Somebody asks who "Who's Patrick Dempsey?" You will say, "He's on that show 'Grey's Anatomy'." Then if your friend says she doesn't watch that you'll say "He was in that movie 'Can't Buy Me Love'." Where did this preposition change start where sombody is in a movie but on a TV show?
2006-09-28 05:45:33 · 10 answers · asked by KenCosgrove 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
What the questioner is trying to say is that when people are referring to an actor/actress they say "in" a movie and "on" a tv show. I'm thinking "on" because the show is on tv and "in" because they are playing in a movie that will be "in" theaters. Sounds a little simple ,but that's what I'm thinking.
2006-09-28 05:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by Truly_Complexed 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you film a movie, the film is placed in a can and sent to the lab for development. All the efforts is "in" the can. In TV, the signal is broadcast through the air. The first broadcast were live when they were "on" the air. The TV shows are on the air.. It is just that "the air" has been dropped off of speech, as well as in the can. It is only used by people in the industry. On TV refers to to "on the airwaves" broadcast and "In the movies" is referring to the film that have been in the canisters.
2006-09-28 12:55:16 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand your question. It's a good question. The 'In' makes more sense than the 'on'. I mean, before TV, there were only stage productions. You would have said that you were "In" a play, or "In" the cast of characters.
Maybe we should change popular culture and start saying "Courtney Cox used to be in the show Friends." You, my friend, will be a trendsetter.
2006-09-28 13:04:26 · answer #3 · answered by Answer Schmancer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple answer is that a TV series is usually long running, and the actor is "on" the show. A movie is a one time deal, and the actor is "in" it.
2006-09-28 13:06:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone says that. I have heard and said myself that someone was "in" that show __________. Some people call tv shows movies. I could never explain that.
I see by reading some of your answers that several people didnt read the question thoroughly.
2006-09-28 12:59:32 · answer #5 · answered by J D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is just a guess -- I think on the olden days, most TV shows are live recording i.e. as being ON a set. I think it just stays from when people says that you are on a tv set...to now on a tv show.
2006-09-28 12:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by nebulaenova 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agree with emjay. On seems to apply to a larger category/format: "on" the big screen, "on" the TV show, "on" the stage. In seems to apply to a subset/event: "in" a movie, "in" an episode, "in" a production.
2006-09-28 12:56:48 · answer #7 · answered by David B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure what you are really trying to ask, but, an actor is an actor...whether it be on stage, on tv on the big screen.
2006-09-28 12:48:08 · answer #8 · answered by Emjay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a very good question. Maybe it's because we get more submersed in movies or maybe it's because we go in a movie theater to watch them.
2006-09-28 12:54:28 · answer #9 · answered by Ændru 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it helps there status as an actor or an actress
2006-09-28 12:47:41 · answer #10 · answered by princton_girl2222 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋