ReZoom

Hollywood's habit of tossing out actresses once they noticeably hit 40 has unintentionally provided a veritable back-alley jewelry store of seasoned (read: accomplished) talent, and alternative-broadcasting outlets on cable television are rediscovering these gems.

"Younger stars have always been a major part of primetime television, but things have become more balanced in the past 5-plus years," says industry analyst Bob Sassone, from TVSquad.com. He added the trend is likely fueled by the simple "fact that cable gives more options for more shows to be made."

Show Some Respect

Whatever trend this rediscovery turns into, the actors owe a lot to the blockbuster success of the HBO original series, "The Sopranos." That show's dazzling leading ladies Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano) and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi) proved priceless as they consistently overshadowed their younger counterparts on the show.

The cable monolith is trying to polish up another forgotten diamond in Jeanne Tripplehorn, who costars in the polygamist-themed dramatic comedy sleeper "Big Love," with fellow ReZoomer Bill Paxton. The show's second season began airing earlier in June.

Who Knew Polygamy Could Be Funny?

"Big Love" was controversial even before it aired.

A Golden Globe-nominee, Paxton, 51, plays the earnest polygamist protagonist of this non-traditional family opposite "First Wife" Tripplehorn. As improbable as the subject matter – a polygamist with three wives and families chasing the American Dream – seems for primetime fodder, so too is the improbability of the leading woman. At 43, Tripplehorn isn't on many directors' lists for sexy leading lady like she was in the ‘90s, following her sultry role as the weird cop psychiatrist in "Basic Instinct."

Despite starring in hits like "The Firm" and "Waterworld," Tripplehorn's career stagnated until 2005 with "Big Love."

With its ability to appeal to niche audiences, HBO is able to provide a space for her to grow, says Sassone.

At the opposite end of the cable spectrum is another program providing a venue for ReZooming actors, the Sci-Fi Channel's remake of the uber-cheesy 80's science fiction show "Battlestar Galactica."

Anchoring the basic-cable show are two actors with long distinguished careers: Mary McDonnell, 54, twice nominated for an Oscar, plays the embattled president, and 60-year-old Edward James Olmos, of "Miami Vice," "Blade Runner" and "Stand and Deliver" fame, plays military leader Admiral Adama.

The modern Galactica eschews traditional sci-fi gimmicks like rubber masks and kitsch green lasers. Instead it blazes unpopular trails, not the least of which is a budding romance between Olmos and McDonnell, two stars well past 50. Together they trek through controversial, topical subjects like the morality behind suicide bombings, wartime suppression of free speech and abortion.

Just as interesting is the fact that the show's majority of viewers are in the coveted 18-25 demographic. That goes a long way in proving that actors don't have to be kids, or act like kids, to appeal to them, says Sassone.

"It's a certainty that older actors will find more work," he says.

I Want to Believe

Meanwhile, "X-Files" hunk David Duchovny, 46, is set to star in a currently untitled comedy for Showtime about a self-destructive novelist, Hank Moody, raising a 13-year-old daughter while also pining for his ex-girlfriend.

The 12-episode series reunites Duchovny with Showtime president Robert Greenblatt, who was a Fox executive during the "X-Files" run.

Duchovny, again playing a rogue, showed a flair for comedy in a recurring role as himself on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show." The running joke was that he had a crush on Larry (Garry Shandling). His female fans might also remember him as the narrator of the late-night Showtime series, "Red Shoe Diaries," pet dog by his side.

His new series was created by former "Dawson's Creek" writer Tom Kapinos and co-stars Madeleine Martin as Hank's daughter and Natascha McElhone as his ex.

Toiling for years in the shadow of HBO, Showtime has been making a move of late, especially with Mary Louise Parker's award-winning role as a suburban widow and mom dealing pot in "Weeds."

One More for the Couch

And let's not forget that this summer Kyra Sedgwick is back on TNT with a new season of "The Closer" as the Southern belle deputy police chief who somehow thrives in Los Angeles. Surrounded by an award-winning cast, Sedgwick's character has grown alongside the show's popularity, pleasing critics and winning fans.

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