Moltisanti’s Best Actors of the Decade

1) James Gandolfini – The Sopranos

There’s not really much competition for the top spot here. Gandolfini captures the contradictions of Tony Soprano perfectly. From his strongest moments as a mob boss to his weakness as he wears down under the constant pressures of his job and his family as well as his deep-seated insecurity, Gandolfini is perfect. Unfortunately for him and his acting career, he’ll never be seen as anyone other than Tony Soprano. Still, there are worse ways to go down in TV history.

2) Ian McShane – Deadwood

Commanding. That’s the one word that best describes McShane’s performance as saloon owner and town shot-caller, Al Swearengen. Swearengen is a study in leadership, albeit corrupt leadership. He knows when to hold a hard line and when to compromise, and McShane is equally enthralling in Swearengen’s vicious moments and his more vulnerable ones. Overall, it’s as close to a flawless performance as you’ll find.

3) Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Hamm dominates scenes as Don Draper. Sure, he’s cool, but he also displays all of Draper’s struggles (both at work and at home), including his ongoing identity crisis, with ease. And though it’s a well-known performance, it’s by and large an understated one. Sure, there are the flashy moments (“The Wheel” monologue comes to mind) where he shines, but he does more with looks and expressions than almost any other actor on this list.

4) Will Arnett – Arrested Development

Comedic actors often get slighted when it comes to rankings. It’s odd considering their work is often just as challenging as dramatic actors. So, the best comedy of the decade, hell, maybe of all time, needed a shout out somewhere before the best shows list. Will Arnett is uproariously funny as wanna-be magician Gob Bluth. It certainly says something that he stands out among a cast of hilarious actors.

5) Kiefer Sutherland – 24

Like CJ, I was scared to leave Jack Bauer off this list, even if the actor playing him may not always be sober enough to come after me. As I noted in the best characters list, Sutherland makes sure Jack Bauer is more than a one-dimensional action star. He’s a noble hero grappling with immense personal anguish as he faces down impossible moral quandaries. Sutherland fits the role perfectly, and, like Gandolfini with Tony Soprano, will go down in history wedded to this role.

CJ’s Best TV Actors of the Decade

We’re running out of time to bring you the best of the 2000s.  So, here for your viewing pleasure, I present my five best TV actors of the decade.  Now, this will be a brief list because most of these actors have been mentioned for their skill on my best characters of the decade list.  However, when I selected those to include on my character list, I

Intensity? Check.

selected characters that I thought would be remembered, not necessarily those that are the most skilfully portrayed (although these are often one and the same.)  But since the criteria are a bit different for the two lists, they are slightly different.  Here we go.

1) Martin Sheen (The West Wing)-Martin Sheen brought just the right stuff to an incredibly complex character.

He was remarkably consistent as president Jed Bartlet, but very believable in his reactions to trying situations.

2) Kiefer Sutherland (24)-Jack Bauer.  Come on.  What else do I need to say?  (Jack Bauer would come and kill me if I didn’t put Sutherland on this list.)

3) Hugh Laurie (House)-This was the most popular show in the world in 2008.  And House is another fascinatingly complex character to portray.  Laurie brings an air of believability to such an ‘out there’ character.  He deserves recognition for this feat.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose

4) Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)-Perhaps only upstaged by Connie Britton, Chandler does a remarkable job as Coach Eric Taylor.  Firm as a coach and undying in his love for the game, Chandler brings a notable passion to his role.

5) Jon Hamm (Mad Men)-I haven’t seen much of this show.  So I may as well admit to just putting Hamm on the list because I think he’s cute.  Also because I’m looking forward to getting into this show (FINALLY) when I get back to Madison.

Honorable Mention

Steve Carell (The Office)

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Naveen Andrews (Lost)

Moltisanti’s Best Actresses of the Decade

1) Edie Falco – The Sopranos

I’ve already detailed why Carmela Soprano is one of the best characters of this decade. One of the main reasons she made that list is because of Edie Falco, who is equally understated and show-stopping throughout the six seasons of The Sopranos. Most will point to her duel with Tony in season four’s “Whitecaps” as her best performance, but it’s the smaller, quieter moments, when you see her wrestling with the disappointment in her husband (and, at times, her children), her struggle with her own limitations, and her maternal sense of responsibility where Falco shines the most.

2) Glenn Close – Damages

As Patty Hughes, Close is chilling and brutal. However, as I noted in the best characters list, this could easily have been a one-dimensional villain. Close, however, complements Hughes’ villainous side with hints of vulnerabilities and emotion. Her ability to command a scene is unparalleled.

3) Allison Janney – The West Wing

I’m not a huge West Wing fan, but during my years of watching the show, Allison Janney always stood out.  Unfazed and in

command, she, as Mr. Feeny noted, was the perfect actress for the high-paced Aaron Sorkin-penned Bartlett White House.

4) Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

I wasn’t a regular viewer of this show, but every time I did watch it, I was mildly entertained by the plot and wildly entertained by Kyra Sedgwick’s turn as a spunky, tough detective. It’s possible that I was just brainwashed by all the promos I saw during the NBA playoffs, but, for now, I’m confident saying Sedgwick was one of the best of the decade.

5) January Jones – Mad Men

Betty Draper may be a slightly adapted version of a character we’ve seen before: the stifled 1950s housewife struggling to cope with suburban ennui. But, credit the show’s writers and January Jones for making sure she doesn’t turn into a cardboard cutout of a character. Betty has developed over the course of the show into a slightly more assertive woman and certainly a less naive one. Still, however, she’s held back by her own delusional childlike nature, her unhealthy relationship with her now dead parents and the social confines of an age where divorce was far from commonplace. Jones never overacts and often captures Betty’s unhappiness, fear and anger with just a look. In my opinion, Jones has delivered one of the most underrated performances of the decade.

Season 7 of Project Runway Comes to Lifetime January 14

Will Project Runway be in or out this season?

Apparently in an attempt to shake off the cloud hanging over the mediocre at best season 6, Lifetime will air a new season of Project Runway beginning January 14.

In addition, Lifetime reports that the show will return to New York (where it belongs) and judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia will be around to share their criticisms for the entirety of the season (YES!)  And of course, there will be Heidi and Tim.

The new bunch of designers is even more diverse, with many designers coming from overseas.  China, The Philippines, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mexico are all represented.   Also, not a single designer hails from New York, New York.  Check out their bios here.  You can also check out our new designers’ old work here.

I’ll be watching.  I’m willing to give Lifetime and Project Runway a second chance this year.  But this time is for real.  We’ll find out if Project Runway on Lifetime is in or out.

Season 7 premieres January 14, 2010 at 9 PM.

CJ’s Best TV Actresses of the Decade

Here goes.  Finally the women get the credit they deserve.

1) Tina Fey (30 Rock, SNL)-Thank Sarah Palin for this one.  See Mr. Feeny’s post on how Tina Fey became the actress of the decade.

2) Allison  Janney (The West Wing)-Mr. Feeny has hit the nail on the head with this one.  The reason CJ is such a compelling character on this show is that Janney portrays her with a passion that is unparalleled.  CJ never hesitates to speak her mind and get involved with the issues.  When something just doesn’t feel right, she lets us all know.  And, she can hang with the boys like the best of ‘em.  She also lets her fun and quirky side out.  See this clip from season one if you doubt Janney’s versatility:

That's so Carrie

3) Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)-Are you a Carrie or a Samantha?  That most people understand what this question even means is a testament to Sarah Jessica Parker’s portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw.  Sex and the City aired from 1998-2004 and was capped last year by the movie.  Parker’s insightful voiceovers about sex, love, men, and Manolos resonated with viewers and made the actress and the character one of the most popular of the decade.

4) Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls)-Quirky, sarcastic, and confident, Lauren Graham’s portrayal of Lorelai in Gilmore Girls made her everything mothers could hope to be.  Graham’s skill made Lorelai a down-to-earth, if totally strange, character.  Her humor was one thing that did not fade throughout the seasons.

5) Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters)-I know Mr. Feeny will argue with me over this one, but I sincerely believe Sally Field is the best part of this show.  Field’s portrayal of Nora Walker, the matriarch of the crazy family, really brings the whole family (nay, show) together.  When her eyes glisten with love for her family, it is hard for me to believe that Sally Field is anyone but Nora Walker.

Sally Field Brings the Walkers together

Honorable Mentions

Sarah Chalke (Scrubs, How I Met your Mother)

Alyson Hanigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, How I Met your Mother)

Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights, The West Wing)

“Last Cigarette Ever”: How I Met Your Mother (S5: E11)

Trying to throw Lily off the scent of smoke by brushing his tongue

Plot Summary: Robin and Marshall both get new co-workers that drive them to start smoking again.  Of course, when they start, the rest of the gang lights up too.  One week into their new habit and after Marshall’s new boss has a heart attack, they realize they have to quit.  They all get up early to watch Robin’s show because she’s supposed to be interviewing the mayor.  She’s disappointed when he cancels on her, but after the show as they all watch the sun come up, they vow to make this their last cigarette ever.

What we Learn about the Mother: OK, so this isn’t really about the mother.  But I’m so excited to have something to say that I’m going to share it anyway.  Ted reveals at the end of the episode that he had his REAL last cigarette ever two weeks into dating ‘your mother.’  And he hasn’t looked back since.  Awwwww.

Best Moment: After a week of smoking, Lily’s voice totally changes.  It becomes deep as a man’s voice and picks up the Jewish mother accent somehow.  (In fact, Harvey Fierstein ‘plays’ Lily’s smoking voice.)  She’s clearly lip synching all of her lines in the second half of the show.

Top 3 Quotes:

1) Marshall tells the story of when he had his first cigarette at age 13.  On a camping trip, one nerdy boy in a snow-filled landscape tells 13-year-old Marshall, “Come on, let’s celebrate summer vacation!”  (And yes, jokes about the perpetual cold and snow in Minnesota are funny on HIMYM, but NOT when you make them.  My sense of humor is hypocritical.  What are you going to do about it?)  Adult Marshall returns to this snow-filled scene several times throughout the episode to beat up on his 13-year-old self for starting the nasty habit.

2) Barney and Ted reminisce about back when you were actually allowed to smoke inside.  The scene flashes back to a smoke-filled room.  (Like, really smoke filled.  You can barely make out Ted and Barney in their booth.)  Ted says: That hot girl over there is smiling at me.  Barney replies: That’s a chair, but dude, hit that.

3) Barney describes the few situations in which he tends to light up.  They include pre-coital, on a sailboat, when cuddling, etc…  Ted asks: So why are you smoking right now?  Barney gives Ted ‘the look’ and says: I’m always pre-coital, Ted.

Speaking of Barney being pre-coital, want to know how difficult to get laid in various ridiculous outfits?  Read Barney’s latest blog entry.

How TV Can Save the World

No, really.

In his article for Foreign Policy magazine, economist Charles Kenny argues that it will be TV, and not Twitter or facebook that may be a ticket to a better global future.

Kenny asks:

“So will the rapid, planetwide proliferation of television sets and digital and satellite channels, to corners of the world where the Internet is yet unheard of, be the cause of global decay such critics fear?  Hardly.  A world of couch potatoes in front of digital sets will have its downsides–fewer bowling clubs, more Wii bowling.  It may or may not be a world of greater obesity, depending on whom you ask.  But it could also be a world more equal for women, healthier, better governed, more united in response to global tragedy, and more likely to vote for local versions of American Idol than shoot at people.”

The first revolution, Kenny argues, was the explosion of access.  An explosion of choice will be second.  An increasing number of channels and digital signals loosens the grip of bureacrats and state-controlled programming.

Some have even held up TV as a form of birth control.  The portrayal of plausible female characters in shows like Desperate Housewives, which is watched by almost 60 million people worldwide, is apparently an important social cue even without advertisements for contraceptives.  Indeed, when a woman reached the final five of Afghan Star this year, the director of the show said this would “do more for women’s rights than all the millions of dollars we have spent on public service announcements for women’s rights on TV.”

Scholars have long recognized that a strong press and TV can also cut down on state corruption, provide important health advice, and provide education for children.

Kenny summarizes:

“In the not-too-distant future, it is quite possible that the world will be watching 24 billion hours of TV a day–an average of close to four hours for each person in the world.  Some of those hours could surely be better spent–planting trees, helping old ladies cross the road, or playing cricket, perhaps.  But watching TV exposes people to new ideas and different people.  With that will come greater opportunity, growing equality, a better understanding of the world, and a new appreciation for the complexities of life for a wannabe Afghan woman pop star.  Not bad for a siren Medusa supposedly giving so little.”

One final interesting note.  The most popular TV show worldwide ever?  Baywatch.  It has been broadcast in 142 countries, and at its peak, had an audience of over 1 billion people.

Reaction to the article seems to have been mixed.  Check out the comments on the foreign policy website.  A common reaction seems to be ‘At what cost?’  Is it really worth having TV bring peace and prosperity?  I’m not sure, but perhaps we should think twice before we completely dismiss the boob tube.

Here’s What Happened

USA decided to dive feet first into the world of original cable programming. They wanted something a little off-beat, something to distinguish itself from the rest of television’s offering. So they came up with a quirky detective show.

But they knew this unique character couldn’t be lovable unless they found the perfect actor. That’s where the odd Italian cabdriver from Wings came in. Tony Shaloub had only gotten small parts since that comedy ended, with bit parts in the Men in Black movies and a starring role in the failed Odd Couple-esque sitcom, Stark Raving Mad. But something about Shaloub attracted the producers and they hired him. That’s when everything started to change. (I hope you realize I tried to do one of Monk’s patented explanatory monologues)

Monk proceeded to dominate the cable landscape for 8 years, becoming one of the decade’s iconic television characters (see my list here). The detective comedy consistently beat most of its cable competition, not just on Fridays but on all days. Even with its shortened and sporadic seasons, Monk became must-watch viewing for millions of Americans. And it earned Shaloub three Emmys.

The beauty of Monk is that, unlike the serial dramas on network TV, we the viewer usually had the pieces we needed to solve the mystery ourselves. We got to be armchair sleuths. Even if we knew who the killer was, we could guess the motive, or how it happened. Mixed in with a ton of humor and unique awkward situations every week to put Monk in, it was the perfect Friday night show.

Monk holds an interesting place in my television repertoire. It’s like mashed potatoes. I would never think to call mashed potatotes one of my favorite foods. I have many more dishes I’d mention first. But I always enjoy mashed potatoes. And more often than not, I want them on my plate. It’s just not the type of stand-out food you think of when putting together your cravings list. But it’s always reliable. There are other comparisons that would work. Like a friend you always have fun with, but don’t consider one of your best. Or a movie you can watch over and over on TV but don’t actually own (Die Hard, for me).

Monk probably won’t end up on my Top 10 shows of all-time. I haven’t seen every episode. I don’t obsess over what happens in each episode like I do with LOST or 24. But I never am disappointed. I can always sit down and enjoy an hour of Monk before moving on to do something else. It’s been one of the most reliably entertaining shows on television since its 2002 debut.

That’s why I was incredibly surprised how much Monk’s series finale affected me. I’d been putting off watching the last two-part episode because I didn’t want the show to be over. But I finally watched it yesterday…and was blown away. Although the series itself won’t land on my top 10 list, its finale would. One of the most perfect series finales I’ve ever seen (once our decade lists are done, I’ll definitely do one of those).

First of all, the show ended on Episode 125. How perfect is that? A sublimely balanced number. While not even, I’m sure Monk would have liked it. 125 just has an even feel.

Next, the finale — AND SPOILERS BEGIN NOW — actually answered the series long question: who killed Monk’s wife Trudy? When Monk gets closure at the end, so does the audience. Now we know. He can move on with his life off camera and we can try — and fail — to find as purely entertaining a show.

Third, it had some big guest stars. Craig T. Nelson as the villain. DB Woodside as Monk’s doctor. Even Ed Begley Jr. as the dead body (he literally had one scene in the two-parter).

Fourth, the finale allowed the actors to reach new heights in acting. Primarily Shaloub, who not only was able to play “poisoned, dying Monk” to perfection, but then mixed it seamlessly with all-encompassing rage. We got to see Monk lose it, as he attacked and beat senseless Nelson’s character. Never before had Monk shown that much true emotion. And really, only this could have brought it out.

That’s the next part that made this great. They stayed true to the characters. We knew Monk wouldn’t kill Nelson. He wanted to. We could see that. But there’s a line he won’t cross, as much as he longed to avenge Trudy’s death. It harkened back to a previous season premiere, when Monk found the man who was hired to plant the car bomb. He was dying, and Monk was alone in the hospital room. He cut off the killer’s medicine and said “this is me making you suffer.” The patient was in excrutiating pain, and you could see Monk’s pleasure at hurting the person who hurt him. But then he let go and said “and this is Trudy letting you live.” He is always in control, even with a gun pointed at his wife’s killer.

Lastly, the writers left us in a good, sensible place. There was some development. Randy became a police chief and moved in with Sharona. Captain Stottlemyre found his new wife (another Trudy, introduced previously in this excellent final season). And Adrian changed. Back to the slightly OCD Monk of before. Twelve years earlier, when he was able to cope with Trudy. He no longer cared as much about everything being straight and in place. He wore a new outfit. Monk is still obsessive, but not the way we saw him. That was Monk with something weighing him down. Now Monk’s happier, connecting with Trudy’s daughter, and he’s able to live his life again. We took a journey over the past 8 years, and the ending couldn’t have been more satisfying.

Best Actresses of the Decade

Continuing our list of Decade Bests…and to show I don’t hate women after I kept them out of my Best Characters list…here are the five actresses who shined above all others from 2000-2009. Technically, I guess if someone was on a mostly 90s show but had an amazing season this decade, that could count. But I don’t think we’ll run into that. Unlike my character list, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the performances that defined the decade. Just the ones that really stood out.

I see the actor/actress lists more like a sports dynasty. Were the Yankees the best team of the decade? They won the first and last World Series and performed well almost every year in between. The Patriots? The Lakers? Every year’s a little different,  but a dynasty is created. That’s the case with this list. Great actresses boost their significance to the decade by being spread across multiple shows and platforms. Which is exactly what THE Actress of the Decade did.

1) Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock) — There is no doubt in my mind that Tina Fey was the biggest actress of the 2000s. Let’s look at it chronologically. First off, she had nothing on her TV resume before the end of the 90s and now she’s one of the most famous actresses in the country. She ascended to the top of Saturday Night Live’s pecking order early this century, quickly becoming a fan favorite. She transitioned that success into the incredibly popular movie Mean Girls (which she wrote…as she did most skits on SNL). And after leaving Saturday Night Live, what did Fey do to keep up? Created and wrote 30 Rock, a hilarious comedy that has won the Emmy every year since it’s creation, and given Fey two individual nods. Oh, and if that’s not enough, Fey became even more popular with her spot-on impression of Sarah Palin during the 2008 election…also earning her an Emmy. She might be the funniest actress since Mary Tyler Moore…and is definitely the best female writer. It’s Tina Fey’s world and we’re just watching it.

2) Edie Falco (The Sopranos) — How do you play the devoted wife of a killer and not seem like a naive sap? The way Falco did. Carmella always knew what was going on. She saw through Tony’s BS and chose to stay with him, because she herself had problems. But Falco fought to make her character strong, not just a victim of circumstances. Every decision Carmella made, be it small (getting her kid’s form signed) or large (having or not having an affair), Falco showed the power inside her character. Scenes with Gandolfini were always riveting, and unlike some other acclaimed dramas, I never screamed for the lead female character to get off the screen (ahem, Mad Men). The whole range of human emotion could be seen in Falco at any given moment. A flicker of her eyes could tell you what she was thinking. Fantastic dramatic actress.

3) Allison Janney (The West Wing) — The actual West Wing — and all of DC for that matter — is a boy’s world. And fast paced scripts from Aaron Sorkin seemed almost intended for those good old boys. But CJ Cregg was just as much a part of the decision making and fast talking as anyone else in that White House. And that’s thanks to Janney. She managed to find in Cregg the difficult balance of professionalism and compassion, often finding pet concerns or uncovering painful realities that she, as a political outsider, struggled with. When she disagreed with a decision, she let it be known before going about her job. I still don’t like the writers’ decision to promote her to Chief of Staff, but even in that role Janney evolved and gave CJ a new outlook. She almost became Leo. If you need proof that Janney belongs on this list, watch “The Long Goodbye.” The only episode of the series where one character goes off and has an entire episode just to her or himself. The acting in that episode alone is one of the best performances of the decade.

4) Glenn Close (The Shield, Damages) — I love Glenn Close’s masterful performance in Damages but was hesitant to include her after just two seasons. Then I remembered she was in The Shield, which I heard fantastic things about…plus it earned her an Emmy (as did Damages). A pair of Emmys is a good place to start for being one of the best TV Actresses of the Decade. I can’t speak on her Shield performance, but as Patty Hewes, Close dominates every scene she’s in. You can’t take your eyes off her. You never know what she’ll say next or, more importantly, how she’ll say it. The most common phrase can become a biting judgment. Her eyes will turn you to ice, her smile make you squirm. It’s actually very similar to her role as Cruella de Vil…only much more dramatic.

5) Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) — After three seasons, it’s criminal that Britton hasn’t been nominated for an Emmy. Especially in an awards association that relies so heavily on critics over viewers. As Tami Taylor, Britton exhibits every single quality that makes the others on this list award-winners. She has the resolve of Close, the complexity of Falco, the compassion of Janney. Even some humor…though not on Fey’s level. Plus, she improvises a large part of her scenes with Kyle Chandler, showing her natural acting chops. She makes her role as a small town coach’s wife and school principal seem about as realistic as a show can get. And as anyone who acts knows, “not acting” is one of the toughest skills there is.

Prep and Landing lands a hit

Holding down the Control Room

Thank goodness for the fact that they replay holiday specials ad nauseum before Christmas.  I finally got a chance to watch Disney’s Prep and Landing on ABC.  Is it the new Rudolph?  Frosty?  Charlie Brown?  Here’s what I think.

(This plot summary contains spoilers.)

The special follows an elite group of elves that help Santa get it all done on Christmas Eve.  The main character, Wayne wants a promotion, but he doesn’t get it.  Instead, he gets a new partner, energetic and eager Lanny.  On Christmas Eve, Wayne is jaded so doesn’t want to help prep for Santa.  Creatures start stirring, a snow storm hits, and the control room decides to call off the trip to Timmy’s house.  Lanny and Wayne pull together and get Santa into the house.  Wayne gets his promotion, but remembers the TRUE meaning of Prep and Landing and decides to stick with his old job with Lanny.

Disney has completely created a world of Christmas.  In a way, the special is almost too high tech and well done to fit

Wayne meets his new partner, Lanny

in with the rest of the genre.  (Remember how “homemade” Rudolph looks?)  Of course, times change, and this is classic Disney/Pixar.  Nonetheless, the special doesn’t feel too ambitious.  Focusing on one child’s house makes it all fit into a half hour.  But I would totally watch this as a movie.  These characters could definitely sustain two hours.

Now, when it comes to Christmas, I say the more the merrier.  And in Prep and Landing, Christmas is all over the place.  The elves have scanners to determine the number of  creatures stirring (hopefully zero), and use Christmas tree lights to guide the sleigh on to the roof, much like air traffic controllers.

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

One of my favorite things about Prep and Landing is all of the references to other Christmas poems and songs.  The Prep and Landing elves have their own language, and like any top secret program, they speak in code and all have call signs.  Lanny’s call sign is “Tree Skirt” (heh) and when Santa is good and ready to leave the North Pole, the control room elves say “The Patridge is in the Pear Tree.”  The reindeer all have bluetooth headsets to communicate with control.  Their call sign is “Eight Maids a Milking,” which they don’t like.  The language and codes create a complete, believable world.  Also, this language makes the special very quotable, so I can see families (and me) looking forward to seeing this every year.

Like all other members of this genre, Prep and Landing has a message about the true meaning of Christmas.  Here, we’re told it’s about making memories to pass on.  When Wayne re-realizes this, he of course decides to stick with his old job.  In this way, the ending is predictable, but it’s ok.

So what do I think?  Prep and Landing is “so tinsel.”  (Translation: really awesome.)