Couch potato: great guests
By Casey Gillis on May. 08, 2008
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ABC recently announced that Lindsay Lohan will guest-star on the season finale of “Ugly Betty.”
I’m not sure how I feel about the troubled starlet invading Betty’s turf - wouldn’t she be better suited for something like “Gossip Girl” instead? I could totally see her playing troublemaker Georgina Sparks, instead of the annoying Michelle Trachtenberg.
But the news did get me thinking about good guest stars, the ones who have appeared on a series briefly and left me wanting more.
Because this is such a huge category, I’ve limited myself to characters who have appeared or have been introduced on their respective shows in the past year.
Here goes:
Freddy Rodriguez as Gio on “Ugly Betty”
You can’t talk “Betty” without mentioning handsome, charming sandwich guy Gio, who has actually emerged as a real contender for our girl’s heart.
I never thought I’d like Betty with anyone but Henry, but the geeky duo have just lost their spark. Henry’s preoccupied with his baby mama Charlie and has consistently let Betty down. It looks like Charlie goes into labor in tonight’s episode, which means Henry will be moving out west with her and the baby.
It’ll be good to get him out of the picture for a while, so Betty can explore her budding feelings for Gio. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually rooting for her to end up with him! Gio always seems to be around when Betty needs him, and they have great chemistry. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the guy has never looked better with his newly shaved head.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Denny on “Grey’s Anatomy” and John on “Supernatural”
I’ll take the smoldering Mr. Morgan any way I can get him, whether he’s a dying heart patient smitten with his doctor or a butt-kicking father who fights demons.
I’m breaking my own rules by including him for his “Grey’s” stint, which was more than two years ago, but I can’t think of TV guest stars without my Denny.
Since he bit the big one on “Grey’s,” Morgan continued to appear in several episodes of “Supernatural” as Sam and Dean’s dad, who also died last year. Can we get this guy a job where he actually lives?
No matter the role, he does such a good job that it’s shocking he doesn’t have his own TV show yet. Seriously network execs, what are you waiting for?!
Kristen Bell as Elle on “Heroes”
Bell is one of the best actresses around these days. Nobody can master that perfect mix of snark, spunk and vulnerability quite like her, so I was ecstatic when she signed up for an extended guest role on “Heroes” after the cancellation of one of my all-time favorites, “Veronica Mars.”
The troubled Elle couldn’t be more different from Veronica, and Bell just nailed it. My fingers are crossed that she’ll be back next season.
Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on “Smallville”
Oliver first appeared in a recurring role last season, but returned again this year for a one-episode stint. I wish he’d come back again. And again.
He is the exact opposite of Clark in the “Smallville” world. While Clark concentrates on saving the people of Smallville and has yet to embrace his future as Superman, Oliver is already out there trying to make the world a better place with the Justice League.
I’ve loved Hartley ever since he was on the cheese-tastic NBC soap “Passions,” and it was great to see him on primetime TV. I’m completely ready for a Green Arrow spin-off series or anything else that will get Hartley back on our television screens on a regular basis.
John Francis Daley as Sweets on “Bones”
Daley, probably best known from his role on the late, great “Freaks and Geeks,” is hilarious as the young psychiatrist trying to help Brennan and Booth work through their issues. He’s been such a good cast addition, but I’m starting to fear he’s somehow connected to the Gormagon serial killer they’ve been pursuing all season. We’ll find out for sure in the third season finale, which airs May 19.
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