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Do celebrity guest stars help or hurt a show? EW critic Ken Tucker answers reader questions
Do celebrity guest stars help or hurt a show? When used well, they can advance the plot, but they so often seem to be ratings ploys. --Heather Mroczkowski
I thought ''Friends'' used guest stars like Tom Selleck, Christina Applegate, and Brad Pitt in amusing ways that didn't distract too much from the series' regulars. On the other hand, take ''Will & Grace'' -- please. The first time they used Cher: fun. But too many of their celeb bookings seem like the ploys you deplore. Is anyone really pining to see Grace flaunt Jennifer Lopez (again) or Janet Jackson (yikes) in September?
(Got a TV-related question for Ken Tucker? Post it here.)
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