Broadway actors and their TV shows

It seems like several modern Broadway stars have had little luck with TV shows. Of course, there's Kristin Chenoweth, and Susan Egan ("Nikki!") and now Laura Benanti's show "Starved" has been cancelled. None of the shows were particularly loved by the critics. What do people think about this? Just coincidence, or bad choices, or what?

I'm not quite sure--I saw Alec Mapa on another series--he's had several--and although I think he's funny and talented, he never seems to find a hit. But many Bway stars have been on Oz with pretty good success.

I think it's just that only a very tiny percentage of shows are successful (especially if you count all of the pilots that get made and never go anywhere), so the odds are against any actor getting in a hit.

But then again, nearly every show has somebody with some Broadway or Off-Broadway credits, so obviously some people do succeed. Look at Felicity Huffman (lots of plays at the Atlantic and Steppenwolf) from Desperate Housewives, Edie Falco (Night Mother, the upcoming Threepenny Opera revival), Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon (both had tons of stage credits before and during Sex and The City), Mary-Louise Parker in Weeds, several members of the casts of the Law and Order series. Heck, I've seen most of the cast of Grey's Anatomy on stage in New York in the past year or two -- TR Knight (Noises Off, Boy), Kate Burton (The Constant Wife), Chandra Wilson (Caroline or Change), Sandra Oh (will star in the new Diana Son play at The Public later this season). Just takes a bit of luck.

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I think she means more when a show (usually a sitcom) is built around that one performer. I think the main problem is lack of originality, which is pretty hard these days, as it seems mmost everything's been done before.

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Is Weeds doing well? It's one of my favorite shows right now, and I have this fear it's going to get the axe.

well i dont think youd call her a star, but christy carlson romano had even stevens on disney.

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The thing is, a lot of the series that you're talking about are based around the main character/actor, and that's really hard to do at all, especially when it's someone not known to the general public. A lot of the ones that are have closed. But, look at the difference between Kristen (or is it IN) C in her series, which was a huge flop, and West Wing, which she's doing very well in. I also think that a lot of sitcoms just try to hard.

well kristen bell was on broadway very briefly and she has Veronica Mars

EDIT: and taye diggs was in kevin hill (which was very underrated in my opinion.)

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Updated On: 10/8/05 at 07:10 PM

well i dont think youd call her a star, but christy carlson romano had even stevens on disney

She wouldn't have had BATB if she wasn't in Even Stevens.

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Hey, Miss LuPone was excellent in that series, She rocked! Loved "Life Goes On" and she even made me weep a time or two. I saw a recent stage door photo of her after ST and I didn't recognize her, She looked like she was auditioning for the role of Agnes Gooch in "Mame", But then again, She can sing Norma Desmond and I cannot so she may look anyway she likes, She is still "La Divina LuPone"!!
Love Ya Pats!!!

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i think broadway stars are great for guest appearances, but i would prefer seeing them on the stage (like joel gray on buffy and alias, or idina on rescue me)

but not every actor is right for every meduim

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Updated On: 10/9/05 at 05:54 AM