Three of my favorite actresses return to TV this midseason, and that’s probably a good thing, but I’m a little ambivalent. In TV, I often start to think of a performer as being their character, so I’m resistant when they take on a new (lesser) role. To me, David Boreanaz is Angel, not Seeley Booth. Nathan Fillion is Captain Mal, not Castle.
However, I can’t be TOO resistant to new roles, otherwise I’d never develop favorite stars in the first place. To me, Kristen Bell will always be Veronica Mars, but I’ve enjoyed her post-“Veronica” movies. Alexis Bledel is Rory Gilmore, but I accepted her as part of the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”
I think it comes down to this: If the new role gives the actor a chance to show more skills, I’m up for it. I guess part of me will always think Boreanaz is slumming on “Bones” (which isn’t fair to that show — I enjoy many shows that aren’t as good as “Angel,” but I’m holding “Bones” to a higher standard because Angel is in it).
I face this good news/bad news dilemma this midseason with Shiri Appleby (“Roswell”) in “Life Unexpected,” Tina Majorino (“Veronica Mars”) in “The Deep End” and Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) in “Parenthood.”
First off: Appleby in “Life Unexpected” (8 p.m. Mondays on The CW, starting tonight). My biggest problem with this role is that Appleby has always played teens and 20-somethings, and now she’s suddenly playing a mom. Not a mom of a newborn baby, which would be believable, but the mom of a teenager.
Appleby is 31 and her daughter on the show, Britt Robertson as the oddly named Lux, is 19. That means Appleby’s character, Cate, would’ve had Lux when she was 12, which probably isn’t physiologically possible. The argument, of course, is that Appleby is playing a bit older than her age and Robertson is playing a bit younger than her age. Fine: Robertson seemed to be about 12 in “Swingtown,” and that just came out a couple years ago. Problem is, Appleby doesn’t look a day over her actual age; she’s not far removed from playing 19-year-olds herself.
I’m willing to suspend disbelief if “Life Unexpected” — a mom and dad, who haven’t talked in years, suddenly find out they have a teenage daughter — lives up to the hype. I can’t argue with the cast, which also includes Kerr Smith (who I liked on “Dawson’s Creek,” but I’ll have no trouble making the adjustment, similar to how Joshua Jackson seems a natural fit to me on “Fringe”) and Kristoffer Polaha (one of those actors who you’ve seen many times before, but you can’t remember where; “Miss Guided” is the credit that stands out to me as I peruse his IMDB resume).
Someone dubbed this series “Gilmore Girls” meets “Juno” (which, by the way, is like calling “Avatar” “‘Dances with Wolves’ ” in space” — it may be accurate, but it sounds ridiculous). Well, I like both “Gilmore” and “Juno,” but “Life Unexpected” needs to be its own show. Liz Tigelaar, the exec producer, also helmed “What About Brian” and wrote for many good shows. And while I may not be sold on this “I can’t believe I have a kid!” premise, I have to keep in mind that the series itself will have many more story lines — and those are what’ll make it good or bad.
Next up: Majorino as Addy, one of many young lawyers on “The Deep End” (7 p.m. Thursdays on ABC, starting Thursday). Matt Long from “Jack & Bobby” is another familiar face. If it’s any good, “The Deep End” will explore that scary feeling when you are starting your first job in your dream field and you wonder if you’ve made a huge mistake (in the case of “The Deep End,” the profession is — unfortunately — law; TV producers can’t resist the allure of recycling and reusing sets). Majorino is an unique-looking (in a very cute way) actress who lights up the screen whether she’s playing a computer whiz on “Veronica” or a boondoggle/Glamour Shots peddler in “Napoleon Dynamite.” I’ll watch her in anything — unless it’s awful, which “The Deep End” might be, judging from early reviews.
And finally, Graham plays a daughter and a mother again on “Parenthood” (8 p.m. Mondays on NBC, starting March 2). The exec producer of this family drama is Jason Katims, who has launched an impressive number of good shows (most recently, a little gem called “Friday Night Lights”). Still, with Graham playing a single mom in a show chronicling three generations — it’s getting close to that “too familiar” territory that makes me resistant. After all, there can only be one Lorelai Gilmore. Bring back “Gilmore Girls” if you want, but don’t cast Graham as Lorelai again and tell me it’s a brand-new show.
What midseason shows are you looking forward to? And how do you feel when your favorite actors take on new roles? Share your thoughts below.
Comments
So after a few episodes I am going to have to admit that Human Target is really growing on me. It reminds me a lot of a mix of old 80’s sitcoms…
Maybe A-Team vs. McGyver vs. Knight Rider…At first I expected something more serious but after knowing what to expect now I enjoy it for what it is. Cheese and Action!# Posted By Shaune | 2/1/10 9:28 PM
I’m glad to see Mark Valley has a leading role in a show that people like. He’s one of those actors that has been around so long in so many small roles that he deserves to have some success. I don’t think “Human Target” is a particularly great show, but like you say, it succeeds at what it’s trying to do.# Posted By John Hansen | 2/2/10 2:39 AM
Valley looks oddly familiar but I can’t seem to place it. Even using IMDB I don’t think I recognize any reason that I would know him.
Do you know where I may have seen him before?# Posted By Shaune | 2/4/10 1:52 PM
I liked him for his “Once and Again” role, but most people probably know him best as Olivia’s love interest in Season 1 of “Fringe.” He also was the lead in a show a few years back that was cancelled quickly.# Posted By John Hansen | 2/4/10 4:10 PM