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RSSJulius saving money, Cappie cracking jokes, and Patty scheming . . . these are a few of my favorite things
These are indeed strange times in the world of TV.
As you most likely have heard, NBC announced yesterday that Jay Leno will move to a five night a week primetime show in the Fall of 2009. The fact that one of the major networks has, in effect , given up on the 10 p.m. time slot as a place for scripted dramas is staggering news.
I'm going to go ahead with a fearless prediction that I don't think this little experiment will be that successful. Maybe it's because I've always been a Letterman gal, but I don't see people wanting to watch a prime time talk show , especially a talk show filled with very structured celebrity interviews. And I don't see the show attracting the younger viewers NBC clearly desires. NBC had totally backed itself into a corner by announcing years ago that Leno would be stepping down and O'Brien would be taking over The Tonight Show. I can understand why they didn't want to lose Leno to another network but I don't see this working. Do you?
Since scripted TV series seem to be a dying genre (thank goodness for cable), there's never been a better time to celebrate the best characters on TV and truly appreciate the shows we do have.
As I say every year, sometimes great writing fuses with a brilliant performance to form a perfect television character. Ones who we so believe in that we're sad when they're sad, happy when they're happy, root for them to find true love as if they were our best friend, and are heartbroken for them when things don't work out for them as planned. Or it could be the complete opposite, characters who we fear as if they were a real person, criticize when they make a mistake and chastise when they behave badly. They are what make TV so much fun --we care about them as if we actually know them.
These characters pop off the screen and command our attention. You know the rules by now. All characters on my list are at least in their second season, still on the air and had new episodes in 2008 (hence Patty Hewes isn't on this list. Promise not to be mad Patty). Great characters evolve over time so perhaps we'll see Dr. Walter Bishop next year. I also stuck to the rule of only one character per show. If I didn't, the entire staff at Sterling Cooper could easy take up half the list.
And don't forget that Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz, John C. McGinley's Dr. Cox and Kelly Bishop's Emily Gilmore, and Neil Patrick Harris' Barney are already in the TV Gal Hall of Fame. This year, to keep the list fresh, I'm adding John Krasinski's Jim on The Office and Chandra Wilson's Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy to the Hall of Fame. Throughout the show's increasingly ridiculous shenanigans, she has not only managed to stay above the fray but has been a consistent voice of reason and source of entertainment. And I'm going to go ahead and add Daniel Dae Kim's Jin on Lost to the Hall of Fame as well. I mean someone in the Hall of Fame can't be dead, right? They have all set the standard.
Here, in no particular order, are my 10 favorite TV characters of 2008
1. Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on NBC's 30 Rock: What I love about Liz is that she's simultaneously preposterous (thinking a teenager is Oprah) and relatable (not wanting to attend her high school reunion). Often a straight woman to the staff's wacky antics, Fey's Liz is funny whether you are laughing with her or at her.
2. Jamie Kaler, Jim Gaffigan, Michael Bunin, Reid Scott, and Kyle Howard as the boys of TBS's My Boys: Okay it's cheating a little to include them all, but this is definitely a case where the sum is greater that the parts. The reason I love this show is because I love the easy, humor filled banter that exists between PJ and her bevy of boys who are friends. These guys are charming by themselves but together they are one of the best comedy teams on TV.
3. Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway on AMC's Mad Men: It was agonizing trying to decide which character on this brilliant series was my favorite. But Hendricks brings such depth to her part. And Hendricks deft performance in "A Night to Remember" when Joan is quickly dismissed from her new position in the television department was heartbreaking. Perhaps more than any other character, Joan represents the changing, uncertain times that women faced during the early 60's.
4. Scott Michael Foster as Cappie on ABC Family's Greek: Does anyone know how to have more fun than Cappie? Foster has pulled off being the show's fun-loving comic relief and the corner of theshow's love triangle we are rooting for.
5. Terry Crews as Julius on the CW's Everybody Hates Chris: I'll spend 33 cents of blog space to tell you that I think Crews is the best dad on TV.
6. Michael Emerson as Ben Linus on ABC's Lost: Is there a better, more unsettling villian on television? I don't think so.
7. Luke Macfarlane as Scotty on ABC's Brothers & Sisters: With their whining and carrying on, those Walker siblings can sometimes get on my nerves. But I always love Scotty. Patient, understanding, funny, and loving, it's easy to understand why Kevin has totally fallen for him. Last year I put Kevin on this list, but this year I think it's Scotty's turn.
8. Jonny Lee Miller as Eli Stone on ABC's Eli Stone: Eli Stone is definitely one of those shows where if you don't believe the lead character you won't believe the show. And Miller had a tough sell as a lawyer turned prophet whose visions involve elaborate musical numbers. But I totally believe in Eli.
9. Robert Sean Leonard as James Wilson on FOX's House: This year, the series finally gave Leonard material so worthy of his talent. I honestly can't even think about Amber's death scene without tearing up. The turmoil his friendship with House went through is one of the series best story lines and as I said last year Leonard's rapport with Hugh Laurie is a master class in comedic timing and delivery.
10. Jennifer Esposito as Andrea on Samantha Who?: As one of television's most unapologetic characters, Esposito's Andrea is the queen of biting one liners. And boy is she funny. This is the role of Esposito's career.
Those are my favorite television characters of 2008. Who are yours? Talk about it below.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
We knew so many people who went to high school with Liz Lemon. Mark was the first person to be so excited to see Janel Moloney was Jessica, the woman who mistook Jack for an old boyfriend on 30 Rock. Moloney was, of course, Donna on The West Wing and Dana on Brotherhood. Diane Neal, Robyn Lively and Jason Kravitz were the ones traumatized that Liz made fun of them in high school. TV Gal reader Lil remembered Neal was Casey on Law & Order:SVU. Dennis remembered that Lively, the real life sister of Gossip Girl's Blake Lively, was Lane on Savannah and star of the movie Teen Witch. Kravitz was Richard Bay on The Practice.
Tzi Ma was the husband of the woman who had lost her voice on Grey's Anatomy. He was Cheng Zhi on the sixth season of 24. Rosalind Chao was his wife. Chao was the Principal Dr. Kim on The O.C., Keiko O'Brien on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Pam remembers her as Soon-Lee many years ago on M*A*S*H.
Kay Panabaker was the teen in the car crash whose sister died on Grey's Anatomy. Panabaker was Nikkie on Summerland and plays Catherine's daughter Lindsey on CSI. Christa B. Allen played her sister. I recognized her because she played the young Jennifer Garner in the movie 13 Going on 30.
Noah Bean was the man whose pregnant girlfriend was in a coma on Private Practice. Bean was David on Damages.
Sherilyn Fenn was the mother of the sick teen on House. Fenn was Anna (April's mom) on Gilmore Girls, Audrey on Twin Peaks and Billie on Rude Awakening. Bitsie Tulloch was the pregnant woman who claimed she was a virgin. Tulloch was Dylan on quarterlife.
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week or year? Do you have a favorite TV moment of 2008? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
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Oh I'm first woohooo so anyhow thanks for refreshing my brain about Rosalind Chao I remember her from M.A.S.H and also Kay Panabaker I was trying to remember where I seen her pretty little face.
Amy what has your ears heard about A&E The Cleaner is it coming back if so when?
As for Leno I'll have to see what he can do I like him better that Carson on Tonight Show not sure if I can stand O'Brien, might just have to tune in and see how badly he screws up "Headlines" unless Leno takig that with him to his primetime show.
Don't have a 10 favorite TV characters but surely Michael Emerson as Ben Linus would be on that list I'll see if I can't pull together a list before the weekend gets here.
Peace Out My People
Does NBC have anything on at 10:00 (9:00 Mountain) that'll be missed? Maybe Jay is the way to go. The only show I watch in that time slot is Eleventh Hour on Thursday.
Of all the late night talk show hosts, the one I am least likely to ever tune into would be Leno. Not funny but plenty irritating.
Like Amy, I think this will be a col***al flop. With the *ahem* adults moving back into the White House, I suspect that the new FCC commissioner will be told to be less censorious than the current scolds who determine whether adults can see adult things like boobies or hear naughty words. I think NBC has completely missed an opportunity to come back with the sort of gritty shows that aired in the mid-90s (NYPD Blue, Homicide, etc...) and pushed the envelope. They could have even risked a show as cutting edge as Mad Men or The Wire or Rescue Me.
Instead, we'll have Jay giggling his way through a cloying interview with some pseudo-celebutard about some project we're never going to care about.
My only concern about NBC moving Leno to 10 is - where is L&O: SVU going?
I tried to stick to more secondary characters. In no particular order:
1. CCH Pounder as Captain Claudette Wyms - The Shield
2. Jorge Garcia as Hurley Reyes - Lost
3. Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan - 30 Rock
4. Jimmy Smits as Miguel Prado - Dexter
5. John Slattery as Roger Sterling - Mad Men
6. Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor - Friday Night Lights
7. Bryan Cranston as Walter White - Breaking Bad
8. Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse - True Blood
9. Ed Helms as Andy Bernard - The Office
10. Gabriel Byrne as Paul - In Treatment
Character of the Year: Coach Eric Taylor
Leno at 10??? What a bad idea. Well actually I don't watch anything at 10 on NBC.. so I don't see it as drawing people in.
I'm kind of thinking the days of the celebrity interviews are going. No one (OK, me) wants to listen to them prattle on about this and that--especially when there are so many forums to get the exact same interview if you are so inclined. I'm betting that unless NBC committed to this for a certain length of time and unless Jay changes his program, he's toast.
I also have to say that of all those on the list, Julius is my favorite...love EJHC.
I know this breaks your rule, but Simon Baker's Patrick Jane is an awesome character!
I like Leno, especially over Letterman, but I think this is a mistake. It is too bad because most of the shows I watch are on NBC.
I don't think Leno at the 10 p.m. timeslot is the way to go. It's a shame that tv executives are no longer willing to give a show a chance to develop a following. They don't seem to realize that quality, time and word of mouth are sometimes essential. Thank goodness for cable networks - they seem willing and able to put themselves out there with new scripted shows.
My 10 fave characters of 2008 (not in any particular order)
1. Emerson Cod on Pushing Daisies - he says more with a glance than most people I know say with a complete sentence.
2. Eli Stone
3. Coach & Mrs. Coach on Friday Night Lights - I know they're a pair, but how can you separate them? Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton do an amazing job portraying a believable married couple.
4. Casey on Chuck - Adam Baldwin's g-man is hilarious even though he's playing it straight and at times brings a surprising depth to what could be a one-dimensional character. "Unleash the Casey!"
5. Det. Crews on Life - Damian Lewis' character as he struggles to put his life back together after being wrongfully imprisoned, solve cases and keep his Zen is fun to watch and I really enjoy trying to figure out the underlying mystery about who put him in jail.
6. Olive Schnook (sp?) on Pushing Daisies - Kristen Chenowith is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time as the waitress with a crush on the pie maker.
7. the boys on My Boys - I completely agree with Amy about this. The sum is greater than the parts.
8. Seely Booth on Bones - David Boreanaz is wonderful as an FBI agent reads people like an open book. And he's pretty cute, too!
9. Dean Winchester on Supernatural - Jensen Ackles is amazing, hilarious and heartbreaking, sometimes without saying a word.
10. Dexter - Michael C. Hall has done something I never thought would happen and made me root for a serial killer.
Honorable mention - I couldn't list this character in my top 10 because they were only on for a year but I LOVED Matt Keeslar as The Middleman. If you didn't catch the Middleman on ABC Family, do yourself a favor and pick up the dvd's when they come out.