What TV show has the best cast?

danh789

Watching 24 last night got me wondering if the show has the best cast on TV? Just look at some of the names who appeared on it last season:
Keifer Sutherland
Cherry Jones
Jon Voight
Carlos Bernard
Bob Gunton
Janeane Garofalo
Elisha Cuthbert
Kurtwood Smith
Will Patton


And the likes of Annie Wersching and Jeffery Nordling who may not have been big stars before appearing on the show but were great actors

Also look at some of the names that have appeared down through the years:
James Cromwell
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Haysbeth
Xander Berkeley
Sean Astin
Zachery Quinto
William Devane
Tobin Bell

And already for next season the likes of Freddie Prince Jr, Anil Kapoor and Katee Sackhoff have been lined up to appear on the show!

So my question, what TV show do you think has the best cast?

mike65

Top Gear!

Burning Eclipse

It happens to be my favourite TV show, so bias could be an issue...

But for me there is no competition: The West Wing. The list of cast regulars as well as excellent actors who played minor roles is amazing! I'd say it probably has more award winning actors and actresses than any other show in history. (Waits to be proven wrong )

EDIT: list here

The Hustler

xPOSE!

MaceFace

The Oscars?

Nah, seriously - Entourage.

Game over!

ShoulderChip

The Wire.

ShoulderChip

Extras.

Blazer

Until you mentioned "Elisha Cuthbert" 24 was winning.
Absolutely can't stand her..brutal actress and I really wish they had killed her off in season 1..

rednik

The Simpsons. Who hasn't been on it.?

Taltos

NCIS - not really that popular over here - but love the numerous story threads.

TYMOYSHU

weeds,, genius cast

danh789

Alot of shows being mentioned but no-one seems to be able to back them up with names, 24 is still in the lead!!!

ShoulderChip

danh789 wrote: »

Alot of shows being mentioned but no-one seems to be able to back them up with names, 24 is still in the lead!!!

I am pretty confident you have never seen The Wire to say something like that tbh

and what do you mean by back up by names?
are you suggesting that the best cast is merely the show with the most star names?

Is 24 winning because it has the most famous names in it? Shows such as the Wire, Mad Men, Battlestar and Dexter all have a superior cast simply because they employ some of the finest working actors around. I do like 24 and the cast is great but you can't compare the acting in 24 to the Wire.

Oh and for anyone wondering about the Wire's acting just look at Dominic West, the only actor able to successfully play a realistic drunk.

Morgans

In your opinion of course. I cant take one persons subjective opinion as fact as what was the best cast. Jeanne Garofolo for instance is decent in the quirky funny role, not sure about the great drama actress. Several of your list are ok as actors but hardly troubling the oscars committe. Just because they had guest appearances/cameos from (some) well-known actors doesn't necessarily mean you are right. The huge acting presence of Freddie Prinze Jr will be used as definitive proof next year.

Blackadder had Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson, with Rik Mayall being a fantastic cameo among others. Thinking of Jeanne Garofolo reminds me how perfectly cast The Larry Sanders show was. That would be my nomination. West Wing was a very good shout in the drama category. Several superb performances over several years - even Emily Proctor looked very good in it.

JP Liz

24
ER
Damages
Deadwood
The Wire
Six Feet Under
Oz
Firefly
Arrested Development
Homicide: Life On The Street

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Oz easily had the best cast with the actors going on to be in some of the most popular shows on television; The Wire, The Sopranos, Fringe, LOST, Dexter, Law & Order, Desperate Housewives & 24 to name a few...

-Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters 1 + 2, Desperate Housewives)
-Harold Perrineau (LOST, The Unusuals, 28 Weeks Later, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions)
-Lee Tergesen (Generation Kill, Desperate Housewives, Weird Science, Wayne's World 1 + 2)
-JK Simmons (The Closer, Juno, I Love You Man, Spiderman 1 + 2 + 3, Law & Order)
-Dean Winters (Rescue Me, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 30 Rock, PS I Love You, Law & Order SVU)
-Terry Kinney (The Unusuals, Canterbury's Law, The Last of the Mohicans, thirtysomething)
-Rita Moreno (Cane, 9 to 5, The Electric Company, West Side Story)
-George Morfogen (V: The Original Miniseries)
-Eamonn Walker (Kings, Justice, The Bill, In Sickness and in Health)
-BD Wong (Law and Order: SVU, Jurassic Park, Father of the Bride)
-Kirk Acevedo (Fringe, The Black Donnellys, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Band of Brothers)
-Scott William Winters (24, Dexter, NYPD Blue, Good Will Hunting)
-Lauren Velez (Dexter, Ugly Betty, New York Undercover)
-Tom Mardirosian (Law & Order, The Wire)
-Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU, NYPD Blue, The Fanelli Boys)
-Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (LOST, Get Rich or Die Tryin', Ace Venture: When Nature Calls)
-Robert Clohessy (Kidnapped, Ohara)
-Zeljko Ivanek (Heroes, Damages, LOST, Law & Order, 24)
-David Zayas (Dexter, The Beat)
-Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie)
-JD Williams (The Wire)
-Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
-Seth Gilliam (The Wire, Starship Troopers)
-Michael Wright (V: The Original Miniseries)
-Luis Guzman (Anger Management, Dumb and Dumberer)
-Lance Reddick (The Wire, Fringe, LOST)
-Erik King (Dexter, Missing Persons)
-Mark Margolis (Breaking Bad, The Black Donnellys, Scarface, Defiance)
-Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210, Jeremiah)
-Reg E. Cathey (The Wire)
-Leon (Cool Runnings, Get Rich or Die Tryin')
-Judy Reyes (Scrubs)
-John Doman (The Wire, Damages, ER)
-Domenick Lombardozzi (The Wire)
-Paul Schulze (The Sopranos, 24, Nurse Jackie)
-Ken Leung (The Sopranos, LOST, Saw, Rush Hour, X-Men 3)

missingtime

Band of Brothers
Generation Kill
The X-Files

In no particular order, although the one above suits just fine

juma

danh789 wrote: »

Watching 24 last night got me wondering if the show has the best cast on TV? Just look at some of the names who appeared on it last season:
Keifer Sutherland
Cherry Jones
Jon Voight
Carlos Bernard
Bob Gunton
Janeane Garofalo
Elisha Cuthbert
Kurtwood Smith
Will Patton


And the likes of Annie Wersching and Jeffery Nordling who may not have been big stars before appearing on the show but were great actors

Also look at some of the names that have appeared down through the years:
James Cromwell
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Haysbeth
Xander Berkeley
Sean Astin
Zachery Quinto
William Devane
Tobin Bell

And already for next season the likes of Freddie Prince Jr, Anil Kapoor and Katee Sackhoff have been lined up to appear on the show!

So my question, what TV show do you think has the best cast?

Fully Agree!!

Not only does the show seem to always get great actors but 95% of the time they are cast perfectly.

tvnutz

Because a show has big names means nothing,its whether they can act and act well as a cast. All the big names in 24 and yet Seasons 1 and 5 were the only ones that were good,the rest ranged from average to downright terrible.

Shows like The Wire,which had a massive cast,not just the odd guest or recurring role like in 24,were amazing. No big names yet probably the best cast I have ever seen in a tv show. Oz also had a large cast of little known actors who were brilliant. On a smaller scale,the cast of the West Wing were also brilliant,with martin Sheen really only being the big big name.

Mossy Monk

The Wire followed by Oz

Dozen Wicked Words

Spaced had a solid cast. Even Colin was cool.

bm365

tvnutz wrote: »

All the big names in 24 and yet Seasons 1 and 5 were the only ones that were good,the rest ranged from average to downright terrible.quote]

For the last 8 years (wow, 8 years!) 24 has remained one of, if not the best show on TV. Forgetting about the big stars on the show, it has always been the lesser known actors that really impressed me, such as Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert, Zachery Quinto, Glenn Morshower, Jude Ciccolella, Annie Werching and Jeff Nordling.

Then there is Keifer of course!!!

Also OP, how could you forget about Gergory Itzin and Jean Smart as the brilliant Charles and Martha Logan??!!

No other show can compare to it.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

bm365 wrote: »

For the last 8 years (wow, 8 years!) 24 has remained one of, if not the best show on TV. Forgetting about the big stars on the show, it has always been the lesser known actors that really impressed me, such as Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert, Zachery Quinto, Glenn Morshower, Jude Ciccolella, Annie Werching and Jeff Nordling.

Then there is Keifer of course!!!

Also OP, how could you forget about Gergory Itzin and Jean Smart as the brilliant Charles and Martha Logan??!!

No other show can compare to it.

While I do like 24, I can't possibly believe you'd rank it as one of the best shows on television in the last 8 years, when the likes of The Wire, The Sopranos and Oz, amongst other quality shows are out there.

Magic.Marker

Greys Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice, ER.

juma

Magic.Marker wrote: »

Greys Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice, ER.

Pretty people!!

Basq

bm365..

If you abuse another member of this forum, you'll be banned without remorse.

tvnutz

bm365 wrote: »

tvnutz wrote: »

All the big names in 24 and yet Seasons 1 and 5 were the only ones that were good,the rest ranged from average to downright terrible.quote]

You sir, are an idiot! For the last 8 years (wow, 8 years!) 24 has remained one of, if not the best show on TV. Forgetting about the big stars on the show, it has always been the lesser known actors that really impressed me, such as Carlos Bernard, Dennis Haysbert, Zachery Quinto, Glenn Morshower, Jude Ciccolella, Annie Werching and Jeff Nordling.

Then there is Keifer of course!!!

Also OP, how could you forget about Gergory Itzin and Jean Smart as the brilliant Charles and Martha Logan??!!

No other show can compare to it.

I see,I am an idiot because my opinion differs to yours? Clearly you have never seen The Wire,The West Wing,The Sopranos,Oz to name but a few. 24 is absolute rubbish compared to these shows,even when it was at its best.

Keifer's "Damn It" every 10 minutes never impressed me all that much and that's all he could really do. His pathetic attempts at crying also never got me. He has never impressed me as an actor. Zachery Quinto I liked in heroes and Star Trek,he did nothing in 24 worth mentioning. I always liked Carlos Bernard,Tony is probably the shows best character. Gergory Itzin and Jean Smart were also very good but if you had read my post,I did say the show was very good in Season 1 and 5,but even still not one season compares to the shows I just mentioned.

24 is popcorn tv made up as they go along during the season,things blow up,Jack kills dozens of people in one day,its enjoyable turn off your brain tv,but thats all! Watch the Wire but something tells me it might be a little to complex for you if you think nothing comes close to 24!

bm365

tvnutz wrote: »

bm365 wrote: »

I see,I am an idiot because my opinion differs to yours? Clearly you have never seen The Wire,The West Wing,The Sopranos,Oz to name but a few. 24 is absolute rubbish compared to these shows,even when it was at its best.

Keifer's "Damn It" every 10 minutes never impressed me all that much and that's all he could really do. His pathetic attempts at crying also never got me. He has never impressed me as an actor. Zachery Quinto I liked in heroes and Star Trek,he did nothing in 24 worth mentioning. I always liked Carlos Bernard,Tony is probably the shows best character. Gergory Itzin and Jean Smart were also very good but if you had read my post,I did say the show was very good in Season 1 and 5,but even still not one season compares to the shows I just mentioned.

24 is popcorn tv made up as they go along during the season,things blow up,Jack kills dozens of people in one day,its enjoyable turn off your brain tv,but thats all! Watch the Wire but something tells me it might be a little to complex for you if you think nothing comes close to 24!

I’ll have you know that I am a fan of all the shows you listed, although I’m only on season 1 of The West Wing and season 2 of The Wire. Also current shows that I am a fan of are Dexter, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, The Inbetweeners, House, Bones and The Mentalist. I just think that 24 is the best series on TV. Have you not seen season 2 or 7, two of the shows best Days? And I’m sorry but to criticise Keifer’s acting shows how poor your judgement actually is.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

bm365 wrote: »

I’ll have you know that I am a fan of all the shows you listed, although I’m only on season 1 of The West Wing and season 2 of The Wire. Also current shows that I am a fan of are Dexter, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, The Inbetweeners, House, Bones and The Mentalist. I just think that 24 is the best series on TV. Have you not seen season 2 or 7, two of the shows best Days? And I’m sorry but to criticise Keifer’s acting shows how poor your judgement actually is.

Season 2??? Are you having a laugh? I was amazed the show wasn't cancelled because of Season 2, back in the day. Season 7 - meh, I think the primary reason people like it is because season 6 was so bad - on the grand scheme of things it doesn't even compare to season 1, which to me is and will always be the only truly excellent season, everything afterwards is so repetitive and predictable.
As for Kiefer's acting - he is a bit of a one trick pony. He's good at shouting and if I wanted to hire a shouty actor he'd probably be the man for the job, but he'd never cut it in a medical drama or intellectual comedy show.
I can't believe you say you're a fan of Dexter and House and think 24 has a better overall cast...

JP Liz

If you count cast plus guest stars ER had an impressive list

Bandit12

The Sopranos

bm365

CaptainNegative wrote: »

Season 2??? Are you having a laugh? I was amazed the show wasn't cancelled because of Season 2, back in the day. Season 7 - meh, I think the primary reason people like it is because season 6 was so bad - on the grand scheme of things it doesn't even compare to season 1, which to me is and will always be the only truly excellent season, everything afterwards is so repetitive and predictable.
As for Kiefer's acting - he is a bit of a one trick pony. He's good at shouting and if I wanted to hire a shouty actor he'd probably be the man for the job, but he'd never cut it in a medical drama or intellectual comedy show.
I can't believe you say you're a fan of Dexter and House and think 24 has a better overall cast...

I'd really like to hear your reasons for not liking season 2 as this has always been considered one of the best among fans and critics?

I actually think Keifer is very good at doing different emotions, season 6 when was interrogating his own brother was fantastic acting. And his showdown with Heller at the end of Day 6. This season all he has been in top form (alot I wont ruin it for RTE viewers by giving away the plots!).

Elmo

I know I always go on about these two shows but their casts are some of the best actors coming from US TV IMO.

The Practice
Dylan McDermott (he got to be a bit of a bore but the rest excellent)
Michael Badalucco
Lisa Gay Hamilton
Steve Harris
Camryn Manheim (What is she doing in the ghostwhisper?)
Kelli Williams
Lara Flynn Boyle

Freaks and Geeks

Linda Cardellini
John Francis Daley
James Franco
Samm Levine
Seth Rogen
Jason Segel
Martin Starr
Busy Philipps
Becky Ann Baker
and Joe Flaherty

Also 2 of the best opening sequences on TV.

ShoulderChip

This thread needs a point.

There are many different things been argued here,

we need to define "best cast2 before any kind of proper discussion can be had.

Is it merely defined by the star quality of the actors, and is the best show then the show which has had the most guest appearences, or the show whose cast has gone on to become the biggest stars.

or is it similar but with the emphasis on the actors ability over fame

or is it about the show whose cast fit the characters they portrayed perfectly.

Before we define what it it we will be running in circles.

Elmo

Defined by the star quality of the actors with the emphasis on the actors ability over fame and the show whose cast fit the characters they portrayed perfectly.

I would think both my casts suggestion provide all of that. They both cast pretty much unknows into the roles, the casting excellent, their ultimate start quality followed by pure acting talent. But I might be a bit bias.

I think guest stars should be exclude. 24 has many great actors but lets face it Jon Voight (DAY 7), Dennis Hopper (DAY 1) and James Cromwell (DAY 6) gave in the worst performaces of their careers.

bm365

Elmo wrote: »

I think guest stars should be exclude. 24 has many great actors but lets face it Jon Voight (DAY 7), Dennis Hopper (DAY 1) and James Cromwell (DAY 6) gave in the worst performaces of their careers.

I agree with you about Dennis Hopper but I think Jon Voight was perfect in the role of Jonas Hodges and delivered some great one-liners. James Cromwell, the fact the he was never number one choice to play Philip Bauer and the writing was what let him down.

Elmo

bm365 wrote: »

I agree with you about Dennis Hopper but I think Jon Voight was perfect in the role of Jonas Hodges and delivered some great one-liners. James Cromwell, the fact the he was never number one choice to play Philip Bauer and the writing was what let him down.

Well I am only following on RTÉ so Jon Voight has just arrived into the story. So far I amn't hugely impressed but then I amn't impressed by the current series, he is possible the best thing about the show.

I think 24 had a great cast in Day 1, Ira Gains and Mandy (I miss Mandy), and Day 5 with the Logan's and Homeland security.

Day 6 had 2 quality stars in Gramham and Father Bauer but still failed.

tvnutz

bm365 wrote: »

I agree with you about Dennis Hopper but I think Jon Voight was perfect in the role of Jonas Hodges and delivered some great one-liners. James Cromwell, the fact the he was never number one choice to play Philip Bauer and the writing was what let him down.

I thought it was the best show ever yet the writing is not good enough for a character that had huge potential,Jack bauer's father.

Jon Voight was shockingly bad in season 7,his little speech to Larry when he catches them on the base was terribly delievered.

themont85

Elmo wrote: »

Freaks and Geeks

Linda Cardellini
John Francis Daley
James Franco
Samm Levine
Seth Rogen
Jason Segel
Martin Starr
Busy Philipps
Becky Ann Baker
and Joe Flaherty

Great shout, superb cast.

The Wire(obviousely). Band of Brothers has a great cast too.

bm365

tvnutz wrote: »

I thought it was the best show ever yet the writing is not good enough for a character that had huge potential,Jack bauer's father.

No, I said that the writing let James Cormwell down because the character of Philip Bauer didnt suit him, because like I said he wasn't orginally meant to play that charcater

Elmo

bm365 wrote: »

No, I said that the writing let James Cormwell down because the character of Philip Bauer didnt suit him, because like I said he wasn't orginally meant to play that charcater

Who was?

Also it didn't help that DAY 6 was a great series of 24. Paul McCrane was also miscast as his brother, okay the revelation that Graham was his brother from DAY 5 was the main problem with that storyline. But still Paul McCrane had huge potential in that role.

bm365

Elmo wrote: »

Who was?

Also it didn't help that DAY 6 was a great series of 24. Paul McCrane was also miscast as his brother, okay the revelation that Graham was his brother from DAY 5 was the main problem with that storyline. But still Paul McCrane had huge potential in that role.

The part orginally went to Donald Sutherland, Keifer's father but then he couldn't do it because of scheduling conflicts.

Yeah Paul McCrane was better in Day 5 but the scene with Jack torturing him in Season 6 is still one of the best of the series.

Elmo

bm365 wrote: »

The part orginally went to Donald Sutherland, Keifer's father but then he couldn't do it because of scheduling conflicts.

Yeah Paul McCrane was better in Day 5 but the scene with Jack torturing him in Season 6 is still one of the best of the series.

Thank god James Cromwell got the part so, Donald Sutherland would have hammed it up even more than Cormwell. Did you see him in Dirty Sex Money or was it Brothers and Sisters.

Jack Torturing him in Day 6 was the beginning of the end for 24. I enjoy the series but I am a bit sick o Jack and his methods :rolleyes:

Biggins

Burning Eclipse wrote: »

It happens to be my favourite TV show, so bias could be an issue...

But for me there is no competition: The West Wing. The list of cast regulars as well as excellent actors who played minor roles is amazing! I'd say it probably has more award winning actors and actresses than any other show in history. (Waits to be proven wrong )

TOTALLY agree.