alan alda great actor or lucky actor? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

snl75 · 11-11-2004, 11:50 PM

ive been affraid to post this for a long time for fear that this would look as if i were alda bashing wich is not my intent but i was wondering do you like alan alda in other things besides mash or if it werent for mash would you have any interest in watching mr alda at all i personally love mash but am so so on other things he has been in because to me he seemes to play every role the same does anyone agree or disagree with me?

Lolac · 11-12-2004, 12:19 PM

I think Alan Alda was a lucky actor. I definitely don't think he is a great actor. Since M*A*S*H, he has really not done that much to speak of.

Lolac

dlemond · 11-12-2004, 12:42 PM

Alan Alda is a very good actor, not a great one.

It is obvious that it was his own choice not to pursue as many roles as he might have.

He also writes and directs.

Beyond any awards and nominations for MASH, he has been nominated for Golden Globes for acting in The Four Seasons, Same Time Next Year, and White Mile and acting Emmys for Kill Me if You Can, The Band Played On, Club Land, and ER.

He also won The New York Film Critics Circle Award and the National Board of Review Award for best supporting actor for Crimes and Misdemeanors.

He hasn't exactly been a slouch in the acting category.

Vicki L. · 11-17-2004, 06:47 AM

Alan Alda is a fantastic actor. He can be funny whenever he wishes (a great gift), also he can do impersonations excellently (remember the ep he dressed like Groucho Marx), he can successfully simulate any emotion the scene calls for. He has a popular Italian-American personality and that makes him extra-richly entertaining to watch and he has very good acting talent to boot.

rich2 · 11-20-2004, 12:18 PM

He's good. He's not on a level with the great screen actors (DeNiro, Tracy, Pacino, Brando, Hoffman) or even James Dean or Tom Cruise, but he is a good actor and writer/director.

You might say he was "lucky" in that MASH was a good vehicle for his talents, and he was fortunate to have landed the role.

I think MASH became a better show BECAUSE he began having more creative input, and was no longer a slapstick comedy. Unfortunately, other actors wanted to have that same kind of input, and in the very latter seasons of the show it sort of went downhill.

He's not done any notorious directing since MASH, though. So he's not on a level with Ron Howard.

Vicki L. · 12-15-2004, 06:37 PM

Well, DeNiro, Dean, Hoffman, and Brando are or were method actors which means they put themselves in a crazy state of mind and do what they would in the real situation. If they seem more convincing than Alda Alda it's merely because they are going absolutely crazy while acting.Spencer Tracywas not a method actor and in many ways Alda equals him. But true to his Italian personality Alda enjoys successfully taking over a situation. Plus Alda is more interested in writing than just acting so has multiple interest on film. He's much more than Irish Spencer Tracy ever was capable of being. Are you actually serious about Tom Cruise being better or even half as good an actor as Alda?

rich2 · 12-16-2004, 12:01 AM

As for Tom Cruise you don't have to take my word for it. Look at all the great actors and directors who have sought him out.

Now I don't think Mission Impossible 2 was any great work of art, but I like most of his work. I admit his roles are not very diverse but what he does, he does very well.

I think Cruise is probably the greatest actor of his generation. You couldn't say the same about Alan Alda.

Vicki L. · 02-02-2005, 06:51 PM

Rich actors and actresses are hired today more for how they look in front of the camera than for they're acting ability. Who in their right mind cares if Cruise was hired alot and is considered the greatest actor of his generation when his generation are all a bunch of non-actors? Better to follow in heaven (Alda) than lead in hell(Cruise).

TJL · 02-02-2005, 08:41 PM

Alan Alda is a talented actor. "M*A*S*H" gave him the opportunity to not only act, but write and direct countless episodes of the series, which lead to theatrical films.

I guess he was lucky that he got a hit series that put him on the map, but you gotta have talent to take a showbusiness opportunity and run with it.

spunkygirl · 02-02-2005, 09:21 PM

He's an amazing actor, hopefully soon to be Academy Award Winning Actor

Screenwriter · 02-02-2005, 10:29 PM

I'm sorry, but Tom Cruise annoys me.

spunkygirl · 02-03-2005, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich2

As for Tom Cruise you don't have to take my word for it. Look at all the great actors and directors who have sought him out.

Now I don't think Mission Impossible 2 was any great work of art, but I like most of his work. I admit his roles are not very diverse but what he does, he does very well.

I think Cruise is probably the greatest actor of his generation. You couldn't say the same about Alan Alda.

Cruise is a good actor, but he's not even in the same league as Alan when it comes to acting. Try to picture Tom as Hawkeye Pierce, I can tell you now, the role wouldn't be the same, heck if he had played Hawkeye(this is just hypothetical) the show wouldn't have been the same. I don't think Tom's that great of a comedic actor, but Alan is good at both. I wonder why he got raves for his acting on ER, and now he's gotten raves for his work on the Aviator, because he's GOOD.

Comparing Tom and Alan is like comparing Madonna and Jessica Simpson

Rozone · 02-07-2005, 01:12 PM

I think Alan Alda is a genius behind the scenes and infront- He has done great moviues- all his episodes of Mash are my favorites- he is now up for an oscar--that should say something

Sterling Holobyte · 02-07-2005, 01:28 PM

Whether you think he is a good actor or not; the fact is that he was perfect as Hawkeye.

Screenwriter · 02-07-2005, 02:42 PM

He's up for an Oscar? Way to go Alan.

11-11-2004, 11:50 PM	#1
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	alan alda great actor or lucky actor? ive been affraid to post this for a long time for fear that this would look as if i were alda bashing wich is not my intent but i was wondering do you like alan alda in other things besides mash or if it werent for mash would you have any interest in watching mr alda at all i personally love mash but am so so on other things he has been in because to me he seemes to play every role the same does anyone agree or disagree with me?

02-02-2005, 08:41 PM	#9
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Alan Alda is a talented actor. "MAS*H" gave him the opportunity to not only act, but write and direct countless episodes of the series, which lead to theatrical films. I guess he was lucky that he got a hit series that put him on the map, but you gotta have talent to take a showbusiness opportunity and run with it.
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02-02-2005, 10:29 PM	#11
Screenwriter Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 18, 2002 Posts: 760	I'm sorry, but Tom Cruise annoys me.
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02-07-2005, 01:28 PM	#14
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	Whether you think he is a good actor or not; the fact is that he was perfect as Hawkeye.
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11-12-2004, 12:19 PM	#2
Lolac Dolce far niente, Carissima! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 1,487	I think Alan Alda was a lucky actor. I definitely don't think he is a great actor. Since MAS*H, he has really not done that much to speak of. Lolac

11-12-2004, 12:42 PM	#3
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	Alan Alda is a very good actor, not a great one. It is obvious that it was his own choice not to pursue as many roles as he might have. He also writes and directs. Beyond any awards and nominations for MASH, he has been nominated for Golden Globes for acting in The Four Seasons, Same Time Next Year, and White Mile and acting Emmys for Kill Me if You Can, The Band Played On, Club Land, and ER. He also won The New York Film Critics Circle Award and the National Board of Review Award for best supporting actor for Crimes and Misdemeanors. He hasn't exactly been a slouch in the acting category.

11-17-2004, 06:47 AM	#4
Vicki L. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 158	Alan Alda is a fantastic actor. He can be funny whenever he wishes (a great gift), also he can do impersonations excellently (remember the ep he dressed like Groucho Marx), he can successfully simulate any emotion the scene calls for. He has a popular Italian-American personality and that makes him extra-richly entertaining to watch and he has very good acting talent to boot.

11-20-2004, 12:18 PM	#5
rich2 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 65	He's good. He's not on a level with the great screen actors (DeNiro, Tracy, Pacino, Brando, Hoffman) or even James Dean or Tom Cruise, but he is a good actor and writer/director. You might say he was "lucky" in that MASH was a good vehicle for his talents, and he was fortunate to have landed the role. I think MASH became a better show BECAUSE he began having more creative input, and was no longer a slapstick comedy. Unfortunately, other actors wanted to have that same kind of input, and in the very latter seasons of the show it sort of went downhill. He's not done any notorious directing since MASH, though. So he's not on a level with Ron Howard.

12-15-2004, 06:37 PM	#6
Vicki L. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 158	Well, DeNiro, Dean, Hoffman, and Brando are or were method actors which means they put themselves in a crazy state of mind and do what they would in the real situation. If they seem more convincing than Alda Alda it's merely because they are going absolutely crazy while acting.Spencer Tracywas not a method actor and in many ways Alda equals him. But true to his Italian personality Alda enjoys successfully taking over a situation. Plus Alda is more interested in writing than just acting so has multiple interest on film. He's much more than Irish Spencer Tracy ever was capable of being. Are you actually serious about Tom Cruise being better or even half as good an actor as Alda?

12-16-2004, 12:01 AM	#7
rich2 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 65	As for Tom Cruise you don't have to take my word for it. Look at all the great actors and directors who have sought him out. Now I don't think Mission Impossible 2 was any great work of art, but I like most of his work. I admit his roles are not very diverse but what he does, he does very well. I think Cruise is probably the greatest actor of his generation. You couldn't say the same about Alan Alda.

02-02-2005, 06:51 PM	#8
Vicki L. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 158	Rich actors and actresses are hired today more for how they look in front of the camera than for they're acting ability. Who in their right mind cares if Cruise was hired alot and is considered the greatest actor of his generation when his generation are all a bunch of non-actors? Better to follow in heaven (Alda) than lead in hell(Cruise).

02-02-2005, 09:21 PM	#10
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	He's an amazing actor, hopefully soon to be Academy Award Winning Actor

02-07-2005, 01:12 PM	#13
Rozone Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2005 Posts: 10	I think Alan Alda is a genius behind the scenes and infront- He has done great moviues- all his episodes of Mash are my favorites- he is now up for an oscar--that should say something

02-07-2005, 02:42 PM	#15
Screenwriter Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 18, 2002 Posts: 760	He's up for an Oscar? Way to go Alan.