John Krasinski: Too much, too soon?
I’ve been seeing ads for this Leatherheads movie with George Clooney and John Krasinksi. I don’t really plan on seeing it (the fact that Clooney and Krasinski are in it are outweighed by the fact that it’s about football), but it got me thinking about movie careers for TV stars.
For every George Clooney, there’s a Shelley Long. When you depart from a successful TV series you could end up with Oceans 11 or you could end up with Hello Again. So it makes me worried for dear Johnny — while I hear he has no plans to leave The Office, I hope that he can pull off movie stardom as well.
If you recall, his first high profile foray into the big screen was that Mandy Moore/Robin Williams lead balloon License to Wed. The one where he had to babysit a robotic baby who subsequently urinated in his mouth. I kind of feel like that situation is a larger metaphor for TV stars and fame. The TV star is the hapless parent played by Krasinski while the baby represents the elusive Lady Fame. No one ever knows why, but sometimes the baby is happy with your performance. Other times you’re just standing there with good intentions and there’s a baby pissing in your mouth. And not just your mouth, but pissing in the mouth of all actors who dare to dream.
It’s sadly beautiful, really.
In any case, let’s take a little survey of TV stars and assess their stardom potential. They’re rated in Clooneys (one for little movie potential, five for lots of potential).
John Krasinski (The Office) - 4 Clooneys
Despite Krasinksi’s aforementioned missteps (Leatherheads didn’t do so well either), I still think he’s got it in him. He should probably have started smaller rather than taken the first Robin Williams romp out of the gate. From the previews (perish the thought of actually watching the movie), Krasinski was probably the best part of it. So The Office will keep going for a few more years and he’ll have plenty of time to strike gold — I’m not too worried.
Jorge Garcia (Lost) - 2 Clooneys
It’s a sad state of affairs, but there are only so many roles for the larger set of actors. Quirky best friends, downtrodden service employees, etc. I’m guessing he’ll find steady work, but remain safely in the character actor zone.
Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy) - 1 Clooney
I can’t imagine Pompeo really breaking out. She’s doesn’t embue Grey with a lot of intangible likability.
Zachary Levi (Chuck) - 3 Clooneys
Levi could be a wild card. I can imagine him writing and starring in an off-broadway play after Chuck wraps to get back to his roots and then he breaks out as a true talent. On the other hand, he could do the same thing and “Braff it.”
Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) - 4 Clooneys
I think Sackhoff has a long career ahead of her on television. She seems to be carving out her niche in the sci-fi action babe category — who can blame her? — and this is a limiting, but lucrative proposition.
2 comments April 23rd, 2008