iwaskirsdarke (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iwaskirsdarke) wrote2009-08-10 11:46 pm
iwaskirsdarke) wrote2009-08-10 11:46 pm
Entry tags:
Karen's Top Ten Male Television Performances
I don't want this to just be three cuts in a row, but I don't really know what to say here. Hmm.
Notes
1.) Yes, the male categories tend to feature that imaginary harem whose members I refer to as "My Boys." Don't mistake the cause and effect of this. They are not on the list because they're my boys. They're my boys because they're great actors who happen to be ridiculously handsome. I promise, the performances mentioned are here on their own merit.
2.) Yes, there are more male performances on the list than female. I don't know why. Maybe it's true that it's hard to find really good roles for women. Maybe I'm just sexist. Either way, I apologize.
3.) Yes, I cheated and included 2 performances in 1 slot sometimes. Whatev. It's my list. :-P
10.) Will Smith as Will Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
"What is that, like the theme of this family? 'When in doubt, blame Will.'"
Okay, hear me out. Yes, the performance is over-the-top at times. But. Smith carries the show, can deliver an insult with the best of them and has fantastic comedic timing. The insults are mean-spirited at times, but you can tell the character truly loves him family, despite that. The brotherly relationship he has with his younger cousin Ashley is beautiful. If all of that isn't enough, find the last scene of the episode Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse, where Will's estranged father leaves him for the second time. It's the show's finest dramatic moment and Smith's performance, as well as James Avery's, will break your heart.
9.) Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on The Office
"I saw 'Wedding Crashers' accidentally. I bought a ticket for 'Grizzly Man' and went into the wrong theater. After an hour, I figured I was in the wrong theater, but I kept waiting. Cause that's the thing about bear attacks: they come when you least expect it."
Oh, Dwight. Dwight Shrute is a cornucopia of disturbing and hilarious and, in season 4, heart-breaking. The character is written as cartoonish at times, but Rainn Wilson keeps him believable as a very odd, yet still likable, human. He makes Dwight eccentric without eing crazy and smart even when he's falling for Jim's pranks. When Dwight finally breaks down and cries in the stairwell over his break-up with Angela, your heart breaks for him. Some have through the writing has been somewhat weak for Dwight in recent seasons, but Wilson has been consistently great.
8.) Adam Baldwin as Major John Casey on Chuck
"You shoot him, I shoot you, I leave both your bodies here and go out for a late night snack. I'm thinking maybe pancakes."
John Casey is a scary guy. If you know him, you want him to be on your side. He enjoys violence and has little patience of idiots. Adam Baldwin plays him with deadpan wit and a lot of depth. There's a scene where he's angry at Sarah, but when she asks him a question, "Do you ever just want a normal life?" he softens. As the show goes on, he cares more and more about Chuck and Sarah, even as he remains the same hard-nosed patriot that he was when we first met him. The show seems obsessed, at points, with Chuck and Sarah's relationship, but Casey is just as much a part of the team and the show as they are.
7.) Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office
"Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. But it's not like this compulsive need to be liked, like my need to be praised."
Michael Scott is a fascinating person. Needy, not so bright, always trying too hard to be liked. He could be deeply unlikable, but he's not. What saves the character is the fact that for all his faults, Michael Scott is a good person. He cares about his employees and they care about him. Steve Carell makes Michael a mix of comedy and tragedy, delusion and tiny flashes of self-awareness. As much as we hate to admit it, I think there's a little bit of Michael Scott in all of us. That's why, despite everything, we care about him.
6.) Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Early, crap. Late, good. That's our motto here at Late Night."
It took awhile for Conan O'Brien to settle into the job of late night host, but he managed. I've only seen a little of the early years, but I know it's a far cry from the rest of the show's run. He made his name as a bundle of energy, both relishing the ridiculous while pointing out how ridiculous it was. A lot of people wondered if he would be the same after moving to The Tonight Show. So far he has. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but for ridiculous fun, you really can't top it.
5.) James Roday as Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill as Burton Guster on Psych
Shawn: The cat is not my new partner, Gus. Don't be ridiculous.
Gus: Then tell me again why the cat gets to ride shotgun?
Once again, a bit of a cheat, but any Psych fan knows you can't have Shawn without Gus. Yes, technically the show is about Shawn, but we all know that without his right-hand man, the jig would've been up after the first episode. James Roday and Dule Hill have perfect best-friend chemistry. You can completely buy them as two friends who would do anything for each other or turn and run like little girls at the first sign of danger.
4.) George Clooney as Doug Ross on ER
Doug: I'm not a grownup doctor.
Lydia: We all know that, but everyone else's busy.
In my opinion, the early seasons of ER were the best, simply due to the superior cast and characters. My favorite character was John Carter and my favorite performance was George Clooney's. He made a character who could be a jerk into an very interesting person, complete with daddy issues and a very complicated love life. Watch the episode Hell and High Water or Last Call and you'll realize why he's on this list.
3.) Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel on Veronica Mars
"You can't take the cool out of me. Look, pocket protector and I'm still full of pimp juice."
When we first meet Wallace Fennel, he's taped to a flagpole, naked with the (misspelled) word "Snich" written on his chest, but he's still holding his head high. For the next three seasons, he's not only Veronica's loyal sidekick, but also her loyal friend. Percy Daggs has great chemistry with Kristen Bell and he makes Wallace into a strong person and character in his own right, as well as the heart of the show.
2.) Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars on Veronica Mars
"Part of me is proud...and let's just leave it at that."
One of the best TV dads ever. Keith Mars was loving, protective and would do anything for his daughter. Discipline was a weak point, true, but when Veronica needed a protector, a friend or someone to put her in her place, her father was always there. (You know, except for that little airport incident.) Enrico Colantoni was the perfect man for the job. He had wit, brains, emotion and had perfect chemistry with Kristen Bell. The relationship was one of the highlights of the series.
1.) The Cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway?
"If you want a points recap, uh...Brad: Who knows, Wayne: Who cares, Colin: I forgot, Ryan: -73."
I know it's a cheat to include an entire cast, but I seriously couldn't choose just one person from this show. It's chock full of comic geniuses who work together seamlessly. They have fantastic chemistry and compliment each other, while trying to crack up and one-up their castmates. They will literally do anything for a laugh, to the point that when Ryan ran into the light on Drew's desk and broke the glass with his head, he not only wanted they finish the game, but he stayed completely in character. (Not to mention the almost-disturbing amount of same-sex kisses.) ABC was stupid to ever cancel this show.
Honorable Mention: Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski on Chuck- Chuck Bartowski is the most badass geek on TV right now (IMO). He's a good man stuck in a part of his life he wants to escape, with huge responsibilities that he didn't ask for, attracted to a woman he can't be with. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and handles it with amazing grace. Zachary Levi plays Chuck as an eternal optimist (with a few exceptions) with a great sense of humor. He carries the show on capable shoulders.
Honorable Mention: Liam James as Young Shawn Spencer on Psych- A last minute addition that I thought of when I was typing up #5. The show went through a few Young Shawns before finding Liam James, but man, what a find. Somehow he's zeroed in on James Roday's mannerism while making Young Shawn his own fantastic character. "I call him Dwight" is still one of the funniest line deliveries on the show, in my opinion. I know it will be a challenge to keep him on the show as he gets older, but I hope they find a way. He's a hugely talented young man and a great part of the show.
Keep in mind that, as always, this is only my highly uncultured OPINION. Please, share your thoughts.
<3
Notes
1.) Yes, the male categories tend to feature that imaginary harem whose members I refer to as "My Boys." Don't mistake the cause and effect of this. They are not on the list because they're my boys. They're my boys because they're great actors who happen to be ridiculously handsome. I promise, the performances mentioned are here on their own merit.
2.) Yes, there are more male performances on the list than female. I don't know why. Maybe it's true that it's hard to find really good roles for women. Maybe I'm just sexist. Either way, I apologize.
3.) Yes, I cheated and included 2 performances in 1 slot sometimes. Whatev. It's my list. :-P
10.) Will Smith as Will Smith on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
"What is that, like the theme of this family? 'When in doubt, blame Will.'"
Okay, hear me out. Yes, the performance is over-the-top at times. But. Smith carries the show, can deliver an insult with the best of them and has fantastic comedic timing. The insults are mean-spirited at times, but you can tell the character truly loves him family, despite that. The brotherly relationship he has with his younger cousin Ashley is beautiful. If all of that isn't enough, find the last scene of the episode Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse, where Will's estranged father leaves him for the second time. It's the show's finest dramatic moment and Smith's performance, as well as James Avery's, will break your heart.
9.) Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on The Office
"I saw 'Wedding Crashers' accidentally. I bought a ticket for 'Grizzly Man' and went into the wrong theater. After an hour, I figured I was in the wrong theater, but I kept waiting. Cause that's the thing about bear attacks: they come when you least expect it."
Oh, Dwight. Dwight Shrute is a cornucopia of disturbing and hilarious and, in season 4, heart-breaking. The character is written as cartoonish at times, but Rainn Wilson keeps him believable as a very odd, yet still likable, human. He makes Dwight eccentric without eing crazy and smart even when he's falling for Jim's pranks. When Dwight finally breaks down and cries in the stairwell over his break-up with Angela, your heart breaks for him. Some have through the writing has been somewhat weak for Dwight in recent seasons, but Wilson has been consistently great.
8.) Adam Baldwin as Major John Casey on Chuck
"You shoot him, I shoot you, I leave both your bodies here and go out for a late night snack. I'm thinking maybe pancakes."
John Casey is a scary guy. If you know him, you want him to be on your side. He enjoys violence and has little patience of idiots. Adam Baldwin plays him with deadpan wit and a lot of depth. There's a scene where he's angry at Sarah, but when she asks him a question, "Do you ever just want a normal life?" he softens. As the show goes on, he cares more and more about Chuck and Sarah, even as he remains the same hard-nosed patriot that he was when we first met him. The show seems obsessed, at points, with Chuck and Sarah's relationship, but Casey is just as much a part of the team and the show as they are.
7.) Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office
"Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. But it's not like this compulsive need to be liked, like my need to be praised."
Michael Scott is a fascinating person. Needy, not so bright, always trying too hard to be liked. He could be deeply unlikable, but he's not. What saves the character is the fact that for all his faults, Michael Scott is a good person. He cares about his employees and they care about him. Steve Carell makes Michael a mix of comedy and tragedy, delusion and tiny flashes of self-awareness. As much as we hate to admit it, I think there's a little bit of Michael Scott in all of us. That's why, despite everything, we care about him.
6.) Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Early, crap. Late, good. That's our motto here at Late Night."
It took awhile for Conan O'Brien to settle into the job of late night host, but he managed. I've only seen a little of the early years, but I know it's a far cry from the rest of the show's run. He made his name as a bundle of energy, both relishing the ridiculous while pointing out how ridiculous it was. A lot of people wondered if he would be the same after moving to The Tonight Show. So far he has. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but for ridiculous fun, you really can't top it.
5.) James Roday as Shawn Spencer and Dule Hill as Burton Guster on Psych
Shawn: The cat is not my new partner, Gus. Don't be ridiculous.
Gus: Then tell me again why the cat gets to ride shotgun?
Once again, a bit of a cheat, but any Psych fan knows you can't have Shawn without Gus. Yes, technically the show is about Shawn, but we all know that without his right-hand man, the jig would've been up after the first episode. James Roday and Dule Hill have perfect best-friend chemistry. You can completely buy them as two friends who would do anything for each other or turn and run like little girls at the first sign of danger.
4.) George Clooney as Doug Ross on ER
Doug: I'm not a grownup doctor.
Lydia: We all know that, but everyone else's busy.
In my opinion, the early seasons of ER were the best, simply due to the superior cast and characters. My favorite character was John Carter and my favorite performance was George Clooney's. He made a character who could be a jerk into an very interesting person, complete with daddy issues and a very complicated love life. Watch the episode Hell and High Water or Last Call and you'll realize why he's on this list.
3.) Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel on Veronica Mars
"You can't take the cool out of me. Look, pocket protector and I'm still full of pimp juice."
When we first meet Wallace Fennel, he's taped to a flagpole, naked with the (misspelled) word "Snich" written on his chest, but he's still holding his head high. For the next three seasons, he's not only Veronica's loyal sidekick, but also her loyal friend. Percy Daggs has great chemistry with Kristen Bell and he makes Wallace into a strong person and character in his own right, as well as the heart of the show.
2.) Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars on Veronica Mars
"Part of me is proud...and let's just leave it at that."
One of the best TV dads ever. Keith Mars was loving, protective and would do anything for his daughter. Discipline was a weak point, true, but when Veronica needed a protector, a friend or someone to put her in her place, her father was always there. (You know, except for that little airport incident.) Enrico Colantoni was the perfect man for the job. He had wit, brains, emotion and had perfect chemistry with Kristen Bell. The relationship was one of the highlights of the series.
1.) The Cast of Whose Line Is It Anyway?
"If you want a points recap, uh...Brad: Who knows, Wayne: Who cares, Colin: I forgot, Ryan: -73."
I know it's a cheat to include an entire cast, but I seriously couldn't choose just one person from this show. It's chock full of comic geniuses who work together seamlessly. They have fantastic chemistry and compliment each other, while trying to crack up and one-up their castmates. They will literally do anything for a laugh, to the point that when Ryan ran into the light on Drew's desk and broke the glass with his head, he not only wanted they finish the game, but he stayed completely in character. (Not to mention the almost-disturbing amount of same-sex kisses.) ABC was stupid to ever cancel this show.
Honorable Mention: Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski on Chuck- Chuck Bartowski is the most badass geek on TV right now (IMO). He's a good man stuck in a part of his life he wants to escape, with huge responsibilities that he didn't ask for, attracted to a woman he can't be with. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and handles it with amazing grace. Zachary Levi plays Chuck as an eternal optimist (with a few exceptions) with a great sense of humor. He carries the show on capable shoulders.
Honorable Mention: Liam James as Young Shawn Spencer on Psych- A last minute addition that I thought of when I was typing up #5. The show went through a few Young Shawns before finding Liam James, but man, what a find. Somehow he's zeroed in on James Roday's mannerism while making Young Shawn his own fantastic character. "I call him Dwight" is still one of the funniest line deliveries on the show, in my opinion. I know it will be a challenge to keep him on the show as he gets older, but I hope they find a way. He's a hugely talented young man and a great part of the show.
Keep in mind that, as always, this is only my highly uncultured OPINION. Please, share your thoughts.
<3
no subject
Also, WHERE IS JACK DONAGHY?!?!
I'd also like to vote for Stanley at this juncture.
no subject
I love Alec Baldwin (who doesn't?), but I really don't think I've seen enough 30 Rock to have a true opinion.
Stanley = <3. Promise I'll give him props in a future list of some kind, if I get a chance.
no subject
2. Fresh Prince is one of the most awesome shows ever.
3. George Clooney. Need I say anymore? I haven't seen the early seasons of ER, just the first few episodes, but I can't wait to see them all and experience Dr Ross as a character for the first time.
4. Wallace = love
5. You should have pulled another cheat and put down Enrico Colantoni as Keith, and as Eliot DiMauro in Just Shoot Me!. Because Eliot was awesome.
no subject
4.) I KNOW! <3
5.) Haven't seen Just Shoot Me. Sorry! I know, I'm so lame.
no subject