What's a guest star?
March 13, 2015 1:27 PM Subscribe
How is it determined that an actor will be billed as a "guest star," and are there union or guild regulations that control such screen credits?
Googling for guest star basically gives me results for "guest appearance," which Wikipedia defines as "In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular cast, band or other performing group." The other references I've found don't differ in any significant way.
But that does not seem to be how the term is used in screen credits. On the CBS series "The Good Wife," for example, Chris Noth is billed as a "special guest star," though he appeared in almost every episode in the three seasons that I have watched and is identified as a star in the iMDB entry for he series. This doesn't seem to be an anomaly in television series; it seems that some actors who appear regularly are quite often given recurring credits as "guest star." And there are sometimes guest stars in movies, which would seem to be impossible per the Wikipedia definition.
TVTropes says it "usually has something to do with their contract," and may be used when an actor is more famous than others in the cast, but I'd like something more specific than that.
Googling for guest star basically gives me results for "guest appearance," which Wikipedia defines as "In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular cast, band or other performing group." The other references I've found don't differ in any significant way.
But that does not seem to be how the term is used in screen credits. On the CBS series "The Good Wife," for example, Chris Noth is billed as a "special guest star," though he appeared in almost every episode in the three seasons that I have watched and is identified as a star in the iMDB entry for he series. This doesn't seem to be an anomaly in television series; it seems that some actors who appear regularly are quite often given recurring credits as "guest star." And there are sometimes guest stars in movies, which would seem to be impossible per the Wikipedia definition.
TVTropes says it "usually has something to do with their contract," and may be used when an actor is more famous than others in the cast, but I'd like something more specific than that.
Backstage's Secret Agent columnist explains.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:06 PM on March 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 2:06 PM on March 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
I always used to wonder why Dr. Smith was a "guest star" on Lost in Space but appeared in every single episode. Then I noticed they did the same thing to that Peter Lorrie-like dude in Land of the Giants, and figured it was just schtick.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:09 PM on March 13, 2015
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:09 PM on March 13, 2015
It's negotiated. Not a ranking or anything
posted by crankyrogalsky at 3:18 PM on March 13, 2015
posted by crankyrogalsky at 3:18 PM on March 13, 2015
Also interesting: the difference between Lead Performer Minimums and Guest Minimums.
posted by NailsTheCat at 4:01 PM on March 13, 2015
posted by NailsTheCat at 4:01 PM on March 13, 2015
Jonathan Harris negotiated the Special Guest Star billing because he was the last to sign on to Lost in Space. The star and costar spots were already promised to the other leads. His part and the Robot were added after the pilot sold to CBS.
posted by Zedcaster at 10:54 PM on March 13, 2015
posted by Zedcaster at 10:54 PM on March 13, 2015
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A "major role" performer is one who, as a part of his or her contractual arrangement for that employment, negotiates credit at the front of the show or negotiates credit on a separate card, or its equivalent in a crawl, at the back of the show or who negotiates credit in any of the following forms: "Guest Star;" "Special Guest Star;" "Starring;" or "Special Appearance By."
So this doesn't make much distinction. My understanding was however that guest means they are a star that gets paid per episode of the season. A non-guest star would get paid for the season overall, regardless of how many episodes they might appear in. (That's what I've been told years ago... doesn't mean it's correct! I've rarely dealt with this at work.)
posted by NailsTheCat at 1:53 PM on March 13, 2015