Skip to main content
The homepageVoxVox logo
The homepageVoxVox logo

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Dylan McDermott: The Nicolas Cage of television

by Emily St. James and Joe Posner

Nicolas Cage is the king of simultaneously intended and unintended hilarity in film. TV has it's campy, knockoff analog: Dylan McDermott. The above video is all you need to understand this phenomenon. But if you absolutely can't spare the 2 minutes, let's run through the basic points.

Nicolas Cage is a great actor, but he is a legend for his unintentional hilarity.

Not The Bees!

The Wicker Man (2006)

Cage really knows how to commit.

cage_bunnyBack.0.gif

Con Air (1997)

Dylan McDermott is filling a deep need for a campy, TV knockoff of this. Exhibit A:

dylanMcDermott_cryJerk.0.gif

American Horror Story (FX, 2011)

McDermott will add a certain pizzaz to any bad line.

dylanMcDermott_gotAdog.0.gif

American Horror Story (FX, 2011)

His show Stalker is terrible, and is trying to make him too serious. But there are still glimpses of amazing.

mcdermott lips

Stalker (CBS, 2014)

There’s only so much gifs can do here. Scroll up to watch the video.

See More:

Most Popular

  1. Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword
  2. Virginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymander
  3. We’re asking the wrong question about the hantavirus outbreak
  4. Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
  5. Are far-right politics just the new normal?

More in Video

Video
What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?
Play
Video

How The Lord of the Rings lore helps explain the mysterious tech company.

By Benjamin Stephen
America, Actually
The progressive plan to reclaim the working classThe progressive plan to reclaim the working class
Podcast
America, Actually

Progressive caucus chair Rep. Greg Casar on his movement’s new playbook.

By Astead Herndon
Video
The Department of Holy WarThe Department of Holy War
Play
Video

What Pete Hegseth’s fascination with the Crusades can tell us about the war in Iran.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?
Play
Video

A jury ruled Live Nation and Ticketmaster a monopoly, but what that means for ticket prices is not so simple.

By Frank Posillico
Eating the Ocean
Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?
Play
Eating the Ocean

America’s fishing paradox.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Why Americans can’t escape credit card debtWhy Americans can’t escape credit card debt
Play
Video

Credit card APRs are now as high as 20 percent.

By Frank Posillico