media minor tv coincidence

Posted September 6, 2005 • Comments Off on minor tv coincidence
I’ve been watching a LOT of CSI lately. Like a lot. Like three episodes a day for a couple of weeks now. It’s on the Spike channel (formerly TNN, now marketed as “tv for men” every couple of hours.

I’ve noticed a really high incidence of actors I recognize from Joss Whedon shows popping up as guest players on CSI. First it was Gina Torres (Zoe from Firefly and Jasmine from Angel) as a warden in a women’s prison. Then it was DB Woodside (Principal Wood from Buffy) as a convicted pedophile who’d been framed for murder. And now I’m watching the finale of season 2 and who should be playing a shady fashion photographer but Mark Sheppard*, Badger from “The Train Job” and “Shindig.” He cleans up rather nicely, though the character is still a “psychotic lowlife.”**

*I had to look his name up, but it’s verifiably him.
**This is what they call Badger in “Shindig,” at least until it’s pointed out that doing so is “an insult to the psychotic lowlife community.”

Now here’s what I want to know. Is this a coincidence? Is it just because good actors can get roles on good shows? I did a “common people” search on IMDB, also, but that only comes up with 100 stunt people and second-unit directors. Is it just that good television is such a small community that there’s bound to be overlap? Or is something else going on?

Edited to add:

Watched another CSI the other day, featuring none other than Boone from “Lost.” I’m thinking it’s just a small good-TV community.