Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

Enter your AfterEllen.com username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Home » Blogs » the linster's blog » Paula Marshall: perpetual guest star

Paula Marshall: perpetual guest star

by
the linster

I have a problem with Paula Marshall.

Well, actually, I have a problem with directors and producers and casting directors who haven't found a way to put Marshall on the screen week after week. I want to see more of her — in every sense of the phrase.

I had high hopes for Cupid, a witty 1998 comedy starring Marshall and Jeremy Piven.

Maybe the show was ahead of its time, but I thought it was brilliant. ABC, however, never gave Cupid a time slot that would allow the show to find an audience. If you missed Cupid, Alan Sepinwall's "Strike Survival TV Club" recently reviewed the entire series, complete with links to clips.

Next up for Marshall seemed like a lesbian dream-come-true. Snoops starred Marshall and Gina Gershon as private detectives. Yummy. But, even with David E. Kelley at the helm, Snoops was canceled before Season 1 ended.

More recently, Marshall played Regina, a lesbian E.R. doctor, on Out of Practice.

The role was notable in the fact that the writers seldom resorted to stereotypical dyke jokes for humor. And Marshall as a lesbian was a treat. But, again, the show was canceled before its time.

Since then, we've seen Marshall only in guest stints: a guidance counselor on Veronica Mars, a sex partner for Hank Moody (who throws up on him) in Californication and a medical-soap-opera actress who gets diarrhea in a hot tub on Nip/Tuck.

This week, TV Guide's "Ausiello Report" posted news that Marshall will temporarily replace Jeri Ryan on Shark, while Ryan is on maternity leave. Marshall plays a state deputy attorney general, a role that might continue if Shark returns for another season.

Wait. Jeri Ryan and Paula Marshall on the same series? I am so there.

What's your favorite Paula Marshall role? How do you think she'll fit in with the cast of Shark?

  • the linster's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
    • Submitted by
    the linster
    on March 3, 2008 - 10:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    LiveToWrite's picture

    I can't say I've seen her in

    Submitted by
    LiveToWrite (40 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 11:05am.

    I can't say I've seen her in all of the roles that you mentioned but I was definitely disappointed that Out of Practice was cancelled so soon.  Sure, I see why because it didn't really seem to have across-the-board appeal when it comes to audiences but I thought it was entertaining and well-done.  And Marshall played a lesbian with great comedic timing.  What more can you want?

    Regardless, I think I'd watch just about any show she pops up on. 

    playthemusic814's picture

    *sigh*

    Submitted by
    playthemusic814 (245 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 11:22am.

    I, too, love Paula Marshall. I think it's a shame that her shows never last. I thought I was the only person who remembered Snoops because it came and went so fast. And, I so loved Regina. What a great character... Shame. I liked seeing her on Nip/Tuck the few eps I watched because of Portia De Rossi... Although, I really can't stand Nip/Tuck as a whole. Anyhow, I look forward to seeing her on Shark.

    ~It means pride.~

    EmmaCariad's picture

    Without a doubt...

    Submitted by
    EmmaCariad (203 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 11:23am.

    After Ellen..came me!! 18 years to the day later to be extact!!

    Without a doubt Dr Regina Barnes on Out of Practice has been her best role so far. Fantastic cast, great scripts, never given a chance. Paula took on the role with gusto and played it to a tee - completely believable, likable and not the butt of all the jokes...what?!! Did I just say that about a lesbian character on Network TV..??!!! Shes such a good actress. Bring on Shark, I say!

    EmmaCariad's picture

    Without a doubt...

    Submitted by
    EmmaCariad (203 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 11:27am.

    After Ellen..came me!! 18 years to the day later to be extact!!

     Oh... and shes hot too!

     

    Pyewacket's picture

    First became smitten with Paula thanks to Spin City.

    Submitted by
    Pyewacket (1819 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 11:38am.

    She had a recurring role as one of MJF's girlfriends. I cannot quite put my finger in it...but she stood out to me like there was an extra spotlight just on her.

    Then came Cupid.  Yes, I thought...she is one of the main characters...she will be on all the time!  YAY!  And then it disappeared before it was really given a chance.

    Then came Snoops!  Wow, I thought someone is reading my journal!  lol  Paula and Gina...and they even fondled each other a bit in one eppie to distract security guards watching them on camera.  Again, I blinked and it was gone.

    Oh, and then Out of Practice!  Okay, now someone was determined to mess with my mind by having her play a lesbian!  YES!  YES!  YES!  But my hopes were dashed once again...by cancelling a really good sitcom...even before the great eppie when her character dating is actually the focus of the show, in a really positive and fun way.

    I avoided watching Nip/Tuck because as with the tone of the show and most female characters...I knew it wasn't going to go well.

    But Paula on Sharks just might have me watching that show!  I hope someone finally gets a clue and uses this woman!  She can play it all and do it well.

     

    pecola's picture

    Shutters

    Submitted by
    pecola (1504 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 12:26pm.

    I'm not sure I'll ever be able to look at Paula Marshall the same way after that jacuzzi incident on Nip/Tuck.

    ::shutters::

    -----

    "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

    Mondoshawan's picture

    Snoops

    Submitted by
    Mondoshawan (7 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 12:27pm.
    Gina and Paula made that show great and I'll be forever wishing I'd be able to see it again. But the disappointing thing about it was that they actually killed Paula's character before the show ended so she wouldn't have been there anymore even if it hadn't been cancelled.
    gooby's picture

    Out of Practice. That's my

    Submitted by
    gooby (391 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 12:28pm.
    Out of Practice. That's my favorite Paula Marshall role although I've seen her in pretty much everything that was mentioned in this post as well as a few others. Out of Practice was such an underrated show and didn't really get a proper chance to build an audience before it was kicked to the curb. It really grew on me and Paula Marshall's character was my favorite. It was a fantastic and funny show.
    melikeyou2's picture

    Wow

    Submitted by
    melikeyou2 (111 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 12:43pm.
    I think I will finally start to watch Shark then:o). I have watched her in Spin City, Snoops, Veronica Mars and in Out of Practice, where she was absolutley brilliant. She was so hot and her comedic timing was spot on! I have always loved her but unfortunatley she is underrated I think. She deserves more.
    Alcy's picture

    Yuck!

    Submitted by
    Alcy (111 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 1:36pm.

    That was her who got diarrhea in the hot tub on Nip/Tuck? That was so totally gross. I've never heard of her.

    I wouldnt say that 'replacing' Jeri Ryan is the correct term, since no one can replace the gorgeous being that is Jeri Ryan. Given that she's the only reason I watch Shark i don't think I'll watch it while this new person is on no matter how convincingly she can s**t in a hot tub.

    Mara's picture

    Snoops!

    Submitted by
    Mara (1184 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 2:52pm.

    I watched it and the eye candy was a definite bonus! Thank you for reminding me :) 

    _ _ _ _ _

    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

    Julia's picture

    paula

    Submitted by
    Julia (275 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 4:45pm.
    I only know her from Out Of Practice... and I fell in love with Regina :-)
    fallon ash's picture

    Snoops!

    Submitted by
    fallon ash (372 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 5:12pm.
    I loved Snoops! It was exactly my kind of show, hot ladies kicking ass, very campy, very bright, and lots of lesbians subtext - and not only was Gina Gershon on it, so was Jessalyn Gilsig for a few episodes towards the end. It makes me sad that I can't find it anywhere...
    Fragolina's picture

    Sports Night

    Submitted by
    Fragolina (5 posts)
    on March 3, 2008 - 7:32pm.

    I think my favorite Paula Marshall guest-starring stint was on "Sports Night," when she played Jeremy's porn star girlfriend, aka the "choreoanimator." So adorable. 

    And while I doubt she'll have anything to do with it, I'm totally stoked by the prospect of a new version of "Cupid." (If only it hasn't been derailed by the writer's strike.) 

    Forza Roma's picture

    Oh Paula

    Submitted by
    Forza Roma (386 posts)
    on March 4, 2008 - 11:39am.

    I had a huge crush on her when she was on Sports Night (my favorite show ever).

    Cupid was ace too... damn ABC. Sigh...

    And Out of Practice cancelled so fast was also disappointing. Her character rocked and Stockard Channing was excellent.

    Someone get this woman a serious that sticks! 

     


    Home » Blogs » the linster's blog » Paula Marshall: perpetual guest star