Which sitcom produced the most stars?

j123vt_99 · 02-26-07, 07:30 PM

I was watching Seinfeld today and noticed a ton of 'stars' have been on the show as guests. Kirsten Davis and Chris Parnell were on the episode I just watched. I know Debra Messing, Jane Ives were on a episode as well as a ton of others. I'm not saying Seinfeld is responsible for making these people stars, just kind of odd how many people went on to decent careers. So what sitcom has had the most people move on to bigger careers?

movieguru · 02-26-07, 10:03 PM

M*A*S*H had quite a few. Probably more than Seinfield as it ran for 11 seasons.

GoldenJCJ · 02-26-07, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by movieguru

M*A*S*H had quite a few. Probably more than Seinfield as it ran for 11 seasons.

The few I can think of off the top of my head:
John Ritter
Patrick Swayze
James Cromwell
Rita Wilson
Teri Garr
Pat Morita

resinrats · 02-26-07, 11:31 PM

Taxi
Happy Days

mmconhea · 02-27-07, 08:58 AM

cheers

MrE · 02-27-07, 09:44 AM

This question needs more parameters. "Friends", for instance, guested more big names than most of the shows named.

superdeluxe · 02-27-07, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j123vt_99

I was watching Seinfeld today and noticed a ton of 'stars' have been on the show as guests. Kirsten Davis and Chris Parnell were on the episode I just watched. I know Debra Messing, Jane Ives were on a episode as well as a ton of others. I'm not saying Seinfeld is responsible for making these people stars, just kind of odd how many people went on to decent careers. So what sitcom has had the most people move on to bigger careers?

Ned and Stacy?

mphtrilogy · 02-27-07, 10:14 AM

Mary Tyler more was pretty great:

Almost every character re-appeared on another sucessful follow up TV show:
Ed Asner - Lou Grant
Murray/Gavin - Love Boat
Ted - Too Close
Rhoda - Rhoda
Betty White - Golden Girls

vegasbaby · 02-27-07, 10:27 AM

I believe 'Battle of the Network Stars' had the most stars come from it ...

vegasbaby · 02-27-07, 10:28 AM

Since when is Kristen Davis a 'Star' ?

Shannon Nutt · 02-27-07, 11:40 AM

Considering it ran for 15 years and spawned 6 spin-offs (7 if you count "704 Houser"), ALL IN THE FAMILY has to be up there.

GatorDeb · 02-27-07, 11:42 AM

Simpsons?

Red Dog · 02-27-07, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mphtrilogy

Mary Tyler more was pretty great:

Almost every character re-appeared on another sucessful follow up TV show:
Ed Asner - Lou Grant
Murray/Gavin - Love Boat
Ted - Too Close
Rhoda - Rhoda
Betty White - Golden Girls

Yep. That was the first one I thought of. Stellar cast. Plus you had John Amos who went on to a hit show in Good Times.

fujishig · 02-27-07, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrE

This question needs more parameters. "Friends", for instance, guested more big names than most of the shows named.

I think we're talking about people who had cameo roles while they weren't that famous, and went on to bigger things. IIRC, most of the Friends cameos are famous actors who wanted to make a guest appearance. For those kinds of appearances, Will and Grace must be up there... I didn't really watch the show, but it seemed like they had a new celebrity on every week.

ben12 · 02-27-07, 12:27 PM

I'd say Law & Order, but it's not a sitcom (or is it?).

mrhan · 02-27-07, 12:33 PM

Miami Vice. I know it wasn't what the OP was asking for but it had a lot of stars that were unknown at the time it was on.

Ving Rhames, Julia Roberts, Helena Bonham Carter, Esai Morales, John Leguizamo are a few I remember that have decent careers today that appeared on that series.

madcougar · 02-27-07, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhan

Miami Vice. I know it wasn't what the OP was asking for but it had a lot of stars that were unknown at the time it was on.

Ving Rhames, Julia Roberts, Helena Bonham Carter, Esai Morales, John Leguizamo are a few I remember that have decent careers today that appeared on that series.

Another guest star who went on to have a decent career was a guy named Bruce Willis.

mrhan · 02-27-07, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcougar

Another guest star who went on to have a decent career was a guy named Bruce Willis.

Damn, I forgot the most obvious one besides J. Roberts.

cdollaz · 02-27-07, 01:43 PM

There are a ton of them in Seinfeld. It seems like most episodes have someone who went on to bigger and better roles. I wouldn't say that Seinfeld "produced" them as they are usually bit parts, but, like L&O, there are a ton of actors on TV today who were once in a Seinfeld episode.

vegasbaby · 02-27-07, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcougar

Another guest star who went on to have a decent career was a guy named Bruce Willis.

jimmy smits was the partner in the pilot.

movieguru · 02-27-07, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mphtrilogy

Mary Tyler more was pretty great:

Almost every character re-appeared on another sucessful follow up TV show:
Ed Asner - Lou Grant
Murray/Gavin - Love Boat
Ted - Too Close
Rhoda - Rhoda
Betty White - Golden Girls

weren,t they the main characters and not guests though?

Sweet Baby James · 02-27-07, 03:26 PM

Since non-sitcoms are being mentioned, I'll throw The Rockford Files into the mix. There were a number of future stars that appeared on that great show, including two of my favorites, James Woods & Ed Harris.

JIF · 02-27-07, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrhan

Damn, I forgot the most obvious one besides J. Roberts.

Let's not forget Liam Neeson, who also did a guest scint on Miami Vice.

Lee Harvey Oswald · 02-27-07, 06:51 PM

Growing Pains had Brad Pitt, Leo, and Matthew Perry.

They also had a guy named Boner on the show. And Ben glued his butt to the coffee table in one episode. Pretty edgy.

madcougar · 02-28-07, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Harvey Oswald

Growing Pains had Brad Pitt, Leo, and Matthew Perry.

They also had a guy named Boner on the show. And Ben glued his butt to the coffee table in one episode. Pretty edgy.

Let us not forget that Boner AKA Andrew Koeing once played the Joker!

02-26-07, 07:30 PM	#1
j123vt_99 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 8,757	Which sitcom produced the most stars? I was watching Seinfeld today and noticed a ton of 'stars' have been on the show as guests. Kirsten Davis and Chris Parnell were on the episode I just watched. I know Debra Messing, Jane Ives were on a episode as well as a ton of others. I'm not saying Seinfeld is responsible for making these people stars, just kind of odd how many people went on to decent careers. So what sitcom has had the most people move on to bigger careers? __________________ j123vt_99 that was so one page ago - General Zod sometimes all it takes is a slammin' hottie to make you dig down deep and discover who you really are - Scrubs

02-27-07, 08:58 AM	#5
mmconhea DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Rochester, NY USA Posts: 4,925	cheers __________________ Waterfalls & Photography - About me

02-27-07, 10:14 AM	#8
mphtrilogy DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,644	Mary Tyler more was pretty great: Almost every character re-appeared on another sucessful follow up TV show: Ed Asner - Lou Grant Murray/Gavin - Love Boat Ted - Too Close Rhoda - Rhoda Betty White - Golden Girls __________________ My Collection

02-27-07, 11:42 AM	#12
GatorDeb DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The "Real" Vice City Posts: 13,697	Simpsons? __________________ XBOX Live Gamertag: GatorDeb07 (zero seven) My XBOX 360 blogs about me "Polo por u, polo por u" - Peggy speaking Spanish from KOTH (Chicken for you, chicken for you)

02-27-07, 12:27 PM	#15
ben12 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Where I live? Posts: 2,237	I'd say Law & Order, but it's not a sitcom (or is it?). __________________ Ben Read Poop Office at http://nakedgrapecomics.com

02-26-07, 10:03 PM	#2
movieguru DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,295	MAS*H had quite a few. Probably more than Seinfield as it ran for 11 seasons.

02-26-07, 11:31 PM	#4
resinrats DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,799	Taxi Happy Days

02-27-07, 09:44 AM	#6
MrE DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,956	This question needs more parameters. "Friends", for instance, guested more big names than most of the shows named.

02-27-07, 10:27 AM	#9
vegasbaby Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,464	I believe 'Battle of the Network Stars' had the most stars come from it ...

02-27-07, 10:28 AM	#10
vegasbaby Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,464	Since when is Kristen Davis a 'Star' ?

02-27-07, 11:40 AM	#11
Shannon Nutt DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,742	Considering it ran for 15 years and spawned 6 spin-offs (7 if you count "704 Houser"), ALL IN THE FAMILY has to be up there.

02-27-07, 12:33 PM	#16
mrhan DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,941	Miami Vice. I know it wasn't what the OP was asking for but it had a lot of stars that were unknown at the time it was on. Ving Rhames, Julia Roberts, Helena Bonham Carter, Esai Morales, John Leguizamo are a few I remember that have decent careers today that appeared on that series.

02-27-07, 01:43 PM	#19
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,910	There are a ton of them in Seinfeld. It seems like most episodes have someone who went on to bigger and better roles. I wouldn't say that Seinfeld "produced" them as they are usually bit parts, but, like L&O, there are a ton of actors on TV today who were once in a Seinfeld episode.

02-27-07, 03:26 PM	#22
Sweet Baby James DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Connecticut Posts: 10,431	Since non-sitcoms are being mentioned, I'll throw The Rockford Files into the mix. There were a number of future stars that appeared on that great show, including two of my favorites, James Woods & Ed Harris.

02-27-07, 06:51 PM	#24
Lee Harvey Oswald DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Nowheresville Posts: 1,976	Growing Pains had Brad Pitt, Leo, and Matthew Perry. They also had a guy named Boner on the show. And Ben glued his butt to the coffee table in one episode. Pretty edgy.