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."
Quinto might quit Spock after the 2nd Star Trek movie.
There is no such thing as “The Mclean Stevenson Effect”. The truth is he wasn’t a very good actor. So, his show didn’t do well. Every great actor has made his share of bad decisions. IIRC, The Mclean Stevenson Show had roughly the same premise as Frasier. But Kelsey Grammer can act.
The death toll on that show would be amazing. You have how many years of “Marshal Dillon” and how many years of Gunsmoke, something like ‘55-’75. Another interesting thing would be just how many times Marshal Dillon was shot. Like he might have been shot 50-100 seperate times maybe, mostly in the shoulders if I recall.
Freegards
Also again Burt Reynolds. Turned down lead in “One Flew Over the Cookies Nest” directed by Stanly Kubrick to star in Smokey and the Bandit.
Jack Nickolson instead took the part and won best actor.
Dropped by show, dropped by his own little gun.
The real lightening in a bottle is a successful series/movie.
The actor needs to realize they are very fortunate to be part of that; and the lightening in a bottle is not the actor, but the series/movie.
There is the situation where an act's second banana quits and subsequently proves that he was the real talent all along: The Dean Martin Effect
Nope, the entire cast is signed for 3 films...
Nope, the entire cast is signed for 3 films...
Sean Connery rejected being Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.
He then tried to make up for it becoming Allan Quartermain in League of Extraordinary Gentleman.
Fail.
"After you've been a major character in a successful series like 'Stargate SG-1' for 4 or 5 years -- let alone 10 years -- you never have to work again. Your children will never have to work. Your grandchildren will work only if they want to."
WRT Kelsey Grammer, when “Frazier” first aired, the actor who plays Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) looked & acted so much like him, I thought they really were brothers. Always thought that the most inspired casting I ever saw TV wise.
“Who else made poor showbiz career decisions to become victims of the “McLean Stevenson Effect.”?”
Michael Parks — “Then Came Bronson” was a critical and popular hit, and he decided to leave after a couple of seasons because he believed he would forever be “trapped in that persona” for the rest of his career.
So he left and we never saw much of him again….
Read Leonard Nimoy’s bio. For years in the 50s and 60s he worked for $55/week for a speaking part, $25/week for a non-speaking part. A new show, new job every week if you could manage it. Survived on studio cafeteria left-overs. Don’t begrudge him a cent for the money he mad on Star Trek. He was never paid a dime in residuals from the the original series.
“Ike Jump...Ike....do your imitation of David Caruso’s career.”
William Shatner was the only one smart enough to take advantage of residuals.
It’s my understanding that Star Trek really wasn’t expected to go anywhere, so nobody else thought to include residuals in their contract.
The radio version of Gunsmoke is good too. William Conrad played Matt. The radio cast thought they were the naturals for the upcoming TV version.
He is one of the creators of Blues Clues, he’s set for life.
And Bruce Willis.
The Ropers from Three’s Company.
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