a salute to sidekicks.

     

a few people have mentioned the noticeable absence of posts of late. honestly? this television season has been a tad lackluster (aside from the fabulously shocking dexter finale). if it hasn't been uninspired writing making me yawn, it's been shows like grey's wrapping for the holidays nearly a month in advance. i mean, come on. thankfully, new shows i thought showed promise (accidentally on purpose, the good wife, cougar town), haven't failed me- all three were picked up for the rest of the season. i realise they're not everyone's favourites, but these shows managed to figure out what works for those tuning in, and have delivered each week, their first season in.

i've decided to toast their success by celebrating the interesting thing they all have in common: fabulous sidekicks. so often these women get the short end of the stick in terms of credit, so i'm making sure to recognize their talent and contribution.

accidentally on purpose features two gal pal costars to jenna elfman's billie. the first, most will recognize as scottish christina from ugly betty. played by ashley jensen, i find that she's somewhat funny, but not quite in that effortless way you'd prefer in a sitcom. that honour goes to sidekick numero dos, lennon parham, who plays billie's sister. her lost in suburbia monotone yet bubbling over with anxious excitement tone renders lines hilarious to the point of rewinding. often a whole episode will be made by something she said and the way she said it. so while elfman delivers, it's parham who brings the comic sensibility i look forward to every week.

on the more dramatic side is archie panjabi who plays toughie kalinda on the good wife. while panjabi's muted english accent drove me crazy at first, i've really come to adore her take on her hard-nosed law firm investigator character. kalinda is cynical and shrewd, intrusive in all the right ways, and fantastic at her job, all while remaining a total enigma (though they have hinted at her liking the ladies on a few occasions...) but it's panjabi's style in playing kalinda that makes this supporting character one that intrigues and serves as the perfect complement to julianna margulies' alicia florrick- making the good wife that much more compelling to watch.

the last on the list, busy philipps, is most known for her sidekick role eons ago on dawson's creek. she annoyed the hell out of me then, but playing laurie keller, courtney cox's young ditzy real estate assistant, she now entertains the hell out of me on cougar town. it's a character that so easily could have gone the way of irritating, but you instead grow to adore laurie's silly antics because you believe how dedicated she is to her best friend jules. this is owed to phillips' ability to strike the balance between silly and sincere, leaving us rooting for her and her bestie (and even plastic face, christa miller, who hilariously makes fun of laurie at every turn).

a hearty congratulations to these three sidekicks. it's a tough job supporting the main player without any of the glory, but each of these women have had a substantial hand in giving their shows an extended life this season. well done, ladies- someone is taking note.

• accidentally on purpose airs monday nights at 8:30 pm on cbs, the good wife airs tuesday nights at 10 pm on cbs, cougar town airs wednesday nights at 9:30 pm on abc.

Comments

[misshoax]

between you and me, i think 'the good wife' is a damn fine show, and archie panjabi is one of the reasons why. although, yes, her accent threw me off for the first couple of episodes.

courtroom dramas usually leave me cold, but i feel that this one has the courtroom on the side and everything else is the story. i buy it on itunes. so i have no idea if people are watching, are they?

[tenny talks]

you'll be happy to know that people are indeed watching, and the good wife is doing well. so well, in fact, that networks are working on new female centered dramas for next season. (typical television: why bother being original again? just rinse and repeat.) panjabi is also getting very warm reviews, so that should make you smile as well.

[misshoax]

well, then. gladness all around! (now you go watch community and we can both like some of the same shows).