more in the bit-part realm. Yes, I could have added "Jacques" and Wally Cox and a few others, but the list was getting long as it was. Gavin's appearance as "Maxwell" IS hilarious, I'll admit. His "shoehorn" belly-laugh is highly rib-tickling. Mel -- "You see, Maxwell doesn't have any overhead." Buddy -- "Kind of runs in the family, don't it?"

06-02-2004, 08:01 PM	#11
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	I voted for Ed Begley, since his appearance as the judge was hysterical, and I never knew of him as a comedic actor. He reminded me a bit of the exasperated judge at the end of the film What's Up, Doc? Barbara Bain was hilarious in her appearance too. I loved her gleeful hysteria as she clobbered Rob w/ her shoes and everything else she could find.

06-03-2004, 09:32 AM	#13
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	Me too! The chase scene gets me laughing hysterically every time I see it!