Where Washed-Up Sitcom Stars Go To Die

Last night we were flipping channels and came across the new Betty White vehicle for TV Land, Hot in Cleveland. Despite my husband's protests, I kept it on for a few moments for shits & giggles, and before a single scene had concluded we were both laughing. Not at their jokes (sorry, Betty), but at the fact that it is so terribly cliche and so filled to the brim with aging sitcom stars.



All four lead actresses are iconic by their own right; each is well-known for bringing a character to life on a long-running TV series. Who could ever forget Rose Nylen (Golden Girls), Daphne Moon (Frasier), Nina Van Horne (Just Shoot Me), and, "that one with Schneider," (as my husband called her)(One Day At A Time)? Even though they're all in a new show with a new set and new story lines, they're all the same as ever.

Also? Their new characters are decidedly similar to their old well-known characters. Betty is the delightfully dippy senior citizen who shocks us all with her zingy one-liners about bedazzling her old-lady sweater. A Vajazzling joke would have been funnier and more current, but whatev. Wendie Malick wears chic zebra stripes and has a haughty "Socialite in the Country" persona. Jane Leeves is a working class gal from Manchester now leading a more urbane lifestyle. Valerie Bertinelli is perky and relate-able with her glass of wine and harping mother.

It's basically a recycled sitcom filled with recycled characters played by recycled actors. As if to illustrate this point, Jim and I both nearly spewed our drinks when Barney Miller sauntered onto the scene.



Because yeah, who among us hasn't wondered what Hal Linden has been up to recently?!

Hot In Cleveland, much like the network on which it's aired, is a dumping ground for washed-up sitcom stars.

It got me thinking. Who's next on the line-up of previously-popular TV characters in need of a career make-over? I'd love to see the following folks join the Cleveland cast:

MacGuyver's Richard Dean Anderson.



Good Times' Jimmy Walker.



Cheers' George Wendt.

Say it with me, "NORM!"

Webster's Emmanuel Lewis.



Balkie Bronson Pinchot from Perfect Strangers.



The possibilities are limitless!! Who would you like to see make a come-back on a second-rate sitcom?

One last thing - feel free to check out my 10 Funny Sex-Ed posters post over at List of the Day today!

Have a great one, folks.