Be nice

Don't worry...it seems many people on the internet act this way. You see most have their own problems (mental that is) and so attack someone else because of their own feelings of insecurity.

Oh, and some are just mean.

P.S. I don't think Cheers would have lasted as long without Shelley Long in the first half of the show. The first few seasons drew the viewers in and made them care about most of the characters, but it was Long and Danson's chemistry that 'made' Cheers (in the early years) in some ways. And I do not see what was so wrong with leaving Cheers...and if you hate her so much why would you wish her to stay on the show longer than she did? It's most odd.

Peace Out!

"The face of evil is ugly to look upon. And as the pleasures increase, the face becomes uglier."

There is a tremendous amount of meanness on the Internet in general and these boards in particularly. Sometimes I just have to stop reading because the posts are so depressing and make me fear for the future of our society. Technology has liberated us in many way, but in others, it has robbed us of our humanity.

Regarding Shelley, I honestly was never that big a fan of "Cheers," so I don't think leaving the show for a career in movies was a mistake. Had she stayed until the end of the series, I doubt she would have had as many opportunities. She was a delightful presence in the films she made after "Cheers," and it's sad she didn't get stronger roles outside of the light comedies she made.

I still would like to see her in films, and I hope her personal turmoil doesn't overwhelm her. Sadly, it's an uphill battle without much support from the public, if these boards are any indication.

I saw her in a recent TV movie with Jack Scalia and she was good. Unfortunately, there's a dearth of roles for older actresses who don't look 10-15 years younger than their real age. I was never a big fan of Shelley, but she wasn't the worst actress I ever saw. She got typecast into light comedies and didn't choose her roles wisely. It has happened to others. No one has a crystal ball, that's for sure.

I agree that things have gotten really mean on the Internet. It's a great place for cowards who hide behind the anonymity of their user names. We should remember that acting is a highly competitive, man-eating, cutthroat business. Some actors become paupers and derelicts; one became President of the United States. Who can say?

You, WarpedRecord, appear to be a nice, normal, decent human being.

Thanks so much for your kind remark, pmiano100! I should have qualified my comments about Internet hostility by saying that amid all the meanness, there are are people such as yourself who will deliver a compliment to a complete stranger.

I totally agree that actresses tend to hit a brick wall once they hit a certain age, and that age seems to be 40 these days. For every Jodie Foster or Meryl Streep still getting hearty roles, there are a dozen Karen Allens or Debra Wingers working in relative obscurity in small indie films. Meanwhile, the late-night talk shows are stocked with the latest Britneys or Brittannys hawking whatever "must see" flick is opening Friday and will be forgotten next weekend.

As far as Shelley, she was never an "important" actress and didn't always make the best career choices ("Troop Beverly Hills," anyone?), but I would love to see her getting more roles and more respect.

You're very welcome. Thank you for your kind remarks and your insights. I personally feel that women past 40 can fill any number of roles that don't depend on hot looks or torrid romance. I don't have any problem with films geared to people in their twenties and thirties. When I was young, I wished there were more. But there should be films for other age groups too. Things have gone too much the other way.

I still believe it's ridiculous to give roles to actors in their 50s and 60s roles for men in their 30s, while their romantic interests are all young women. How unjust that Sean Connery, 77, is still able to get leading roles, but Debra Winger, 52, and Karen Allen, 56, are considered too old to play anything but someone's mother or grandmother.

Yes, the glass ceiling for actresses is much lower than for actors, and as much as I respect Clint Eastwood and Michael Douglas, it's tiring to see them constantly paired with women half their age.

Two actresses who, in my view, have broken that ceiling are Ellen Burstyn and Gena Rowlands, who aren't strictly relegated to playing the grandmother or the neighbor -- though, of course, they still play plenty of those parts as well.

I hope I didn't sound like I completely writing off young actresses. It's just that so many of the new releases seem geared to the youth market that the true diversity of film fans seems neglected. I respect and admire Rachel McAdams and Scarlett Johansson, and I look forward to seeing their careers develop to the point of breaking through that glass ceiling. I even like Lindsay Lohan, despite some of her personal foibles. But of course, in keeping with the theme of this thread, I'm not one to gossip!

For that, you have my deepest respect. You might also consider adding Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange to your list of ceiling breakers as well. And you don't sound like you're completely writing off young actresses. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Personally however, I prefer Julia Stiles to Lindsay Lohan as an actress. She is a young woman, whereas I believe Ms. Lohan is still playing a "girl." Of course, that may well be because she has been typed that way. She's not without talent.

Oh yes, I have admired Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange for years, and that reminds me that I haven't seen that film "Bonneville" they made with the exquisite Joan Allen.

And I have utmost respect for Julia Stiles, even though she's frequently miscast ("The Omen" remake) and appears in films that frankly aren't deserving of her talent ("Save the Last Dance," "A Guy Thing"). She is a smart, talented young woman who has the chance to soar once she finds the right vehicle. Maybe "The Bell Jar" will be her breakout film.