Introducing the Smackdown Panel for '91
Monday, July 13, 2020 at 1:15PM Are you enjoying our super-sized Supporting Actress Smackdown season? We've already discussed 1947, 1957 (new!), 1981, and 2002. Ready for the fifth episode this season? It's focused on 1991 and it's coming up in just two weeks on Sunday July 26th so get watching and voting. Ready to meet the panel?
PLEASE WELCOME IN ALPHA ORDER ...
NIKKI M JAMES
Nikki M. James is a Tony Award-winning actress (The Book of Mormon) who recently starred as Viola in PublicWorks acclaimed production of Twelfth Night. Television credits include Monica Timmons in The Good Fight and The Good Wife, Violet Bell in Proven Innocent , and Rochelle Daudier in Brain Dead. [Twitter | Instagram]
RORY O'MALLEY
Rory O’Malley is best known for his Tony nominated performance on Broadway in The Book of Mormon and playing King George in Hamilton. He is currently voicing the character of Elwood on AppleTV’s Central Park. [Twitter | Instagram]
NICK WESTRATE
Nick is a Drama Desk winning actor, founding member of the Fair Wage OnStage movement, and a proud union member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Broadway: Bernhardt/Hamlet, Casa Valentina, A Moon for the Misbegotten. TV: Robert Townsend on AMC’s Turn: Washington’s Spies (series regular), HBO’s Mildred Pierce, The Tick, Adult Ed, Person of Interest, New Amsterdam, and the upcoming HBO’s miniseries The American Guest. Film: Ricki & the Flash and the upcoming feature, The Volunteers. [Twitter | Instagram]
AND WELCOME BACK TO RETURNING GUESTS WE KNOW YOU ❤
MARK HARRIS
Mark Harris is a writer for New York Magazine, and the author of "Pictures at a Revolution" and "Five Came Back". His next book, "Mike Nichols: A Life," will be published in February. [Twitter]
KATEY RICH
Katey Rich is the deputy editor of VanityFair.com and the co-host of the "Little Gold Men" and "Fighting in the War Room" podcasts, and has fond memories of her days on the Film Experience podcast, too. [Twitter | Instagram]
HOSTED BY...
NATHANIEL ROGERS
Nathaniel is the creator and owner of The Film Experience. He is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association ("Critics Choice") and The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics ("GALECA") and a longtime Oscar pundit here at TFE. His writing has also appeared at other publications including Vanity Fair, Vulture, Slate, Towleroad, and Winq.
If you are a working actor, a renowned critic, film historian, a novelist, or an arts professional of some kind, chances are good that he has meant to invite you to a Smackdown panel, or would if he happened to know you were obsessed with supporting actresses. [Twitter | Contact | Instagram]
THE SUPPORTING ACTRESS SMACKDOWN OF 1991 ARRIVES ON SUNDAY, JULY 26th
Until then get to watching these performances and movies:
- Juliette Lewis in CAPE FEAR (nominated for 2 Oscars)
- Mercedes Ruehl in THE FISHER KING (nominated for 5 Oscars)
- Jessica Tandy in FRIED GREEN TOMATOES (nominated for 2 Oscars)
- Kate Nelligan in THE PRINCE OF TIDES (nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture)
- Diane Ladd in RAMBLING ROSE (nominated for 2 Oscars)
Reader Comments (31)
I like KATEY RICH's podcasts very much.
The reunions going on in this panel I'm so happy for.
Obiously James and O'Malley but Katey and Nathaniel on a podcast together again makes me excited. I miss the days of Nathaniel, Joe, Katey and Nick podcasting about the oscars.
Strong panel for a strong lineup of performances.
I'm a simple man: I see "Katey Rich" + "podcast", I listen
1991's the year Maureen O'Hara should have won for her sensational turn as John Candy's Irish mom in "Only the Lonely". Great reviews, lots of buzz ... then no nomination. I'd rank this snub with the omissions of Dennis Quaid ("Far from Heaven"), Zero Mostel("The Front"), Lainie Kazan ("My Favorite Year"), Madeline Kahn ("What's Up, Doc?) and Rutger Hauer("Blade Runner").
Yeah, I'm with everyone else. The Book of Mormon reunion is amazing, but Katey & Nathaniel back together again is EVERYTHING. I hope they secretly call Nick to get his take too (I'm willing to bet a lot of money he's already seen the five movies).
When I saw Katey's picture I thought for a second:
Wait, is Danielle Bowden (Juliette Lewis in Cape Fear) part of the panel too?
Katey!!
I love her on Blank Check too
Fantastic photos!
Oh the 90's! Our queerness was in full bloom.
An all-timer list of panelists my goodness.
Katey Rich! Mark Harris! I'm expecting Lewis to take this, but I still love Ruehl.
Excited!
DRINKING GAME: Tequila shot every time Mark Harris reminds us he's married to Tony Kushner.
1. Awesome line up. I've started my.watches already.
2. Is Nick Davis okay? He hasn't tweeted or updated his blog in forever.
3. Ken, I love how personal your list of snubs is.
WOW! What a line up of panelists. Just brilliant Nathaniel - I cannot wait for this. I expected this one is Juliette's to lose.
I was always thought I was the only Katey Rich podcast groupie. Glad
To know there are others.
Pluto.TV https://pluto.tv/on-demand has "The Fisher King". You have to sign up, but it is free.
Seriously, all 5 movies should not be that hard to find!
Arkaan -- he is fine. I just talked to him. He's just taking an online break this summer.
Nat, you have really outdone yourself with this season's panelists! I'm especially excited to see Katey joining since I was introduced to her through your podcast.
Katie shouldn't be allowed here until she watches The Iron Lady.
Which was the email for voting?
Damn Nathaniel, when you’re the booger of the bunch you know it’s an attractive group! Please give us a plain or homely person for next panel, we need representation lol.
That was a really good set of nominees! Personally I'd remove two and replace both with one of their costars from the same movie. Remove Tandy and put in Kathy Bates from Fried Green Tomatoes. And remove Lewis and put in Jessica Lange from Cape Fear.
Most underrated male supporting performance of 1991: Ice Cube in Boyz n the Hood. Most underrated female supporting performance of 1991: Meryl Streep in Defending your Life.
Pick your five best fucks on Grindr for the next panel.
I love seeing Katey Rich back on the panel. YAY ! ( for a full reunion, sometime let's get Nick Davis and Joe Reid as well.) :)
I know we all love Katey, but let's show some love for Mark Harris who is one of the best at giving delicate bits of shade towards a performance he finds underwhelming
Finally, a hearty welcome to newcomers, Nikki, Rory, and Nick -what a talented line-up. All these actors will really be interesting to hear.
Back in the day I was hoping for Kate Nelligan, let's see if that holds up.
Although removing Tandy for Bates is removing runner up for winner, so take that as you will.
"Cape Fear" was just on TV last night. I expect Juliette Lewis to take this, but so happy she was even nominated -- such an atypical performance for the Oscars.
I feel like directors never knew exactly what do with her, but she remains awesome. Witness two of her most recent performances -- level-headed mom in "Ma" and slightly nuts grad student in "I Know This Much is True." Both lived-in, authentic portrayals that reveal even more layers by what is not spoken.
@Nathaniel: You have a bot in this thread. I did not write the "Although removing Tandy for Bates..." post.
@Nathaniel: You've got the "I've got a bot/impostor" bot again. I'll just ignore them from now on, but best to keep you vigilant. A Fried Green Tomatoes actress should have won Supporting Actress that year and that's my final genuine word on the matter.
@Nathaniel: I did not write the “You’ve got the...” post. I don’t know why I’m being targeted because I don’t even post that often. I have been a follower on this website for probably 10 years and am a seldom poster.