Set Ways

The TV Set is a decent film with a plot that probably can't work. Who cares about the compromises a producer has to make to get his show on the air?

I watched the first act recently and noticed something. Two actors are brought before the network by the hopeful showrunner. There's the "good" (subtle) actor played by Simon Helberg, and the "bad" (big, obvious) actor played by Fran Kranz (what kind of name is that for a guy?). The network, obviously, goes for the latter.

It occurred to me since then, both these guy have been through this process in real life. Kranz was in Welcome To The Captain and is currently on Dollhouse--neither hits. On the other hand, Helberg had a featured role on a high profile project--Studio 60--and has a regular part on a hit, The Big Bang Theory. So in real life, the "good" actor got the part that counted. (Of course, the part that's made Helberg famous, Howard Wolowitz, he plays big. Hmm.)