I have to respond to Skye's ...
Question: I have to respond to Skye's long
response to your opinion that you think
Connie Britton should be placed in a category all by herself. She should. She is the best actress on TV right now. End of story. Yes, Glenn Close and Sally Field may be Oscar winners and more accomplished actresses as a whole, but Connie Britton continuously puts on a breathtaking performance week in and week out. Hers is the most realistic portrayal of a mother on television right now. Yes, Glenn Close gives a ruthless performance, Sally Field is a stand-out on her series, and Holly Hunter and Kyra Sedgwick dominate in otherwise formulaic shows, but Connie Britton stands out in a show that has the greatest ensemble on TV today and one of the greatest ensembles in TV history. It also should be mentioned that Kyle Chandler helps her attain this. Their relationship is so real and so refreshing to see on TV. It is not some cutesy act (I am looking at you,
October Road) or some artificial will-they-or-won't-they. It is drawn from reality and acted so superbly that sometimes I feel like I am watching a documentary of an American family (I think the camerawork helps in that department).
Friday Night Lights is in a class of its own; even if Emmy and Golden Globes voters don't think so, that's fine. I like to think it is because they don't have a Best Damn Show on TV Period Award to give out. Plus, the AFI and the Peabodys got it right and I would take that over a campaigned Emmy or Golden Globe any day. I just hope we see a Season 3. What is the word on that? On another topic, will
Kathy Griffin ever get her own sitcom? What are these networks waiting for?
Answer: No surprise that this wasn't the only e-mail that came to my, and Connie Britton's, defense. The realism, and emotional shadings, of her character — and of Kyle Chandler's career-high work as her husband — explains why some of us remain so passionately committed to shaming the various awards organizations (and let's not leave out the egregious oversight of the Screen Actors Guild Awards) in passing them over in favor of far more recognizable names. Their work may be award-worthy as well, but it's nowhere near as remarkable as what Britton and Chandler are pulling off week after week. The episode in which Tami had to drop off her baby girl at day care and couldn't do it without her husband helping her (and even then, they were heartbroken) was as masterful and moving as it was subtle. The fact that this level of work is being met with such indifference by industry professionals as well as by the public at large is one of the more disheartening puzzles of recent seasons. To address your questions: What are the chances of a Season 3? I'm not very hopeful, but at the moment, thanks to the strike, all bets are off in predicting what will happen once this bizarre season is over. It's something of a miracle that we're being allowed to see this season of
FNL run intact, one of the few positive side-effects of the strike-depleted schedule. (Do I think NBC's current administration would rather run a second hour of
American Gladiators each week than a single hour of this? Yes, I do.) As for the Kathy Griffin question, Bravo has just renewed her
My Life on the D-List series for a fourth season, which is probably a better use of her talents than having her trapped on a sitcom. Fat chance we'll ever see her on the likes of a
Suddenly Susan again. If we and she are lucky.
