Iconic cameos & cinematic side pieces
girl dinner is all about the sides and we are eating
hi bestie,
welcome to What Is This Regarding? where we take a critical lewk at wtf’s going on around us. this wk as i shamelessly inhaled more seasons of Scandal, i was hit in the face with a cameo for the ages: Lena Dunham as a political seductress, novelist, and ultimately, victim of an Olivia Pope kerfuffle.
which brings me to where we must go today: iconic cameos and sidepieces making cinematic gold.
while leading ladies reel us in and give us so much to live for (currently living for Debra Vance and her at-home fountain sodas on Hacks) there’s a magic to casting unforgettable nobodies-who-may-become-somebodies and also cultural figures.
cinematic side pieces are a time capsule and a mysterious peek into the casting room.
Take Bradley Cooper in SATC, for example:
Was he a somebody? i think not! was he extremely fucking convincing??? ABSOLUTELY. and whether the casting director was just sleeping with him trying something or secretly knew sh*t was about to pop off for brad, we love to see it when we watch back in retrospect and think, wow, look at the humble beginnings.
Speaking of SATC, let’s jet over to White Collar where Stannie popped up!!!!! Side-piece Stannie plays a STRA*GHT SECRET AGENT. I appreciate that he’s still in new york….but it’s giving closeted and also…. like this is his double life as Rick9+ ?????
Stannie, also in his new yorker side-piece status, shows up as Ross’ roommate to dupe/guilt Ross into paying for the landlord’s going away party.
wut was Timmy Chalamet doing in the possibly important Matthew mcconaughey movie - intersteller???? i’m not here to rag on the fake family energy but i just don’t buy them as dad-son. i will say, tho, it reminds us how powerful early childhood roles are in establishing you as kylie’s +1 someday.
My favorite cameo of all, tho, is and always will be Pam Anderson as Heather Biblow, the recurring queen of Queens.
what is so genius about the use of iconic cameos is not just the preprogammed clap-tracks and built-in audience gain, but the way that the stylist can absolutely call moschino for a few extra favors and custom fits.
and let’s be honest, if the side piece isn’t brining in some couture, what’s the use?
to some, a bit part is nothing but a day of work…but to others, it’s really about what it means for your lore.
<3
i love u like i love a little tea before bed,
amy
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