Memorable Moments: Chemistry Isn't About Age

Chemistry plays a powerful role in pairing up couples on television. Did Last Man Standing producers always see Kyle and Maddy together or did the pairing became more obvious, the more the characters spent time together on the same screen?

Chemistry doesn't automatically have to be romantic--and it doesn't automatically have to be between people of the same age. 

On Law & Order, Mike, played by Chris Noth, often has conversations with women that involve a little flirtation--in a completely unplanned way since Chris Noth has charisma and sex appeal oozing out of his pores. One of my favorites with a woman his age takes place in "Skin Deep." The woman, a model, explains her views on the murder. Mike stands beside her and nods sagely at Detective Cerreta, played by Paul Sorvino. 

Phyllis Somerville plays the nurse.

Another occurs in "Blood is Thicker" when Mike asks a high society older woman (mother of the murderer) about a racket he found in the closet. It's a total non sequitur, and she answers him absently.

My absolute favorite occurs in a powerful episode, "Heaven" in Season 2. Mike and Cerreta visit the hospital. As he is leaving, Mike turns to the head nurse.

"You were great," he says, then asks her to contact him if anyone comes in with burns in the next few days who behaves suspiciously. 

She immediately catches on to his purpose and agrees. And she follows through! 

It's a great moment of rapport between actors, chemistry giving the scene a little punch.

Timothy Hutton and Debra Monk have this rapport in the A&E Nero Wolfe series.