UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES BLOG
This blog site is going to undergo a major renovation. In the past I’ve brought you coverage and reviews on films, television and theater. However, from this point forward, it’s going to focus exclusively on actors, and their great performances in those mediums. In a simple, daily blog setting, I’ll take you through some of the most legendary (and some of my personal favorite) performances of all time.
Today, we’ll start with one of my very favorite performances, and one close to my heart- Steve Carell’s legendary 7-season run on the American version of “The Office”. As Michael Scott, the manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Carell managed to strike a blissful balance between ignorance, innocence and delusion. (The fact that he never received an Emmy Award for the role is not only criminal, it’s upsetting)
A character with zero self awareness, Scott had little to no self- censorship, and frequently behaved in an outrageous and offensive manner. In the hands of a lesser actor, this character would not only have been unfunny, but would have turned people away from the show entirely. But Carell,-the canny actor that he is- imbued Scott with humanity and love from the very beginning. When he says idiotic things, behaves childishly, or makes comments that are beyond politically incorrect, the actor is so good- he allows us to see completely through these attributes-instead giving us a glimpse of a tragic man-child, desperate to fit in, but completely unaware how. Due to the wonderful writing, and Carell’s performance, the audience begins to understand that Michael Scott really isn’t a bad guy- just a naïve, and socially maladjusted one. And, though he often makes a complete and utter fool of himself, Scott occasionally has moments of insight and clarity.
Let’s take a look at some highlights:
In the episode “The Injury” Michael Scott has an unfortunate incident- watch how brilliantly Carell plays this out. This is a beautiful example of absurdity played for complete and utter truth.
A second season episode entitled “Booze Cruise” involved the office going on a trip around the harbor as part of a team-building exercise. Michael Scott becomes extraordinarily jealous of the host of the cruise, and tries to upstage him at every moment, resulting in a painful and humiliating experience for everyone on board. For fellow co-worker Jim, the trip is even worse, as amidst all of Scott’s antics, he witnesses the love of his life get proposed to. After the events of the evening have transpired, in a surprising moment, Michael Scott provides some lucid and completely moving advice for Jim. Carell nails it here- as we see some real humanity after all of the silliness.
Carell also had the ability to be devastatingly tragic and hilarious all at once. Take this moment from season 3, where after being dumped by his short-term girlfriend, he spills his heart to the cameras. At once endearing and horribly offensive, this moment exemplifies Michael Scott. It takes a great actor to make an absurd moment like this believable, let alone lend it actual gravitas. He somehow does both.
Let’s take a listen to Steve Carell talking about his character from the Paley Center discussion:
As the show went on, Carell’s character became more and more human, and over 7 seasons, we watched him grow (well as much as Michael Scott could grow). We say goodbye to him on a touching, and bittersweet note, and are truly happy to see good things happen to him- a real testament to Carell when you think about the absurd, and often incomprehensible things that he has put his co-workers (and the audience) through.
Because of his commitment to the reality of the character, and a knack for finding truth even in the most ridiculous of situations, Steve Carell gives an UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE.
I’ll leave you with one more.