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Back, Show Killer!
By Karen
 Eric Balfour is clearly television kryptonite. Conviction can now be added to the list of shows that he’s killed along with Hawaii and Sex, Love and Secrets. In fact, as soon as I saw the guy in the credits of the Dick Wolf show, I knew it was doomed.
Perhaps I’m being unfair. It’s not like he’s sunk any of the shows in which he had a guest arc, notably The OC, 24, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Six Feet Under. (Although perhaps those last two could be arguable.) I did a little investigating and realized that he in very good company; there are a lot of Show Killers out there. In fact, compared with some of these actors below, his track record is pretty tame. Here are some of my favorites and a list of the shows that they have killed:
 Paula Marshall: Wild Oats (Yes, I don’t remember it either. It was on for 3 weeks in 1990 according to IMDB), Chicago Sons, Cupid, Snoops, Hidden Hills (I love the tagline for that one: “It’s your life, only funnier.” Or, not) and now Out of Practice. When she showed up on Veronica Mars, my heart stopped.
Dabney Coleman: He cursed each decade. His streak began in the 1970s with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman through the 80s with Buffalo Bill and The Slap Maxwell Story; in the 1990s he killed The Guardian, and he rounded off the millennium with Courting Alex.
Geena Davis: Buffalo Bill (also a writer!), Sara, The Geena Davis Show (You know you have a problem when you curse your own show), and of course Commander in Chief.
Mark Feuerstein: He began his streak with Fired Up, then killed the titular character Conrad Bloom (with a tagline like “Copywriter Conrad Bloom is a ‘nice guy’ in New York City whose life is filled with interesting women" even sounds lame.) Next was Good Morning Miami and I haven’t seen much of him since.
 Angie Harmon: Mrs Seahorn sunk Baywatch Nights (ok, that wasn't a bad thing), C-16,Good Advice, and Inconceivable, not to mention a 2006-7 pilot called Secrets of a Small Town. In fact,looking at her television track record, the only thing she hasn't sunk is Law & Order: SVU..
DB Sweeney: Another C:16 sinker, as well as Strange Luck, and Life as we know it (that show with Kelly Osbourne).
Chyler Leigh: Yikes. A number of sinkers in the late 1990s, namely Saving Graces, Safe Harbor, and Wilder Days, but most recently best known for sinking That 80s Show, Girls Club, and Reunion.
 Chris Gorham: I know. Who? But take a look at this guys track record. He killed Popular, Jake 2.0, Medical Investigation, and Out of Practice, aided by fellow Show Killer Paula Marshall.
Here are my predictions for future Show Killers. Thus far they’ve only killed two shows each, but nevertheless, I’m not seeing a bright future ahead: Natasha Henstridge (She Spies, Commander in Chief), Neal McDonough (Boomtown, Medical Investigation), Jason O’Mara (The Agency, InJustice), Marisol Nichols (Blind Justice, InJustice)Sean Faris (Life as we know it, Reunion) and Amanda Peet (Partners, Jack & Jill.). If Studio 60 flops she is officially on the list.
Karen Woodward can also be read at suite101.primetimetv.com, and Hollywoodmomentum.com.
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