John Lithgow in The Big Fix (Jeremy Paul Kagan, 1978), 8pm, Friday September 24, Sky Cinema
Who? Bovine character actor who struck gold with impossibly popular "aliens on earth" TV comedy Third Rock From The Sun. Originating from an old-school theatrical family, he was initially a stage actor, before making his film debut alongside a Bigfoot in Harry and the Hendersons, and Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger. Seeking more intellectual challenges, he turned to TV. Good job too, as the role of Dick Solomon on Third Rock... went on to garner him two Screen Actors Guild awards, two Emmys and a Golden Globe.
The role: Sam Sebastian, campaign supervisor for a California gubernatorial candidate. He enlists the help of private eye and former Berkeley radical Moses Wine (Richard Dreyfuss) to find Eppis, a college contemporary of Wine's still fighting the good fight, and causing Sebastian a whole bagload of trouble.
Best Line: As Eppis' threats escalate and Wine still has no leads, Lithgow bellows "We're going to have hundreds of people killed, fascists running the state, and all because of burned-out cynics like you!"
Cringe factor: Pretty high. Note repellent beard, general excessive hair and, this being 1978, some of the most unpleasant slacks known to man. But at least he plays it admirably straight, which dilutes the humiliation somewhat.
Other wannabes: Amadeus star F Murray Abraham is the underground revolutionary Eppis, and Mandy Patinkin has a miniscule role as a pool boy.
Critical judgement: Leonard Maltin could only muster "Good vehicle for now-familiar Dreyfuss personality."
Also not starring in: Dealing (Or The Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues) in 1972.
