Oh the annoying idea that a “movie star” cannot do television is back. And why? And why are you using Chad Powers, a good show, as your example?
Timothée Chalamet did an interview with Vogue where he said he wouldn’t do television again. He has, in the past, basically scoffed at the idea of television being an important media despite getting his start there. Someone then saw his response and decided to come for other movie stars who have decided to do television as well. Like Glen Powell with his new show, Chad Powers.
One user wrote “More people need this attitude because why did Glen Powell do a Hulu show?” Which….why was Glen Powell catching strays when this man was talking about Timothée Chalamet? But the idea that a movie star cannot do a television show or that TV is beneath an actor is outdated and childish.
Especially when said example of a television show is one that the actor in question co-created and is a comedy! Comedy is decidedly harder to pull off than drama is. And before I get the “how do you know that” comments, I studied acting and technically have a comedy degree from UCB. I am an authority on this opinion.
But back to the concept of an actor being labeled as one thing versus the other: I thought we were over this. For years, movie stars stuck to movies and television stars stayed on television. Then we caught up with the modern times and even Harrison Ford is doing TV now. That’s great! Because TV is great! Instead though, we have people who are still holding onto this outdated way of thinking.
Using a good show like Chad Powers doesn’t help your argument
I am someone who loudly defends Chad Powers because I do think that comedies like this are important. Comedy Thursday on NBC used to be my favorite night of the week. I would watch The Office and Parks and Recreation and thrive in comedy programming that was original and fresh and wasn’t necessarily a cheesy sitcom.
But those days are gone. We have shows like Abbott Elementary but many of our “comedy” shows lean heavily into the dramatic aspects instead of just allowing its characters to have the depth a “dramatic” storyline brings to the genre. With Chad Powers, Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) is a character who is sad, pathetic at times, and doesn’t think highly of himself and it makes for a lot of dramatic and emotional character work. As he’s dressed like an ugly man using a silly voice.
To me, this show is important in keeping my beloved comedy genre alive! So yes, I feel the need to defend it and especially defend the right of an actor to do something new and different with their career. And sorry, if you think that television is beneath you because you’re a “real” actor, I simply think you’re thinking too highly of yourself.
I love Chalamet, I really do. He’s one of our greats but him belittle television is….really not sitting well with me. Especially when my Chad Powers is catching strays because of it.
(featured image: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.)
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