#credit order

[lol-jackles]

how can we, non actors, know if an actor was fired? when i googled 'misha collins fired' the only article came up was from tv line in 2011, gamble said misha wouldn't be a series regular in season 7. i couldn't find the rehired, promoted, and demoted stuff u mentioned for season 8, 9 or 12

Misha was listed as “special guest star” in season 7 & 8, that’s a demotion from his regular status in season 5 & 6.  In season 9 Misha was listed #3 in the credit order, signaling his promotion back to regular status.  A year later Mark Sheppard was also promoted to regular status.  Supernatural typically only have a maximum of 4 regulars, including the 2 leads.  Contracts for regulars are typically 3 years so Misha’s contract expired by end of season 11. In season 12, Mark Pelligino joined the cast as regular and Misha was booted down to #5 in the credit order (read: demotion) and his name in the opening credit was listed as “and Misha Collins”.

Now of couse minions will claim that having an “and” before the name is reserved for highly regarded actors in supporting roles.  Sure, that’s usually the case in films, but in television it’s mushy and it’s not unusual for the last biling to be given as a consolation prize.  For example, Golden Girls have 4 regulars; Betty, Bea, and Rue were established and highly respected actors while Estelle didn’t start acting until her fifties and has only done a few plays.  Holly Marie Combs was #2 in Charmed.  Then Rose McGovern was hired and took the #2 spot from Holly because Rose was more famous.  Rather than be visibly kicked down the list, Holly’s agent negociated the “and” credit to preserve appearance.  Estelle Getty, Holly Marie Combs, and Misha Collins are not “highly regarded actors” but they have pretty darn good agents to finangle the “and” credit.  (Btw, I totally don’t blame you for thinking “and introducing” is code for fucking the producer)

In season 13, Alexander Calvert joined the cast as the 4th regular.  Mark Sheppard opt not to return after his regular contract expired by end of season 12.  At conventions Misha admitted he didn’t know if he still has a job waiting for him in season 13.  That’s not a talk of someone with a regular contract, ya know? 

[existingcharactersdiehorribly]

There was yet another discussion about the appearance of Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy’s names in the Hannibal opening titles which inspired me to do some digging. 

Martha de Laurentiis has confirmed that the fact the names switch is contractual.  My eye is always drawn to the name on the upper right, for whatever reason, so that’s why I used that as a point of reference.

I imagine the layout is meant to both convey equal billing for the actors and the sense of the power struggle going on in the show, although I tend to agree there’s no alignment between how the names appear on the titles and who is “in control” in the episode.

Over the 39 episodes made for the three NBC seasons, Mads’ name appears above and to the right 20 times - 7 times each in S1 and S2, and Hugh’s 19 times. Season one is the only time there’s not a pure switch back and forth - Hugh’s stays above and to the right for 104 and 105, Mads’ then is on the top right for 106 and 107. 

Mads is on the top right for the season premiere and finale for S1 and S2, Hugh is for S3. 

There are only four variations - all 19 times that Hugh’s on the top right, both names appear laid out the same. 

There’s three variations on when Mads’ is in the top right. The unique Apéritif version, the season one version (used 6 times), and the season 2-3 version, used 13 times, where his name is still above Hugh’s, but by a smaller margin. 

Here’s a chart with the breakdown.