Ensemble Casts: Television

ChaosTitan · Jun 22, 2008

So we've listed some of our favorite movie casts. How about some of our favorite TV show casts. The ones that simply gel from episode one and make it worth returning week after week.

Boomtown (inspired the thread) -- Donnie Wahlberg, Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, Gary Basaraba, Lana Parilla, Jason Gedrick, and Nina Garbiras. Supporting cast members include Megan Ward, Kelly Rowan, Dorian Harewood, Rick Gomez, and Frank John Hughes.

The West Wing -- Alison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Dule Hill, Janel Moloney, Joshua Malina, Stockard Channing, and Timothy Busfield. Plus other regulars in Mary McCormack, Lily Tomlin, Kristin Chenoweth, Kathryn Joosten, Jimmy Smits, Alan Alda....heck, too many to list...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -- Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Terry Farrell, Colm Meaney, Armin Shimmerman, Nana Visitor, and Michael Dorn. Also Andrew Robinson, Jeffrey Combs, JG Hertzler, Mark Alaimo, Max Grodenchik, Aron Eisenberg, Nicole DeBoer, Casey Biggs, and Louise Fletcher.

Cranky · Jun 22, 2008

I'd add House and Bones to that list, but I'm too lazy to list all the actors by name.

Also Buffy and Angel.

katiemac · Jun 22, 2008

Seconding the Buffy cast (obviously).

Friends. I especially love Matthew Perry (Chandler) and Matt LeBlanc (Joey) together. They remind me of the way my guy friends interact.

I Love Lucy.

Must not forget: The Office. I love how everyone plays off one another, even when they're supposed to be sitting quietly in the background.

Haggis · Jun 22, 2008

childeroland · Jun 22, 2008

Honeymooners

Thirding the Buffy cast

Angel

Alias

Seconding Deep Space 9 -- the cast really made that show in a way the classic Trek cast made theirs

Indy Tarquinson · Jun 22, 2008

Sliders. They were really like a family until they botched it up and brought in new people and kicked out the good ones.

maestrowork · Jun 22, 2008

The West Wing.

LOST.

Six Feet Under.

kristie911 · Jun 22, 2008

Not sure if Band of Brothers belongs under TV or movie but it's got my vote. And no, I'm not going to try listing everyone...if you haven't seen it, you're really missing out.

Aglaia · Jun 24, 2008

Firefly.

maestrowork · Jun 24, 2008

Scrubs.

CaroGirl · Jun 24, 2008

M*A*S*H
WKRP in Cincinnati
House
The Office

dgiharris · Jun 24, 2008

Indy Tarquinson said:
Sliders. They were really like a family until they botched it up and brought in new people and kicked out the good ones.

I loved sliders until they brought in the new people. WTF

maestrowork said:
Scrubs.

Scrubs was comedic genius. Incredible cast, perfect chemistry, insanely good writing. Can't say enough about this show.

Oldies but Goodies:
1) Cheers
2) Night Court.
3) The Cosby Show

katiemac · Jun 24, 2008

Scrubs was comedic genius. Incredible cast, perfect chemistry, insanely good writing. Can't say enough about this show.

Never fear, there's no "was"! It's joining ABC's fall lineup, for at least one more season but maybe more. ABC still has faith in it.

JimmyB27 · Jun 25, 2008

There's always too much US bias in these threads. What about some tip top, jolly good old British TV for a change, what?

Some of my favourites -

Only Fools and Horses - The brilliant pairing of the genius of David Jason as Del, and Nicholas Lindhurst as his dopey brother Rodney was amazing. Even when the actor playing Granpa sadly passed away, Buster Merrifield stepped in as Uncle Albert and did a grand job. And then the rest of the supporting cast (I don't know the actors names, but they were all great - especially Trigger).

Red Dwarf - Extremely good in its early years, but tailed off towards the end. The Last Human - Dave Lister, a hologram - Arnold Rimmer, an Domestic android - Kryten, a humanoid creature evolved from Lister's cat, and the ship's computer - Holly, drift through space aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf. Genius.

Porridge - Although Ronnie Barker made this show (I think Fletch was his best character ever), the rest of the cast were awfully good as well. The militant Mr Mackay, the weak Mr Barraclough, as well as the other prisoners. Just great.

I was trying to think of a non-comedy example, but the best I can do is Teachers, which is more of a comedy-drama. It was great though, and the cast remained strong, even after they started replacing characters.

Gravity · Jun 25, 2008

The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Perfect cast, perfect chemistry

Bourgeois Nerd · Jun 25, 2008

kristie911 said:
Not sure if Band of Brothers belongs under TV or movie but it's got my vote. And no, I'm not going to try listing everyone...if you haven't seen it, you're really missing out.

Absolutely agree with this! I own the DVD set and watch it every once in awhile, esp. when I start indulging in self-pity. Whew. These guys and the people around them in Europe really had it rough. We just don't know what it's like to deal with that level of tension anymore. OK, I like it for that reason and also, <shallow alert> the hot guys!

Oh and whoever said, Six Feet Under - definitely. They seemed like they were related - the Fisher family. A lot of families are that mildly screwed up while the Chenowiths were off the charts bizarre. However, the first two seasons are really the best in terms of writing and chemistry. I think that Alan Ball gave up on the series in the 3rd season.

PattiTheWicked · Jun 25, 2008

LOST, Rescue Me, Firefly.

Definitely Band of Brothers as well.

Bourgeois Nerd · Jun 25, 2008

PattiTheWicked said:
LOST, Rescue Me, Firefly.

Definitely Band of Brothers as well.

Which one was the hottest, in your opinion? Which one did you most respect?

I liked Winters, Nixon, Luz, Guarnere, and even the crazy hot Spiers. Such mystery and guts. Wow.

Jenan Mac · Jun 25, 2008

The first season of Boston Legal. The original Designing Women. And seconding Boomtown & DS:9.

heyjude · Jun 25, 2008

Boomtown, of course.

kristie911 · Jun 26, 2008

Bourgeois Nerd said:
Which one was the hottest, in your opinion? Which one did you most respect?

I liked Winters, Nixon, Luz, Guarnere, and even the crazy hot Spiers. Such mystery and guts. Wow.

Winters was my favorite. I was surprised to learn the actor that played him was from the UK. No trace of accent there. I loved him.

maestrowork · Jun 26, 2008

Bourgeois Nerd said:
However, the first two seasons are really the best in terms of writing and chemistry. I think that Alan Ball gave up on the series in the 3rd season.

I agree. The third season was not the worst thing on TV, but it was not good. But the quality came back in the second half of season 4 and season 5 was great -- especially the series finale. I had NEVER cried at a TV show before (not even Band of Brothers, as great as it was). That one got me really good. One of the best written (and acted) shows in TV history, IMHO.

gypsyscarlett · Jun 26, 2008

drama- China Beach, Buffy, Lost, Deadwood, Farscape
comedy- Golden Girls, Mash, I love Lucy, Honeymooners, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart

guess I'll also add Friends and Seinfeld. Never was a fan of either, but they were talented with good chemistry. (just not my cuppa tea) Cheers, too.

maestrowork · Jun 26, 2008

ER, the early years.

Diana W. · Jun 26, 2008

JimmyB27 said:
There's always too much US bias in these threads. What about some tip top, jolly good old British TV for a change, what?

Some of my favourites -

Only Fools and Horses - The brilliant pairing of the genius of David Jason as Del, and Nicholas Lindhurst as his dopey brother Rodney was amazing. Even when the actor playing Granpa sadly passed away, Buster Merrifield stepped in as Uncle Albert and did a grand job. And then the rest of the supporting cast (I don't know the actors names, but they were all great - especially Trigger).

Red Dwarf - Extremely good in its early years, but tailed off towards the end. The Last Human - Dave Lister, a hologram - Arnold Rimmer, an Domestic android - Kryten, a humanoid creature evolved from Lister's cat, and the ship's computer - Holly, drift through space aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf. Genius.

Porridge - Although Ronnie Barker made this show (I think Fletch was his best character ever), the rest of the cast were awfully good as well. The militant Mr Mackay, the weak Mr Barraclough, as well as the other prisoners. Just great.

I was trying to think of a non-comedy example, but the best I can do is Teachers, which is more of a comedy-drama. It was great though, and the cast remained strong, even after they started replacing characters.

Definitely agree with Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf. I LOVE those shows. Even got my American wife into Fools. I'd also add Fawlty Towers to that list.

On American dramas Buffy, Friends, Alias and I'd also like to add Journeyman and Daybreak two very underrated shows there!

Ensemble Casts: Television

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