The anti-Ted McGinley

A few years ago, the "Jump The Shark" website declared actor McGinley their patron saint. The theory being that when he joins the cast of a show (The Love Boat, Happy Days, Sports Night), that show is not long for this world.

In truth, a number of series have gone on for more than a few seasons with McGinley as either a regular or recurring member of the cast, not least among them Married...With Children and The West Wing. Nevertheless, his place in the firmament remains.

But tonight, I realized there is someone out there who seems to make it their business to appear on every smart "netlet" (meaning small network like the WB, UPN, CW, or ABCF) series.

I was watching the season finale of Greek, a series which has turned out to be really fun and worth watching. And then, rolling up before my eyes in the guest star credits, comes a name...a name I know well.

From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Veronica Mars...Miss Charisma Carpenter.



Other fans of her previous "bad girl" work no doubt enjoyed watching one of Greek's resident sorority sisters try to out-bitch her as much as I did. Honey, it's just not going to happen.

Just as there must be heaven if there must be hell, if there must be a McGinley...

...there must also be someone whose very presence betokens a show that will prove worth looking forward to on any number of levels.

Charisma Carpenter is that someone.

And no, it's not just because she's so sexy.

ETA: This turned out to be a weird night for seeing people who used to be on Veronica Mars and/or Buffy...

First, I saw Percy Daggs III, who played Wallace on Mars, on a freaking Hot Pockets commercial. The CW must not have paid *any* money...

Then Alyson Hannigan is on the Conan O'Brien show, and I'm hit again with the realization that with her new hair color and cut she has made herself look like Jennifer Love Hewitt if she were a heroin addict.

Every redhead, man...