Open Request to the Producers of “Castle”

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Dear sirs:

Time to get serious. You’ve had a half dozen or so great in-joke winks to “Firefly” (including, most notably, the Halloween episode that had Nathan Fillion back in Mal’s outfit) but now it’s time to take it to the next level.

You need to start casting other actors from “Firefly” in “Castle.”

You need a new guy in charge of the squad room. Bring in Ron Glass. Hëll, call him “Harris” so we can have a “Barney Miller” connection as well. Alan Tudyk as a college buddy suspected of killing a friend with a bow and arrow (since he’s voicing Green Arrow in “Young justice”). Adam Baldwin as a homeless guy wearing that funky knit cap while eating a Subway sandwich. Jewel Staite as a mechanic. Morena Baccarin as a former love interest from another country seeking a green card because she’s (wait for it) an illegal alien. Gina Torres as an army sergeant. Sean Maher as a Doctor. Summer Glau as an actress whose shows keep getting canceled. And Mark Sheppard (who was the recurring character “Badger”) because apparently a law was passed dictating that Mark Sheppard has to show up at some point in every dámņëd TV show I watch regularly. “Doctor Who,” “Supernatural,” “Burn Notice,” “Warehouse 13,” “Leverage.” He’s all over the place.

Oh, and have Joss Whedon write and direct an episode. Because we need an episode with crackling, snappy and yet occasionally oddly phrased dialogue and at least one three minute walk-and-talk with no cutaways. Plus we’ll get a scene where Castle’s teenager daughter kicks ášš with a balletic form of kung fu.

Please get right on this. Thank you.

PAD

99 comments on “Open Request to the Producers of “Castle””

  1. Well, there has already been a indirect Firefly connection: Robert Picardo (who appeared alongside Jewell Staite in Stargete: Atlantis) has made an appearance in an episode or two. It’s a start.

  2. Part of me can’t help but think even more amusing would be to have Adam Baldwin show up playing more the John Casey-type than Jayne Cobb….

    1. Don’t need it. The Subway sandwich is the nod to “Chuck.”
      .
      Although–interesting. John Casey. Jayne Cobb. Seems to specialize in playing bad áššëš with the initial JC. So maybe on “Castle” he plays someone who thinks he’s Jesus Christ, kicking ášš and taking names.
      .
      PAD

      1. or even better…adam baldwin plays castle’s long lost cousin, john castle (jc) who is ex-cia and now a private investigator and was the inspiration for derrick storm.

      2. That’s a great way to go. Especially (from a meta point of view) when you remember that the CIA HQ in “Chuck” is called Castle.
        .
        PAD

      3. If , or should i say …When Baldwin is cast to guest star on Castle it would call for them to cast him against type. The perfect role to do just that would be as Castle’s Department ordered neurotic, self loathing shrink .
        You all want me to close the box lid while im out here?

      4. I dunno; if you REALLY want to go against type, you cast him as a fictionalized Tim Gunn who’s accused of beating a rival to death except he’s never so much as struck another human being in his life.
        .
        PAD

      6. If the writers of Castle (and for that matter Chuck) don’t have at least some of these ideas rattling around in their heads, I would be very suprised.
        I’m not sure which would be more exciting though- rattan’s idea, Steve’s or your PAD…. Although, if they wanted to bring the crazy, they could do all three and have Baldwin play 3 separate characters in completely separate episodes…..

    2. honestly there are alot of similarities between Casey and Jayne. When I saw Adam Baldwin on Chuck, my first thought was’ “Oh my god. It’s Jayne…but infused with some government secret that somehow made him MORE B.A.”

  3. I heartily endorse the nomination of Ron Glass for the new Captain.

  4. Another idea, Alan Tudyk plays a writer/director who was going to write and direct a movie adaption of a popular female super-heroine…let’s say…Isis. until the studio lets him go. Cursing their inevitable betrayal he vows bloody vengeance only to be found impaled on the set.

    1. Or perhaps Tudyk’s character has something that Castle wants, and Castle has something that Tudyk’s character has. They agree to swap, one for one, and Castle says, “We’ll call it a wash.” And Tudyk says, “What did you call me?” “Not you. It. The deal. A wash.” “Oh.”
      .
      PAD

      1. Hëll with it, why not make him a paranoid schizophrenic named “Al”? 🙂

  5. I’m pretty sure they work out of the 12th precinct in Castle, don’t they? Just like Barney Miller.

    1. They do. I’ve been wanting the whole surviving cast of “Barney Miller” to show up. Plus, Harris was a writer. It would be good to see him and Castle exchanging ideas, or Harris jealous of Castle’s greater success.

    2. They do. I’ve been wanting to see the whole surviving cast of “Barney Miller” show up. Remember, Harris was a writer, too. Maybe he could be jealous of Castle’s greater success.

  6. This is possibly the best idea in the history of ideas. I am behind this 100%.

  7. Michael Fairman (Niska) as a potential boyfriend for Castle’s mother. Rick can’t put his finger on it but there’s something about the guy he just… doesn’t…. like.

    And of course Christina Hendricks as Saffie Lassiter, Career Criminal.

  8. Could we have Mark Shepard’s father play his character’s father, as a nice change of pace from Morgan playing older versions of Mark?

    I would love to see Ron Glass as the new captain.

    1. Mark Sheppard’s dad actually just played the older version of his son’s character, on the season six premiere of Doctor Who. 🙂

      1. Which was why I mentioned it! 🙂 They also did the two versions of the same character on NCIS, as a guy who interrogated/tortured Ducky.

  9. Hëll, if the producers love Firefly so much, why don’t they pester Fox for the rights and, the other half of the year when they’re not making Castle, make some more Firefly?

    It’s all well and good to have the community on board, the cast on board, the writers, the crew… but without producers and investors, there is no money and no show. Fox have no love from any of these people and it’s a IP that’s just going to rot in their pockets. They might as well flog it to people who will do something with it.

    The community would love to drive this, but it’s producers who have the money, or the ear of those who do, so they’re the ones who should be picking up the ball on this. I understand why Joss and others are reluctant to take the helm on this, but one person needs to stand up and lead the charge, and that has to be a person who can make it happen.

    1. @Danikov, I’ve heard from somewhere Nathan would like to get hold to the rights to “Firefly” and bring it back with new episodes.

      1. He was kidding. Once a grassroots campaign to actually put together the money to do it, he squashed it pretty quickly.
        .
        –Daryl

  10. This is brilliant. However, you missed another sci-fi show that Mark Sheppard was in…the late, great, MIDDLEMAN!

  11. I like these ideas. I have no new ones to offer but think that if they do any of them they have to be really subtle so that only the Firefly fans will get the joke!

  13. Perhaps they could we have a felon represented by the company Fury, Minear & Espenson;

    Or even:

    “How many times have you been married, Castle?”

    “Once. Well, twice if you count that time I woke up with a redhead after a particularly heavy night’s drinking, but I’m pretty sure that didn’t count..!”

  14. One of the reasons I’m disappointed that Running Wilde wasn’t stronger/lasted was because Hurwitz wanted to have all the leads of Arrested Development guest star on RW and eventually get them all on the show as a cast reunion. He managed to get three of the actors in just the first thirteen episodes; imagine how much more Castle can do since it’s actually getting strong ratings.

  16. Gawds, enough already! Firefly is amazing, okay? We can all agree that it was one of the best shows there has ever been, period. But enough with all the “let’s remake Firefly” bull. It’s not going to happen. Joss and the whole creative team would need to get back together, and Joss has said that’s not going to happen.

    Reusing the actors from Firefly in shows is so disrespectful to the actors. Jewel as a mechanic? Really? That’s the best you can come up with for her? Even Joss, who already re-used Nathan and Gina in Buffy and Angel, came up with better ideas than just a rehash of their old characters.

    Firefly was brilliant. The most amazing thing I have ever had the privilege to watch. But let’s not try and recreate it. You do a disservice to the actors and the show. The actors have their own careers to lead. Being known as one character for your whole career would suck. These actors are far too good for that.

    1. Actually only one person in this entire discussion has brought up reviving “Firefly.” In fact, virtually all of the casting gags don’t simply repeat the actors’ “Firefly” roles, but also tie in other series they’ve done. The whole point of the post was to blend previous roles with their “Firefly” persona, just as “Castle” has blended Rick with Mal.
      .
      And don’t talk to me about “the best you can come up with for” Jewel. I cast her as an engineering genius on a space ship ten years BEFORE “Firefly,” when Bill Mumy and I were doing “Space Cases” for Nickelodeon. You don’t see me claiming that Kaylee was a “rehash” of Catalina.
      .
      We’re just having some fun meta speculation. So kindly bring the righteous indignation down a few notches, if you wouldn’t mind.
      .
      PAD

  17. It would be doubly great to have Ron Glass as the new captain, as Castle happens at the 12th Precinct, which was also the setting for Barney Miller. If the producers could somehow manage a full-on transfer of the Ron Harris character (as L&O:SVU did with John Munch) that would be extra sweet.

    1. Speaking of John Munch, since the SVU people seem to have forgotten he’s in their cast, maybe he could make a cameo on CASTLE to further extend his record of appearances on different shows. 😉

      But I like the Ron Glass idea best of all. And anything that gets those folks back on TV is fine by me.

      1. Munch could move from Homicide to SVU because both shows were on NBC and they had even done Crossovers between Homicide and the main L&O. Munch was in at least one of those. Castle isn’t on NBC, so I’d guess the odds of Munch showing up there about as high as the Zombie apocalypse.
        .
        On a related note, there’s a British procedural called Luther that was on last year. In one of the episodes they need info on an American suspect quickly and Luther tells one of his underlings to call the NYPD SVU and ask for John Munch! How’s that for a nod/swipe?

      2. Homicide to SVU isn’t the only Munch crossover, though, David.
        .
        On the X-Files episode “The Unusual Suspects,” the story flashes back to how Mulder first met the Lone Gunmen. They were in Baltimore, all arrested and interviewed by Belzer as Munch. NBC to Fox in that case.
        .
        –Daryl

      3. Munch has actually been on ten different TV series, on five different networks.

      4. Not to mention he was also in “A Very Brady Sequel.” That was hysterical, because every time the camera was on Mr. Brady, it was stable; every time it was on Munch, it was in constant motion.
        .
        PAD

  19. What if they have a homicide that leads them to Atlanta during Labor Day weekend? Dragon*Con here we come!!!

    1. Yes…again…as I said upthread…I was limiting the Sheppard references to shows that are currently in production since I said they’re programs “I watch.”
      .
      PAD

  23. Peter, the idea is brilliant. Is there a chance we could get Chewie Ejiofor as a hostile FBI agent, and maybe David Krumholz as a twitchy communications analyst?

    1. .
      “Is there a chance we could get Chewie Ejiofor as a hostile FBI agent…”
      .
      As a cross dressing hostile FBI agent. Hey, why not go for broke on the odd film refs.

      1. Hëll yes, Jerry! It’d work for me. He’s got to have the boots, too.

  24. Instead of casting actors from Firefly onto Castle, why doesn’t the ABC Network re-introduce Firefly [but into primetime]? We can have Nathan Fillion on Monday nites as well as another nite of the week [Friday’s at 9?].

    Oh, and I want to see Stana Katic guest star on Firefly…this would be sweet!

  25. I’m probably the only one who noticed that the supporting actors who play the detectives in the squad room remind me of Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf.

    I especially enjoyed Ron Glass’s appearance on The New Twilight Zone with Sherman Hemsley as a professor who suffers a slip of the tongue, and inadvertantly offers his soul for the solution of his mathematical problem.

    1. I guarantee that YOU are the only one who noticed that the supporting actors who play the detectives in the squad room remind YOU of Rimmer and Lister from Red Dwarf. All of humanity is indebted to you. Well done sir. Well done.

      I’m sorry. I’m drunk. Sarcasto-me couldn’t resist. I’ll self flagellate tomorrow.

    2. I especially enjoyed Ron Glass’s appearance on The New Twilight Zone with Sherman Hemsley as a professor who suffers a slip of the tongue, and inadvertantly offers his soul for the solution of his mathematical problem.
      .
      Heh.
      .
      “Get Lost.”
      .
      TAC

      2. Travis said “especially enjoyed Ron Glass’s appearance on The New Twilight Zone with Sherman Hemsley as a professor who suffers a slip of the tongue, and inadvertantly offers his soul for the solution of his mathematical problem.”
        .
        Loved that ep. Especially enjoyed how the messages on Ron’s T-shirts kept changing.

  26. Is it wrong that I want Jon Huerta’s character to reveal that he made money in college by taking his clothes off?

    (His claim to fame was a season of MTV’s Undressed)

  27. Is it possible that Mark Sheppard is actually a Cylon, and that a different Mark Sheppard appears in each show?

  28. Speaking of Nathan Fillion, for about a week or two, i really, truelly, honestly thought he was going to star in the title role of the upcoming “Green Lantern” movie. As it turns out, it was nothing more then a fan edit video. I wont post the link becuase I think it’s tacky to use PD’s forum to advertice a Youtube video (but it’s not that hard to find if you look for it). What I will say is this, no matter how good or bad the GL movie is, it would have been better with NF…;)

    1. He’s a bit old for the part, and it’s never been my experience that he can act all that well. Not that Reynolds is the ideal choice, but I prefer him to Fillion, whom I can never really take seriously as an actor.

    2. If it makes you feel any better, he’s doing Hal Jordan’s voice for another DC animated movie. It would be nice to have one of those go to the big screen again some day.

  29. How about:

    Christina Hendricks as a high-powered advertising executive who ends up being a serial killer of Type-A personality men?

    Morena Baccarin as a crime-scene witness who Castle is attracted toward but eventually finds out she’s not exactly who he thinks she is (ala her role as “Carmen” in the unaired pilot for “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”)?

    Alan Tudyk playing a cameo role as a “sexy robot” in a video at a pørņ site the detectives uncover called “Pørņ for Geeks” (aka PG Pørņ)? Castle could then say he’s “familiar with that web site…for research purposes only”…

  30. I prefer the subtle nods. I like the little meta surreality they have going on in Castle – I like that it’s a separate show. I like that Castle will mention “looks like Buffy’s visited the Big Apple” – it’s a subtle nod to Joss, Buffy and Fillion’s fans themselves.

    A guest star might be fun, but having such blatant connects as having Jewel Staite as a mechanic seems like a gimmick they would use to try to draw in viewers. How many other exciting roles could they come up with for Jewel? It seems like a cry from the show that they don’t think they’re good enough so they have to draw off the other show just to make viewers watch.

    The subtle kisses to the show is lovely – and I want them to keep putting them in. But I don’t want to be slapped in the face with constant reminders that Firefly is gone.

    1. It’s called stunt casting, Sunday, and you get it during sweeps about three or four times a year. Done well, it’s a delight. Done badly, it makes you cringe. It usually makes me cringe.

  32. Loving the Firefly and Barney Miller mashup. Such a shame that Steve Landesberg won’t be making it but at least we could have a character named Dietrich in his honour.

    One of the most delightful qualities of Castle is its sly self-deprecating referencing of pop culture. I can totally see the makers loving this idea.

  33. This is brilliant. Do it do it.

    Except – just leave me some room to breathe – can we not bring Morena into it? My favourite ever couple randomly being in a show with my second favourite ever couple will just completely do my head it and it will be messy.

  34. Yeahhhh but NOT LET write an Episode… Or someone will die…. knowing him, he will kill somone in a happy relationship! So Lanie or Esposito! BUT YEAH MARK SHEPPARD ON CASTLE!!!!!!!

  35. As much as I am enjoying all the ideas thrown into this thread, I can’t stop wondering if, had internet been avaliable during PAD’s youth, he would have developed a writing career or he would have devoted his life to fan fiction and forums. It’s with posts like this one when I realize why PAD is so good at explaining topics of the trade to fans… because he is SUCH a fanboy.
    .
    I absolutely loved Firefly but as time passes, the prospect of a remake or a relaunch is less and less atractive to me, expectations beign too high and all. But I love how N.Fillion often gestures to the browncoat crowd in Castle and his twitter. Now, what I hope to see somewhere in the future is a Dr.Horrible DVD, film or even theatrical show. And Wheddon beign Wheddon, more people form firefly’s cast might probably show up there.
    .
    Off Topic: speaking of meta fun… how comes there is so little buzz about community? From where I stand, its consistently the best comedy out there and constantly redefines meta. But it seems to atract little attention from american fans and critics, and some of it (gasp!) very negative.

    1. I watched the pilot of Community, and it didn’t do much for me, so I didn’t keep watching. Then I heard that it got much better, so I watched it one night (the one where they’re all looking for a pencil the entire episode), and I thought it was poorly written and acted, so I haven’t watched it since.

  36. Some amazing, incredible ideas here! I would LOVE to see Ron Glass as the new Cap’n, Alan, Adam, Summer, Jewel all make at least cameos, maybe a recurring role or 2? Regardless, I love Nathan’s current references…Did everyone catch the “hands of blue” gesture? The “I was aiming for his head” quote? His reaction when his mother asked if he’d ever heard of “Serenity”…Love it…

  37. Y’know, my wife & I were trying to figure out a Firefly cast member to fill the role of Montgomery’s replacement, and Ron Glass didn’t even occur to us. We were thinking Gina Torres, since she played that sort of role on the short-lived Ron Livingston hostage negotiator show…whatever it was called. Ron Glass would be an awesome, choice, though.
    .
    I’d love to see Joss write and/or direct an episode, but seeing him do so would sadden me a bit…it would indicate that he’s not a fan of the series. After directing the “Dream On” episode of Glee last season, he said in an interview that he was done writing and directing for show’s he’s a fan of (as just a viewer, that is)…it meant learning too many spoilers before they hit the air.
    .
    –Daryl

    1. Also, maybe worth noting…Jewel has been jokingly asking Fillion to get her an appearance on Castle via Twitter for a while.
      .
      She also mentioned Catalina a few weeks ago, PAD. Someone posted a pic of her as Catalina, saying, “Look what I found.” She replied, “Laugh all you want. That rainbow wig bought me a lot of Barbies.”
      .
      –Daryl

    2. That wouldn’t necessarily be the case with “Castle.” Most episodes exist more or less in a self-contained. The only really major continuing thread is/was the death of Beckett’s mother, and in a typical episode that plays no more of a factor than the death of Trudy on “Monk.”.
      .
      PAD

      1. True enough. The big reveal in “Dream On” wasn’t part of a continuing storyline, either, though. The impression I got was that, in getting him updated on what the status quo would be by that point, he had more info than he would have liked to have as just a viewer.
        .
        I could be wrong though. Wouldn’t be the first time.
        .
        –Daryl

  38. Yes please!!!! I totally agree! We have played around enough with the Firefly jokes and it’s time to get serious 😀 Between the jokes on Castle, Big Bang Theory, Community and Chuck (which I LOVE) I have been having serious Firefly withdrawals! Love the Subway reference too, btw.

  39. Here’s an interesting spin that no one thought of about the firefly cast. Have the whole crew make a cameo as one episode. Ron, Adam, Gina, Alan, Morena and Jewel as a crew of Astronauts on liberty to the NYC who are suspected of murder. Sean and Summer can be from nasa trying to get them back in time for the launch. The interrigation scene from Bushwhacked on Firefly was fantastic. I think Joss would like to write and direct an episode like that. They could also have a “behind the scene video” to add to the DVD/BR. I bet every Firefly fan would buy that season just for special features like that!

    1. And an even bigger one if they brought in James Marsters. (Get it?? Oh, never mind….)

      1. Not a Castle reference, but…
        .
        On the pilot of the Hawaii Five-O reboot, the Marsters and Mclaughlin squared off, and I couldn’t helpt but chuckle at the thought that both played vapires (though from 2 diff vampire universes).

  42. RE: Nods to Firefly in Castle eps:

    There was also the episode where one of the villains spoke Chinese, Castle answered back in Chinese, and Becket asked Castle where he learned it, from research or something? He responded with a quip “from some old TV show” – a nod to Firefly no doubt. There have been many, many references… and all of us Firefly fans love them, they’re like inside jokes 🙂 I just wish Firefly was given the chance it deserved… IMHO it would have received more than just a “cult” following had it been shown on the Syfy channel instead of FOX (who made that crap decision???)

  44. Surely Joss would have to be one of the card players Rick discusses his plots – both real and fictional- with.

    1. Joss isn’t a mystery writer, so that wouldn’t happen.
      .
      I thought the salute they did to Cannell was wonderfully moving, though. “That’s Cannell’s chair. Nobody sits there for a year.” And then the slow push in on the empty chair.
      .
      PAD

  45. The idea is great (Especially JW directing) But why not stay with the ingenuity of both stories – Summer would be the Psychiatrist who treats the entire team after the trauma of the Captain’s death. Baldwin must be the Alexis’ professor in Astrophysics. Definitely Glass has to reprise his role of Harris only BOB has never been published and he tends to leave gifts for Castle to get him to read it. Mr Universe can be the brother of FBI agent in the Forensics Accounting Division…any of this sounding cool. Oh Saffron has to be the new captain.

    1. The fun part is gonna be prying Saffron away from her better paycheck; Christina Hendricks is one of the best reasons to watch Mad Men, imho, as she’s not only smokin’ hot but can act, too.

  46. I’ve been waiting for Jessica Fletcher to turn up as a visiting author.

    1. Then maybe she’d finally be revealed as the serial killer she really is.
      .
      –Daryl

  47. If we can get Jewell Staite, why not go al the way and set an episode in a school where all the teachers are played by the cast of Space Cases? I’d like to see that.

    On the other hand, that would be too much of stunt casting. Diagnosis Murder was guilty of that quite a few times (spy actors in an episode about spies, cop show actors for an episode about cops, Star Trek actors in an episode about UFOs). Frankly, it would be like having Teri Hatcher playing Lois’s mother in Smallville.

    What’s that you say?

    They did? Oh, never mind then.

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