Culp and Sellecca seem to like GAH more then Katt

[scenario]

Don't ya think? Moreson then William Katt IMO. Now I am certainly not a Katt basher. Just because he hated wearing the suit and distanced himself from the series for a long time doesn't mean he is a jackass IMHO. Not in the slightest bit. But still I have to admit when I was a little kid it stung to know that the actor who played my hero Ralph Hinkley had such misgivings about his role. It would be like if Ralph found out that the Lone Ranger despised being "The Lone Ranger". That's something even non-fans know about the series, that Katt hated wearing the suit more then Ralph did.

When I watched the interviews with Robert Culp and Connie Sellecca on the DVD, they just come across as VERY appreciative of GAH being a part of their lives. They never say anything like they took their roles because they were struggling to pay the bills or something. Now granted neither of them had to put on a flaky red suit. But both Culp and Sellecca seem to just truly grasp the show and see all the unlimited potential of GAH that was never reached. Not having the instruction book to the suit gives a writer a large canvas of storytelling, as you can make up many different powers and rules for the suit as you go. I like William Katt, and again I must state I don't think the man is a jackass for his views of the suit and his role....but I just have to say that it's always more refreshing to hear Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, and Stephen J. Cannell discuss the series.


-scenario-

[jimk]

Ya gotta remember actors are an ornery bunch....on one of the I SPY websites I dug up a early 90's interview with Culp (who is an extremely grouchy, tempermental guy) where he dismisses GAH as "insignificant"...ouch. But actors are generally insecure and their opinions can shift in the wind...now that Culp sees that the show has legs, he apparently has warmed up to it a bit. But he didn't have to wear the longjohns, and I think that's part of Katt's trepidation....how many guys who played superheroes get typecast or pigeonholed?

[greenguy]

scenario said:

But still I have to admit when I was a little kid it stung to know that the actor who played my hero Ralph Hinkley had such misgivings about his role.
But both Culp and Sellecca seem to just truly grasp the show and see all the unlimited potential of GAH that was never reached.

I never had the impression he had misgivings about the role. In fact I believe he says in the Good Morning America interview he thought it was a very provocative role. However as you stated, the suit was another story all together. Although he is an actor, he still found it embarrasing to put it on. Look at it this way, I could walk into Wal-Mart today wearing the suit and not give a d**n what anybody thought. Now we could pick someone else on the board and put them in the same situation, and after the 10 th person gives them a funny look it might start to feel uncomfortable for them. I think it ran pretty deep with him, and as he's said many times before it was a trait he shared with Ralph. Plus in the same interview he said he would like to see the show stretch out and do more. But it was acknowledged that the show allowed him to play action, drama, slapstick, etc. I think he realized the potential the show had, it was the incoming execs at ABC that didn't. He seems like a little more serious person than Culp and Sellecca. I don't mean that in a bad way, he's just a more serious minded individual. I think one could have a facsinating conversation with him about his thoughts on the role. More than what the time on the DVD allowed.

[Maxwell - F.B.I.]

Personally, I've seen Katt in other things and never thought he was all that great of an actor. Good, and usually cool and collected, but not outstanding. I've always thought more highly of both Culp (especially Culp) and Sellecca's abilities. Just my $0.02

But G.A.H. seemed to bring out something 'extra' in Katt, in pretty much all of his scenes (not just the ones with Bill, etc.). I do agree that I've always felt Katt did not appreciate the role nearly as much as the other two, and still hold a (small) grudge when I think that the show might have been able to return had Katt given more thought to taking his part back (sigh).

-Frank

[jimk]

Hmm... well, not to besmirch anybody, but I think Katt is a better actor (well, has more range) than Selleca, who is very good on GAH, and should have been used in comedy more, but has mostly had a (in my opinion) undistinguished TV career doing movies of the week and things like HOTEL. Katt was great in BIG WEDNESDAY, a real cult film with a huge following, and received acclaim on Broadway in PIPPIN'. He also was real good in CARRIE. So, not to besmirch Selleca -- who was super and hugely appealing in HERO - but I think she didn't really build on that great start in a memorable way. Katt has some estimable credits in different types of roles.

Culp, of course, is Culp. Nuff said.

[ThatGirl]

Seems to me, Michael Paré had the most fun of all. I really liked the idea they brought up of having Bill Maxwell mentor Tony Villacana into the FBI. Ralph and Pam could have had a son, who would be about 22 now, and just right for the suit.

[greenguy]

jimk said:

Sellecca, who is very good on GAH, and should have been used in comedy more

For those of you wanting to see Sellecca strut her comedy "stuff" dig up some copies of her short-lived CBS series P.S. I Luv U. To me it's just as fun as TGAH, in a different way. She had great chemistry with Greg Evigan, just as she did with William Katt.

[ThatGirl]

Wow, I'd forgotten all about that one. I wonder if copies even exist.

[greenguy]

I'm sure a few of us Sellecca fans have them recorded.

[Maxwell - F.B.I.]

Hint hint... nudge nudge...

Jeez, that's a hard one to track down. Even TV Tome doesn't even have an episode list. Do you know how many episodes were produced / aired?