Guest Who?

As someone whose Netflix queue is 95% television, I spend plenty of time thinking about ways to make my favorite shows even better. I'm almost always far more interested in character development than any other aspect of a TV program. I'll keep watching long after the plot has gone off the rails so long as my favorite characters remain consistent -- and consistently entertaining.
Case in point: I sat through the entire second season of Heroes, which was one of the worst sophomore slumps I've ever seen, solely because of Zachary Quinto's gleeful, hammy psychopath Sylar. On the other hand, I've pretty much sworn off How I Met Your Mother, formerly one of my favorite shows, because of the way its writers have destroyed characters' continuity and likeability in the last few seasons.

A crucial factor in the success or failure of a show's character development is the integration of its guest stars. Some shows get it right (The Big Bang Theory comes to mind, with Wil Wheaton playing himself as a hilarious nemesis for Sheldon) and some, well, don't (ahem, How I Met Your Mother, with stunt casting choices like a wooden Britney Spears). Famous guest stars draw ratings; they can also draw the audience out of a necessary suspension of disbelief. But if it's done right, the guest star fits into the cast perfectly (Jon Hamm on 30 Rock, anyone?) and makes you wish the role were permanent.

Steal This Actor: Jason Dohring

I'll be honest: I hadn't intended to watch Lie to Me on Monday. After watching an episode of the show earlier this year, I found the cases of international lying-liar expert Cal Lightman to be inoffensive, but generally uncompelling. Since we're in the summer tv doldrums, though, I left it on the other night, where it was working primarily as a dispenser of white noise. And then I heard a familiar voice.

"Hey," I thought. "I recognize that obligatory psychotic jackass."