On opening credits - "and [actor] as [character]"...?

[anonymous-user]

Does anyone know why TV programmes have this on the credits?

E.g. in Hustle we see "and Robert Vaughn as Albert Stroller".

I've noticed it mostly where the show has opening, rather than closing, credits.

Just strikes me as odd - must be some reason for it?

[JustinP1]

Vanity.

Contracts.

And a perk that can be supplied for free.

[Talksteer]

Nyphur said:

Does anyone know why TV programmes have this on the credits?

E.g. in Hustle we see "and Robert Vaughn as Albert Stroller".

I've noticed it mostly where the show has opening, rather than closing, credits.

Just strikes me as odd - must be some reason for it?

Its just the standard format.

Biggest star
Third biggest star
Stars in decreasing order
and Second biggest star (or most famous/oldest actor in cast who isn't in the largest role) as character X
Guest star

I suspect its just a way of finishing the opening acting credits on a high point.

Battlestar Galactica eventually ended up taking the piss when they started they had one "and" actor but as they started picking up more cast members there was eventually about 10 of them.

[anonymous-user]

Talksteer said:

Its just the standard format.

I've noticed - was hoping there was some "historical" reason why.
Seems not.

Thanks for the replies

[bobthemonkey]

Nyphur said:

Talksteer said:

Its just the standard format.

I've noticed - was hoping there was some "historical" reason why.
Seems not.

Thanks for the replies

Probably found deep inside the incomprehensible workings of the LA film unions.

[ajprice]

I don't mind an And or Guest Starring. Never ending credits is what gets me. Heroes is a good example - short recap, episode name subtitle and a few minutes of show with credits on screen, then the intro sequence, more credits, you're probably 10 minutes into the show by the time the credits stop. I wouldn't be surprised if they show it in America with an advert break in the credits somewhere .

[hornetrider]

ajprice said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they show it in America with an advert break in the credits somewhere

You're not wrong. When watching TV when I was last in the states, you'd have the opening credits then straight into an ad break. Bizarre.