Sarah Jane Morris finally speaks on 'Brothers & Sisters'
Through Sunday (Oct. 29) night's episode of Brothers and Sisters, Sarah Jane Morris was probably TV's most underused cast regular.
Although she's nestled in the opening credits right under Rachel Griffiths, Morris -- Julia, attractive wife of Balthazar Getty's Thomas -- averaged less than a line per episode during the ABC melodrama's first five episodes. Morris was stuck in the background at every family dinner and she was as often discussed ("You have a hot wife, Thomas") as she was part of the discussion.
Morris -- you may or may not recognize her from Felicity or from NBC's summer series Windfall -- finally got a showcase on Sunday with an episode that focused, at least partially, on Julia and Thomas' inability to have children. The part of the loving wife who wants a baby more than anything in the world isn't exactly progressive as female characters go, but at least she got to appear in the week's very first segment mounting Getty's character in a sexual position that's allegedly Tantric. The 29-year-old actress is too lovely and talented to spend much time as a series 10th banana, but the idea of Morris somehow stealing time from the show's roster of established stars also seems unlikely, which may auger poorly for the character's future.
But Morris isn't the only regular on a new series who seems to be slipping into the background. On CBS' Jericho last week, both of the show's ostensible female leads -- Ashley Scott and Sprague Grayden -- nearly vanished entirely and neither actress has had a full story arc for several weeks as the series' focus has mostly been on Lennie James' intriguing and mysterious Hawkins and Skeet Ulrich's equally mysterious but much less intriguing Jake.
Some other characters from new shows who have already been a bit lost in the mix:
Chime in, dear readers... What characters/actors on new shows deserve more screen-time?
It is the typical problem in any ensemble show. How do you make sure everyone has enough screen time to a) keep the characters interesting, b) develop the storylines, c) keep the actors happy.
It becomes especially true when dealing with shows with lots of characters. Lost is going through a similar problem. Last season introduced the Tailies and this season it's the Others, but while you can sometimes tell good stories, you will lose time with the original characters (Hurley was a fan favorite in season one - and he's been in a total of what, three scenes?).
I think that the critical m*** of characters seems to be around five or six. Just look at two shows on Monday night - How I Met Your Mother has five main characters and seems to do a great job of balance while The Cl*** is right after, has eight main characters and seems to be struggling.
Brothers and Sisters is a great show, I watch it with my wife (who loves it because it's just like her family), but there may just be a few too many characters in the pot to mix with.
i agree with Robert that HIMYM does a great job balancing all their characters, even while they are apart. Ever since I started watching Brothers and Sisters, I have been watching and waiting for Thomas and Julie's storyline to start up. And while it isn't a shocker, it is still a good one. I hope to see more of this character in the future.
Other new shows that also struggle with this is Heroes. I think they are trying to set up the story, while still discovering the characters and it is a challenge. Their are certain characters I care more about (Peter, Hiro) and some I could use a little less of (Claire, Niki) and so it is difficult to balance progressing the story and showcasing the characters for this show.
What has happened to Brothers and Sisters? Has it been taken off the air? Please don't replace it with Boston Legal. Love Brothers and Sisters - but do not like Boston Legal.
What has happened to the ratings for Brothers and Sisters? At one time the show was being watched by at least 10 million people and even managed to break into the Top 20 shows of the week. Now the show is at 8 million people and out of the Top 20. I enjoy the show very much not just because of its top notch cast but the dialogue. I hope ABC sticks with this show.
I also love Brothers and Sisters...and I can't wait for the next episode!
I live in The Netherlands...and I get the episodes from a friend.
If you want to find out more about some of the stars....I made some fansites...
www.matthew-rhys.net
www.balthazar-getty.net
and soon hopefully for Sarah Jane.
Take Care and Enjoy!
Suzette
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that the site has been made....hopefully you enjoy it!
Suzette