Confession Time: I Enjoy A Good Stunt Casting Print

Written by: Rae • August 5th, 2008 • Filed Under: Confession Time, OpEd

What’s the line that determines when a guest star falls into the territory of stunt casting? Is it the guest stars level of notoriety? Or the degree to which they can act? Or maybe some combo of both? Does it make a difference if, say, they play themselves vs a character within the Universe that they are appearing? What about the type of show and/or the tone of that show? Are we more likely to hand-wave “stunt” casting on a comedy vs a drama? Does intent play a role? If the people behind the show admit they sought a certain star out, is that stunt casting? Or does it have to go further. Is stunt casting limited to ratings ploys only?

These are the questions that tumble through my head every time the Internet explodes the news of some new big name showing up on a TV show and, inevitably, the news kicks off a new bitch-fest about stunt casting.

Now I’ve been watching TV for a lot of years. Years and years. A lot of ‘em. And in all those years, there has not been a year during which at least one of the shows I’ve watched didn’t have Lindsay Lohan shows up on UGLY BETTY. (ABC/KAREN NEAL) some kind of stunt casting or another. Quite frankly, I’ve come to accept it as a part of the business of television. So I don’t really get why everyone freaks out every time it happens (much like I generally don’t get all the bitching about product placement but that’s a discussion for another day). I mean, have I missed a memo, are we not all addicted to the same box in the center of our living rooms? What has everyone else been watching that it’s suddenly become unacceptable that for one hour out of the many hours you get out of a show, they can’t have a sensational guest or two?

Of course, maybe it’s just that I actually don’t mind stunt casting. Don’t get me wrong, Paris Hilton showing up on Damages would be ridiculous. And I say that mostly because Paris can only play one character… herself. And Paris doesn’t fit into the world of that show unless it’s to have the characters of the show showing their disdain for the Paris Hiltons of the world. So, yes, that kind of casting on that kind of show does threaten the integrity of the show. But Lindsay Lohan on Ugly Betty? Come on! That’s gold!

And I’m not just saying that just because I actually think Lindsay is a good actress. (What? She is! Her crappy life choices don’t make her any less of an actress.) No, no, I’m saying it because if there was ever a show that was made for stunt casting, it’s Ugly Betty. How often have they had big name guest stars on during the life of the show and yet LiLo is cast and suddenly we’re bitching about their stunt casting? What??

Based on the bitching I’ve seen recently. I’d say not approving of the person cast plays a large role in the noses suddenly being turned up at the idea of stunt casting. I don’t see people bitching when someone they like is cast on a show. The fervor only seems to rise when it’s someone they don’t like or feel doesn’t deserve their fame. Katie Holmes appears in an upcoming ELI STONE episode. A few years ago the news that Katie Holmes had been cast on Eli Stone would have only had a few Katie fangirls (yes, like myself — come on, how cute is she in the picture to the right?!) and a few of the diehard Katie haters talking. But these days it’s huge news and it doesn’t matter that Katie’s first big break was in TV or that she’s starred in a musical. No it’s a travesty that Eli Stone has to turn to Katie for eyeballs. To which I can only roll my eyes. To a lesser extent, I have the same reaction to those bitching about Nicole Richie appearing on Chuck but at least those folks are justified in pointing out that her fame has nothing to do with an ability to act. Still, it’s Chuck. If ever there was a show that can get away with having fun with their stunt casting, it’s Chuck.

Before y’all attack me, I do concede that it’s not all about who is cast. I know there are people who have never liked stunt casting. I don’t know if it’s a love for the core characters and not liking when big name stars come in and overshadow them or, in the same vein, not liking that it takes a big name star for a show worth loving to get noticed. Or, maybe, something as simple as not liking having your favorite show invaded by people who don’t belong. Whatever it is, I can respect the folks who’ve never changed their stance on stunt casting. It’s a legitimate annoyance to them and I get that. At least, though they may grumble about it when it affects their favorite shows, they seem to understand it’s a necessary evil.

Honestly, I find it much more rewarding to find ways to enjoy the stunt casting. Sure sometimes you just have to grin and bear it — I’m naturally optimistic but even optimism can’t magically make someone a good actor — but before you know it the hour’s over and next week there’ll be a new guest star to annoy ya!

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There Are 11 Responses So Far. »

1. Comment by WCL on 5 August 2008:

I’m glad you wrote this, I totally agree with you. It’s not really a secret that I love Mean Girls and, as a result, love Lohan. I’m excited to see what she will do on Ugly Betty and I can’t imagine a more fun place for her to guest star and camp it up a little. I also thought Britney was adorable on HIMYM, so I probably don’t have valid opinions. It didn’t HURT the show at all, she was generally amusing, and it did help ratings. Total win in my book!
2. Comment by Eolivet on 5 August 2008:

My problem with stunt casting has always been when the stunt cast…ed’s ability is not on par with the rest of the cast. So, Paris Hilton on VM was darn near unwatchable (I also thought Patty Hearst was just in bad taste, and she wasn’t very good either). But when someone like Britney Spears on HIMYM proves she can deliver the lines and not stand out like a sore thumb vs. the rest of the cast, that’s fine.

Another thing that annoys me about stunt casting is shows who use it as a crutch. “Will & Grace” comes to mind. A celebrity on a show is fun as a surprise, for a week or so, but when it becomes more about “Which celebrity will show up next,” and less about “the actual plot of the show,” that’s when stunt casting bothers me.
3. Comment by Just Jody on 5 August 2008:

I’m all for stunt casting. If you can bring in a big name that does a good job, AND draws viewers, well then kudos!

BUT, I do seem to have a problem when the celeb. who’s cast has a bad rep. I guess I feel like if I wouldn’t want to hang out with a drinking-and-driving, coke using, crotch flashing, alcoholic media whore, then why would a show want to sully it’s reputation by associating themsleves with one? So, the casting of those kinds of people turns me off. There are other big names who don’t behave that way (like say, Katie Holmes). Use them instead. I may tune into Eli Stone just to see Katie, but I’d never watch something just to see one of those tabloid girls.

(And I’d like to add that I actually think LiLo and Britney are fine actresses. If they acted better in real life I’d be all for them and their guest spots.)
4. Comment by Harper47 on 5 August 2008:

I think the Britney Spears casting on How I met your mother saved the show last year so if that’s the kind of result it brings, then I’m all for it.

I guess I fall in the wait and see category. Sometimes an actor/actress can step out of their comfort zone of stardom and do a great job. Sometimes it becomes just a momentary huh and back to the gang next week.

As far as Katie appearing on Eli Stone, this is another show that needs a rating boost and if it helps them, then this is a good move. Katie is, to me at least, more of a tv actress than a movie actress anyway. She simply has “fame” now more because of who she married than anything she has done in her movie career. So maybe it will be good for her too.
5. Comment by Rae on 6 August 2008:

WCL: I agree about Brit on HIMYM. Although, I liked her more the first time rather than the second. Except I did like her with Barney. I’m excited about Lohan on UB too. I’m a Lindsay fan. If there’s something I hate about her destructive behavior (I’m not disgusted with it as others are, I mostly find it sad), it’s that it deprives me of her projects.
6. Comment by Rae on 6 August 2008:

Eolivet: I agree aboaut Will & Grace though, weirdly, it didn’t bother me nearly as much when it was done on Friends. Maybe it’s how they also work the guest into the show? On W&G it got the point where it really was just a game of “spot the celebrity” more than really trying to work a role into the show for the person.

That said, I understand what you mean about the acting not being on par but I guess I just try not to pre-judge. I don’t particularly care for Paris H but I didn’t find her as unwatchable as everyone else did on VM. In fact, that episode remains one of my favorites — though not for her, I just have a soft spot for Troy. However, I would find her annoying in a lot of other shows. At least on VM she didn’t have to do too much “acting”… But I’m strangely open to the idea of Nicole Richie. Could be just because the people on the show admitted they were surprised at how well she did and how fun it was to do her scenes. Before I got to talk to them, I just didn’t give it much thought at all.
7. Comment by Rae on 6 August 2008:

Jo: I see what you’re saying and I can understand being upset about those girls being cast. In those cases, it really is just another exploitation. Actually, I don’t know if that’s completely true with Lohan. She does seem to get legit jobs in between her bouts of stupidity. Definitely the casting of Britney though.

It doesn’t really bother me the same way it bothers you but I can still see where you are coming from there. Still, I guess I find it annoying that the dislike spills over onto ALL stunt casting. Clearly what’s bugging me is all the bitching about Katie… because I do get that it’s partly her new fame that is the draw in having her on the show but I also feel like she’s not in the same category as the others. I know I’m biased about her but at least she can act AND sing and has lots of experience doing both to back her up.
8. Comment by Rae on 6 August 2008:

Sometimes it becomes just a momentary huh and back to the gang next week.

Ahh but, Pixi, that means you’re one of the more rational ones. It’s the people who get all ranty even at hearing someone has been cast on one of their shows that drives me batty.

My feelings exactly on the Katie front. I can understand being unsure about the news that Nicole Richie is going to be on one of your favorite shows but I don’t think Katie falls into the same category. I feel like people are just annoyed because she gets so much attention now just for who she married (though I don’t know that she ASKED for that attention) but that doesn’t mean she’s going to ruin your show.
9. Comment by Just Jody on 6 August 2008:

I didn’t even know people were bitching about Katie being cast? I totally agree that she’s an actress first AND a singer, so why wouldn’t she be perfect for Eli Stone? The fact that she married someone really famous should not be considered a personal flaw. I doubt that she wants the paps follwing her everywhere. (Did you SEE that recent pic?)

I also agree that Lohan is a great actress (and I too like Mean Girls), it just bugs me that they get rewarded for being in the tabloids so much. And WHY do none of them hire drivers?

But all that said, even if I’m against the actress cast, I’m not against the stunt casting itself.
10. Pingback by TV Blog Coalition: Aug 8-10 : RTVW Online on 11 August 2008:

[...] Rae steps into the RTVW Confessional and spills about liking good stunt casting, citing such examples as LiLo on Ugly Betty and Katie Holmes on Eli Stone. (RTVW Online) [...]
11. Pingback by TV Blog Coalition - August 8-10 | Daemon's TV on 11 August 2008:

[...] Rae steps into the RTVW Confessional and spills about liking good stunt casting, citing such examples as LiLo on Ugly Betty and Katie Holmes on Eli Stone. (RTVW Online) [...]