theatrically trained performers in current sitcoms? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jamesanthony · 10-30-2004, 12:25 PM

It just occurred to me that a lot of the older shows that I enjoy seeing had actors in them who had extensive experience on stage and especially in musicals, therefore they were able to take their acting jobs in sitcoms to a whole other level. Norman Lear cast most of his shows with these types of people so did the people who did Soap, Golden Girls, Different World and a bunch of others. Dick Van Dyke was this type of performer, his sense of timing clearly came from a theatre background. These types of actors can make even mediocre to poorly written material entertaining. I'm thinking of an episode of Good Times when Robert Guillaime shows up as a wino character named Fishbone who fakes his own funeral. The writing was awful, but Guillaime was very entertaining in the show regardless. The same is true of the Jeffersons actors after that show had been on the air way past its prime.

Who are some actors in current sitcoms who have theatrical backgrounds especially musical theater and what do you all think of these people's performances in their series? I would NOT include pop or rap video performers because a singer who makes a video can stop and reshoot the scene, a stage performer has to go out on stage and belt or perform and there is no room to edit or reshoot a flub.

slackermonkey · 10-31-2004, 01:34 AM

I'm pretty sure the entire cast of "Will & Grace" has stage experience. Also, "Joey's" Andrea Anders.

Aren't there a few actors on "Arrested Development" who had theater careers?

rossnrach4ever · 04-08-2005, 02:26 AM

it may not be current but Friends ....David Schwimmer was a graduate at Northwestern and formed the Lookinglass Theatre Company with classmates ...

also David L. Lander and Michael McKean ...of Laverne and Shirley were trained at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh
Robin Williams ...Julliard
Ed O' Neil....Youngstown State University ...yes really?

10-30-2004, 12:25 PM	#1
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	theatrically trained performers in current sitcoms? It just occurred to me that a lot of the older shows that I enjoy seeing had actors in them who had extensive experience on stage and especially in musicals, therefore they were able to take their acting jobs in sitcoms to a whole other level. Norman Lear cast most of his shows with these types of people so did the people who did Soap, Golden Girls, Different World and a bunch of others. Dick Van Dyke was this type of performer, his sense of timing clearly came from a theatre background. These types of actors can make even mediocre to poorly written material entertaining. I'm thinking of an episode of Good Times when Robert Guillaime shows up as a wino character named Fishbone who fakes his own funeral. The writing was awful, but Guillaime was very entertaining in the show regardless. The same is true of the Jeffersons actors after that show had been on the air way past its prime. Who are some actors in current sitcoms who have theatrical backgrounds especially musical theater and what do you all think of these people's performances in their series? I would NOT include pop or rap video performers because a singer who makes a video can stop and reshoot the scene, a stage performer has to go out on stage and belt or perform and there is no room to edit or reshoot a flub.

10-31-2004, 01:34 AM	#2
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	I'm pretty sure the entire cast of "Will & Grace" has stage experience. Also, "Joey's" Andrea Anders. Aren't there a few actors on "Arrested Development" who had theater careers?
	__________________ ...Derek TV on DVD Checklist: 05/09 - Scrubs: The Complete Third Season 05/30 - Joey: The Complete First Season 06/13 - Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season 06/13 - Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season 06/20 - Justice League: Season 2 07/25 - Animaniacs: Volume 1 10/?? - Scrubs: The Complete Fourth Season 12/06 - Animaniacs: Volume 2

04-08-2005, 02:26 AM	#3
rossnrach4ever Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2004 Location: corner of bedford and grove Posts: 133	it may not be current but Friends ....David Schwimmer was a graduate at Northwestern and formed the Lookinglass Theatre Company with classmates ... also David L. Lander and Michael McKean ...of Laverne and Shirley were trained at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh Robin Williams ...Julliard Ed O' Neil....Youngstown State University ...yes really?