It's always a challenge for an actor to play a well-known part on TV and then to start over on a new show as someone entirely different. Audiences will always be tempted to see them as that first character, leading to typecasting and premature cancellations of new projects. However, recently, actors like Ray Romano have turned this theory on its head. After nine (nine!) seasons on Everybody Loves Raymond, he's deftly crafted a new persona on Men of a Certain Age that, for all intents and purposes, is the anti-Ray Barone. As the second season comes to a close tonight on TNT (and as we count down to the return of Breaking Bad), we take a look at other performers this summer who moved from a career-defining role to successfully portraying its polar opposite. (Yes, we know Sons of Anarchy isn't really a summer show, but we couldn't resist.)

Tags: Aaron Paul, Angels in America, Big Love, Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston, Charlie Hunnam, Everybody Loves Raymond, Justin Kirk, Katey Sagal, Malcolm in the Middle, Married with Children, Mary Louise Parker, Men of a Certain Age, Queer as Folk, Ray Romano, Sons of Anarchy, Weeds

Katey Sagal has really been blowing me away on Sons of Anarchy this season, and while I normally do not condone the waste of delicious potluck dinners, her move to silence her brawling husband and son with shattered glass and flying chicken wings (I think?) last night was one of the most breathtaking dinner interruptions I've ever seen (and I'm a regular Brothers & Sisters watcher). In support of the season, Gemma herself participated in a media call the other day wherein blogger types accused her husband of being a Hell's Angel. Other questions were asked as well! Read on for her answers.

Tags: Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy

It also makes me miss the California white trash I grew up amongst more than I thought anything ever would (Vallejo represent!), but that's neither here nor there. The series started out strong and, over the course of the first four episodes has really turned into a great show. Last week's episode was particularly exceptional, and if you've never watched Sons or maybe fell away from it after the pilot, I really recommend getting back into it with this one.

Tags: FX, Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy, Video