Round Table Mondays: Bit Parts

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

"There are no small roles, only small actors." -Constantin Stanislavski

I think most of us are in agreement that what makes Criminal Minds memorable is the characters. We tune in each week to watch our Band of Seven battle the monsters.

And of course, the guest stars are an essential ingredient. Whether it's the Cop Of The Week or the Latest Monster, characters like Cal McGee the OCD cop and Floyd Feylinn Farrel the Lucky Cannibal stick in our minds.

But there's a third group I'd like to discuss.


This group is the "bit players". Actors whose names are usually listed in the end credits, who may only have a few lines but who frequently bring to the episode a bit of depth and texture. They are not usually well known (although there are exceptions) and their names are not the ones drawing the viewer but they bring flavor to the story in the same way a dash of salt enhances all the other ingredients to a dish.  

Frequently these characters are witnesses who provide information that could have as easily been one of the team, or one of the local cops saying "We talked to a witness who said....". Sometimes they're the friends or family of victims. Sometimes they're just part of the "living scenery".

To illustrate who I'm talking about, some examples would be:

In "What Fresh Hell" Mr. Lomax, the unsub's envious neighbor. "His yard never has any crabgrass".

In "Identity" the store clerk - most awesome bystander ever! - who sees the abduction and runs back into the store. You think she's running to call 911 until she comes back out with a shotgun as big as she is.

In "Zoe's Reprise", the cynical-eyed, cigarette smoking crime reporter. I think I might have a teensy crush on her.

It seems to me that CM has always had good bit parts that added to the overall quality of the show. It also seems to me that there has been a lack of them in the current season, which may be why some of the episodes seem (IMO) curiously flat. It's as if something is missing, but you can't put your finger on it - and I think maybe one factor is a lack of good bit parts.

So, what do you think?

Who were some of your favorite "bit players" on CM?

Do you think they actually contributed to the storyline, or was their purpose to add depth, interest, or even a touch of comic relief to the episode?

Did their part add to the characterization of any of the main characters?

Do you think that there has been a shortage of these characters in Season 7? And if so, do you think this has taken something away from the depth or texture of the show?

Comments

[gsyh.livejournal.com]

The Neighbour in "Penelope", she heard a sound like a broom snapping, came out to investigate, and then called 911, if she haven't done that, Garcia would be dead, it was late at night*. I like how concerned but calm the neighbour was.

The lady cop in "Tabula Rasa", she was really compassionate with the unsub who had lost his memory, I was really scared for her.

Jeremy(?), the student on a bike who met Gideon twice before the elevator incident. First time, he was profiled as maybe questioning his relationship, second, Gideon notice the necklace is gone and ask who the new girl is, and he said, Brian, and Gideon was like, good reason (to break up) but generally very normative about it. This was the very second episode in the series, "Compulsion", I like how they have a gay guest character and it was just, normal.

* This is why, even if I didn't know the unsub was the unsub, I would have distrusted him the moment he insisted on taking Penelope to dinner when they don't know each other, first date should be lunch in a public place unless you are already friends. Dinner means the date either ends with her going home alone late night, or if you have to walk her home, then she'll have to let you know where she lives.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

Gideon, I always thought, was... well, not homophobic, exactly, but less than comfortable around gay people. When Jeremy announces his new love interest, Jason's expression sort of freezes, as if he's not quite sure what to say. Then he comes out with something neutral like "Well... that's a good reason." Jeremy, of course, then hands him the key to solving the case.

Then in "Somebody's Watching", when the lesbian artist (another nicely written/acted bit part) starts telling him how attractive he is, Jason practically has a panic attack.

The show definitely views gay characters as solidly normal, of course. Even Rossi gets into the act, practically tearing Clueless!Abusive!Dad a new one in "In Heat". I think Gideon is just a product of his (our) generation, and not altogether comfortable with the concept.

[tearbos.livejournal.com]

Hmm interesting topic. I'd probably have to go back and watch some eps, but the first one that comes to mind it Tobias' NA sponsor in "Revelations". The old guy was only onscreen for 3+ mins but I'll never for get him. JJ told him that they thought Tobias killed his father. His response: "Well, good for him!"

Also in "Fear and Loathing", I liked the guy who tried to help the last victim when the unsub was dragging her down the street away from the studio. I liked that he didn't just buy the story that she was the unsub's cousin and tried to make sure she was really ok.

With a little more thought I'll probably come up with a few others...

[joey112.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the NA sponsor, he's got to be one of the best bit part actors.

I actually jumped in here to say that I love your icon, cause yeah they tell us Rossi Cares, except he really doesn't.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

tearbos, those are exactly the ones I'm talking about - the ones who stick in your mind.

The sponsor guy in "Revelations" is a classic - in just a couple of lines he creates a distinct character and gives us an insight into both Tobias and his father. Just a great piece of writing and acting.

BTW, he's played by Muse Watson, who plays retired agent Mike Franks on "NCIS". He has a great scene on that show where Gibbs lost his memory after being injured in an explosion. Franks mentions 9/11 and when he realizes Gibbs has no idea what he's talking about, has to tell him about the attacks. The pain in his eyes and voice, and Gibbs' reaction at hearing the news - for the first time, in 2006 - make me tear up every time.

[winklevii.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the guys in the comic shop in "True Night". They crack me up every time. "BUT THEY ALL HATE ME AT HERO WORLD!" That's one of those episodes where all of the side characters are incredible, though. ("Mosley Lane" is another one of those.)

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

"Milo? Seriously. Leave." lololol

[gen-is-gone.livejournal.com]

I love Milo. I know several people who are just as oblivious to social cues and to when they're being unintentionally quite rude or awkward, and...he's exactly like that. I like the idea that side characters are real, that I can picture Milo and the other guys at the comic shop going home and telling their friends/relatives/spouses about the crazy weird thing that happened the book signing today. Also, Milo's hair is a fantastic shade of blue.

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

Technically, the person who pwns the bit part topic is Jonathan Frakes. One two-minute scene and he`s forever immortalized by the Smackdown of All Time. I`m not sure that scene would have been as impactful if an unknown had done it. But I know that`s not quite what you want - you want the unknowns, so at the top of my list of people who managed to make their one moment their own: the waitress who asked Gideon how he would know when he found what he was looking for (there was just something in her tone); the clown`s dad in "Limelight" (his pathos and desperation to excuse/help his son was heart-rending), and the prostitute who hit on Reid (her flirting, and not being put off by Reid`s obliviousness, ultimately leading to true curiosity about what he was talking about).

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

Oops, I meant "Damaged" not "Limelight". However, "Limelight" reminds me of the woman in the opening with the unsub. They start out making it look like they`re making love only to pul back and he`s torturing her. She shows her abject terror without a single word.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

Oh, the prostitute at the bar in Memorium. (Reid's been hit on by so many hookers I didn't realize which one you meant. *g*) I don't think Reid was really oblivious... he grew up (almost unsupervised) in Las Vegas, remember, so prostitutes, topless/nude dancers, gambling, life going on 24/7, bears juggling in the street... all just part of a familiar world. I think that was just Reid treating her as just another person, which is how he sees her, and which of course she is.

[blue-sunflowers.livejournal.com]

Anderson`s best line: "Hey, I`m not just another pretty face." :) And it way beyond stupid IMO for Hotch to assume Anderson knew from "take Elle home" that he was supposed to stay with her in Fisher King.

[citjara.livejournal.com]

This is a great topic. With all the "great names" and "beloved characters" you tend to forget that it's the small parts that are essential to creating the episode, too. I really loved the neighbour in "What Fresh Hell" - he was totally believeable. I can't really comment whether they have disappeared in S7 (haven't seen any of it), but I do think there's a tendency for those characters to vanish once the regular cast becomes "more interesting" than the plot. This has, in some part, happened to Criminal Minds like most others shows with a couple of seasons on their track record.

I think one wonderful bit player was the Secretary in P911, when they question her about which children have left school at the end of last year and she couldn't remember. She finally does give them helpful info, but before she knows it, the team is gone...

I really liked the hooker in "Memoriam", too - she went from "hitting" on him to having her curiosity piqued by his comment. Though I'm not sure if Reid being so oblivious is also because he is preoccupied with the case. He's not even really into the game he's playing (I think it's Black Jack?) Another character from "The Instincs/Memoriam" would be Diane's doctor. He seemed like the grandfather type you'd trust with your secrets.

I also really liked the tech girl from "Lo-Fi/Mayhem". Her part was a bit more than a "bit", but I like how she worked so well with Garcia and how Garcia seemed to mother her and try to help her deal with all the awful things she sees - and all of it wasn't some huge drama, just acknowledgement that this is part of the job, too. Also in this category of a bit more than a bit would probably be Steven Culp's Lawyer from Tabula Rasa - he was amazing the charocal-grey scene is one of my favorites, ever.

One actress who really worked the one scene (actually, it was two, but one important one) she had was the girl in "The Popular Kids" who confided in Gideon that the kids had seen the tourist decompose for months.

The Landlady from "Scared to Death" who calls in about her missing tenant was fantastic, too. Just the kind of lady you'd think would REALLY keep track of her tenants.

I'll have to do some thinking about this, maybe I can come up with a few more :)

[dhae_knight_1]

I agree! I'm one of a minority who really don't like Hotch/Beth. So Hotch has a girlfriend? Good for him! But, good heavens, did we really need to meet her? I'd rather have spent the time with him and Jack, TBH. CM used to be cases with scattered tidbits about the team. Some episodes lately have seemed like they're team with scattered tidbits of cases, and it makes me sad. :-(

[citjara.livejournal.com]

Ack!

> Though I'm not sure if Reid being so oblivious is also because he is preoccupied with the case.

That should've read:

Though I'm SURE Reid being so oblivious is also because he is preoccupied with the case.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's because the characters have gotten more interesting, or because the writers have gotten lazier. Now that I look back, I think the trend actually started in Season 6, with the big change in the writing staff.

And I think it's a mistake. As I said in the intro, I think the bit players are an important factor in making the team and the case interesting. I really think the show has always been about the team, but in the past the "glimpses" we got of the team's character were done more indirectly, and it was often their reaction to one of the bit players that gave us that glimpse.

[ficdirectory.livejournal.com]

Love this topic! After thinking for a while and reading all the other comments (while simultaneously watching ET) I realized my answer for my favorite bit part actor was staring me in the face: Dee Wallace (Mom on ET; Reid's hypnotist in Memoriam).

That part could have been so overdone or cheesy or unbelievable, but Dee really brought a level of sensitivity and humanity to the part. I particularly like the way she talks Reid through the actual hypnosis.

[dhae_knight_1]

The school principal in Elephant's Memory jumps out at me. "Boys have a way of working these things out".

I think CM has been exceptionally good about adding the little touches that adds texture to their bit parts. It's like spice in a good meal; it all gets kinda flat if you only use salt and peppar. :-)

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

That's a great example of something I mentioned upthread. That principal's attitude gave us the chance to see Reid's reaction, and Hotch's reaction to Reid's reaction, which gave us a little peek into both characters.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

I meant to mention another one of my favorites:

In "Open Season", the store clerk where the unsubs bought their arrows... Hotch tells this chubby, made-up-to-be-plain lady that one of the unsubs would become very uncomfortable if she spoke to him. Reid pipes up "It'd be even worse if that person were a female." She answers Hotch while giving Reid an amused but I-know-you-didn't-say-that glance.

[gen-is-gone.livejournal.com]

Yesterday being Super Bowl Sunday, I celebrated with my annual Big Game/Revelations re-watch, and while I must say that I love Tobias's sponsor, the two bit-parters that have always stuck with me are the coroner and the chief of police. The coroner gets all of three minutes' screen time talking to Emily about how the Kyles were killed "...exactly like an animal at slaughter..." and what sells it for me is the "...pretty much anyone in rural Georgia" line. The sheriff too, especially with his incomprehension of why Mrs. Douglas is missing and why the local handyman is dead in the Douglass' bedroom. The penny drops when he reads the Bible quote about Jezebel, and his *Oh...that explains a lot* expression is priceless and endearing.

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

Well, Cops-Of-The-Week aren't exactly bit parts, but, hey, it's an open discussion. I liked that the chief you mentioned was the one who cracked the case - he recognized the dogs and put the team onto Tobias. Locals don't get to have an active part in solving the case too often and I thought it was a nice touch.

Speaking of coroners, there really have been some good ones. There was one - and I can't remember from which episode - who had this great, deep, almost musical voice... anybody remember that one?

[citjara.livejournal.com]

Not exactly a bit part in the sense that he had NOTHING to do with the case, but I really like the professor from "Outfoxed". His whole talk about Serial Killers MRIs/CTs touched upon one of the questions that CM often tosses in our face... Is it nature, or nurture that makes a serial killer?

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, James Fallon - who in another lecture talked about how he himself is a psychopath according to the parameters he worked out. Which brought things neatly back around to the nature/nurture debate - just because you have the physical characteristics doesn't mean it has to control your actions.