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Growing Up on TV
What TV character do you want to be when you grow up?
This is one of my favorite games to play.
I have my own top four list:
C.J. Cregg on The West Wing: No one could walk and talk like CJ. She was quick witted, charming and was the most winning member of the White House boys club. Plus Elliot from thirtysomething had a crush on her.
Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls: Oh those many pop culture references from US Weekly to movies from the 1940s. She may have fought with her parents a little too much for my taste, but she was a great mom, a fantastic best friend, and a successful business owner. Plus I would get to live in Stars Hollow.
Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel: Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be able to say exactly what you were thinking all the time?
Liz Lemon on 30 Rock: Scratch that. I think I actually am her.
What TV character do you want to be when you grow up? Talk about it below.
Faces to Watch
Every year I do a faces to watch. Last year everyone was buzzing about Zachary Levi (Chuck) and Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) but this year is particularly challenging because only a few pilots have been made available to TV critics. (By the way, I’ve told you right that CBS’s The Ex-List is the show I’m irrationally angry about. Kind of like how I was about Men in Trees when it first premiered).
But I digress. Here’s my first take on who we might still be talking about next year at this time.
Tristan Wilds as Dixon on 90210 (CW): Depending on which way the wind (and the ratings) blow, there’s a good chance the entire cast could become overnight sensations just like the original residents of the zip code. But we know that Wilds, who was so fantastic as Michael on The Wire, can act. Now he’ll be exposed to a much broader audience and he has the kind of charming personality that could make him a star.
Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler on Life on Mars (ABC): If the show is good, it could do for O’Mara, an actor who has been in the business a long time and has done some really terrific work (see his most recent guest star stint on The Closer), what say Mad Men did for Jon Hamm. Sure there’s been a lot of behind the scenes and in front of the scenes changes on Life on Mars, but I remain optimistic.
Kyle Bornheimer as Sam Briggs on Worst Week (CBS): I’ve actually seen Worst Week (hurray for CBS) and I don’t know if I love Worst Week but I did really like Bornheimer. He’s got the pitch perfect knack for playing hapless without overdoing it. Now the show just has to find scripts that live up to his talent.
Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham on Fringe (FOX): J.J. Abrams has a knack for turning unknown ladies into stars (see Jennifer Garner, Keri Russell, Evangeline Lilly), can he do it again?
Niecy Nash as Rhonda on Do Not Disturb (FOX): I’ve seen this one too and it’s not great but I’m so ready for Niecy Nash to become the big star she deserves to be.
That’s all for today. I’m back on Monday with thoughts on the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance and My Boys (one of my fearless predictions finally came true!), the Teen Choice Awards, Secret Life of an American Teenager and more. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
Actually, some TV characters make me want to go back and do high school over. I SOOOOOO want to be Veronica Mars. To be that sassy and smart in high school!
| Aug 1, 2008 12:51:36 PM | #Seriously - no comments yet? Wow. I'm showing my age here but I still want to grow up and be Emma Peel.
Terry | Aug 1, 2008 12:53:59 PM | #When I grow up, I want to be Lorelai!
WJ | Aug 1, 2008 12:59:19 PM | #Remmington Steele
David Addison
Josh Lyman
Casey McCall
IDK why, but I always wanted to be Meredith Grey.
She is AMAZING
IDK why, but I always wanted to be Meredith Grey.
She is AMAZING
Temperance Brennan
CJ Cregg
Lorelai Gilmore
Willow Rosenberg
Thomas Sullivan Magnum.
Tom | Aug 1, 2008 1:54:38 PM | #When I was a kid I wanted to be best buddies with Will Robinson of 'Lost In Space' and fly on the Jupiter 2, so I could hit on his sister Penny.
And I wanted to be Buddy Sorrell of the 'Dick Van Dyke Show' when I grew up. Hey, he got paid for jokes, he slept on the job, and he had a bald guy he could make fun of.
And now I'm all grown up and out in the work force.... It's not the same field of endeavor, but I've got all three requirements covered!
Toby O'B | Aug 1, 2008 2:05:49 PM | #Oddly enough, I was torn between wanting to be Laurie Partridge and making out with David Cassidy. Notice I did not say making out with Keith Partridge...that would be just wrong.
Sarahbeth | Aug 1, 2008 2:17:31 PM | #I totally agree that if Life on Mars takes off so will Jason's acting career and popularity. He's a terrific guy.
RT | Aug 1, 2008 2:23:21 PM | #In the first episode of Stargate, Samantha Carter defined herself as "I'm not a woman. I'm a scholar and a soldier." I always liked that line--minus the whole soldier thing.
Other people I wanted to be: The dad from growing pains, Doogie Howser, and anyone who got to date Zack Morris on saved by the bell.
Kristin | Aug 1, 2008 2:25:17 PM | #1. Veronica Mars
2. Dana Scully
3. Buffy Summers (for the first few seasons)
4. Fiona from Burn Notice
I always wanted to be Xena when I was younger.
Krissy | Aug 1, 2008 2:35:09 PM | #ok here goes:
Joan of Arcadia
Lorelei Gilmore
Claire Danes: My so called Life
Grace: Will n Grace
I could go on & on but.....
Creed Bratton
I would absolutely want to be Sydney Bristow. Yeah, she had some speed bumps along the way (i.e., inadvertently getting her fiance killed; losing 2 years of her life), but ultimately, she saved the world and got the man she loved, and all this while kicking lots of ass!
Cat | Aug 1, 2008 4:06:37 PM | #I'm Liz Lemon, too.
Rebecca | Aug 1, 2008 4:07:37 PM | #I wish I had Shawn Spencer's keen eye or Keith Partridge's musical talent, but I'm going to go with Jim Clancy (David Conrad from "Ghost Whisperer"), just because of his wife. ;-)
JW | Aug 1, 2008 4:59:13 PM | #Faces to watch - Owain Yeoman can be seen in the promos for The Mentalist. I hope that we see a lot more of him.
Elizabeth | Aug 1, 2008 5:09:32 PM | #I think I'd rather be Dan Rydell than Casey McCall. Sure, he had some depression and guilt issues, but he's more like me than Casey. But, hell, I'll take any Sports Night connection I can get!
How about Robert McCall aka The Equalizer. That dude was badass.
Derek | Aug 1, 2008 5:10:41 PM | #When I actually was a kid, I wanted to be either Man From U.N.C.L.E. Napoleon Solo got all the glamor girls, but it seemed to me that Ilya Kuryakin was smarter.
Now that it's too late, I kind of wish I hadn't grown up. But since I'm of that certain age, maybe I could be John Steed (The Avengers) - but only if Mrs. Peel was still in the picture.
Mark | Aug 1, 2008 5:41:52 PM | #When I was a kid I wanted to be part of the Magic School Bus or go to school with Arthur. Now if I could grow up and become a TV character it would be...
PJ of My Boys. Come on, she gets to hang out with a bunch of guys who respect her in a way and has a journalist job. It's like my vision of my future, only not a journalist.
Heather | Aug 1, 2008 5:45:30 PM | #I want to be Claudia Joy Holden of Army Wives because I think her hubby is hot :-) I could do without the losing your daughter part though.
dreama | Aug 1, 2008 6:04:11 PM | #I would so want to be Veronica Mars! To be that witty, smart and sarcastic and still have (some) people like you for it would be great!
CJ Cregg is my hero.
maria | Aug 1, 2008 6:17:12 PM | #
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