TV GUIDE: Ask Matt: Grey's, Once Upon a Time, Southland, Fringe, HBO's Comedies
Apr 16, 2012
by Matt Roush
Send questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow on Twitter!
... Question: I noticed a strange coincidence recently. Mark Pellegrino plays the evil figment of a main character's imagination in both Being Human (Syfy version) and Supernatural. I know that character actors are pigeonholed — by definition, but I've never seen an actor serve the exact same purpose and play the exact same personality on two different shows in the same week. Granted, there are different back stories on his characters in both shows, but it still seems like a really odd coincidence. I suppose this is more of an observation than a question, but you've been kind enough to indulge me in the past. Have you noticed this sort of pattern yourself? I find that it takes away from my enjoyment of the show when I spend more time thinking about the actor than the character he is playing. Although it's probably just a matter of actors needing to work, and playing a recurring character on two different series probably doesn't suck. Thanks for your always appreciated insights. I look forward to the "Ask Matt" column every Monday. It's nice to have a voice of reason on the Internet and somewhere to turn other than fan forums. — Pallas
Matt Roush: Thanks for that. Couldn't do this column without you and the many other contributors, who continue making my own relationship with TV more interesting. I guess it is odd when a familiar face to genre viewers (he was also Jacob on Lost) is doing double duty in such visible roles on popular cult series. But far from taking me out of the show, I usually find myself responding with delight when a favorite character actor appears in a variety of roles. That was certainly the case when Pellegrino turned up as Brenda's flamboyant lawyer on The Closer, revealing a wickedly comic flair I wasn't prepared for. Mark Sheppard also comes instantly to mind, with a busy resume that includes Battlestar Galactica's Romo Lampkin, Supernatural's Crowley, Warehouse 13's Regent Benedict Valda, to name a very few. I'm always glad to see him, even when he conjures up memories of his past work while I'm watching his latest. The fact that these sorts of actors keep getting work is good for them and for us...
Supernatural returns with new episodes on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 9/8C on The CW.
Warehouse 13 season four premieres this summer [possibly Monday, July 9, 2012] on Syfy.
Battlestar Galactica is airing in reruns on BBC America.
Being Human season three premieres on Syfy in January 2013.
The last five NEW episodes of The Closer premieres Monday, July 9 at 9/8C on TNT.
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