26 replies to this topic

[DollEyes]

Since this is an Aaron Sorkin production, it's no suprise that the cast has done other things, from the sublime (Jane Fonda in Klute) to the ridiculous (Jeff Daniels in Dumb & Dumber) and a few things in between (Sam Waterston in virtually every season of L&O: Original Recipe), to varying degrees of success. Some have been Oscar-winners, like Slumdog Millionaire 2008's Best Picture starring Dev Patel; others, otoh, not so much, to put it mildly-for example, Emily Mortimer in the remake of The Pink Panther. The less said about the latter, the better.

In any case, whether they are lead, supporting or whatever, here's where to vent about The Newsroom cast's other roles.

Edited by TWoP Mars, Jun 24, 2012 @ 5:33 PM.

[mgoshawk]

Just realized yesterday that John Gallagher jr. played the Tyler kid in West Wing's 20 Hours in America.

[Eegah]

Allison Pill is probably best known as Kim from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Though she's also really worth checking out in The Pillars of the Earth as Queen Maud, the founder of House Plantagenet.

Dev Patel has Slumdog, of course, but also his regrettable casting in The Last Airbender that changed the movie's offense from "all the major characters are white" to "good white people versus evil brown people."

[SpaceTraveler]

John Gallagher, Jr. is also pretty well-known for his stage work -- he won a Tony in 2007 for originating Moritz in Spring Awakening, and he originated the lead role in a musical based on Green Day's American Idiot and appeared in the Broadway production of Jerusalem with Mark Rylance.

[CozyKat]

I've previously seen Emily Mortimer in "Young Adam," "Match Point" and "30 Rock," in that order. Her NC-17-making scenes with Ewan McGregor in "YA" (hugely depressing movie, which I caught on HBO because of my Tilda Swinton fandom) were so emotionally yucky-sad that I've had a hard time purging them from my mind when she turns up in something else. I felt bad for the actress as well as her character, even though EM was clearly up for it and knew what she was getting into. Her sunny perkiness in everything I've seen somehow makes it worse.

She really impressed me in this, more than I expected - especially the graceful way she handled some of her over-the-top dialogue. A brassier actress could've made MacKenzie unbearable fast. I didn't expect her to be one of my show-favorites, or to have so many layers. So that's nice for EM. I can stop feeling needlessly bad for her now!

[braggtastic]

To me, Alison Pill is best known for her NYC stage work. I've seen her in quite a few things over the years including Lieutenant of Inishmore, Blaokbird, Reason to be Pretty & Mauritius. She's also in the current Woody Allen movie To Rome With Love.

[Eegah]

And season 2 of In Treatment, as cancer victim April.

[yargrnhoj]

In the second episode, I kept expecting to hear Herb (John Carpenter) say "Live from Studio City on the Sunset Strip", speaking of Sorkin character (and name) reuse. But the again, I may be the only one who has watched all of Studio 60 multiple times.

[brothertonbanks]

I may be the only one who has watched all of Studio 60 multiple times.

I watched it many many times. People complain that the show within the show wasn't funny, but I don't think SNL is any funnier most of the time either.

Anyway, Chris Messina was on last night, formerly Clair's boyfriend on Six Feet Under.

[Eegah]

Allison Pill's story in the Youtube series Wigs starts tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's written by Neil LaBute, a guy whose writing is even more sexist than Sorkin's (he did the remake of The Wicker Man, to give you an idea).

[3D23]

Immediately focused in on Gary Cooper a/k/a Chris Chalk.

He portrayed Marine gone bad Tom Walker on Homeland. I was sad to see him blown away, but am extremely happy to see him here.

[TwizzWhizz11]

I was on a plane recently and caught Dev in 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'. His character was kind of grating (endlessly optimistic) and his story arc was a bit weak, but Dev played him well.

[ActingPrincess]

I just recently saw Pieces Of April and both JGJ and Alison Pill both in it. So completely different. I also am one of the few (probably) who has seen every episode of S60 multiple times. That show had promise, too bad but I am glad to see AS back again. I never saw anything of Sam's but I have heard his name said on Friends.

[ThatPoshGirl]

I know Dev best from Skins.He was part of the first gen cast. For me, his character was the least interesting of the bunch. In fact, I had to look it up to even be sure when generation he was in.

It's nice to see Adina Porter playing something other than a crack whore.

[netcord2002]

Jeff Daniels was in Gettysburg in 1993 as the Prof. from Maine whose division held the flank in the woods against overwhelming odds. It was a great role and the one I choose to remember Jeff for much rather than Dumb & Dumber which was just plain dumb.

[OptimisticCynic]

I'd also recommend "The Lookout" for a great Jeff Daniels performance.

[Redtracer]

Add The Purple Rose of Cairo to the Jeff Daniels must-watch list. I happen to think that it's also the best movie of Woody Allen's whole career; I've always been baffled that it never seems to be mentioned in the same breath as Annie Hall and Manhattan.

Edited by Redtracer, Jul 29, 2012 @ 10:22 PM.

[Last Time Lord]

I know Dev best from Skins.He was part of the first gen cast. For me, his character was the least interesting of the bunch. In fact, I had to look it up to even be sure when generation he was in.

I wanted to smack his character on Skins so much.

[woopwoopkitty]

For me, Jeff Daniels will always be, first and foremost, Flap Horton.

[dubiousegg]

I feel like there is some very weird meta-irony in a cast member from The Newsroom appearing on Stars Earn Stripes. A show whose existence, frankly, I find way more disturbing in message than the Real Housewives franchise.

(I'm not literally suggesting that Sorkin has a responsibility to address Stars Earn Stripes, or that appearing in a Sorkin vehicle obliges Terry Crews not to do a faux-military reality show. Just that it's weird.)

[romantic idiot]

[small voice]I love Jeff Daniels from Speed. He made me cry [/small voice]

[deadorblack]

@romantic idiot, yes! That's where I remember Jeff most from and I loved him there.

Edited by deadorblack, Aug 16, 2012 @ 9:10 PM.

[MaryM47]

Elliott and Lisa will be busy while Newsroom is on a break:

David Harbour will be guesting on an ep of the new show Elementary, and Kelen Coleman will be visiting Hart of Dixie and TVLand's new show Brothers-in-Law.

[Princess Aldrea]

(Sam Waterston in virtually every season of L&O: Original Recipe),

I was recently surprised to see the guy who plays Don in a Law & Order rerun playing a guy who Jack thinks is going to shoot him but ends up aiming for someone else. He made him surprisingly sympathetic.

[BilBarstow]

Olivia Munn has signed on for a multi-episode arc on New Girl

I hope that this is just Hiatus work, part of the current upswing in her career. I would be ticked if Sloan was gone when Newsroom came back from commercial break.

[Last Time Lord]

Olivia Munn is currently presenting an award on the 2012 Britiania Awards on BBC America.

Fittingly, the award she's presenting is going to a video game creator. The creator of Sim City.

[JazzieCazzie]

Saw "Lincoln" yesterday (yes, very belatedly, but tough to carve out three hours in hubby's schedule) and was delighted to see a small but relevant supporting role for Stephen Henderson (the dear, departed whistleblower, Solomon Hancock).

Also, excited to see that Chris Chalk (Gary Cooper) is part of what may be the best ensemble cast ever collected for the 2014 release "Twelve Years A Slave." Several members of "The Wire" cast also involved in that, as well as the two leads from "Beasts of the Southern Wild" among others.