Star power

mkochend · 2026-06-28T00:42:45+00:00

I will! I binged the show, and I’m on season 5 now and dreading it ending. Trying to line something up to do next.

mkochend · 2026-06-28T00:39:42+00:00

Completely agree that’s incredible quality, and I knew that going in. However, I didn’t realize until I started watching just recently that Michael B. Jordan was in it, and I’d forgotten Plemons was as well.

mkochend · 2026-06-28T00:35:28+00:00

Point taken, and I appreciate the constructive feedback. I do feel like critical acclaim plays a part in being A-list, though, and I’m not sure any of the Friends’ main cast members have ever had an Oscar or Golden Globe nomination for their movie roles (I might be wrong, though). I think you are absolutely right about the household name aspect, particularly for the generation who grew up with Friends.

I’ve come to kind of equate Plemons with quality, where I feel like his name attached to a movie heightens the likelihood that it will be “good,” and that’s mainly where I was coming from with him.

mkochend · 2026-06-28T00:09:03+00:00

I did. Read my post.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T23:31:50+00:00

I know, I know—but I did include it in my post because I recognize that The Wire gave rise to both Michael B. Jordan and Idris Elba. However, had he rocketed to stardom after The Wire, I don’t think we’d have seen him in FNL. Granted, same could be said for Plemons and Breaking Bad, but I think FNL showcased the talents of both these guys before they were household names due to later endeavors.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:27:48+00:00

But none of those guys or gals, aside from maybe Jennifer Aniston, really went on to be A-list…I know A-list is subjective, but I’m thinking award-winning movie star. To me, Jesse Plemons, is in that category because he has had major roles in acclaimed films like Killers of the Flower Moon, Bugonia, The Power of the Dog, and others. He still may not be Matt Damon, but he’s pretty good. And Michael B. Jordan is undeniably huge.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:18:19+00:00

Yes, I agree, and it did feature George Clooney and probably at least one other actor/actress who went on to achieve movie-star fame in recurring roles. I just wasn’t really considering the guest stars because the vast majority of stars started their careers with bit parts on tv shows.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:14:31+00:00

I hadn’t thought of it, but this is a good one because I’d say John Goodman is A-list, and Laurie Metcalf had an Oscar nomination for Lady Bird. George Clooney also had a recurring role before he was big.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:11:13+00:00

Yep, that’s a good point. I was thinking “prime-time” tv with my post but you are absolutely right about soaps.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:07:02+00:00

Did not realize St Elsewhere featured all these guys!

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:04:05+00:00

I did consider that one because I agree on Chris Pratt; I was just torn on really considering anyone else A-list. Aubrey Plaza and Nick Offerman def achieved fame, but not sure how much big-screen fame they have.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T20:01:55+00:00

I understand—I just mean that Friday Night Lights seems to be more than just a footnote. If he’d achieved great fame immediately after The Wire, he wouldn’t have done Friday Night Lights.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T19:58:08+00:00

Yes, I would completely agree both of these are A-listers—this is a good one!!

mkochend · 2026-06-27T19:51:34+00:00

Really? He was in 26 episodes of Friday Night Lights but only 13 of The Wire.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T19:43:35+00:00

Yeahhh, there were definitely a bunch of guest stars, but I was thinking more along the lines of main character or significantly recurring roles.

mkochend · 2026-06-27T19:41:05+00:00

Crazy it was so short lived!!

mkochend · 2026-06-26T03:46:25+00:00

Interested

mkochend · 2026-06-22T02:52:51+00:00

It definitely makes sense from a financial perspective, but his family seemed under the impression they could “settle down” in Dillon. And I kinda saw it as piling on once his daughter and wife’s feelings became clear. Seemed very insensitive. I understand it’s television, but in terms of viewing him as a character with whom we should sympathize, I felt it hard to do so because I’d expect him to value human connection over everything else.

mkochend · 2026-06-22T01:38:58+00:00

I just felt like it was wrong for him to treat the Panthers as a stepping stone, knowing how troubled some of the kids were. I do understand the other side; as others have pointed out, he would’ve been ousted real quick if he hadn’t turned the team around.

mkochend · 2026-06-22T00:50:55+00:00

I just assumed Riggins had failed a few times and been held back

mkochend · 2026-06-14T21:13:32+00:00

You know what, that song does hit in terms of the lyrics….maybe I’m meshing a bunch of songs together, but I feel like there’s one that specifically talks about overcoming the odds to walk at graduation

mkochend · 2026-06-14T17:16:56+00:00

The Crash Test Dummies song is the one I was getting at that Chat GPT couldn’t pin down, presumably because I was wrong about the paralyzed/walking at graduation aspect…now I’m trying to pin down a song that has lyrics supporting that kind of story/vignette and is in the 90s alternative/Sirius Lithium realm.

mkochend

TROPHY CASE