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Oh you are so bad . . . characters we love to hate
I have to confess that when Ben sauntered by a flabbergasted Sawyer and Hurley at the very end of Lost this week, there was a little part of me that was a little proud of him. As the show seems to be building to a showdown between Ben and the Not Penny’s Boat/Actually Penny’s Father’s Boat people, I think I may find myself rooting for Ben.
Ben is one of those great television baddie – the kind you love to hate. Michael Emerson's calm, eerie portrayal propels his character above the standard villain fare.
Here are some of my favorites:
Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) and Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald) on 24: As we saw with the lame sixth season of the series, this is a show lives and dies by its villains. Boring villain, boring season. Clarke and Jerald were deliciously evil.
Luther Mahoney (Erik Dellums) on Homicide: Life on the Streets: One of my all time favorite television performances. I can still remember Dellums’ scenes so vividly and still get chills thinking about his portayal of ruthless drug lord Luther Mahoney.
Miles Drentell (David Clennon) on thirtysomething: His character was so compelling that years later Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick had Clennon recreate the role on Once & Again.
Who are some of your favorite television villains? Remember I’m not talking about dastardly lead characters like Tony Soprano (The Sopranos) or Patty Hewes (Damages), I’m talking about the characters who are actually set up to be the villains.Talk about them below.
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Quotes of the Week
"You took to your bed for three days when Melinda Doolittle got kicked off Idol." Richard to Christine on The New Adventures of Old Christine.
"I’m still having issues with your massive lack of personality." Simon to Kady Malloy on American Idol. See, I told you not to believe the hype that the judges are nicer this year.
"It’s very stressful being an Other, Jack." Julie to Jack on Lost.
"The town’s about a block long, Veronica Mars." Eli to Maggie on Eli Stone. Julie Gonzalo played Parker on Veronica Mars and is Maggie on Eli Stone. Thanks to Darren who was the first to submit this week’s most popular quote.
That’s all for today. I’m back next week with a review of Canterbury’s Law, thoughts on the season finale of October Road, Pete’s return to Smallville, familiar faces (Tommy Gavin’s wife is not nice), and more. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week or a topic for discussion? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a great weekend. Talk to you on Monday.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
I find myself rooting for Ben too. Michael Emerson needs to win an Emmy for his portrayal of Ben because it is absolutely brilliant. It blends this perfect balance of super creepy genius and sad feeling. Last night when he said that the children would stop asking about their mother in time, there was a realization that Ben has no concept of innocence because he probably had none as a child either thanks to his dad. The writers seem to give the best lines and made Ben into a great character.
Brittany | Mar 7, 2008 1:14:52 PM | #No list of 'characters we love to hate' would be complete without The Cigarette Smoking Man from The X-Files
Jim | Mar 7, 2008 1:15:14 PM | #Even better, a X-Files character that we love to hate would have to be the infamous Alex Krycek. At times, tries to be a good guy but deep down he was always the rat boy.
Marisa | Mar 7, 2008 1:23:24 PM | #I'm shocked Amy left off any of the Buffy villains! But I understand because it's hard to choose just one.
Cody | Mar 7, 2008 1:41:04 PM | #I'm no fan of Ben's. In fact, during last night's show I told my husband that nothing would make me happier than to have the last episode of Lost feature Jack killing Ben. I hate the way he manipulates everyone. Ugh!
Donna | Mar 7, 2008 1:43:03 PM | #What? No Anna Espinosa or fake Francie from "Alias"? No Antwon Mitchell from "The Shield"?
No T-Bag from "Prison Break?"
Come on!
Ben for sure. He's just great.
Some other memorable villains for me have been:
- Sylar on Heroes
- Wentworth Miller (faux Satan) on Joan of Arcadia
- Real Satan on Reaper
- Spike and Angelus from Buffy and Buffy/Angel
- T-Bag on Prison Break
- The Cabal & Smoking Man from X-Files
- The Dominion on Star Trek: DS9
- Anubis on Stargate SG:1
- Newman from Seinfeld
I'm sure there's more, but that's top of my head.
Sean | Mar 7, 2008 2:02:15 PM | #Gul Dukat on Star Trek: DS9. Can't exclude him.
Sean | Mar 7, 2008 2:03:21 PM | #My fave villain on TV right now is Marlo on the Wire (Spoiler warning: if you watch, but are not caught up). Oh you scuzzy bastard... how does he keep getting away with everything? First Prop Joe, then Butchie (that broke my heart), I have never wanted a character on this show to get it so badly as Marlo. I was so sure Omar would be the one, and yes, I'm finding a way to blame that on Marlo too... Omar wouldn't even have been in Baltimore if not for Butchie's death and revenge. No code, no honour, just greed. Marlo, you'd better fall by the end...
K | Mar 7, 2008 2:04:03 PM | #As for Buffy villains, my fave is easy. The Mayor was so likable at the same time he was so detestable. How can you hate someone who wants to play mini-golf and go for ice cream? Oh right, cause he's also trying to ascend to pure demon form and kill everyone in sight. I guess his love for the Family Circus should have been a warning flag (I think I need to go rewatch season 3... so good!).
K | Mar 7, 2008 2:07:37 PM | #Jonah Malloy (David Paymer) on the canceled-way-too-soon Line of Fire. He made that show great.
Kelly | Mar 7, 2008 2:16:31 PM | #I agree with the poster who said they are no fan of Ben's. Every week I keep wondering how it is no one wound up killing him while he was on the island. During Juliet's flashback when he took her to Goodwin's body and he screamed how she's his. Ugh -- so creepy!
Michelle | Mar 7, 2008 3:12:39 PM | #JR Ewing is the proto type for the villian with the great line. He defined ruthlessness for all that came later.
I know he became the lead but he was designed as part of a group.
Totally agree with Nina Myers. She was the ultimate baddie from '24' - back when it was irrefutably brilliant.
Ben, too, is one of those once in a lifetime vilians who is so very compelling.
I wanna give a shout to 'Dr. Robert Kelso' of "Scrubs". In the first few seasons, he really was a bad-guy - he had human moments but they weren't too frequent and therefore remained significant. Ken Jenkins is a comic god and that must be why I've always loved his 'Kelso'.
Zach | Mar 7, 2008 3:29:32 PM | #Totally agree with Nina Myers. She was the ultimate baddie from '24' - back when it was irrefutably brilliant.
Ben, too, is one of those once in a lifetime vilians who is so very compelling.
I wanna give a shout to 'Dr. Robert Kelso' of "Scrubs". In the first few seasons, he really was a bad-guy - he had human moments but they weren't too frequent and therefore remained significant. Ken Jenkins is a comic god and that must be why I've always loved his 'Kelso'.
Zach | Mar 7, 2008 3:29:35 PM | #Irina Derevko, Alias was the absolute best. You could never fully figure out her allegiance.
Other greats -
Mr. Sark, Alias
Nina Myers, 24
Braniac, Smallville
Wilhelmina Slater, Ugly Betty
Best female villians -
Donna Mills as Abbey on Knots Landing; Joan Collins as Alexis on Dynasty; Jayne Wyman as Angela Channing on Falcon Crest; Heather Locklear as Amanda on Melrose Place; Shannon Doherty as Brenda on 90210 (mostly kidding about that one).
Totally love villains...they drive the story. Unfortunately, tv doesn't generally lend itself to long-running villains that much, usually one-shot bad guys who get taken out.
Some of my favorites, all time:
1. Dr. Smith [Jonathan Harris]on Lost in Space.
2. Jane Badham on V.
3. Glory / Glorificus on Season Five of Buffy.
4. Cole / "The Source" on Charmed
5.
Totally love villains...they drive the story. Unfortunately, tv doesn't generally lend itself to long-running villains that much, usually one-shot bad guys who get taken out.
Some of my favorites, all time:
1. Dr. Smith [Jonathan Harris]on Lost in Space.
2. Jane Badham on V.
3. Glory / Glorificus on Season Five of Buffy.
4. Cole / "The Source" on Charmed
5.
5.Khan [Ricaro Montalban] on Star Trek "Space Seed".
Cass | Mar 7, 2008 4:36:10 PM | #6. Spencer Pratt on The Hills.
7. Azazeal [Michael Fasbender]on HEX.
8. Theo [Kimberly Hawthorne] on Jeremiah.
9. Adria [Morena Baccarin] on Stargate SG-1.
THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE... TV JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT MANY GREAT REGULAR VILLAINS.
I thought about Barry Morse as Lt. Gerard on The fugitive, but ....not so much.
Same for John Colicos as the original Gaius Baltar.
Bad guys but not all that.
My favorite villians:
Garret Dillahunt as Francis Wolcott, Deadwood
The Borg, Star Trek TNG
Gerald McRaney as George Hurst, Deadwood
Diana Muldaur as Rosalind Shays, LA Law
Michael Emerson as William Hicks, The Practice
Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, Dark Shadows
Billy Drago as John Bly, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Bernie Kopell as Sigfried, Get Smart
Myke25 | Mar 7, 2008 6:38:37 PM | #How could I forget?!
Julie Newmar as The Catwoman, Batman
Myke25 | Mar 7, 2008 6:42:00 PM | #Old School!
Col. Flagg - MASH
Col. Klink - Hogan's Heroes
JR Ewing - Dallas
Oh, let's see...
-Illyria (Amy Acker) : Angel
-Jane Badham's character : V
-Irina Derevko : Alias
-Sark (David Anders) : Alias
-Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin) : Alias
-Cancer Man (William B Davis): XFiles
(I'd swear I saw Davis credited, or referred to in-show, as 'Cancer Man' once, but then they changed it to Cigarette Smoking Man - but maybe I just hallucinated or something...)
Danc | Mar 7, 2008 7:24:18 PM | #
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