Once Jennifer Aniston Revisits TV, Should She Stay There?

By Jo Piazza Posted Aug 24th 2010 08:20PM

Jennifer Aniston is moving back to the small screen and her timing couldn't be better. On the heels of Jen's box office disaster, 'The Switch,' it's been announced that Aniston will be teaming up with former 'Friend' Courteney Cox in the second season premiere of Courtney's hit sitcom 'Cougar Town.'

It's a good move for Jen to head back to a place where America first fell in love with her, in light of reviewers calling her "forgettable" and "depressing" in her latest failed rom-com. On television, Jen has to be hoping that she will get nothing but love.

"I think we feel like Jen is one of our best friends and you don't like to have a break from your best friend. You want them to come into your living room. I think America will embrace her when she rejoins Courteney Cox," says Hollywood Life Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Fuller.

Once Jen makes a visit to TV, should she maybe consider staying? Cox has had a successful post-'Friends' TV career, both in drama with 'Dirt' and now with comedy in 'Cougar Town,' where she essentially plays Monica 2.0. She's quirky and funny, she's just a little bit older and Chandler has dropped out of the picture. Plus, TV is where it's at these days, and Jen would be smart to start carving herself a niche.

"TV is where all the best writing is right now because cable networks provide the ever-so-coveted creative freedom that creators crave. They don't just need to produce huge blockbuster hits. As a result, TV actors don't just get handed scripts for roles that have boring, general appeal. 'The Switch' is so milquetoast -- most people probably forgot it came out this weekend," says New York Daily News television writer Cristina Kinon.

But what is the best niche for Jen to start carving? If she's looking to play something more alternative, less family-friendly, she can go somewhere like an FX or Showtime. If she misses that 'Friends' feeling, she can go back to network television. What could work is if she found a way to poke a little fun at her own situation that the tabloids have such a heyday with -- 40, divorced and looking for love.

"She needs a show built around her that makes the best of her comedic talents. She needs a role that parodies her situation, so that it isn't sad. I can see her as a Murphy Brown or a Mary Tyler Moore, a single woman taking the world by storm," Fuller says.

Jen can't afford another box office bomb. Hollywood operates on a three-strikes rule and she's got three stinkers behind her.

"Aniston doesn't need movie money. She needs industry respect. She can get that with the right show," Kinon says.

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Tags: cougar town, jennifer aniston

Comments

(58)

Wednesday 25 August

By Tex

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Yeah, like Lucille Ball always seemed to play Lucy.

Tuesday 24 August

By Don

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I love this women. She is great! I wish I could help her out. She needs to stop dateing her co-stars and stop worrying about being single and love being single.

By Tim

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Jennifer Aniston you are not that good of an actress now I want you to stop making movies and take wtih you Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, Lindsay Lohan and that stuffy and detestable Jennifer Lopez. Brad Pitt left you because you were not a good lay in bed and you're boring woman.

By Toni Cantrell

Jennifer Aniston is a beautiful , vibrant WOMAN. She needs some guidance in her movie selection. Take on some serious roles. She can do it. She needs to have confidence in herself. The

By joey43

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Do a play, or some good low budget movies with good scripts. She's not a bad actress, just picks the wrong projects.

By SunnyHawaii

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As much as I like her, she just doesn't have the acting chops that will push her up to the top. Maybe she needs to take riskier roles. I think her Friends fans are slowly dropping off and she's remembered more for being Pitt's ex-wife. If it weren't for that marriage, she'll go the way of Elizabeth Shue and other actresses who were seemingly at the edge of true fame, but for reason dropped off. I was thinking of how popular Debra Winger, Kelly McGillis and Sean Young were in their day and all of a sudden *poof* they disappered. Even Jessica Alba seems to be going downhill in her movie choices. Jolie was smart enough to reinvent herself, read an article that said when her star was dimming, she became invovled in international affairs. That revived her career. She's one smart cookie in that sense, and she may truly be concerned...but she did reinvent herself when she was slip sliding down that Hollywood star. I do wish Jenn the best, and maybe she really be better as M. Tyler Moore or Candace Bergen on t.v.

By Kate

Courtney's Cougar Town seems to be a popular show. Just wonder if Aniston joining the cast might be a big mistake. They are friends, but still, only one of them can be the "star". Oh well..

By Carol

I agree Jen Aniston is yesterdays news! We are sick of her failed love affairs and tired of her bomb movies!! Enough already!!!!Give it up Jen!

By olivia

ANN AND KEN I AGREE WITH YOU BOTH MY MOM AGREE'S WITH ME ALSO JENNIFER ANISTON ISNT THAT BEAUTIFUL SHE CANT ACT ALL THAT WELL SHE SHOULD JUST RETIRE FOR GOOD! SHE IS A BAD MOVIE ACTRESS AND TO OVER EXPOSED!

By dans

She is in the Lucky Hall of Fame- not beautiful, limited talent,
non threatening and most of all - famous for marrying Brad Pitt-
her looks are ordinary as is her boring skills and it's her
ego and self-centered, low self esteem need for attention that
stops her from seeing her real calling-
helping others with more talent and helping the world-
she is a notorious cheapskate- say what you will about Ms Jolie
she puts her money where her mouth is and has 100 times boring
ms anistons talent and looks

Sunday 29 August

By rose delgado

She can't find a man to stay with her. Don't you think it's kind of odd. She's old in age and running out of time and can't have a baby. The only thing on her name is that body of hers. Of course, anybody can have that body if they have money and time (being not a mother). What's so special about her. Nothing.. She's still getting a lot of money even though. Just like Snooki.. He he he...

By TedAllen

If she could act we the public might actually go see her movies. How did that stupid movie get the go ahead anyway? Lame Hollywood crap as usual.

By erma

i love jen she is so beautiful inside and out ,i hate these critics talking bad mouth of her

By jgriz2000

no; she should just go away; period

By e m

wHY DO WE CARE ABOUT THIS PERSON. DOSE SHE HAVE A CAREER OTHER THAN BEING PART OF SOME MYTHICAL LOVE TRIANGLE.sHE'S NOT FUNNY AND SHE CAN'T ACT ON THE BIG OR LITTLE SCREEN. iF SHE HADN'T BEEN SOMEBODY'S CHILD WOULD SHE HAVE GOTTEN A SCREEN tEST.

By KoKoClark

Jennifer needs to just be Jennifer. None of us know this woman personally. We do know that from the outside looking in, she CAN act, doesn't appear to have a man, picks the same boring roles and she's utterly beautiful. I really hope she gets it together and gives the world a big ol' happy FU*CK U!!! Keep On Keeping On Ms. Aniston.

By KIDU

she is the besT

Thursday 26 August

By David Mahaffey

I think the biggest problems she has had to deal with are 1)the weak male co-srars she has been paired with. Vince Vaughn is a big YAWN. In Marley with Owen Wilson, the dog was the star and neither one stood a chance. 2)They try to write the script to revolve her personal life. Challenge her!!

By eksqzmi

The people have spoken three times already. Her movies are box office disasters because the movies she makes are all bad. She's been type cast for these roles because she doesn't have enough range as an actress. I personally even find her boring to watch in roles that are written for her. The only reason she's still in the limelight is because of the tabloids. Apparently film producers think that's enough for her to carry a movie. Maybe it will finally sink into their heads that it's not.

Her movies are box office disasters because the movies she makes are all bad. She's been type cast for these roles because she doesn't have enough range as an actress. I personally even find her boring to watch in roles that are written for her. The only reason she's still in the limelight is because of the tabloids. Apparently film producers think that's enough for her to carry a movie. Maybe it will finally sink into their heads that it's not.

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