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Usually, one of the aspects that make a great TV show is having one compelling, interesting and well acted Lead character. Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Bryan Cranston as Walter White, James Gandolfini/Eddie Falco as The Sopranos, Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper and Kate Winslet as Mare are some cases of iconic leading roles that not only were on par with the superb quality of their shows but also made it hard to picture that role being portrayed by any other performer.
However, sometimes it happens that everything on a TV show, from the writing to the directing and supporting performances, works as a whole, except the lead character, which seems like it is on a different rotation than the rest of the show.
One example that comes to my mind is Jerry Seinfeld in Seinfeld. He is completely overshadowed by Julia Louis Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander. The first two won Emmys.
Matthew Fox in Lost is another one. I don’t hate Jack and I think his acting was mostly pretty great, but compared to rich and complex characters/performances such as Michael Emerson as Ben Linus, Terry O’Quinn as John Locke and Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, he mostly fell flat.
What are some examples you can think of ?
ReplyOzark tbh. Jason Bateman is decent as Marty Byrde but that character just feels like one that’s much more compelling on paper than on screen. I’m always more fascinated by Ruth, Wendy and even Darlene as characters.
Ditto with Frasier. It’s probably one of my all time favourite shows and Kelsey Grammar deserved his Emmys for it but I always felt like he was overshadowed by David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney and even some of the show’s “guest love interests” like Jean Smart, Laura Linney and Patricia Clarkson.
ReplyCopy URLSolidarity with the striking writers. Pay them the wages they are owed for bringing us the content we are all on here because of!
Usually, one of the aspects that make a great TV show is having one compelling, interesting and well acted Lead character. Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Bryan Cranston as Walter White, James Gandolfini/Eddie Falco as The Sopranos, Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper and Kate Winslet as Mare are some cases of iconic leading roles that not only were on par with the superb quality of their shows but also made it hard to picture that role being portrayed by any other performer.
However, sometimes it happens that everything on a TV show, from the writing to the directing and supporting performances, works as a whole, except the lead character, which seems like it is on a different rotation than the rest of the show.
One example that comes to my mind is Jerry Seinfeld in Seinfeld. He is completely overshadowed by Julia Louis Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander. The first two won Emmys.
Matthew Fox in Lost is another one. I don’t hate Jack and I think his acting was mostly pretty great, but compared to rich and complex characters/performances such as Michael Emerson as Ben Linus, Terry O’Quinn as John Locke and Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, he mostly fell flat.
What are some examples you can think of ?
Jerry Seinfeld was overshadowed by his onscreen parents and George’s parents.
ReplyCopy URLOlivia Colman in The Crown (especially season 4)
On the contrary, I think she’s the best amongst the three central women in season 4. However, Josh O’Connor outsold.
ReplyCopy URL"The Lost Daughter" in every eligible category - Film
"Succession" Season 3 in every eligible category - TV
"Heaux Tales" by Jasmine Sullivan in every eligible category - MusicOh as Cristina is untouchable but Grey’s Anatomy would not be half as successful without Pompeo’s pitch perfect Meredith. She has been carrying the show for years now. Put some respect on her goddamn name.
I agree. The likely end of Grey’s probably comes about by Pompeo quitting, not ABC cancelling it.
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