MovieChat Forums > Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006) Discussion > No love for Cal?

No love for Cal?

posted 10 years ago by divechaz
10 replies | jump to latest

Hi all,

Just finished watching the show on DVD, and I really loved it! As usual, I had to come on here to check out what people were talking about in the show, what they liked, hated etc :)

I'm amazed though. With all the discussion and "loved her / hated her" threads for Harriet, or people's views on Matthew Perry as Matt, or Jordan, I can't seem to find any love for Cal (Timothy Busfield, the director in the control room). :D

He was such a great character, and so much fun to watch. Everything from the opening when he let Judd Hirsch rant go on for 53 seconds, while keeping his cool and arguing with Steven Weber at the same time; to his running around throughout the episodes, sorting out stuff, his character just seemd to have that awesome mantra of "ok, new horrible catastrophe just happened. Never mind, we're getting it done, and listen up, THIS is what we're going to do...."

Which of course played to terrific effect in that whole snake/ ferret / cougar/ debacle. And hey, he even pulled off the Disaster Show episode (which I'm surprised so many people hate too...though that may be partly for it's truncated run time and no Danny / Matt)

Even his random comments ("Tarps over everything!") made me laugh. So, yeah, I guess basically this is the fan appreciation thread for Cal. :) Anyone else had particular fond moments of Timothy Busfield's performance?

[–] wombat-794-744826 10 years ago

Absolutely, I thought of him as the moral center, the spine around which the rest of the cast revolved, the veteran who would always be there as the talent came and went, the institutional memory, so to speak...

[–] SuperCore 10 years ago

I loved Cal every time he popped up. He was a nice fun character who never added to the drama which is always awesome.

- I loved how Matt rapped on the window when they were getting ready for the first show back and Cal just looks up and smiles.
- I loved him calling Danny and teasing him about a fire in the control room.
- Every time he yells, BIG SHOW!
- His snapping his fingers to indicate the camera changes.
- Any game's good in overtime.
- How he was always worried about timing problems.
- His freaking out while the snake the ferret and the fox were under the stage.
- And one of my all time favorite Cal moment. When the feds ask him if he's using any electronic equipment while he has his headset on. He just does this eye roll to indicate that the entire building is electronic equipment.

"They have a grill, it's this grill. Now you have it...it's called America."

[–] toddp-10 9 years ago

I loved Cal every time he popped up

Stole every scene he was in. Busfield also rocked it in The West Wing. Surprised I don't see him more. He is also a pretty successful TV director so that takes plenty of his time I suppose.

[–] pmac7902 9 years ago

Great list. "Big Show!!" is my favorite, especially when he delivers it in "The Disaster Show" with that hint of desperation in his voice to believe the words.

[–] johndworkin65 9 years ago

@ divechaz:

And hey, he even pulled off the Disaster Show episode (which I'm surprised so many people hate too...though that may be partly for it's truncated run time and no Danny / Matt)... So, yeah, I guess basically this is the fan appreciation thread for Cal. :) Anyone else had particular fond moments of Timothy Busfield's performance?

Absolutely! Busfield is da' man and one of my very characters in this program. Complete agreement on "The Disaster Show" as well. One of my favorite episodes and maybe the funniest of the series as, if I recall correctly, it was strictly comic throughout. As opposed to the rest of the series which, again, if I recall correctly, consistently mixed drama and comedy pretty evenly.

Cal: I think it could be fun

Allison: How?

Cal: You'll have a story to tell.

Ha!

Then later: Cal: "Allison, I turned off your mic after you said 'That's our show.' Nobody can hear you. You're just coming' off like a madwoman." Janney is outrageously convincing/hilarious throughout. Then Cal & Janney have the back and forth about appreciating what they're so fortunate to be able to do for a living and to keep it in perspective. I get the feeling that Busfield and Janney actually appreciate how fortunate they are in real life to be working actors. More power to them. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who doesn't realize how fortunate/lucky they are to be able to make their living as an actor (or as any other type of artist for that matter) doesn't deserve the privilege. I remember Paul Newman talking to this point very strongly once in an interview. I've tried to find it but could never find out where I'd seen it. He was very direct in his description of the concept. I also remember being blown away by his frank, and I believe near heroic, description of others in his profession who don't acknowledge the factor of "luck" in their success as "idiots," or something of the like. Now there was a man who deserved any good that came his way. But I digress...

As to Busfield in general, I remember thinking he was the best part of the program thirtysomething (maybe showing my age here...). Very strong character there, and that show was somewhat under appreciated, IMO. And he had that great little part in Field Of Dreams too, which he totally nailed. Also, didn't he direct a couple Studio 60 episodes?

And Janney - what can you say? The woman should be on a stamp. So brilliant, so often. And I know that, theoretically, this how it's supposed to be all the time if it's any good, but damn she makes it look easy...

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

[–] gtrgrl89 9 years ago

I thought he was awesome. I wanted him to be a real person, because he was so genuinely fun to watch.

[–] sarah-103 8 years ago

I love him with the whole snake/ ferret / cougar/ debacle. He was fantastic in the episode with the blacklisted writer, and with the coconuts in the Christmas episode.

"Forget reality, give me a picture"-Remington Steele

[–] dhamel0626 8 years ago

(Cal sees Jack Rudolph come into the studio, angry and drunk)

Suzanne! Tarps on everything!!

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tomatosauce6808 8 years ago

Mine is "Let's get rid of demented santa"