Inspired by the comment that Nancy Travis and Robert Urich were two people who never quite succeeded at having long-running series, I thought we could list our favorite/least favorite examples of this situation.

 

For me, the patron saint is an actress I like, Judith Ivey. The '90s tried pretty hard with her.

Down Home (1990-91)

Designing Women (1992-93)

The Critic and The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (1994-95)

Buddies (1996)

 

Awe poor Robert Urich! I remember him and Markie Post in a really bad TV movie on Lifetime after they better days had past for the both of them. 

 

As much as I liked Deborah Adair, Aaron Spelling tried hard for her succeed in primetime to no avail first with Dynasty, then the awful Finders of Lost Love(I definitely would never let that creep find me!) and later on to recurring roles on Hotel and Melrose Place that went nowhere. 

 

Nancy McKeon tried hard to have a career as an adult actress but I think most of her vehicles usually flopped, including the Nanny spin-off "Can't Hurry Love". 

 

Dare I say Morgan Fairchild? Unfortunately neither  Flamingo Road nor Paper Dolls worked out, she only lasted a season on Falcon Crest, her own soap opera The City fizzled out fast, and Fashion House was only meant for short term.  Her name is out there but nothing seemed to last long for her. 

One name: Paula Marshall.

11 minutes ago, Khan said:

One name: Paula Marshall.

 

Wow that reminds of David E. Kelly's tv show Snoops epically failed in a blaze of glory. I don't believe any of those actresses ever could find sustained success after that. 

Edited February 17, 20188 yr by soapfan770

Rena Sofer and Vanessa Marcil: in the late 1990s and early 2000s these two popped up in primetime an awful lot and never really succeeded. 

4 minutes ago, DaytimeFan said:

Rena Sofer

 

Lol, she had the dubious distinction of being the female Ted McGinley; every show she appeared on ended up being cancelled not long after (i.e. Melrose Place, Just Shoot Me etc.) 

33 minutes ago, soapfan770 said:

Deborah Adair

 

16 minutes ago, DaytimeFan said:

Rena Sofer and Vanessa Marcil

 

So very accurate.

I disagree about Vanessa Marcil. I mean she was on 90210 a long while I felt. Same for LAS VEGAS. And even when she popped into GH for 2002, it was one of those times that rating WENT BACK UP.

 

 

9 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

I disagree about Vanessa Marcil. I mean she was on 90210 a long while I felt. Same for LAS VEGAS. And even when she popped into GH for 2002, it was one of those times that rating WENT BACK UP.

 

 

 

She did 37 episodes of 90210 (the last two seasons) and Las Vegas ran for 5 years and 106 episodes. 90210 was on its last legs when she joined and Las Vegas was wholly forgettable.

 

My point being that, in both cases, she didn't make a splash at all and neither show launched her career into anything substantial. 

1 hour ago, soapfan770 said:

Dare I say Morgan Fairchild? Unfortunately neither  Flamingo Road nor Paper Dolls worked out, she only lasted a season on Falcon Crest, her own soap opera The City fizzled out fast, and Fashion House was only meant for short term.  Her name is out there but nothing seemed to last long for her. 

 

Morgan Fairchild is one of those people who seems to have become famous for herself, more than any particular role. I guess it's a good way to make a career, if you manage it.

It seems weird to say it now, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus for about 5 years post-Seinfeld.

Mark Feuerstein. How many shows does this guy have to tank before they stop giving them to him?

34 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Mark Feuerstein. How many shows does this guy have to tank before they stop giving them to him?

 

THANK YOU.  I've been saying the same for God knows HOW long.  About the only successful series he's had is "Royal Pains"; and IMO, the bar for success was set VERY low there.

Edited February 18, 20188 yr by Khan

1 minute ago, Khan said:

 

THANK YOU.  I've been saying the same for God knows HOW long.  About the only successful series he's had is "Royal Pains"; and IMO, the bar for success was set VERY low there.

Royal Pains maybe bought him some time, but that CBS sitcom he has with Linda Lavin is DREADFUL.

Just now, Faulkner said:

Royal Pains maybe bought him some time, but that CBS sitcom he has with Linda Lavin is DREADFUL.

 

Yep.  Even worse, it's supposedly based on his own life experiences.  Which tells me, he sucks even in real life.