>i look at a lot of those actors as a kind of repertory
>company... and with shows like these, producers often prefer
>to work with actors they know and like.



that's a good point. But once they become recognizable, isn't it a bit of a hindrance that might take away from the story? I mean, dude. J.K. Simmons (Vern Schillinger on "OZ" ) plays a friendly Child Psychologist on L&O. A part of me only sees him as the guy that tortured Beecher, ya know?

And when a character plays a memorable role on a show and comes back as somebody else, that REALLY fucks with my head, like the time Courtney B. Vance played a Colin Ferguson ( "Black Rage", remember?) character, only to become ADA Carver on "Criminal Intent"...


I like the idea of a repertory company though. I'd never thought of that angle.



>
>(btw you can add "Homicide: Life on the Street" to this)


*psst* don't tell anybody this, but I've NEVER seen a full episode of it. "NYPD Blue" either.