A Salute to Television's Most Underrated Sitcom Performers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-16-2009, 11:44 AM

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Rodney Dangerfield wasn’t the only comic to get no respect. Some of the finest work in sitcoms today is being turned in by people who don’t earn Emmy nominations, don’t grace magazine covers, don’t get multimillion-dollar movie deals - and provide the deepest laughs on the air.

Here are five performers who deserve some extra love.

KALEY CUOCO

The role: Penny, the not-so-ditsy blonde neighbor on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m. Mondays, CBS)

Where you’ve seen her before: “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” and “Charmed.”

Why we love her: She’s a knockout - as a comic. Obviously she’s spent more time studying the true greats (Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett) than trying to perfect a Suzanne Somers impression, which is why there’s more than Thighmaster commercials in her future.

In her own words: “The role did start out as ‘the girl next door,’ but they’ve been writing some really great, fun stuff for me. She’s a real girl. She’s smart in her own way and I think she represents the audience, looking at these guys who are so different than what we’re all used to.”

Betcha didn’t know: A highly ranked amateur tennis player as a teen, she now gets her athletic buzz in a Ping-Pong contest backstage.

BRIE LARSON

The role: Kate, girl with four mothers-in-one on “United States of Tara” (10 p.m. Sundays, Showtime).

Where you’ve seen her before: “Raising Dad” and “The Babysitter.”

Why we love her: Toni Collette gets all the raves for juggling multiple personalities, but Larson connects with just one captivating character: a pouty, perplexed teenager who somehow doesn’t make us want to lock her in the closet.

In her own words: “She’s a teenage girl, who is extremely smart in ways that her family doesn’t quite understand, because she’s so manipulative in taking what a lot of kids do when they pity themselves, and they’re always trying to find something in their families that is wrong, so they can use it to act out. In her case, it’s kind of a more extreme example.”

Betcha didn’t know: She loves “Tara” writer Diablo Cody, but hasn’t seen Cody’s Oscar-winning debut, “Juno.”

RHYS DARBY

The role: Murray, the eternally optimistic band manager of “Flight of the Conchords” (10 p.m. Sundays, HBO).

Where you’ve seen him before: “Yes Man” and, if you’re lucky, standup stages across New Zealand and Britain.

Why we love him: He’s a modern-day version of the Partridge Family’s Reuben Kincaid - except with two Dannys on his hands.

In his own words: As he told the Onion, “I thought, ‘People aren’t going to like my character, because he’s so different. If they’re really into these cool-looking idiots, they’re not going to like this other idiot who kind of gets in the way and is always uptight’ ... I guess because it’s the opposite side of the seesaw, it just fits in perfectly.”

Betcha didn’t know: He played Roger Federer’s coach in a Nike commercial.

GLENN QUAGMIRE

The role: Quagmire, the most politically incorrect, perverted friend of the “Family Guy” (9 p.m. Sundays, Fox). His voice sounds an awful lot like series creator Seth MacFarlane.

Where you’ve seen him before: Sitting in a van across the street from your local elementary school.

Why we love him: Um, love may not be the right word. But when we’re looking for cutting-edge, PG-37 humor, he’s thrust ahead of Cartman as our go-to guy.

In his own words: “Thrust! You said thrust! Giggity!”

Betcha didn’t know: His favorite TV show is “Wings.”

HAMISH LINKLATER

The role: Matthew, the sometimes bemused, always baffled brother in “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (8 p.m. Wednesdays, CBS)

Where you’ve seen him before: “Gideon’s Crossing” and “American Dreams.”

Why we love him: As co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus tears into comedy at a screeching pitch, he goes the opposite direction, taking low-key to a level no grand piano could reach.

In his own words: “I like putting constraints on characters,” he told the New York Times. “Working from the outside to in. The tighter the restraints, the more gymnastics you can do.”

Betcha didn’t know: He co-created a pilot for ABC, “The Prince of Motor City,” starring Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell, but it’s still up in the air whether the network will pick it up as a series.

ekkostar · 03-16-2009, 02:10 PM

I think that Bryan Cranston, Patrick Warburton and Shadoe Stevens are underappreciated, but at least Breaking Bad is making Cranston more widely noticed. Shadoe has always been awesome in his first field of work, radio, but I also think he's a great actor and could have been in more comedies (Watch the movie ShadoeVision over on YouTube, it's hilarious!).
Now if we're talking about REALLY obscure, Jerry Levine and Anthony Tyler Quinn could have done more, Levine especially is both a great actor and director.

tv star collector · 03-16-2009, 02:39 PM

David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!, Nurses)
Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond, 'Til Death)
French Stewart (3rd Rock from the Sun)
Kevin James (King of Queens)

Chocoholic · 03-16-2009, 03:00 PM

Steven Weber (Wings)

dawsongirl · 03-16-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

Steven Weber (Wings)

I agree.

Also Daniel Davis from "The Nanny".

TJL · 03-16-2009, 09:53 PM

John C. Reilly - Scrubs.

I've been saying this for years; he is one of the funniest guys on primetime TV. Why he was never nominated for an Emmy still baffles me.

Chocoholic · 03-19-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

John C. Reilly - Scrubs.

I've been saying this for years; he is one of the funniest guys on primetime TV. Why he was never nominated for an Emmy still baffles me.

He is certainly underrated. You couldn't even get his name right.

It's John C. McGinley.

TJL · 03-19-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

He is certainly underrated. You couldn't even get his name right.

It's John C. McGinley.

D'oh! I hate when i do that.

Boy do i feel stupid. In my defense, I haven't been sleeping well lately, and i'm not firing on all cylinders.

Although John C. Reilly is a very underrated comedic actor too.

icecream · 03-19-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekkostar

Now if we're talking about REALLY obscure, Anthony Tyler Quinn could have done more

Did you see Anthony on Boy Meets World? He was great as Mr. Turner, his role there didn't last long enough.

Rosslover · 03-20-2009, 10:41 PM

How about Courteney Cox of FRIENDS. In the last seasons, she had to deal as Monica with infertility. She and her husband in real life had to deal with it on a regular basis. Over a course of ten years, all of her co stars were nominated except her. The two that won were her female costars, coincidentally both gave birth in the show. Even her television husband was nominated.

Tubehead · 03-21-2009, 12:07 AM

i always thoiught tim allen was underated

KurtfromPitts · 03-21-2009, 01:17 PM

I would give Ted McGinley the nod. Like I've said, he deserves better than being the patron saint for the "jump the shark" website.

m campbell · 03-22-2009, 08:54 PM

Cathryn Damon of Soap. She just did not get the attention that Katherine Helmond and Billy Crystal got. Yet she was hilarious and she did get a emmy.

C_ME · 03-22-2009, 10:02 PM

Too many...

Martin Lawrence (Martin) - I have NEVER seen so much energy given to a performance on TV.

Ed O'Neill - He is incredibly funny and has a powerful stage presence

Ken Osmond - No one could play Eddie Haskell as well as he did and make the character likeable

Tony Dow - Wally was probably the most realistic teenager portrayed on screen

Mark-Paul Gosselaar - Didn't play the most realistic teenager but probably the coolest one.

Desi Arnaz - He was charming, a great singer, and could be funny in his own right, even though he was playing straight man to Lucy

Reginald VelJohnson - Doesn't get enough credit for his contribution to Family Matters

Jaleel White - An immense talent who is sadly typecast as the beloved Urkel

Richard Kline - Great comic timing

Janet Hubert-Whitten - A great actress. Too bad she was replaced by a subpar actress for the role of Aunt Viv.

Vicki Lawrence - What can I say. I love Thelma Harper!

Amanda Bearse - Like Ed O'Neill, she was incredibly funny as Marcy D'Arcy. I'm still surprised that she is a lesbian in real life, which shows how great she is as an actress.

Joyce DeWitt - I always thought Three's Company was as much her show as the late great John Ritter's

Roseanne - She doesn't get enough credit as an actress

MickeyMac · 03-23-2009, 03:29 PM

David White (Bewitched)

Hayden Rorke (I Dream of Jeannie)

William Demerest (My Three Sons)

Larry Keating and Leon Ames (Mr. Ed)

Ivan Dixon (Hogan's Heroes)

Nathaniel Taylor (Sanford and Son)

Ted Casidy(The Addams Family)

Russell Johnson (Gilligans Island)

03-16-2009, 11:44 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	A Salute to Television's Most Underrated Sitcom Performers Link Rodney Dangerfield wasn’t the only comic to get no respect. Some of the finest work in sitcoms today is being turned in by people who don’t earn Emmy nominations, don’t grace magazine covers, don’t get multimillion-dollar movie deals - and provide the deepest laughs on the air. Here are five performers who deserve some extra love. KALEY CUOCO The role: Penny, the not-so-ditsy blonde neighbor on “The Big Bang Theory” (8 p.m. Mondays, CBS) Where you’ve seen her before: “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” and “Charmed.” Why we love her: She’s a knockout - as a comic. Obviously she’s spent more time studying the true greats (Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett) than trying to perfect a Suzanne Somers impression, which is why there’s more than Thighmaster commercials in her future. In her own words: “The role did start out as ‘the girl next door,’ but they’ve been writing some really great, fun stuff for me. She’s a real girl. She’s smart in her own way and I think she represents the audience, looking at these guys who are so different than what we’re all used to.” Betcha didn’t know: A highly ranked amateur tennis player as a teen, she now gets her athletic buzz in a Ping-Pong contest backstage. BRIE LARSON The role: Kate, girl with four mothers-in-one on “United States of Tara” (10 p.m. Sundays, Showtime). Where you’ve seen her before: “Raising Dad” and “The Babysitter.” Why we love her: Toni Collette gets all the raves for juggling multiple personalities, but Larson connects with just one captivating character: a pouty, perplexed teenager who somehow doesn’t make us want to lock her in the closet. In her own words: “She’s a teenage girl, who is extremely smart in ways that her family doesn’t quite understand, because she’s so manipulative in taking what a lot of kids do when they pity themselves, and they’re always trying to find something in their families that is wrong, so they can use it to act out. In her case, it’s kind of a more extreme example.” Betcha didn’t know: She loves “Tara” writer Diablo Cody, but hasn’t seen Cody’s Oscar-winning debut, “Juno.” RHYS DARBY The role: Murray, the eternally optimistic band manager of “Flight of the Conchords” (10 p.m. Sundays, HBO). Where you’ve seen him before: “Yes Man” and, if you’re lucky, standup stages across New Zealand and Britain. Why we love him: He’s a modern-day version of the Partridge Family’s Reuben Kincaid - except with two Dannys on his hands. In his own words: As he told the Onion, “I thought, ‘People aren’t going to like my character, because he’s so different. If they’re really into these cool-looking idiots, they’re not going to like this other idiot who kind of gets in the way and is always uptight’ ... I guess because it’s the opposite side of the seesaw, it just fits in perfectly.” Betcha didn’t know: He played Roger Federer’s coach in a Nike commercial. GLENN QUAGMIRE The role: Quagmire, the most politically incorrect, perverted friend of the “Family Guy” (9 p.m. Sundays, Fox). His voice sounds an awful lot like series creator Seth MacFarlane. Where you’ve seen him before: Sitting in a van across the street from your local elementary school. Why we love him: Um, love may not be the right word. But when we’re looking for cutting-edge, PG-37 humor, he’s thrust ahead of Cartman as our go-to guy. In his own words: “Thrust! You said thrust! Giggity!” Betcha didn’t know: His favorite TV show is “Wings.” HAMISH LINKLATER The role: Matthew, the sometimes bemused, always baffled brother in “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (8 p.m. Wednesdays, CBS) Where you’ve seen him before: “Gideon’s Crossing” and “American Dreams.” Why we love him: As co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus tears into comedy at a screeching pitch, he goes the opposite direction, taking low-key to a level no grand piano could reach. In his own words: “I like putting constraints on characters,” he told the New York Times. “Working from the outside to in. The tighter the restraints, the more gymnastics you can do.” Betcha didn’t know: He co-created a pilot for ABC, “The Prince of Motor City,” starring Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell, but it’s still up in the air whether the network will pick it up as a series.

03-16-2009, 02:10 PM	#2
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	I think that Bryan Cranston, Patrick Warburton and Shadoe Stevens are underappreciated, but at least Breaking Bad is making Cranston more widely noticed. Shadoe has always been awesome in his first field of work, radio, but I also think he's a great actor and could have been in more comedies (Watch the movie ShadoeVision over on YouTube, it's hilarious!). Now if we're talking about REALLY obscure, Jerry Levine and Anthony Tyler Quinn could have done more, Levine especially is both a great actor and director.
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

03-16-2009, 09:53 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	John C. Reilly - Scrubs. I've been saying this for years; he is one of the funniest guys on primetime TV. Why he was never nominated for an Emmy still baffles me.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

03-21-2009, 12:07 AM	#11
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	home inprovment i always thoiught tim allen was underated

03-22-2009, 08:54 PM	#13
m campbell Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 01, 2005 Location: Having lunch with Mary and Jessica Posts: 204	A Salute to Television's Most Underrated Sitcom Performers Cathryn Damon of Soap. She just did not get the attention that Katherine Helmond and Billy Crystal got. Yet she was hilarious and she did get a emmy.

03-16-2009, 02:39 PM	#3
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!, Nurses) Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond, 'Til Death) French Stewart (3rd Rock from the Sun) Kevin James (King of Queens)

03-16-2009, 03:00 PM	#4
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Steven Weber (Wings)

03-20-2009, 10:41 PM	#10
Rosslover Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 21, 2005 Posts: 431	How about Courteney Cox of FRIENDS. In the last seasons, she had to deal as Monica with infertility. She and her husband in real life had to deal with it on a regular basis. Over a course of ten years, all of her co stars were nominated except her. The two that won were her female costars, coincidentally both gave birth in the show. Even her television husband was nominated.

03-21-2009, 01:17 PM	#12
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,535	I would give Ted McGinley the nod. Like I've said, he deserves better than being the patron saint for the "jump the shark" website.

03-22-2009, 10:02 PM	#14
C_ME Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 08, 2003 Posts: 118	Too many... Martin Lawrence (Martin) - I have NEVER seen so much energy given to a performance on TV. Ed O'Neill - He is incredibly funny and has a powerful stage presence Ken Osmond - No one could play Eddie Haskell as well as he did and make the character likeable Tony Dow - Wally was probably the most realistic teenager portrayed on screen Mark-Paul Gosselaar - Didn't play the most realistic teenager but probably the coolest one. Desi Arnaz - He was charming, a great singer, and could be funny in his own right, even though he was playing straight man to Lucy Reginald VelJohnson - Doesn't get enough credit for his contribution to Family Matters Jaleel White - An immense talent who is sadly typecast as the beloved Urkel Richard Kline - Great comic timing Janet Hubert-Whitten - A great actress. Too bad she was replaced by a subpar actress for the role of Aunt Viv. Vicki Lawrence - What can I say. I love Thelma Harper! Amanda Bearse - Like Ed O'Neill, she was incredibly funny as Marcy D'Arcy. I'm still surprised that she is a lesbian in real life, which shows how great she is as an actress. Joyce DeWitt - I always thought Three's Company was as much her show as the late great John Ritter's Roseanne - She doesn't get enough credit as an actress

03-23-2009, 03:29 PM	#15
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	David White (Bewitched) Hayden Rorke (I Dream of Jeannie) William Demerest (My Three Sons) Larry Keating and Leon Ames (Mr. Ed) Ivan Dixon (Hogan's Heroes) Nathaniel Taylor (Sanford and Son) Ted Casidy(The Addams Family) Russell Johnson (Gilligans Island)