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Television is where the talent is
Other | Friday 29th November 2013 | Toni
Hollywood 'royalty' is a term used for actors who have made it big in the film industry. These people are A-list stars, who generate millions through their various films, live in mansions in the Hollywood Hills (just to start with) and live a true jet-setting life as they work in one breathtaking location after another. Sounds like a dream come true right?
However, even with such a glamorous lifestyle and all of its perks, many of Hollywood's high profile stars are now turning to a life away from the silver screen for a much smaller one: Television. While television has been a career launching pad for some and a place where many high profile film actors have appeared in the last few years; it is the growing number of A-list, award winning actors that are embarking on this path right now that is being noticed.
Once upon a time television was the place most actors started their careers. They would land a leading role and after a few years of gaining exposure, a fan base, maybe a few films under their belts they would leave this role for bigger and better things. It was a natural progression. George Clooney did it in 1994, when he landed the lead role as Dr. Doug Ross in the Chicago set medical drama 'ER' which turned him into a household name. His popularity grew, especially with women and he certainly became 'ER's biggest film star export.
It was also a similar start for Jennifer Aniston who quickly became an A-list star herself, (even her hairstyle did!) following her decade-long role as Rachel Green on 'Friends'. The series centered around six friends living in 1990s New York and is regarded as one of the best series ever made. Aniston won an Emmy for her role and has never looked back as she forged a successful film career while working on the show and once it finished. Some of Hollywood's biggest stars have really come along way since they started on the small screen and it was all thanks to roles they played which connected with audiences and put them on the map for Hollywood to come calling.
However, there were many actors in the 90s who were already well known in film that did choose to take on leading television roles. These actors helped to set the standards for today. When Sarah Jessica Parker took on the lead role of Carrie Bradshaw in the controversial (at least back then) 'Sex and the City' she and fellow actress Kim Catrall as another lead Samantha Jones, were both quite well known from their work in films. Parker for 'Girls just want to have fun', 'Hocus Pocus' and 'The First Wives Club' and Catrall for 'Police Academy' and 'Mannequin'. This move to television skyrocketed their careers even further and led to worldwide success for all four leads. The show featuring a LOT of sex, relationships and drama galore ended with 6 seasons and 2 follow on film releases years after the finale. Both actresses had already gained success in film, but television enabled them to build on that relationship with their audience and grow further in popularity through the success of their show. It was the best career move either of them would ever make with women the world over falling in love with the 'Sex and the City' girls.
Other high profile Hollywood film stars also made the move to television in the past decade with actresses like Glenn Close, who also had a wide body of film work. Close first appeared on our tv screens in the acclaimed cop drama 'The Shield' in 2005, and would go on to create one of televisions biggest villains as Patty Hewes in the long running New York based Legal thriller 'Damages' two years later. Close credits the writers on the show "who were phenomenal and I liked the pace of doing a series", when asked about taking on a lead role in television in a 2013 interview with Digital Spy magazine. This was not just a woman's domain however, with well known actor Keifer Sutherland also making a big name for himself in films such as 'The Lost Boys' and 'Young Guns', before moving to television to create one of its most memorable action characters, Jack Bauer in '24'. So much so even, that Sutherland is once again taking on the role, four years after the series finished due to audience demand.
So even though well known film stars have always been taking on these television roles...why the sudden shift by A-listers to do the same in recent times? For some, it is job security. Having a role which if the show becomes a hit, will ensure at least a few years work and some well-earned money once a shot is green lit. For others, especially those who are set up in LA or New York being based in locations like these for a prolonged amount of time makes life easier and offers more stability than a jet-setting life on film locations do. For a lot though it is about the writers who are working on these series, writers who have great reputations, ones that actors trust and respect to take that risk into television.
Jeff Daniels is one of them. Most known for his role as Harry in 'Dumb and Dumber, and a true film veteran over the past few decades, Daniels said at the 2013 Emmy's that he undertook the role of Will McAvoy in HBO's ' The Newsroom', because, "writers are going to television. They have creative freedom on television and actors who want good writing are going wherever that is...with cable and HBO there are a lot of jobs and opportunity." Daniels followed the talent and what a talent it was under the leadership of Aaron Sorkin, the man behind 'The West Wing'. 'The Newsroom' centers around a fictional newsroom in New York City with McAvoy as its anchor and has paid off for Daniels quite considerably as he earned a Best Actor Emmy in 2013 for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He is certainly not regretting taking that leap.
Money and writing aside, television is growing in its sophistication. Series are being made that offer meaty story lines, edge of your seat drama, character arcs that twist and turn and can last for years. Who needs films when you get all of this on a weekly basis? Social media is buzzing about many television series, and when they end, twitter and facebook accounts go into overdrive as fans express their love for them (thank you, 'Breaking Bad'). Television is ultimately becoming the new frontier in the entertainment industry with dvds, netflix and the like benefiting from new and old series like never before. Audiences are spoiled for choice too, with popular series like 'The Blacklist', 'Game of Thrones', 'Homeland', 'The Walking Dead' and 'Orange is the New Black' being just a handful of quality series being produced and appreciated by audiences.
Film and television veterans like Robin Williams, who remains one of the all time kings of comedy, and hasn't been on the small screen since the 70s with 'Mork and Mindy'; but has had silver screen success with classics such as 'Good Morning Vietnam', 'The Birdcage' and 'Mrs Doubtfire' has also returned to television after three decades away. Williams however, is more focused on having a well paid job after costly divorces and alimony payments have made a dent to his wallet. Taking the starring role in the new series 'The Crazy Ones' which has started strong and had a full season order green lit after the first few episodes, Williams (who had the role written for him), alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar are enjoying early success in this series based around a Chicago advertising agency. Only time will really tell if this will be a long term hit or miss. But for Williams, a well paying job is a huge reason to return to television and not do stand up and films. But when you have the talent to command it, why not?
A-list stars are really beginning to make themselves known in the television sphere as each year goes by. This is just scraping the surface with other stars like Kevin Spacey in the Netflix hit 'House of Cards', Kate Hudson in a re-occuring role in 'Glee', Don Cheadle in 'House of Lies', and even Meg Ryan and Susan Sarandon signing on to upcoming projects in television as well. This list is only going to increase as television continues to gain ground in quality and popularity. But audiences will never complain. High quality shows and big name stars are why audiences are the real winners here.
Keep them coming!
