Yesterday I treated myself to a mini QL marathon, watching some eps from the second season. Two things struck me: one was that Scott Bakula has acting chemistry with just about everybody I've ever seen him on screen with, given that he had to interact with a totally new cast every week and make it look as natural as his scenes with the only recurring actor, Dean Stockwell.
The second (and the point of this thread) was that there were some TERRIFIC guest actor performances in this show. Normally, my eyes are glued to Sam and Al, but I think the Leap Back 2009 banner got me thinking about the guest actors. I'm not necessarily talking about characters, but rather the performances.
Mine favorite guest performance, I think, is Tyra Ferrell's "Lila" in So Help Me, God. She nails the mix of bravado and desperate fear so solidly, it's astonishing. There is one scene, the first time Sam interviews her in the jail, where Lila is trying to be so cool and nonchalant about the prospect of going to the chair. She's snarky with her lawyer, but her eyes keep moving to the window, and you can actually see her trying to process the fact that she'll never walk free again. But the thing that makes this my favorite performance is that, if you watch her as she leans against the wall holding the cigarette, her hand is trembling. Now, I'm no actor, but I would think producing that fine tremble would be pretty darned hard - and so subtle. For all of the "eh, whatever" coming out of Lila's mouth, she can't stop shaking. From that moment, I bought Lila's character completely.
So, what was your favorite guest actor performance, and why?
The second (and the point of this thread) was that there were some TERRIFIC guest actor performances in this show. Normally, my eyes are glued to Sam and Al, but I think the Leap Back 2009 banner got me thinking about the guest actors. I'm not necessarily talking about characters, but rather the performances.
Mine favorite guest performance, I think, is Tyra Ferrell's "Lila" in So Help Me, God. She nails the mix of bravado and desperate fear so solidly, it's astonishing. There is one scene, the first time Sam interviews her in the jail, where Lila is trying to be so cool and nonchalant about the prospect of going to the chair. She's snarky with her lawyer, but her eyes keep moving to the window, and you can actually see her trying to process the fact that she'll never walk free again. But the thing that makes this my favorite performance is that, if you watch her as she leans against the wall holding the cigarette, her hand is trembling. Now, I'm no actor, but I would think producing that fine tremble would be pretty darned hard - and so subtle. For all of the "eh, whatever" coming out of Lila's mouth, she can't stop shaking. From that moment, I bought Lila's character completely.
So, what was your favorite guest actor performance, and why?