Mon, Aug 24, 2009
It's tough being the middle child in life - and on television. You're no longer the baby of the family, and you don't have any authority. Christopher Knight (new interview) was middle brother Peter on The Brady Bunch. As Vanessa Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe (new interview) fought for her parents' attention on The Cosby Show. And as Malcolm In The Middle, Frankie Muniz (library interview) did his best to survive one of TV's most dysfunctional families.
Mon, Aug 31, 2009
These guys are always on hand to help fix a leaky faucet or mend a broken heart. Pat Harrington (new interview) was the ever-confident Dwayne F. Schneider on Neil Simon's groundbreaking sitcom One Day at a Time. Andy Lauer (new interview) was the ever-ready messenger Charlie on Caroline in the City. And Jesse Metcalfe (library interview) was the sexy-hunky gardener John Rowland on Desperate Housewives.
Mon, Sep 7, 2009
These guys were always on hand to help fix a leaky faucet or mend a broken heart. Pat Harrington was the ever-confident Dwayne F. Schneider on Neil Simon's groundbreaking sitcom, One Day at a Time (1975). Andy Lauer was the ever-ready messenger Charlie on Caroline in the City (1995). And Jesse Metcalfe was the sexy-hunky gardener John Rowland on Desperate Housewives (2004).
Mon, Sep 14, 2009
They're lovable little geeks, but they have to be lucky to get the girl. Robert Carradine grabbed his glasses and pocket protector and stood up for himself in Revenge of the Nerds. On Family Ties, Marc Price stumbled his way into the hearts of sit-com viewers everywhere playing the terminally flustered Skippy Handleman. And with the help of his equally awkward dad, Jason Biggs was always embarrassing himself in front of the ladies as Jim Levinstein in the American Pie franchise.
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
These handsome lads gave girls a reason to dream. David Chokachi was the ultra-fit lifeguard Cody Madison on Baywatch, who always landed the most attractive girl on the beach. On Fame, Billy Hufsey was dancer Christopher Donlon whose pretty-boy poster was stuck to a gazillion bedroom walls. And as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, the smoldering James Van Der Beek had an on-again-off-again love for Josephine Potter that his fans would have died for.
Mon, Oct 5, 2009
In space, no one can hear you scream. That's why you have to be tough as nails. Gil Gerard played a 20th century astronaut frozen in time in "Buck Rogers In The 25th Century." Tricia Helfer played a sexy-but-deadly Cylon in the reboot of "Battlestar Galactica." And Brent Spiner had all the tactical info at his fingertips as Lt. Commander Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Growing up isn't easy, but it's infinitely harder for these troubled teens. On Family Matters, Darius McCrary played Eddie Winslow, a smart-mouthed kid who developed a gambling problem. Jeremy London was abused petty criminal Griffen Holbrook, who ran from his problems instead of facing them on Party of Five. As Angela Hayes, Mena Suvari was jail bait personified as she tried to hop into bed with her best friend's dad in American Beauty.
Mon, Nov 2, 2009
Smarty Pants - they use their heads, and tickle our funny bones. Steve Landesberg brought brilliance to New York City's 12th Precinct as know-it-all Detective Sergeant Arthur Dietrich on Barney Miller.Casting spells and creating potions was no problem for Beth Broderick who played Aunt Zelda on the Friday night teen hit comedy Sabrina the Teenage Witch, based on the Archie comic series of the same name. And Harold Ramis was a master of electronics and paranormal detection as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters.
Mon, Nov 9, 2009
When you're trying to find the answers, sometimes the only way to get them is to go undercover. Angie Dickinson ran with the Rat Pack before going incognito to work the streets as LAPD Sgt. "Pepper" Anderson on the top rated Emmy-winning series Police Woman. With a Walther PPK and a license to Kill, George Lazenby was the most infamous James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. On Alias, Michael Vartan played CIA agent Michael Vaughn who used his knowledge of language and subterfuge to topple terrorist organizations.
Mon, Nov 16, 2009
It's no act - these TV cutie pies are sweet as can be. The Love Boat's Lauren Tewes helped passengers find love on the high seas as fetching Cruise Director Julie McCoy. On Mad About You Helen Hunt was the terminally perky Jamie Buckman. And Karen Valentine helped motivate the students of Walt Whitman High as beloved student teacher Alice Johnson in Room 222, and later as a regular on Love American Style.
Mon, Nov 23, 2009
Single Moms may be raising kids alone, but they ways seem to have the answers. As Reba Hart on the hit sitcom, Reba, Reba McEntire had to juggle three kids, her ex-husband and his obnoxious girlfriend. On Degrassi Jr. High, Amanda Stepto had her hands full playing Christine "Spike" Nelson, a pregnant 14-year-old student. And Amy Brenneman tried to keep her house in order as confused single mom Amy Gray on Judging Amy.
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
These angels of mercy will do whatever it takes to save your life. Nicole Eggert (new interview) made getting into trouble in the water a little more desirable as lifeguard Summer Quinn on Baywatch. As prostitute-turned-registered nurse, Bobbie Spencer, Jacklyn Zeman turned her life around and helped others in the process when she checked into General Hospital. The small town of Rome, Wisconsin would have been too much to handle without the help of Dr. Jill Brock played by Kathy Baker on the quirky small-town police drama Picket Fences.
Mon, Dec 7, 2009
You don't want to be around a hot head when they lose their cool. Under layers of latex, Michael Dorn played short-tempered but battle-ready Klingon Lt. Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Screaming "No soup for you!" Larry Thomas became a cult TV icon when he stood up to the cast of Seinfeld as the notorious Soup Nazi. Dorian Harewood was armed and dangerous as Eightball, a one-man killing machine in Stanley Kubrick's legendary Vietnam antiwar picture, Full Metal Jacket.
Mon, Dec 14, 2009
Schmoozers... they'll say anything to make you see things their way. On "WKRP in Cincinnati," Frank Bonner was the terminally slippery, white-belt wearing, polyester-suit sporting ad-salesman Herb Tarlek. As the womanizing Charlie Dietz in the sitcom "Empty Nest," David Leisure, was constantly trying to worm his way into the Weston family (or at least the Weston family refrigerator). And legendary character actor Rip Torn was never slicker than as the manipulative producer Artie on "The Larry Sanders Show" (a role that earned him an Emmy).
Mon, Dec 21, 2009
When laughs are on the line, these funny men take comedy very seriously. As part of the legendary lineup on "The Carol Burnett Show," Tim Conway had us doubled over with an army of outrageous characters. Fred Grandy was always ready to make the passengers laugh as Gopher Smith on "The Love Boat." On "Kids in the Hall," Scott Thompson dropped our jaws with an array of off the wall characters including the Queen and lounge singer Buddy Cole (who was a bit of a queen in his own right).
Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Bad girls - we love to hate them, because they know what they want and will do whatever it takes to get it. Sherilyn Fenn had a taste for older men as seductive rich girl Audrey Horne on "Twin Peaks." As Libby Chessler, Jenna Leigh Green used her popularity to make high school hell for "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." And in the blockbuster musical Grease, Stockard Channing was every parent's nightmare when she let her libido lead the way as the Betty Rizzo.
Mon, Jan 4, 2010
These lonely girls had to grow up without their mothers, so their Dads and friends were even more important to them. Mayim Bialik was Blossom, the whip-smart teenager with the quirky wardrobe and a love of dancing. Blossom managed to make her way through high school with the help of her charming dad and two brothers, including Joey 'Woah!' Lawrence. Jodie Sweetin was the middle daughter Stephanie Tanner on Full House, whose dad has asked his brother and best friend to move in after his wife died in a car crash. And Sarah Polley became a Canadian TV icon and hero to a generation of girls playing a motherless big city girl who was sent on the "Road of Avonlea" to live with her aunts.
Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Mean People... you don't want to mess with them. Trust us. Jamie Walters brought menace to the happiest zip code on the planet when he played Donna Martin's abusive boyfriend Ray Pruitt on "Beverly Hills 90210." Morgan Brittany topped an already amazing career playing Katherine Wentworth on "Dallas." And as Richard Hayden, Saturday Night Live's David Spade spent his time tormenting Chris Farley in "Tommy Boy."
Mon, Jan 18, 2010
These folks just can't mind their own business. Edie McClurg has made a career of playing nosy types, in particular as neighbor Patty Poole on The Hogan Family - the show that was re-titled after Valerie Harper was fired over a salary dispute. Allyce Beasley was the long-suffering den mother on the volatile series Moonlighting. And Sean Hayes took earned seven consecutive Emmy nominations playing the hyperactive Jack McFarland on "Will and Grace."
Mon, Jan 25, 2010
When these crime solving Beach Boys hit the water, they're on the case. As Cody Allen, Perry King ran the Pier 56 Detective Agency from the comfort of his boat on "Riptide." On Magnum PI, Larry Manetti split his time helping Magnum crack the case while managing an exclusive members-only beach-side club in Oahu, Hawaii. And alongside Will Smith, Martin Lawrence was armed and dangerous as Miami Police Detective Martin Burnett in both "Bad Boys" movies. F
Mon, Feb 1, 2010
No phone, no light, no motor car - no problem. These men in the wilderness can make do with the bare essentials. In "The Blue Lagoon" Christopher Atkins is a boy abandoned on a desert island with his lifelong friend. Ron Ely battled the elements and all manner of jungle creatures including a man-eating tiger to play the title role on the hugely popular TV series "Tarzan." Everyone on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman lived in the wilderness, but as the rugged Sully, Joe Lando went one further by living outside of town and embracing the ways of the aboriginal tribes.
Mon, Feb 8, 2010
You don't want to get in the way of these determined women on a mission. As Caitlyn Ryan on "Degrassi Jr. High," Stacie Mistysyn's unbridled eco-activism kept her conscience clear, but it often landed her in hot water. Kristin Bell played teen detective "Veronica Mars" on the popular TV show of the same name. And Sarah Michelle Gellar answered destiny's call when she took on the title role in the TV reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Mon, Feb 15, 2010
Famous daughters... for them talent runs in the family. Ami Dolenz was living in the shadow of her father Monkee Mickey Dolenz before she made her name as Sloan Peterson on TV's 'Ferris Bueller'.Before she came into her own as the deadly assassin Maggie Hayward in 'Point of No Return', Bridget Fonda was born into a Hollywood acting dynasty - the daughter of '60s cinema icon Peter Fonda. The daughter of Russ Tamblyn, Amber Tamblyn (library interview) is a third generation performer who came to national attention as the title character in 'Joan of Arcadia'.
Mon, Feb 22, 2010
Private Eyes - they're always on the lookout for the bad guys. On Jake and the Fatman, Joe Penny was the hunky tough-guy P.I. who helped district attorney William Conrad crack the weekly case. Conrad was already famous from his earlier series, Cannon - but had slowed down enough that Joe took over in the field. On Mannix, Mike Connors took a beating as Korean war vet Joe Mannix, the most resilient P.I. in Los Angeles. On Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck was one of the 80s most recognizable stars on the TV dial.