Role With It

The casting process in television has always fascinated me. What would a show have been like if someone else had landed their big starmaking role? Can you imagine anyone else besides William Shatner playing Captain Kirk? Or how about William Shatner as Maxwell Smart? Actually, that might have been pretty cool. Still, with every TV show there's a long auditioning process where studios reject actors, actors turn down studios and sometimes parts are switched around or entirely new characters are created. Here's a dozen or so casting anecdotes I've heard over the years.

Lucille Ball wanted radio co-star Gale Gordon to play Fred Mertz but he was already committed to another series. He would later make three appearances as Ricky's boss.

The part of Rob Petrie on a pilot originally titled "Head Of The Family" came down to two relative unknowns, Dick Van Dyke and TV game show host Johnny Carson.

John Astin at first auditioned for Lurch on The Addams Family. He was offered the part of Gomez provided he could grow a moustache.

The role of Samantha on Bewitched was originally offered to English actress Tammy Grimes who turned it down. She went on to star in her own self-named show which lasted a month.

Two screentests for the 1960's Batman TV series were filmed one starring Adam West and the other Lyle Waggoner.

Fred Dryer, former NFL star, was considered for Sam Malone on Cheers. Julia Duffy auditioned for Diane Chambers. They both later made appearances on the show.

Blanche on The Golden Girls was a role intended for Betty White since it was modeled after her Sue Ann Nivens character. She and Rue McLanahan agreed to switch parts.

Lisa Kudrow was cast as Roz on Frasier only to be replaced after one week of filming.

On Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar originally landed the role of Cordelia while Charisma Carpenter and other actresses auditioned for Buffy.

Korean actress Yunjim Kim unsuccessfully tried out for Kate on Lost but impressed the producers enough that they created a part just for her.

Among the actors who were considered to play Michael Scott in The Office were Paul Giamatti, Martin Short, Hank Azaria and Bob Odenkirk. Rainn Wilson also auditioned for the part and was later cast as Dwight.

Music's no fun anymore but lists still are

This is supposed to be one of those 30 day, one question per day type of memes but since I don't have the patience for that I'm going to do them all tonight.

First album you bought - I think it was Snoopy vs The Red Baron. Hard to remember since we're going back over 30 years.

Last album you bought - Do 8-tracks count? If so Abba's Greatest Hits Vol.2 and Frampton Comes Alive. The last CD I bought was The Beatles "Revolver".

Favourite debut album - Love The Clash's first album.

First album you listened to all the way through - Cheap Trick Live At Budokan

Last album you listened to - that Abba 8-track

Favourite album of 60s - The Kinks Are The Village Green Appreciation Society

Favourite album artwork - "Weird Al" Yankovic's debut album

Most underrated album - The Muffs "Blonder and Blonder"

Worst album you own - Probably one of my 80's records either Quiet Riot or The Fat Boys.

Best album to dance to - I don't have much in the way of dance music. B-52's maybe?

Favourite album of 70s - Bob Dylan "Blood On The Tracks"

Album you like, but you never thought you would - The Minutemen "Double Nickels On The Dime"

Most overrated album - Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue"

Best album to cheer you up - Shonen Knife "Let's Knife"

Most disappointing follow-up album - Devo "Duty Now For The Future"

Favourite album of 80s - The Clash "London Calling"

Last album you listened to - Didn't you already ask this?

Best album to relax you - The Beach Boys "Sunflower"

Favourite second album - Elvis Costello "This Year's Model"

Most listened to album - probably that Ramones greatest hits cassette I had back in the 80's.

Favourite album of 90s - They Might Be Giants "Flood"

Last album you recommended to somebody - Unknown Hinson "Future Is Unknown"

Last album you downloaded - I downloaded some Mojo Nixon from Amazon because it was free.

Most pleasing follow-up album - "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D

Favourite album of 00s - The White Stripes "De Stijl"

Favourite third album - The Who Sell Out

Favourite fourth album - The Ramones "Rocket To Russia"

Last album you listened to - Seriously, stop asking this.

Favourite album of 10s (so far) - can't think of anything

Favourite album of all-time - Probably Village Green or Blood On The Tracks. Or London Calling. Or maybe The Beatles Revolver. I also forgot Johnny Cash's Live At Folsom Prison. Can I do this thing all over?

Best Unboxing Video Ever

People opening packages seems to be a common thing on YouTube but this video of Dana DeArmond opening a birthday present from her brother is comedy gold. And I thought getting a trash can for Christmas was hilarious.

The Forgotten Mouseketeers

The Mickey Mouse Club is a beloved Disney institution with most people remembering either the classic 50's show with Annette Funicello or the 90's incarnation with future pop superstars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Few people unless they watched it during its original run (like I did) seem to recall the 1970's version.



I think that's a shame since The New Mickey Mouse Club as it was called is pure 70's cheese at its finest. Just picture it, 12 new Mouseketeers decked out in pink and lime green polyester pantsuits doing vaudevillian comedy sketches and musical numbers set to a disco beat. They kept some of the traditions of the old show such as the mouse ears but added moog synthesizers, robot dancing and an ocean of color. There's not a trace of cynicism to be found. It's like Up With People only with 12 year olds.



The new Mouseketeers included Allison, Angel, Curtis, Julie, Kelly, Lisa (Blair from the Facts Of Life), Nita, "Pop" (he liked soft drinks), Scott, Shawnte, Todd and Mindy (the youngest and Corey Feldman's sister). Sadly the show never quite caught on and was cancelled in less than two years. While the 50's and 90's shows have had DVD releases the 70's version remains locked somewhere in the Disney vault possibly next to Song Of The South.

Unknown Hinson On Dental Hinson

I went through my tapes today and uploaded a clip from The Unknown Hinson Show. Gotta admire a guy who's that committed to a character. I would love to see an Unknown Hinson movie. I may start uploading more clips from my video collection or I may take another 3 months before a new post. We'll see.

Confessing My TV Sins

They say confession is good for the soul so I'm going to list some of my most blashphemous transgressions against almighty television.

- Even though it's listed as one of TV's top dramas, I've never seen an entire episode of The Wire. People say you have to watch at least a dozen hours to appreciate the rich storytelling but that makes it sound like a chore. What if I watch an entire season and still don't like it?

- I'm looking forward to a new series of VH1's Scream Queens.

- The only episode of Conan I TiVo'd last year was the one where he bashed his head on the studio floor. Sorry Conzie.

- I miss Pimp My Ride.

- Craig Ferguson's funny but I also think he panders a bit much to us Americans. Perhaps it's the way he wears an American flag as a kilt on the cover of his book.

- I've spent more time ogling pictures of Christina Hendricks than actually watching Mad Men.

- I once TiVo'd The Jay Leno Show. In my defense it was the episode where Garfunkel & Oates made a guest appearance. I recorded their part on a DVD-R and deleted the rest of the episode. Oh, and for people who say the whole NBC/Tonight Show debacle isn't Jay's fault, yes it is. Leno agreed to give up The Tonight Show five years ago. No one forced him to but he wanted to please his bosses at NBC. Changing your mind later and telling everyone you want your old job back is a punk move.

An Explanation

You know, I really didn't mean to abandon this blog but stuff happens. Going through old videotapes takes time, the holidays rolled around and now my DSL modem is on the fritz. It'll stay on for a while and then just shut off. I've had it barely one year. If I ever buy a Motorola product again please shoot me in the head. They make the crappiest electronics in existence. This DSL modem is made of cheap plastic, weighs about 3 grams, has no extra ports or even an on/off switch and yet they charge $50 for it. This is also the product Motorola sent me a hot rebate check for. Unless this modem suddenly explodes acid I don't see how I can become more unhappy with it than I am now.