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For Sale Apr 11, 2026 at 12:59 AM

What television shows sacrificed quality by spending all their money on guest stars?

Posted by TerribleBid8416

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longjumpingtote Apr 11, 2026 +8
Is there any show that has spent "all its money" on guest stars? Are there some specific ones you were thinking of, where we have public access to the budgets? Including what guest stars were paid, and how that money was suddenly unavailable for other departments.
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spiritbearr Apr 11, 2026 +24
The joke is that Invincible would have better animation if it didn't spend so much on guest stars.
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Cela84 Apr 11, 2026 +11
Something I am really annoyed at every time I hear it because the animation is pretty solid.
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LostInLittleroot Apr 11, 2026 +8
And it's not stunt casting either like with *insert animated movie* here. Genuinely great VO work from everyone so far.
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longjumpingtote Apr 11, 2026 +2
It is, and if they didn't have guest stars, maybe that money would go back to the studio, or be spent on music.
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Capital_Airline4343 Apr 11, 2026 +3
nah invincible animation is fine tho
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Cunari Apr 11, 2026 +3
Definitely not Farscape. One of the few shows where I can’t recognize a single guest star from the other shows they’ve done
3
AWorldwithoutSin Apr 11, 2026 +2
Ben Mendelsohn was in one episode but under heavy makeup
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spiritbearr Apr 11, 2026 +1
In contrast, from the same era, Babylon 5 had Martin Sheen as the guest for a completely extraneous movie.
1
TVxStrange Apr 11, 2026 +2
WWE Raw. The guest host era was abysmal. The current fascination with "celebrities" isn't much better.
2
flergnabbit Apr 11, 2026 +1
SNL, the Baldwin years. Regular cast was overshadowed and some even cut, taking away the whole tone of the show. This is why the UK version is so good. The cast is completely unknown (to me - American) and I just get to enjoy the writing and acting, not spectacle.
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badhouseplantbad Apr 11, 2026 +2
Hollywood Squares The Love Boat
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LowBalance4404 Apr 11, 2026 +1
Do we know that's what they spent most of their budget on though? Usually those celebs weren't the top notch, but more tv and fading stars.
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flergnabbit Apr 11, 2026 +1
I actually worked my way through watching all the Love Boat (took years) and they def spent money on those stars because in later years they added a dance team (featuring a young then-unknown Terri Hatcher) to replace the third story line and it shows. The chorus line would dance, taking up time that a third plot might have used. So, so, so bad. So bad.
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LowBalance4404 Apr 11, 2026 +1
I remember that! Did you ever catch episodes of Circus of the Stars? That was wild.
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flergnabbit Apr 11, 2026 +1
Don’t remember that but do recall All Star Anything Goes.
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Hi_Im_Dadbot Apr 11, 2026 +1
I’m watching ER right now and the number of famous people they have come on for small, one time roles is staggering. The 90s must have been a different story one financially for them to have been able to afford those salaries.
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spiritbearr Apr 11, 2026 +3
>The 90s must have been a different story one financially for them to have been able to afford those salaries. Yes. ER was its own beast though.
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ItFromDawes Apr 11, 2026 +2
Maybe they weren't famous at the time and were just working actors.
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