Conan O'Brien made a famous visit to Twitter headquarters recently, stopping by to take pictures of himself riding piggyback on small women, and at the end of his visit he left a note saying, "Twitter -- Thanks for saving my ass. Your friend, Conan." Though I'm pretty sure it was actually Leno backlash and a discovery of stand-up that saved Conan, he brings up a salient point: Twitter can rejuvenate you. In that case, let's not forget a few TV stars Twitter really did save, the tube presences who found new life and a greater following in 140 characters. We picked our favorite five stars for your RT-able pleasure and listed two new qualities we've learned about each of them through Twitter.
Soleil Moon Frye: @moonfrye
Famous for: Punky Brewster
Punky power can get ghetto
"http://twitvid.com/S2A8W - In case U missed it. Here I am going back getting down to some old school! Its o.k to laugh"
Exhilarated from motherhood
"Oh boy, my 4 year old discovered the joy of bright pink press on nails!"
Danny Devito: @dannydevito
Famous for: Taxi, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Workplace zeal
"'Home.30 mins in bed with charlie,he spilled my pennies, our backs went out he proposed then smashed me with a two by four... love this gig!"
Down with the kids
"I get my nipple tweak on Monday! (First day of shooting Season 6) Going mid evil on yo asses this year!"
Frankie Muniz: @frankiemuniz
Famous for: Malcolm in the Middle
Snarker
"Who needs TV or movies for entertainment when you have Michael Lohan on @TMZ !! 'Bloodshot eyes and make-up all over her face...'"
Kirstie enabler
"Come on @kirstiealley , not all guys do that... Okay, all guys do that. (In response to this.)"
LeVar Burton: @levarburton
Famous for: Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reading Rainbow
Droll observational skills
"When you listen to what they say, Spock and the Dalai Lama sound very much alike!"
Pop culture awareness
"Wondering why I don't have a gi-normous THE SOUP coffe cup like @RichSommer? Looking at YOU @JoelMcHale!!!"
Marlee Matlin: @marleematlin
Famous for: The L Word, The West Wing, an Oscar-winning performance in Children of a Lesser God, the memoir I'll Scream Later
Joie de vivre!
"At the dentist..so glad I'm deaf. I can only imagine what that drill sounds like!!! :)"
Candor
"When I got nominated for an Oscar I was in rehab. They asked for a comment (not knowing where I was) I said 'I'll Scream Later.'"