Peter Boyle's death reminds me of something else that recently passed away... the sitcom."Hi honey, I'm home... " just doesn't cut it for today's audience. Everybody Loves Raymond is probably the last classic. 'Til Death certainly isn't.But don't mistake the death of the traditional sitcom for the death of comedy on television. Great comedy is alive and kicking.... The only problem is getting an audience to tune in regularly if it's not three cameras and has a laugh track.Arrested Development had brilliant acting, excellent writing, a good time slot and the Emmy for best comedy. It had everything except an audience. Why?If Arrested Development had been on HBO, would it be a glorified hit (a la Curb Your Enthusiasm) because ratings didn't matter? You bet it would.This season's Arrested Development is The Office. It has stellar acting and writing, the Emmy for best comedy, and it's an unconventional show. Unfortunately, the other thing it has in common with the former Fox comedy is it...
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We knew him as Frank Barone, the gruff grandpa who made merry mischief with his sons, his long-suffering wife Marie and his horrified in-laws for nine seasons on Everybody Loves Raymond. Also as the comical monster of Young Frankenstein, tapping and yowling to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” And let’s not forget Clyde Bruckman, the wry, melancholy psychic who foresaw his own death (among others, including Mulder’s) in one of the most memorable X-Files episodes ever. It was for that X-Files guest shot that Peter Boyle won his Emmy in 1996, but he won America’s heart (and was nominated seven times) as the most curmudgeonly of the comic engines in the splendid ensemble cast of Everybody Loves Raymond, one of the last great classic TV comedies. His cranky rapport with Doris Roberts, who played Marie to his Frank, was so popular they reprised their roles for several retro Alka-Seltzer commercials after Raymond folded. It was great seeing them again, reminding us of h...
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If it weren't for Lost, you might never have known what year was being honored at Sunday's Emmy Awards.
James Spader and William Shatner— didn't they win last year? A Raymond sweep — haven't we seen that before? Tony Shalhoub winning again? Wake me when it's over.
I think Felicity Huffman (prior to her own surprise, but not undeserved, win) summed it up best when she muttered, "Clunk."
She was referring to some lame banter during a joint presentation by the five main Desperate Housewives, but she could have been talking about the night itself. Poor Ellen DeGeneres did her droll best to keep this bloated show afloat, but not even the second coming of Johnny Carson (who was paid generous, if solemn, tribute by David Letterman) could have rescued this long, unsatisfying evening.
Few awards are as capricious and as maddening as the Emmys. Even when you s
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Question: I actually have two unrelated questions. First, as someone who has recently been converted to a fan of Entourage by Jeremy Piven's hysterical performance (I've been a fan of his since the late, lamented Cupid), I'd like to know what you think his chances are of winning an Emmy are. Second question: I agree with those who think Battlestar Galactica is a very good show. It's the second-best thing Sci Fi has ever done (behind only Farscape). However, I find the show unrelentingly grim and have a hard time watching sometimes. Do you think the tone of the show might endanger its chances of a long run? A little levity would go a long way, I think.
Answer: First, Piven. Yes, I think he has an excellent chance. His was a true breakout performance in a show whose buzz is steadily building during a time when Emmy ballots are in play. He deserves it (although I'd also love Peter Boyle to get an Emmy finally and complete the Raymond cast's sweep), and I predict he'll win. As for Galactica
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