My Tent on The Beach

After months of feeling “not right,” I finally feel like I’m coming back around to my more normal self.  How do I know?  I’m watching and loving tv again and, incidentally, it’s a good season to be back in the saddle.  But over the past couple weeks, several magazines (EW, People, TV Guide) have put out their “Best of TV Lists” and it’s the usual categories.  I, however, in a nod to being different (something of a hobby for me) would like to name my new favorite “characters” on tv that may or may not being carrying entire shows. Because sometimes, the best characters are those who are cleverly wrecking havoc in the background somewhere.  Here’s my Top 10 favorite characters on tv right now…they may not be the best, but they give me great joy.

10. John Casey (Chuck) A hardened Marine employed to watch after naive Chuck, a important government asset, John Casey is nothing but annoyed, simmering dry humor.  Played wonderfully by Adam Baldwin (of Firefly fame), Casey never misses to deliver a snappy line under his breath just after saving Chuck…again…and he’s so dang cute.

9. Sam Axe (Burn Notice) Bruce Campbell is screen gold, no matter what he’s in.  But as Sam, Michael’s FBI agent friend who ratted him out but is still loyal, Campbell gives this show an interesting mix of levity and credibility.  The brand of ladies’ man introduced to us in The Rockford Files, Sam has seen and done it all and still has time for a beer.  No one…and I mean no one…has better hair or shirts on television these days.

8. Rachel Berry (Glee) In another life, I was Rachel Berry.  In a parallel world, I am Rachel Berry.  The aggressively talented sophomore “star” of William McKinley High’s glee club, Rachel Berry is the most perfect mix of intelligence, conscience, and obnoxiousness wrapped up in an impressive soprano belter.  The object of continual harassment by the “cooler” kids while and her own affections, Rachel somehow ends up being the competent, talented soul in this whole venture.  I just love her.  And she sings like a true star…while annoying the shit out of everyone.  Mostly I love that this character is so real.  I taught many students who were Rachels…it’s almost heartwarming to me.

7. Deborah Morgan (Dexter) This show is the story of a serial killer Dexter who commands most of the screen time.  But Deborah, his sister, is the most compelling character on the show.  She’s a self-made Detective of distinction who has watched her father die, was engaged/almost killed by the Ice Truck Killer, was shot and watched her beloved Frank Lundy die right in front of her…and solved the Trinity Murders–all without wanting to commit suicide.  But honestly, this character would be lesser without Jennifer Carpenter’s incredible acting.  She gives the most convincing performances that tap into the emotional edge that Deborah walks every day of her life.  I’m fascinated by Dexter’s serial killer, but I’m compelled by Deborah’s humanity.

6. Tracy Morgan (30 Rock) When this show started, I didn’t get Tracy so I paid much more attention to Liz and Jack.  But Tracy delivers the absolute BEST most nuanced lines in this entire show.  And this man-child-star character that appears so one-dimensional is actually evolving in a really interesting way, seen in his developing friendship with Kenneth.  I’m beginning to crave the moments when he’s on the screen.

5. Abed (Community) Played by Dani Pudi (who went to Marquette) Abed is the greatest example of Asberger’s disease as a term of endearment.  Creepy, weird, social inept…yet 100% lovable.  Makes whatever he’s doing absolutely hilarious, especially when paired with Trey.

4. Tom Colicchio (Top Chef) This feels a little unfair because Tom’s a real guy.  But he is the saving heart-and-soul of that show.  Padma, with her weird, distant delivery and snotty food commentary, annoys me in a “who do you think you are?” kinda way.  But when Tom talks, we all should listen.  But I was really sold on Tom in a Diet Coke commercial he did that airs during the show…he’s got a hilarious sense of humor, he knows and obviously loves food, and I think he gives very important feedback.  Watching the show, we can learn from Tom.  The others are just catty without him there.

3. Kurt (Glee) Man I love this kid.  Kurt is “the gay” in the glee club which could carry a particular stereotype, especially because his character knows his way around fashion.  But, in the middle of the season, we got a peek into Kurt’s life that was both endearing and granted him a really solid internal strength that counteracts the intended flamboyance.  And when he sang “Defying Gravity” as a countertenor, I cried.  It was wonderful.  I can’t wait to see where they take Kurt.  He’s got the most potential of the students in Glee.

2. Phil (Modern Family) Playing the insane dad with 3 kids, Phil is everything that fathers both should and should not be.  He’s goofy, loving, caring, girlie, clueless, tender, stupid…he’s what I think I want to be married to.  And what would drive me absolutely crazy to the point of murder.  It’s such a genius character for television, especially among all of the horrible “dad” characters that are either stupid or unreally attentive.  He’s real, I think.

1. Sue Sylvester (Glee) Such a fantastic evil walking through the halls of WMH.  Played impeccably by Jane Lynch, Sue Sylvester is the coach of the Cheerios who will stop at nothing to destroy the glee club just because it’s fun to watch innocents die.  With her swaggering arrogance, heartless manipulation, and refusal to apologize or show any evidence of a conscience, Sue is what everyone secretly wishes they could be if life really had no consequences.  But she does have a heart; she fell for Rod and when it didn’t work out she took it out in multiple ways on everything that crossed her path.  So wonderful.

Honorable Mentions: Liz Lemon & Jack Donaghy (30 Rock), Cameron (Modern Family), Fiona (Burn Notice)

And of course, there are characters I miss and am looking forward to seeing again come the new season this winter: Jack/Kate/Sawyer (Lost), Michael/Sam/Fiona/Michael’s Mother (Burn Notice), Casey/Sarah/Chuck (Chuck) to name a few.

Yeah.  I’m so back.

I have to say, this past season of tv provides me absolutely nothing to complain about.  I have been satisfied weekly by my continual favorites: 30 Rock, Top Chef, Bones, Dexter.  I’ve also added to the mix Community, Parks and Rec, and ABC’s Modern Family which are all freshman nods in my book (technically Parks and Rec debuted last season but it was finding itself and I let it have it’s time to develop).  But nothing–NOTHING–has given me the joy of my one and only Glee.

The cast of Glee in all of its glory.

Oh Fox, you’ve made me a believer.  I was nervous when I first heard about this show.  Marketed as a musical television show and premiering directly after the American Idol finale in the spring, I thought for sure this was a loser, entering the annals of such epic failures as Cop Rock and Viva Laughlin.  If history has proven only one thing it’s that television and musicals are not happy bedfellows.  And then there was Glee.

Set at fictional William McKinley High (in Lima, Ohio, no less), you’d think it’d be the story of all Glee clubs in high school (although we called ‘em show choirs): a bunch of nerds not good enough for sports make asses of themselves on stage in mediocre-to-embarrassing musical numbers choreographed by adults whose greatest moments were understudied the leads in Cats in college.  But that’s where you’re wrong.  Oh, it’s got the nerds…but it manages to address the jock-vs.-music nerd epic battle and “solve” it.  It’s got teen pregnancy, crooked teachers, a failing marriage, a wishy-washy principal, a crazy cheerleading coach, and Emma Pillsbury (possibly one of my favorite characters on the small screen).  And that’s in the first two shows.

Drama aside, what it also offers in an incredibly talented and able cast (Matthew Morrison (Tony nominated) and Lea Michele (Grammy winner) are both major up-and-comers on Broadway) singing some of the greatest mixes of pop and Broadway standards.  And these little ditties fit seamlessly into the story, given the backdrop of the glee club (which solves the problem that happens for a lot of people when “musical” enters the description of anything: random breaking into song.)  There’s no random breaking into song!

Is it the perfect tv show? No.  I’ve got my issues.  The storylines have been hit or miss this season, as have the choices of featured music.  But the cast is so good, the writing so sharp, and Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester (the Cheerios head coach) so deliciously evil that this equation is primed for greatness to ensue.

Of course, they wrapped their first season this week.  And I’m sorry but any show that leaves me with “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl) and “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Kelly Clarkson) in the same show, both executed beautifully (in their own ways)…well, I’m gonna give you a big ‘ol hug.

This show is just pure fun.  And I want more.  But I’ll have to wait until April 13.  That gives all non-watchers plenty of time to get on the horse and catch up.  You won’t be sorry.