Posted on 11/25/2012 7:06:22 AM PST by PJ-Comix
People in the entertainment business sometimes make horrible career decisions. This is what is known as the "McLean Stevenson Effect." Named after actor McLean Stevenson who played the part of Henry Blake in the hit TV series "M*A*S*H." Stevenson was unhappy with being part of an ensemble so after about 3 seasons left the show to become the lead in the "McLean Stevenson Show" which promptly flopped. His career never recovered.
Another victim of the McLean Stevenson effect was Shelly Long who was in the hit series "Cheers." She left after 5 seasons to become a movie actress but pretty much flopped in that endeavor.
Finally there was Jeff Conaway who starred in my own favorite TV series "Taxi." After 3 seasons he left the show with a one-way ticket to obscurity.
Who else made poor showbiz career decisions to become victims of the "McLean Stevenson Effect."
As I understand it, it’s not the paychecks for the acting work, it’s the constant cash flow from the syndication of the show. Maybe “set for life” can be overstating it for your average series, but for shows like “Star Trek” or “Seinfeld” or “The Office”, those folks will likely be seeing rather decent checks for the rest of their lives.
I should say “The actor who played Radar...”
How about Shannen Doherty? After getting kicked off 90210, she never came close to anything like that again. Except for a lead role in Mallrats and a 3 year gig on a WB series (1998-2001), it’s all been bit parts and cameos. She’s as arrogant as Val Kilmer with nothing to back it up.
Aside from Barbara Billingsly’s memorable performance in Airplane, its hard to think of a Leave it to Beaver alum who succeeded in acting beyond their first series.
On the other hand there are people like John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington who parleyed their TV success into much greater fame
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I didn’t say that he left to do another show. Just that he was pressured to take that part when it was given him.
An interesting fact about Radar coming into the operating room to announce Colonel Blake’s death was also a set up, to ensure Stevenson could never return to MASH. Up until the point of shooting, nobody was aware that Blake was going to die. The actor playing radar was supposedly given a cue card to read, just as he was going into the operating room to do something else.
Actually the six stars of Friends got $1,000,000 per episode the last season OR two. $25,000,000. Before that that there was a season of $750,000(I believe).
Who? Honestly. Never heard of him.
Chevy Chase effect works too with the benefit of knowing he is a scumbag in real life.
I think Shelley Long had a pretty respectable career for someone who was primarily a TV actress. You have to remember that actresses tend to have a shorter shelf life than actors. She also did reprisals of her Diane character on “Frazier”.
Now Kelsey Grammer—there is a guy who knew how to leverage a supporting role! I read somewhere his net worth is $80M.
Seemed to have a prtetty good run in "Numb3rs"
I’m sure if the nod was given from the union heads to punish him, the orders were followed.
Suzanne Sommers leaving Three’s Company and Farrah Fawcett leaving Charlie’s Angels. The shows did fine but the actresses languished.
Suzanne Sommers leaving Three’s Company and Farrah Fawcett leaving Charlie’s Angels. The shows did fine but the actresses languished.
Suzanne Sommers leaving Three’s Company and Farrah Fawcett leaving Charlie’s Angels. The shows did fine but the actresses languished.
“Now Kelsey Grammer—there is a guy who knew how to leverage a supporting role! “
The guy has been gold, even an ex-wife of his has made a career from leveraging a marriage to Grammer.
They had to do that scene twice...and everybody had been so caught off guard during the first take that they successfully captured the shock the second time as well.
The gist of the story was that Matt was making it with Miss Kitty, The Madam. They never really showed it though, it started as a family show.
I forgot Trappe John, probably because I never watched it much. Surprised anyone did.
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