SHEL TURTLESTEIN: How many times can we recount the ways in which Modern Family takes standard sitcom plots and infuses them with awesomeness? Okay, so maybe we need to talk a little about Mitchell's failure to appreciate what it means to be an attorney, but otherwise this show is sticking its landings on every move it attempts.
Let me instead focus on this: if Rico Rodriguez II doesn't get an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor - Comedy for his work as Manny, there will be hell to pay. That kid takes preposterous dialogue and sells it, week after week. He is adorable without being overly precocious and utterly plausible in his wise-beyond-his-years-ness. If this world is just, his name will be in the same category as Eric Stonestreet, Rainn Wilson and Neil Patrick Harris when the ballots go out.
Much as I love Wilson, I don't know that he deserves to be on the final ballot this year--Dwight has turned into a cartoonish boor who's not all that interesting. And the category is pretty stacked--Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Nick Offernan, Chris Pratt, Ty Burrell, Dan Byrd, Chris Colfer, and Kevin McHale all have solid cases for a nomination in the category.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the ladies' side, let's not underestimate the powerhouse that is Sofia Vergara. I loved her on "The Knights of Prosperity" (I was, I think, one of the 14 people that watched that show). Her delivery of "I'm Colombian. I know a fake crime scene when I see one!" had us on the floor. Me, I'd give her an Emmy for her performance in the Oscar ad. "Cloudy with a Chance of the Meatballs!" HA!
ReplyDeleteAccording to IMDB, Rico Rodriguez was born in 1998, as were Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould.
ReplyDeleteI can only assume that this is some kind of Hollywood chicanery.
Also, why isn't Judy Greer a big movie star? Or at least someone who has her own long-running sitcom?
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm one of the 14! My boyfriend wears his KoP shirt to bed. That show was great.
ReplyDeleteI was working on a movie recently, and the location manager told me his previous job was on "Knights of Prosperity." I told him how my wife and I loved that show, and he replied, "Now you're just f--king with me, right? We didn't think anyone watched it."
ReplyDeleteYes it was, if just for the awesome theme song.
ReplyDeleteI watched it too!
ReplyDeleteThe world, unfortunately, has passed Judy Greer by. When she came on last night, I said, "I love her." She is beautiful, but willing to play ugly for funny (GOB: Glasses off. Glasses on! Hair down. Hair up, hair up! Glasses on, hair up! Lights off!"). Her moment would have been six or seven years ago, but she just didn't get the breaks.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I may not be quite the fan of MF that you are, and I'd guess Kraskinski and McHale would submit in best actor (whether or not they should is another question), but on personal preference I'd have a hard time making a case for Rodriguez (or Stonestreet or Wilson, frankly) over Pudi, Offerman, Pratt, Aziz Ansari, Adam Baldwin, Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett, James Franco's Little Brother, or Jim Parsons.
ReplyDelete"You" being Adam, not Matt.
ReplyDeleteParsons will submit as a lead (where he was deservedly nominated last year), as will McHale. Krasinski has historically submitted as a supporting cast member, but may try to take the jump, because the lead category is a little more open.
ReplyDeleteI love Judy Greer, too. Great in "Adaptation," and acceptable in "Hebrew Hammer." There just aren't spaces for female comediennes, though, in our reality-tv era. Hard to believe that Debra Messing is the standard for our generation--and her movie career hasn't exactly worked out.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he's going to be Captain America. Captain America is not a supporting player.
ReplyDeleteMarmaduke should do well this summer (plus it also stars Lee Pace, so there's that). Peep World has a great cast. Roles in Love and Other Drugs and Henry's Crime ...this could be the Year of Greer.
ReplyDeleteLast night was also an excellent episode for another reason: I think it was the best episode so far where there was no (or almost no) inter-family interaction, but each story worked very well on its own. This bodes well for the long-term health of the show, I think.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Zsa-Zsa G'Boa.
Flyza Minelli
ReplyDeleteWhat did you mean about Mitchell's failure to appreciate what it means to be an attorney?
ReplyDeleteWe sometimes work weekends, especially if a case is getting ready for trial.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, but I don't blame him for wanting to reclaim his life from a big firm though. That's part of the reason I went solo.
ReplyDelete