Actor Recognition

[deird_lj]

I've discovered a minor problem with being TV-literate:

If you're watching a show (like NCIS, for example) and Jonathan Woodward (for instance) appears on screen for a few seconds, you instantly know that he will
a) appear again
b) be pivotal to the plot
and
c) be a seemingly nice and charming guy who's actually a bit more sinister (because it's Jonathan Woodward, after all - and he always plays characters like that)

It can really ruin the surprise.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

TV Tropes got there first. :-)

Hey, it's that guy!

Narrowed it down to the guy I recognize

Incredibly useful site. Or well, not as much useful as amusing, I guess.

[deird1]

Ah, TV Tropes!
I love that site - but I've never quite forgiven them for using Fred Burkle as an example of a character who died long after we'd stopped caring about her...

[cereta.livejournal.com]

I once spotted the killer in a CSI episode the second he appeared on screen, even though the character appeared quite minor. Why? Because it was Kyle Secor.

Back in the days before/just after cable, when TV Guide used to list guest casts with the episode synopsis, you could frequently spot the killer in a Perry Mason movie or Murder, She Wrote episode as the first one listed.

[deird1]

A related problem is when you're so familiar with one of the actor's characters, that you can't quite figure out that they're actually playing a different character - like expecting Booth to burst into flames if he goes into direct sunlight. Or wondering why Dawson's girlfriend went into the Secret Service...

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

And if you bring real life into it as well: WHY THE HELL IS TARA DATING WARREN?!?



...I mean, I'm sure Adam and Amber are very happy together. *is pathetic*

[deird1]

Yeah, that one really freaked me out, too...

[filmtx.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Adam and Amber, they just co-directed a movie in Baton Rouge called "Drones." Guess who stars in it? Jonathan Woodward.

[deird1]

Heh. See? It's inevitable. Jonathan Woodward is bound to star in everything even vaguely geeky from now until the end of time...

[ozwiccagal.livejournal.com]

this may work for tv series but does not work for movies :)

[deird1]

True...

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

Oh, on a similar note- I've taken to trying to ignore the cast credits that appear onscreen at the start of an episode, as once you know the name of the actor who plays a particular character, you already know what the plot twist will be-
e.g. watching Stargate Atlantis recently, I saw 'Robert Davi' in the credits. "Oh great", I say..."let me guess...it'll turn out the people raiding the village are...the Genii? Led by Kolya?"
It can get annoying...

[deird1]

Absolutely.
You see "Juliet Landau" and go "Right. So this week's villain is going to be Drusilla..."