From the Big Screen to the Small Screen - Chris O'Donnell Coming to CBS This Fall

It used to be that small screen actors would move from TV to movies like Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith and many others, and while that trend is continuing today (think Katherine Heigl. We don't know for sure if she truly is leaving Grey's Anatomy. There are so many rumors floating around, but, she has had success at the box office) I've really noticed over the last few years that the trend is actually working in reverse. I'm not talking just guest spots or appearances, but some big screen actors are moving into their own series or recurring role in an ensemble class. Some have been successful , some have not .

This fall Chris O'Donnell (who had guest spots on Grey's and NCIS, and The Company) had unsuccessfully tried to foray into the small screen with Head Cases in 2005 that was canceled after 1 season. This season he is trying again and will be a member of the ensemble cast of an NCIS Spin off on CBS slated this fall.

I thought it would be kind of fun to run down some of the successful and not so successful big screen actors who have attempted the small screen. We all know one of the most successful is Keifer Sutherland on '24' that is slated for it's 8th season this year. Then there is Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer), Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) , Martin Sheen (The West Wing), Charlie Sheen (Spin City and Two and a Half Men), Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan), Candace Bergen (Murphy Brown and Boston Legal), Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Patricia Arquette (Medium) , Gary Sinise (CSI:NY) and Sally Field (Brother's and Sister's).

Sally Field has come full circle, it seems, as she actually started her career on TV with a role in the 1960's sitcom Gidget and then went on to the Flying Nun. She then became a big screen star in the 80's. She made her first attempt at TV in 2002 with the series The Court that was quickly canceled. She is now part of an ensemble cast with another big screen actor turned successful TV Star, Rob Lowe on Brother's & Sisters that will enter it's fourth season this coming fall.

Then there are those that have made attempts that didn't quite pan out. Last year Christian Slater starred in My Own Worst Enemy. In 2006 Gina Davis starred in Commander In Chief that started out strong but faded and was cancelled. Other actors that have made the attempt at TV have been

• Chevy Chase - The Chevy Chase show 1993
  
• Faye Dunaway - It Had to Be You - 1993)
• Bette Midler -Bette 2002)
• Richard Dreyfuss - The Education of Bickford 2002
  
• Shirley McClaine - Shirley's World 71/72

It seems, however, that Chris O'Donnell has a shot given that NCIS has been so successful and currently CBS is the most watched network on TV. Oh yeah.. and it also stars LL Cool J! Yummy! Watch the preview below. It's looking good!