I shrink with embarrassment every time Richie does a scene. I mean I have read how carefully they cast this show only to get the worst child actor I've ever seen. Now, do you think that was purposeful because there are a few times Rob makes little comments about how Richie doesn't have his on screen parents talents. I just want to know what other people think about his "acting" skills.
shareThis topic comes up quite often on this board. I'm always reminded of Little Ricky from I Love Lucy whenever Richie speaks. All his lines are usually shouted at the top of his lungs. He may have been directed to do this just so we could hear his little voice. He's not the worst kid actor in TV land. And he's so cute, he kinda grows on you.
share.He's not the worst kid actor in TV land.
Have you seen Angela Cartwright in Make Room For Daddy lately? I've been watching for the first time since I saw them as a child and I can't believe how awful she was. She smiles through every line no matter what the mood of the scene as if she's in on a big joke. It's impossible to watch the scenes she's in even though she's adorable.
Rusty Hamer, on the other hand, was a real pro. A joy to watch.
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
yes he is
I made the same comment about a Doris Day movie called The Thrill of it All. The little daughter in this movie is dreadful! She destroys an otherwise delightful and funny movie because she screams and shouts all of her lines in this high pitch, at the top of her lungs. It's so distracting and it detracts from the entire movie.
Richie, and lots of kid actors, seem to do this whole screaming thing. I don't know if that's the way they accepted child actors back then, as I don't tend to see it in more recent movies. But lots of movies and series from the 60's genre have these yelling kids that are horrible actors.
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And I stepped on the ping pong ball!
lots of movies and series from the 60's genre have these yelling kids that are horrible actors.
With rare exception, there's hardly a scene Richie is in that he always falls short. So many of his line deliveries are flat. Or obviously memorized (y'know, without the acting skill not to look it). He always looked like he was glancing off camera to see what to do next. There had to be ten million other kid actors out there who could have made something out of the role. He should've been replaced after the first season.
shareI’m going to come down in favor of “misunderstood” on this one. I couldn’t agree more that when Larry Matthews was bad he was really bad. But here’s the angle: What if, in casting Larry Matthews as Richie – what if Carl Reiner got exactly what he wanted, that is to say, an untrained, perfectly ordinary little boy of about 5 years old?
I think the casting was very much on purpose - because the "actor" wasn't an actor at all.
an untrained, perfectly ordinary little boy of about 5 years old?
Oh God, his voice sets my teeth on edge. The piercing screams of his lines and his general brattiness together make him difficult to like.
shareI think back then it was harder to get good child actors because most people cared too much for their children to throw them in that Hollywood den of eniquity. Just saying.
shareIniquity
But I am gonna say a hard no on that. There was, is and sadly always will be parents who are willing to exploit their children to tap into fame and fortune.
" eniquity"? "Iniquity"?
What??
It's INEQUITY!
Why can't you know this, although you have access to THE GOD DAMN INTERNET?!
Not to mention common sense.. equal, equity, in-equity. It's not brain surgery!
I for one love who they chose for Richie! I think many times it is the WAY he delivers some of his lines that makes me chuckle. Larry Mathews- thank you & well done!
shareHe was okay and never ruined the mood of a scene or really bothered me. He wasn't in that many scenes. There were plenty of other kid actors who didn't appear that often on shows who were about at the same level. People are harping about a little kid who was seldom, if ever, in terms of his acting, the focus on an episode.
Carla on Cheers, Bobby and Elaine on Taxi, Chrissy on Three's Company, and other bad performances on popular shows were much more annoying, ruined more scenes, and hurt more shows than a little kid on a great show. So, yeah, his effect on the show is misunderstood.
What??? Wheeler and Nardo were awesome.
shareI always thought he was chosen because he looked like Carl Reiner's son Rob Reiner- who grew up to be a well known actor & director.
shareIt's a mystery for the ages how and why that kid got that part. He must've been related to someone prominent at the network. But you know what I find most annoying? Mary Tyler Moore and DVD both had children Richie's age, and Dicks son and daughter were in one episode where they were cuter and just as adequate if not more so at delivering lines. I refuse to believe that actual auditions were held for that part and they selected Richie, seems they hired any kid they could find.. why not dick or Mary's kid?
share