Our Small Screen MVPs of the Week
Monday, October 19, 2015 at 8:01PM 
Who or what was your MVP of this past week on your small screens at home?
We polled Team Experience to share theirs. In this new world of infinite screens and schedules, whether you're bingeing, right up-to-date, or on demand surfing, we're all probably on different time tables so please do share yours as well.
If you watch these shows do you have the same MVPs?
MVPs of the Week
Homeland's Showrunner
Alex Gansa, showrunner of Homeland, has managed to take a great-show-turned-shitshow and make it thrilling again. I said it. I said thrilling. About late season Homeland!? Am I crazy? Maybe. The thing I fear is that it will all fall apart, that three (out of three!) excellent episodes this season will turn, by season’s end, into a fluke. But here’s what we’ve got: Characters behaving in ways that don’t immediately strike you as utterly stupid. Unpredictability. Twists. Bigger twists. Signature Homeland footchases involving losing people in crowds (we all love that, right?). A connection of the CIA to geopolitics that is complex. And I have no idea what Saul Berenson is up to. I mean, I could have given the MVP to Mandy Patinkin just for drumming his fingers, but there’s so much going on visually, and in the writing, that Alex Gansa is my guy. (I’m recapping weekly here if you’re so inclined.) - Deborah Lipp
The Flash - Whoever Thought This Callback Up
In a strange reversal of current billion dollar movieverses, Marvel goes dark for television (see Daredevil and the upcoming Jessica Jones) and DC (The Flash/Supergirl) lightens up. The Flash's first season was a shock to the system, in that it was genuinely good: well plotted, bravely silly (Gorilla Grodd anyone?), filled with fizzy action sequences, jokey quips, and an unashamedly sentimental soul (has a lead male in a TV series ever cried as much as Grant Gustin on The Flash?) in other words: just like a comic book. Season 2 hasn't been as fun but the addition of drama from Earth Two (don't ask) in the form of another Flash Jay Garrick (played by TFE favorite Teddy Sears from Dollhouse/Masters of Sex) is promising. And this joyful bit ripped directly from comic book pages when a victim calls out for Flash and both heroes come running was pure throwback bliss. It was like I was a little kid hungrily flipping comic book pages again. - Nathaniel R
Bob's Burgers's Kristen Schaal
Confession: I love Kristen Schaal. In many circles that is a somewhat controversial stance since her comedy is at times almost intentionally grating (see 30 Rock which half the time didn’t know what to do with her Hazel Wassername). When it’s harnessed correctly (see The Daily Show, Flight of the Conchords) it is magical to behold. Seeing as her comedy so depends on her distinctive voice (a loony rubber band of a squeal) it’s no surprise she’s found success doing voiceover work (in the Toy Story franchise, in the great Gravity Falls, even in the amazing Archer). But it is her work as Louise Belcher in Bob’s Burgers which may be her crowning achievement. A conniving, no-nonsense, entrepreneurial nine year old whose adult schemes are hilariously at odds with her signature pink rabbit-ears hat, Louise prides herself on being the smartest person in the room. The latest episode, "Hauntening", where her parents attempt to give her a worthy scare with the world’s lamest haunted house was a brilliant showcase for Schaal, as her Louise goes from blasé indifference to outright fright by the end of the episode. - Manuel Betancourt
Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Chelsea Peretti
When Captain Holt was transferred out of the 99 at the end of season two, and Gina Linetti loyally followed him out the door, devotees of TV's most reliable sitcom feared the worst. But of course the show wasn't going to let its two most valuable characters (give or take Rosa Diaz) go that easily, and if nothing else, the third season's initial episodes have made their contrived inclusions of the pair's new office a chance for Gina to exercise her superiority over everyone in the vicinity. "Gina Linetti," she introduces herself at one meeting, "the human form of the 100 emoji." Stand-up comedienne Chelsea Peretti has been acing this part from the very beginning, giving Gina a confidence that never seems arrogant despite almost complete narcissism. Whenever she speaks, her self-love seems completely genuine, because it is completely valid, but Peretti also roots it in an unspoken sense of the subservience Gina knows most women in her position would likely feel, and makes that rebellion even more empowering. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's most surprising strength is its variety of strong female characters in a workplace not typically kind to females, and Gina Linetti, despite her stereotypical role, is the crown emoji. - David Upton
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Musical Numbers
The pilot of the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend does not get off to the strongest possible start. But then, about ten minutes or so in, protagonist Rebecca Bunch (the supremely GIF-able Rachel Bloom) bursts into song, singing the praises of "West Covina, California" - the sun-dappled home of her former summer camp boyfriend Josh, who she not-entirely-accidentally runs into on the streets of NYC. Of course, she decides (much like Felicity before her) to ditch her soul-killing Junior Partnership at a high-powered law firm to follow him. In true movie musical fashion, she moves from the grey-blue streets of NYC to the golden-hued roads of CA over the course of the number, and in so doing kicks the show into high gear. The number just gets funnier and funnier as it goes, until it ends with Rebecca ascending to the heavens on a giant pretzel. It's musical comedy heaven. And that's just the first number. After what happened to Smash and Glee, it's tempting to think that musical series will only disappoint, but right now it looks like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is on the glitter-strewn path to greatness. - Dancin Dan
Bob's Burgers, Homeland, Kristen Schaal, TV, TV MVP, The Flash, comedy, musicals
Reader Comments (15)
Yes Homeland! Good god on Earth, after the nadir that was season 3, season 4 is Superb, and season 5 so far seems great.
Claire Danes is breathtaking as usual of course.
Mandy Patinkin, holla!
Claire Danes was my beard-crush in high school. I convinced myself and anyone who would listen that I was in love with her. And she's still my 2005 Best Actress winner for Shopgirl, having seen the serious contenders and ALL the ignored, fictional, contemporary, layered, funny women of that rich, underrated year (hey Joan Allen!).
Her work in that movie (and the movie itself) is flawless and unforgettable to me. She gives Julie Christie level subtlety with pauses and glances and hesitation. Plus she's so good at playing depressed. Oh well, now she's a small screen star again.
Hayden -- i never saw Shopgirl because i heard such "meh" things but nothing beats Joan Allen in 2005. Firing on all movie star cylinders
I loved Gina this episode too. Loved her line about taking the abnormal psychology class. "They're all so interested in me!"
Another for Homeland, which had a stellar fourth season and managed to find fill it with great roles of varying sizes for Suraj Sharma, Nina Hoss and Rupert Friend. This fifth season has got off to a strong start too, and whatever anyone’s opinions of the show’s quality, Claire Danes’ performance remains committed and unexpected.
Other MVPs include Switched At Birth and its sensitive treatment of Bay’s rape and of numerous disability issues that other shows aren’t interested in. The entire cast of Fresh Off The Boat, which has really worked out how to use its full ensemble this year. The scores of The Good Wife and The Knick. The musical cues on The Americans.
ben1283 -- regarding the score on The Knick. I haven't worked out if its brilliant or terrible. but it's one or the other.
Yes for Crazy Ex-GF, such a lovely weirdo little show. It walks a thin line between making you laugh and making you die of second hand embarrassment for the character, loved the pilot.
Another MVP of the week is Viola Davis, still kicking ass in Murder even when the script is so beneath her.
If this is a "Best of the Week on TV" kind of thing, allow me to praise Maura Tierney and Kathleen Chalfant in the first episode of The Affair.
Dancin Dan- Agreed! I also hope Galavant returns in this golden era of niche TV for us musical fans.
I loved half of Shopgirl. Nothing about Jason Schwartzman ever persuades me he belongs in the movies, but everything that doesn't involve him is beautiful. The movie is worth seeing just for the line, "Now, I guess."
Oh, the score for The Knick is definitely brilliant, and the season premiere was the best thing on tv last week. Give or take The Americans, it's my favorite show on tv. It's interesting that several of the very best dramas have been period pieces.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was great, though. The show had me with the paralegal's final scene... so many lesser shows would have made her the villain, but in real life, those two characters would definitely become pals.
I'm from West Covina! I never thought anything would be set in West Covina, but here we are. They even filmed the number in one of the shopping centers.
As far as small screen this week, Scream Queens has been on my mind a lot. It's trying so hard to be Heathers meets Scream which I'm sure could work but it's just not here. But we're talking about MVP's here so I'm going to shout out Niecy Nash and KeKe Palmer for elevating their material and Lea Michele for her reptilian screen presence. It's hard not to see Michele as Rachel Berry but I'm sure with the right role (and maybe a non-Ryan Murphy project) she can escape that.
Yes Suzanne! The last scene was a surprising reprise and with lots of humour. It seems like a lot of people (notably male) who got turned off and threatened by the premise of the show when there are shows about meth-dealing drug lords that is getting praised as one of the top shows of all time (and I sure think so as well)...
I personally love getting inside her crazy head and see if she is going to grow as a person or the show will go in a different direction...but that Rachel Bloom is talented and charming :)
Love this idea, hope you'll do it again.
The Flash is my favorite show right now. So nerdy, heart felt and exciting.
My MVP of last week is Evan Peters, whose turn as Mr. March, with his dapper duds, mustache and Jay Gatsby accent, redeemed an otherwise ridiculously overextended, typically self indulgent episode of American Horror Story. His B&W flashback is the best thing the show has done since the Dandy in his undies Montage last season.