Horation Caine

OK, I really don't get this characterization at all.
Is this supposed to be a realistic performance, or is he
just going for Kabuki theater, or something? I mean, with
the weird head poses, and the odd timing, and strange line
delivery, is this even meant to ring true for anybody, or
is David Caruso just the worst actor since Shatner did the
original StarTrek?

Anim8rFSK...

Caruso is a far far far worse actor than Shatner; Caruso is at the

Otto Bahn...

I'm not sure it is possible to be far worse than Shatner,

shelly...

Sure it is. The Caruso takes itself seriously. That alone makes it
at least two fars worse than Shatner. The Kabuki schtick should
account for the third far.

but Caruso is certainly worse. He's painful to watch, he's
painful to listen to, and I am getting a headache by just
thinking about him.

shelly...

Well, then, our work here appears to be done. (Also, I hear you can
get lots42 of meds for that headache at the flea market. HTH and
God bless!)

You bastids!

jayembee...

Yeah, even I'd agree with that. Caruso *could* be a good actor -- I,
for one, really liked him in that first season of NYPD BLUE (and
rewatching those eps on DVD now, still like him in that role) -- but
it's like he's completely forgotten how to be one.

Shatner is similar. He was really good circa pre-Trek. You see him
in films like JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG or THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, and
he does quite a solid job. But fell into a performing rut that's only
gotten worse as time goes on.

It was quite funny...a couple of months ago, I watched the STUDIO ONE
2-parter, "The Defender" (pilot for the later series), and Shatner
did a fine job playing the part of the son in the lawyer team. Right
afterward, I'd put on a NAKED CITY disc with Shatner as a guest-star
in one episode, and he had that same, wacky meter -- pauses in odd
places, and emphasis where it didn't really belong -- that he'd
made infamous in STAR TREK and afterward.

Walter Koenig level, if you insist on a Trek comparison. The only

JXStern...

Well, let me defend everyone!

In both ST and BL, Shatner is given cartoon roles, and does them well,
memorably in fact. I recall Shatner in a Columbo, and in a Kung Fu,
and especially in the later, all made up with a beard and outfit as a
sea captain, he was outstanding - in a small role.

Even Checkov did an excellent job, in keeping with the production.

Can Caruso "act"? Well, I hope so, I doubt if the Horatio character
is what you get with Caruso, if you bump into him at Dennys or
something.

decent line readings he's ever given were in Hudson Hawk. And, yes, I
think it's some kind of weird joke. I like the "Kabuki Theater" idea.