MovieChat Forums > Waiting for Guffman (1997) Discussion > who did the best job at bad acting (in t...

who did the best job at bad acting (in the play)?


i think Sheila (Catherine O Hara) did the best job playing a bad actress. When her and Ron (Willard) were doing the audition and she mouthed his words as he spoke. Then when she says "Sight for THESE weary eyes" is funny during the play. The best actor (per say) was the old guy... I mean, he actually wasn't that bad.

Who do you think is the best bad actor in the play?

reply

CORKY!!!!!

...and that's all I have to say about that.

reply

yes but poor Corky had to make up for the good looking guy and do it at the last minute so for that he did okay, but O Hara had all that time to rehearse.

i love when she says

"Mars... What's what?"

reply

O'hara is just so stellar...easily stands out in my mind, however Guest and Levvy are not far behind...those would defenitly be my top three...in that order...O'hara, Guest, and Levvy.

"History was written by those who've hanged heros". - Braveheart

reply

I think O'Hara did the best job. The way she'd look straight ahead and shout her line cracked me up. Levy was a close second though.

--------------------------------
"Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?"

reply

Catherine O'Hara was so good at being bad.

"We women are just as strong and noble as YOU MEN!" (I forget the line verbatim)

"California will be a sore sight for THESE weary EYES!"

"I've heard of Mars!"
"WHERE'S THAT?"




"Like any newsman, I believe that if you're not scared, I'm not doing my job."
-- Stephen Colbert

reply

Chris Guest

reply

Fred Willard

reply

[deleted]

Of the five, I'd rank them

1) Sheila. She was amazingly bad, it was brilliant.
2) Corky. The thing that sticks out in my mind the most is when he's the King of England and he's speaking in his American accent, while Catherine is the duchess of somewhere and she's got this hilarious shrill voice.
3) Alan.
4) Libby.
5) Ron. He was probably "the best," not that that's a good thing.

reply

eugene levy was absolutely brilliant as a lazy eyed jewish oblivious fool who was a horrible actor. he was just amazingly bad. if dr. pearle existed, he'd win the razzie every year...

reply

[deleted]

Eugene Levy... Gather 'round, for i have news!

Let's get it started. Black-eyed Crows.

reply

"How HIGH a ridge, I could not tay-ull!"





"I can't prove it, but I can say it."
-- Stephen Colbert

reply

I guess it would be between Corky and Sheila...although I thought Libby Mae Brown's terrible rendition of "A Penny for your Thoughts" was hilarious.

reply

I thought Libby Mae sounded great. Her acting was too good for Blaine. She was the one who had a legitimate chance at Broadway! :-)

...and that's all I have to say about that.

reply


Fred Willard kills me anytime, (seen the anouncer in the Best in Show?) He's really the guy you hate as your neighbour, but love to watch over and over again on the movie. "We, as travel agents are more the glamourous types"
Fine cameo as well for Bill Murray's brother as Red Savage!




Life is so short / Fall in love, dear maiden

reply

I thought it a great irony that the least vain member of the group, Lewis Arquette's character, gave the best performance in the play (as the narrator). Having done some no-budget theatre myself, that rang very true.

reply

Catherine O'Hara is such a genius. She is by far the best worst actor. What cracks me up is her delivery of every single line. "I've heard of Mars", and then Catherine O'Hara replies with "WHERES THAT?!?!". She is also so great because if you have seen A Mighty Wind, then you know how great of a singer she is, and in Guffman...her belt in Stool Boom always tears me to pieces it is so funny, especially in rehearsal, when they are singing and after they have been stopped, she belts "Stoo-" and then stops. Genius.

reply

[deleted]

Yeah, probably Catherine as Sheila. The whole cast was brilliant, but she really inhabited the character of someone who tried her best but just was not all that swift. Even the way she broke up the rhythm of the songs in little pieces was perfect for that character.

And, I think that some of her key lines were highlighted by other posters.

"Where's that?!!!"

And her singing of "Stool Boom" rivals that of the late, great Edith Bunker...

Also, if you watch the deleted scenes, check out her (and Parker's) opening to "This Bulging River". It's a shame that this scene did not make it into the movie. For me, it's easily the best and funniest song. And when she and Posey put their faces together ..."When's the Rain Gonna Stop, Momma?," I dissolve in laughter, which continues to build throughout that song,m capped by Corky's last note.

In fact, my wife is pretty sick of me sneaking up on her and asking "When's the rain...?"

reply

Catherine O'hara did the best worst job. Over-actor. She did it perfectly.

"California's gonna be a sight for these weary eyes!" The line is delivered perfectly...bad.

Chris Guest does a good bad job aswell. His dancing in 'A penny for your thoughts' cracks me up. When Corky and Libby Mae go to sides of the stage and walk towards each other. Corky walks on his tip toes and puts his arms straight behind him. Really striving to do an amazing gentle performance. His voice is so soft and gay aswell. It's hilarious.

Oh, and also "Everybody dance."

I've got tears in my eyes.

reply

Im disappointed I didn't see any Parker Posey nominations. I thought she was great in this. most believeable character for me yet still funny

reply

I'd say O'Hara as well. But Corky's Cockney accent killed me: "'ello. 'ow are 'oo?"

Es ist mir egal.

reply

O'Hara. "That ain't no feed storage bin."

reply

I'll have to agree with the concensus that Catherine O'Hara was brilliantly bad as Sheila in the play, as well as the try outs when she and Willard do a corny version of Midnight at the Oasis. The Lunt & Fontaine of Blaine indeed. LOL.

reply

Definitely O'Hara, though all were really, really great. Another line of her's I love is "What was this mysterious scent!?"

reply

[deleted]