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TV Meme, Day 15: Favourite Female Characters

Choosing my favourite female characters was so much more difficult than choosing the males. I tried to be diverse I tried to be fair and I had to put 6...and here they are...but let me list some runners up first...

               

Here they are: for constantly being excellent even when their cast does not back them up I submit a quintet of excellent ladies from Grey's Anatomy in preferential order - Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey, Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang and of course Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey; for managing to cross over to another show and become an even greater character Kate Walsh in Private Practice, for bringing the funny and being real Isobel Sanders on The Jeffersons, for saving the world again and again Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the combined female casts of Sex & the City, Desperate Housewives, Glee and Brothers & Sisters

                  

#6: Lorelai Gilmore

 Show: Gilmore Girls

Actor: Lauren Graham

Trade Marks: Devotion to Rory - her daughter, crazy banter with everyone around especially her mother (played excellently by Kelly Bishop), a predilection for Luke's coffee and Luke, bad decisions,

Turn Offs: her parents - especially when they want to control Rory's life, boys who get in the way of her daughter's education (I'm sensing a trend here), boring people

Why I Love Her: Because Lauren Graham plays this role so beautifully it makes me sad when people forget that she so talented. The part of the kooky mother may be a stereotype, but don't tell her that because Lorelai is a creation all her own. It doesn't matter what she is doing, you cannot take your eyes off her performance. That is called good acting.
              

  #5: Sharona Flemying                               

 Show: Monk

Actor: Bitty Schram

Trade Marks: devotion to her son and her boss – Adrian, wisecracks, gumption and dedication worthy causes, being a hot mom. 

Turn Offs: her boss – Adrian when he's out of control, Randy, Natalie (at first), her deadbeat ex-husband (until he cleaned up his act)

Why I Love Her: Because Sharona was my favourite character on Monk more than Monk himself somtimes. So wise, so streetsmart, good looking, and dedicated to her son. When she left the show I stopped watching for months only coming back in bits. Traylor Hackford (what kind of a name IS THAT?) could never replace her. Sigh.

               

#4: Miranda Hobbes

Show: Sex & the City
Actor: Cynthia Nixon
Trade Marks: Pragmatism and sensibleness, her red hair,
Turn Offs: Wishy-washy men, not getting promoted, models and modelizers (love that episode)
Why I Love Her: Because the fact that she has two Emmy's is no fluke. Every episode I wait for Miranda to come, and when she turns up with her red hair and intelligence and delivers smart cutdowns that are still hilariously, I ask myself - why the hell does she not have a proper film role?
             
#3: Phoebe Buffay

Show: Friends
Actor: Lisa Kudrow
Trademarks: Kookiness, vegetarian ways, guitar and song, random humour, her pornstar twin sister, her massages

Turn Offs: Evolutionist theory, her twin sister, sad endings, mean people
Why I Love Her: Because Lisa Kudrow is just amazing and Phoebe's random humour is essential to the show. From watching Phoebe run in the park, to watching her banter with Joey and Mike and everything that comes in between there's no doubt that she is one brilliant character.

        
#2: Olive Snook

Show: Pushing Daisies

Actor: Kristin Chenoweth

Trademarks: Breaking into song, rash behaviour, devotion to Ned regardless of obstacles, perkiness, sweetness, all around awesomeness

Turn Offs: Anything between her and Ned - aything, quietness

Why I Love Her: Because she is played by Chenoweth (just kidding, sort of). Olive is so lovely and Chenoweth makes her so loveable even when we should not be rooting for her, and she sings (what more can we ask more) and maintains this all while still defending our hero.

                      

#1: Karen Walker

Show: Will & Grace
Actor: Megan Mullally
Trademarks: Accompanying drink in hand, devilish cackle, arguments with her maid – Rosario, spending her husband’s money, inability to use public amenitie, extensive use of the word "honey".
Turn Offs: Poorness, work, Minnie Driver and the character she plays - Lorraine Finster, Candice Bergen
Why I LOVE Her: Megan's comedy genius cannot be touched by ANY ACTOR on TV. It's the sort of genius that leaves me gasping for air, not only from the writing but from her ability to make even the most tired jokes something tired.
                

The ongoing TV MEME goes on, for it must.


Which of these women remind you of the wonders of TV? Whom have I missed?

TV Meme, Day 6: My Favourite Episode of My Favourite Show

Today is my birthday, so we're doing things a little differently on the meme.I mentioned Friends as my favourite show on Day 4. Choosing my favourite from in excess of 200 episodes is a difficult one…but today is my birthday so I’m going to go avant garde and choose not one, not two but my nineteen episodes that strike me as well made. As often occurs with list making, I may forget one…but these 19 are excellent.

                           

#19: The One With Rachel’s Big Kiss (Season 7)

This is probably one of those “you had to be there” episodes. The guys are off picking a tuxedo for Chandler but the big event is of course Winona Ryder’s appearance as one of Rachel’s college friend, with whom she shared a kiss. Phoebe is sceptical of this, especially when Melissa denies it. Eventually though all is resolved culminating in a kiss from Phoebe to Rachel leaving Rachel shocked. Kudrow’s line reading is a beauty, “I just wanted to see what the fuss was about.”…”I’ve had better.”

             

#18: The One With All the Cheesecakes (Season 7)

Joey and Phoebe’s bond is shown to be even deeper when its revealed that they meet once a month to talk about the rest of the group, but Phoebe is in a dilemma when a date with her scientist ex-boyfriend (remember Hank Azarai’s brilliant guest performance?). The reason I like this episode, though is found in the title. Chandler enlists Rachel to steal cheesecakes from their downstairs neighbour. It’s a plot device I like because Aniston and Perry have good chemistry (that’s oddly rarely used), but it’s the end that always gets. A smashed cheesecake on the hall floor leads to the two taking out their forks and eating it right there followed by Joey’s entrance. He gives them a dubious look, and then pulls a fork (out of his coat jacket mind you) – “What are we having?”

              

#17: The One Where Estelle Dies (Season 10)

Each of the three storylines combines excellently. Rachel tries to get her job back at Ralph Lauren, only to realise that she wasn’t exactly, Ross then tries to help her through bribery. Maggie Wheeler returns as Janice with that legendary laugh of hers. She sets herself up as a possible neighbour for him and Monica in the suburbs, but Chandler’s fake lasciviousness gets her to rethink the idea. But it’s Lisa Kudrow who steals the episode. She realises that Joey’s agent has died and spends the entire episode pretending to be Estelle. It leads to a series of ridiculous events and some excellent quotes from Phoebe. “No, don’t call her. Wait for her to call you.” Joey responds, “Why?” After a moment phoebe responds, “Because…Patience is the road to understanding which is the key to a happy heart.”

#16: The One With the Lesbian Wedding (Season 2)

Was Friends ever a big hit with the gay community? I don’t know, but it’s inspired how despite his misgivings on his ex’s new wife he’s the one who helps her to go ahead with the wedding despite her parents’ disapproval. Joey notably appears for the first time on Days of Our Life and Marlo Thomas appears as Rachel’s mother intent on divorcing her husband. She was always my favourite of the parents. Once again, though Lisa Kudrow insists on stealing the show. When a client dies on the massage table her spirit “embodies” Phoebe. As her husband says, she always said she wanted to see everything so it’s tentative how long Phoebe will remain possessed. Luckily, on witnessing the lesbian wedding Phoebe is free as the woman’s “spirit” says, “Now I’ve seen everything.”

            

#15: The One at the Beach (Season 3)

This episode subtly prepares us for the eventual pairing of Monica and Chandler, and Phoebe memorably realises that her real mother never died. Teri Garr’s guest appearance is truly exceptional. But the episode hinges on Rachel’s flirting with Ross. They’ve officially broken up for some time, but of course Rachel remains as a voracious tease. The episode is memorable for the cliff-hanger of Ross standing outside in the hall unsure if he should go to Rachel or his actual girlfriend…

#14: The One With Ross’ Inappropriate Song (Season 9)

Most remember this episode for Ross’ inspired rendition of “Baby Got Back” to cheer up. It’s one of the memorable examples of original parenting from the cast of Friends. However, it’s not the main plot that lands this on the list. What makes this a favourite episode is Phoebe’s visit to Mike’s bourgeoisie parents. Phoebe is stricken with a case of intense nervousness resulting in a stilted voice which is just hilarious, and her parting line in the selfsame posh accent is a knockout – “here’s something rich, 13 bathrooms in this place I threw up in the coat closet...Tatah”

#13: The One the Morning After (Season 3)

It’s one of the few that gets points not for the funny, but for the sad. No matter how contrived you feel their romance is, and no matter how I much I admit to not being a fan of Aniston both she and Schwimmer deliver the dramatic chops in this episode where Rachel finds out that Ross slept with another woman – while they were on a break. The dramatics of their breakup argument is oddly funny when juxtaposed with the four other friends trapped in the bedroom listening on. For a situational comedy, they really went all out with the breakup.

#12: The One With the Proposal 1& 2 (Season 6)

Oddly the clunker in this episode comes from Ross whose relationship with college student Elizabeth rarely amuses me. Of course, it all comes down to the proposal and even though Tom Selleck’s Richard (another good guest star) almost throws a wrench in it, it ends well for love. Monica and Chandler are among the best married couple on TV (Ross and Rachel never married, so they don’t count).

#11: The One With the Blackout (Season 1)

Trust Friends to make a blackout seem like something really cool. Five of the friends are stuck at home when it hits, and Paolo makes his first appearance. Phoebe’s improvisation skills always amuse me, “New York City has no power / And the milk is getting sour / But to me it is not scary / 'Cause I stay away from dairy.” But, it’s Chandler who shines in this episode. Perry singlehandedly shows us why he’s the strongest male on the show after he’s stuck with Jill Goodacre in an elevator. I love when she offers him a stick of gum and he replies, “Gum would be perfection.”

#10: The One With Ross’ Wedding 1 & 2 (Season 4)

…or the one where Ross says Rachel. Kudrow’s pregnancy prevents her from being in London and yet she holds it down excellently acting with a phone alone for half of the episode. Monica and Chandler’s hook-up works and is a testimony of great things to come, but of course it’s the end that puts it here…one for the books.

#9: The One With the Red Sweater (Season 8)

This episode works on so many levels. The friends (minus Ross) try to convince Rachel to tell the father of the baby she’s pregnant but not before Lisa Kudrow steals the show (she tends to do that often) by pretending she’s the one pregnant and accepting Joey’s impromptu proposal and of course Monica voraciously opening wedding gifts is hilarious.

#8: One With the Videotape (Season 8)

Phoebe and Joey try valiantly to steal the episode with their aliases Regina Filangee and Ken Adams, but the show belongs to Rachel and Ross and the tape of them having sex. True, the seduction story has to be one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard but it still works completely – Schwimmer and Aniston have excellent chemistry; and having the entire group sit down to watch it is twisted but completely believable.

#7: The One With Monica & Chandler’s Wedding

 

As always with Friends, random humour often becomes more memorable than main plots. When Chandler has cold feet he leaves a note “Tell Monica I’m sorry”, Ross walks over to the girls’ apartment and shows Phoebe who promptly replies, “Tell her yourself.” It’s one of Kudrow’s deadpan deliveries that I never forget. The episode is great in every way and with the added twist of Rachel’s imminent pregnancy it ends on a high note.

#6: The Last One (Season 10)

It perfectly encapsulates all that’s wonderful of the show complete with a good guest turn from Anna Farris. Chandler and Monica freaking out over the unexpected second baby is lovely, Phoebe’s attempts to make Rachel’s plane get delayed are awesome (Something’s wrong with the left filangee), Joey and Chandler playing foosball one last time is sweet and of course Ross and Rachel finally getting together. Perfect.

           

#5: The One Where Everybody Finds Out (Season 5)

Everyone gets their chance to shine as the truth comes out about Monica and Chandler. The top three maintain their spots turning in the best performances of the episode (Perry, Kudrow, Schwimmer) and the game of seduction between Phoebe and Chandler is hilarious. I love Phoebe’s derivative line from The Lion in Winter, “They don't know that we know they know we know.”

#4: The One In Vegas 1 & 2 (Season 5)

Joey’s idea of the hand twin was a bit nauseating at times, but everything else is on point. Phoebe’s ranting with the lurker at the slot machines was effective as usual from Kudrow and seeing Monica and Chandler almost get married was well played, but of course the cincher was the drunken wedding of Ross & Rachel. Easily, my favourite season finale.

#3: The One Where No One’s Ready (Season 3)

It’s one of those rare episodes where no one stands out and everyone is equally excellent, it’s also one of those bottle episodes where only the six star. Ross has an important function to attend and only Phoebe’s ready. Chandler and Joey get into a fight and Chandler hides Joey’s underwear, Joey then puts on all of Chandler’s clothes (still underwear-less) “Look at me, I’m Chandler. Could I be wearing anymore clothes?” Monica is obsessing over her breakup up with Richard and Rachel memorably dares Ross to drink the glass in the fat if he wants her to go. Good stuff.

#2: The One After I Do (Season 8)

The main draw of the episode is the girls’ realisation that Rachel is pregnant, and it’s one of Aniston’s best performances (save the one to come). It’s one of those sedate season premieres that doesn’t overdo but brings the funny nonetheless, Phoebe tricking Rachel intro realising she wanted a baby was a completely Phoebe-esque thing to do.

MY FAVOURITE EPISODE

The One Where Ross Finds Out (Season 2)

“And that my friend is what we call closure.”

This is such a classic episode and has the usual funny stuff, like Phoebe begging her boyfriend to have sex with her, Monica and Chandler’s exercising but ultimately it is Aniston who steals the show with her drunken call to Ross and Schwimmer’s excellence response to the message – “You’re over me? When were you under me?” Rachel and Ross will always be at the root of Friends, I suppose. 

               

This entry is part of my ongoing meme on TV Moments

             

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with Friends?

TV Meme, Day 4: My Favourite Show

A few months back I was a pleased when everyone weighed in a TV show I flashed back to. I don’t think the dust has quite settled on the actual post, but the meme calls for it and so I shall revisit it. My favourite TV show is unequivocally a little NBC comedy called Friends. It’s a confession that’s almost a reflex. It’s actually the only question of the 30 I answered immediately. Friends is the type of show that’s a bit like lightning in the bottle. If it went into production today, I don’t know if it’d be as successful. Yet, it doesn’t depend on a wholly original concept. A group of friends and their lives…hasn’t that be done before? Certainly. And yet, Friends exudes an irresistible charm that I can confess to having seen every episode (of this ten season megahit) at least twice.

In assessing the lives of six friends in New York, Friends, like so many situational comedies depends on showing us types. We have Rachel – the spoilt, but goodhearted daddy’s girl, Phoebe – the slightly loopy working artist, Monica – the neurotic cook, Joey – the dumb, but good-looking ladies’ man and actor, Chandler – the slightly repressed office guy (where does he work exactly?) who has issues with romance and Ross – the good-natured, but often longwinded palaeontologist. Yes, the types are broad but there’s a consistency that runs throughout the show that makes it just a little more special. Every actor is comfortable in their “niche” and the tug-o-war that so often occurs in ensemble comedies never comes. Everyone is equal, and that’s a big part of Friends’s appeal. And those idiosyncrasies and catchphrases – Phoebe’s smelly cat; Joey’s “How you doing doing?” Monica’s angry, “I know!” It’s all part of the continuous hilarity that is Friends.

It’s a comedy, so it has to be funny. I said it before, and I’ll say it again – I don’t hold much stake in the sense of humour of persons who don’t find Friends funny. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. There are times when they go just a little over the top, but Friends always knows what’s funny and what’s not. It’s not the writers or the actors alone, but it’s everything together. Kudrow’s Ursula has a deadpan hilarity and the writers give her some delicious lines. I actually laugh when the in studio laughs, sometimes I laugh even when they don’t. Few things can put you in a good mood like spending time with Friends. I don’t think anyone who has seen Friends cannot find the escapades of our protagonist as realistic. Sure we may not be living on New York, or working as an actor but the realism with which the six interact with each other accounts for a large part of its appeal. Each episode works as a standalone, but even more impressive is hwo gags introduced in the first season can continue throughout to the final one. We know that Ross and Rachel were “on a break” and we know that Phoebe is a vegetarian (except for a particular bout of pregnancy). The continuity adds to the reality and makes it that much more enjoyable.
       
This entry is part of my ongoing meme on TV Moments

I’ll return to Friends again, not only for this meme but sometime again…because I love it and it only fills me with joy.

The Plight of the TV Star

This guest post is provided by Luke Tatge of Journalistic Skepticism. From a distance he seems like your typical Streep fanatic, but he's actually more than that. You'd do well to have him on your blog roll.

          

Ah, the struggle of poor suffering TV actors. Their work is hardly as respected as that of the film or stage stars, yet they soldier on with weekly installments of often beloved characters. When it comes to the transition from small to big screen work, which seems inevitable at one point another for most television stars, it can be a treacherous path that rarely bears any fruit.

        

In the early years, it was basically understood that TV stars (possibly due to the strict studio guidelines at the time) were basically stuck with the tube when it came to finding work. Take Lucille Ball, for example – one of the biggest stars of her time, and yet she was relegated to playing varying versions of the “Lucy” character for most of her career (with the exception of a couple barely noted films).

So how do more recent TV stars fare when it comes to the big step into moviedom? Unfortunately, not so well in most cases. Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman has moved on to plenty of film work since the show wrapped, but he is mostly pushed into sideline roles. Even in the high-profile Juno, who even remembers the gifted TV star was in the cast? It seems like Lucy, he’s been pushed into playing a variation on Michael Bluth in most of his subsequent roles.

              

Sharp-tongued Rory Gilmore (a.k.a. Alexis Bledel) has had about the same amount of luck – any work she’s done since the show ended has been unanimously trounced (Post Grad) or ignored due to her co-stars (Sin City, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). It seems these TV stars just can’t shake the persona that was so ingrained into the public week after week.

There are glimmers of hope, though. For people like Freaks and Geeks alums Jason Segel and James Franco or Cheers alum Woody Harrelson, film isn’t so out of reach. It seems the best route is to either stick with your crew and succeed or fail together or go for awards-bait roles. Although a word of caution – though folks like Mary Tyler Moore and Helen Hunt found break-out Oscary roles in 1980 and 1997 respectively (Ordinary People and As Good As It Gets), they’ve hardly enjoyed much of a career in film since.

So until Lisa Kudrow can shake Phoebe Buffay, Sarah Jessica Parker can shake Carrie Bradshaw, and Eric McCormack can shake Will Truman, how does a TV star stand a chance in the wide world of movies? Give them a chance to surprise you. 

               

Luke's thoughts are provocative. Why do you think it's so difficult for the television actor?

Flashback: Friends

I have a good mind to excise the more and more incidental TV from my Encore’s World of Film & TV; it's become more and more superfluous. Still, it’s as good a time as any to recall one of my favourite shows in memory. I’m not as avid a TV watcher and with good reason. We’re constantly bemoaning the state of cinema, but if any media entity needs a rebirth it’s the small screen. I’ve always been an enthusiastic fan of Friends. There was actually a period of time when I doubted the sense of humour of anyone who didn’t like the show. Even though the show is geared at young adults more than anyone I’ve been watching since I was a preteen and it’s one of the few shows I hasten to see when reruns are on. But what’s the charm of Friends?

The biggest plus of Friends is the chemistry of the cast members. I’m hard-pressed to remember any other ensemble cast that works so well. The producers certainly hit the jackpot with their casting, but what makes Friends even more satisfying is the goodness of the guest players that come and go. Sure, there guest stars are not as abundant as Will & Grace but with stints from Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Tom Selleck, Brad Pitt, David Arquette, Gabrielle Union, Winona Ryder, Christina Applegate and countless others – each of which worked – I think, perhaps it was the writing that made this series thrived so. Friends is riddled with running gags I wonder how audiences thrust into the middle seasons would pick up the many references to earlier episodes (Chandler’s Dad, Smelly Cat, Monica’s weight &etc). But, to its credit Friends work even if the allusions aren’t always perceptible.

Everyone ends up having a favourite and though mine are easily stratified (ranking them it’s a close tie between Perry and Kudrow followed by Schwimmer then Cox then Aniston and LeBlanc with their characters ranking likewise) I don’t fault anyone who doesn’t have my favourite. The idiosyncrasies of each though ridiculous still manage to be authentic. And though I’m not big on LeBlanc I must give him props for making some of the more cringe worthy story lines work (his Day of Our Lives stint, par exemple). Few shows, if any, put that goofy smile on my face like Friends. It’s strange how parts of the show have trickled down to us (Ross knocking his wrists together instead of flipping someone off; or Joey’s now legendary catchphrase “How you doing?”). Friends epitomises my love affair with TV in the early years of the last decade. They don’t make them like this anymore.

          

Should I eliminate the TV from my Encore’s World? Is Friends as important as I believe it to be? Who’s your favourite?