Two things really brought me to create this topic:
(1) I am a big fan of LOST, and (2) I saw the Ellen Pompeo one, and decided to totally rip it off.
Looking back on Season 5, I think a few things stick out. For starters, it took a few too many episodes for the Oceanic 6 to get back to the Island. Second, there were just few too many Locke and Ben scenes. And finally, it really, in reflection, was Sawyer's Season.
Since the pilot episode, the producers have presented James "Sawyer" Ford as a vengeful rouge, a con man driven to same profession as the man who (in a manner of speaking) killed his parents. However, by the time the fifth season rolled around, all of that had changed. After all, Sawyer had strangled the man who caused his parents' death, and had jumped from a helicopter as a sacrifice to those he cared about. From there on, his entire storyline resets itself, and he gets away with a clean slate.
In the fifth season's premiere, he really acts as the voice of the audience, a shirtless country bumpkin amidst psychologists, anthropologists, and sarcastic Asian men with sixth sense. When he slaps Daniel Faraday across the face, you cheer, because just like you, Sawyer didn't understand a darn thing that came out of that wirey fella's mouth. Hearing people talk about time-travel, and records skipping, Sawyer became confused, frustrated, like that kid who keeps re-reading the same sentence over and over, but still just can't "get it."
When Locke disappears inside the well, the frustration is Sawyer's eyes mounts to fear. Keep in mind, Locke was the only other 815 passenger in the group experiencing the time skips. Before Jin shows up, the rest of the team are people who only joined the cast at least three seasons in.
And when the team enters 1977, and joins DHARMA, that's when I think Josh Holloway's acting really kicks in. Suddenly, he's getting the chance to play a man who is wiser than he was before; in a position of power, he has the platform on which to exhibit his leadership potential. Not to mention, for the first time, he seems to really be in love. When Sawyer and Juliet first meet in Season 3, never did we think they would end up as romantic interests. And yet Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell sell it so well, that you forget that she's the same woman who once tazed him for escaping his cage.
I apologize for the amount of plot summary I drowned this post with. However, I think it is necessary to highlight the numerous praises that Holloway deserves this year of years. Never before has his character grown this much. And if you thought "The Brig" from season 3 would have made a good Emmy tape for him, just wait until you see "LaFleur." Or, for that matter, just watch the 'Don't you leave me' scene in the Season five finale. That'll have you feeling every ounce of pain that his character is.
I think its necessary to say, Sawyer was one of my least favorite characters at the beginning of the series. But now, given the material he was written this year, he ranks in my top five. And I credit that entirely to Josh Holloway's growth as an actor. I really think that he needs to be heavily considered for the Emmy alongside Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn.
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---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1945 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
Great post. With so many characters becoming increasingly unrelatable: Locke too eager to follow anything blindy, Kate unable to choose, Ben without possession of a moral compass and Jack seeming to be stoned and desperately seeking destiny, Sawyer emerged as my favourite character for the season. He is not crazy like Jack or Locke and he does not care about a fated purpose, but he does care about his friends and does what he can to protect them. He also develops a serious and mature relationship with Juliet and distances himself from all of the fli-flopping nonsense, albeit off-screen. In the fifth season, I was happy to root for Sawyer (and Juliet and Jin, the other characters without recent questionable motives and actions).
This definitely was Sawyer's season with his vast amount of screentime compared to every other character on the show this year and Josh Holloway sold it all quite well. However, I am sooner to recommend Matthew Fox's performances in "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Through the Looking Glass" or Michael Emerson's performances in "The Shape of Things to Come" and "The Incident" or Henry Ian Cusick's performance in "The Constant" for Emmy consideration before I trumpet Holloway's acting.
Originally posted by thedemonhog: Great post. With so many characters becoming increasingly unrelatable: Locke too eager to follow anything blindy, Kate unable to choose, Ben without possession of a moral compass and Jack seeming to be stoned and desperately seeking destiny, Sawyer emerged as my favourite character for the season. He is not crazy like Jack or Locke and he does not care about a fated purpose, but he does care about his friends and does what he can to protect them. He also develops a serious and mature relationship with Juliet and distances himself from all of the fli-flopping nonsense, albeit off-screen. In the fifth season, I was happy to root for Sawyer (and Juliet and Jin, the other characters without recent questionable motives and actions).
This definitely was Sawyer's season with his vast amount of screentime compared to every other character on the show this year and Josh Holloway sold it all quite well. However, I am sooner to recommend Matthew Fox's performances in "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Through the Looking Glass" or Michael Emerson's performances in "The Shape of Things to Come" and "The Incident" or Henry Ian Cusick's performance in "The Constant" for Emmy consideration before I trumpet Holloway's acting.
I don't think its fair to compare "The Shape of Things to Come" with any of Holloway's tapes this year. That Season 4 episode was drenched in Emmy-goodness, and gave Emerson plenty to do throughout. With Holloway, I'm afraid that even the producers don't realize his potential for a nomination, and almost seem to hold back giving him too much at once.
Henry Ian Cusick's "The Constant" work was great, but that darn ep had so much terrific direction and editing that I found myself losing the performance amidst the technical masterwork.
I thought Fox hammed up "Through the Looking Glass" at times. His furious pounding of Ben was quite nice, though.
---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1945 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
Originally posted by thedemonhog: This definitely was Sawyer's season with his vast amount of screentime compared to every other character on the show this year and Josh Holloway sold it all quite well. However, I am sooner to recommend Matthew Fox's performances in "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Through the Looking Glass" or Michael Emerson's performances in "The Shape of Things to Come" and "The Incident" or Henry Ian Cusick's performance in "The Constant" for Emmy consideration before I trumpet Holloway's acting.
Henry Ian Cusick's "The Constant" work was great, but that darn ep had so much terrific direction and editing that I found myself losing the performance amidst the technical masterwork.
I thought Fox hammed up "Through the Looking Glass" at times. His furious pounding of Ben was quite nice, though.
The scene where Cusick convinces Penny to give him her phone number is so touching and tragic with him telling her that he will not call for eight years.
I do know what you mean with regard to Fox: for example, his speech, while Jack is drunk and/or high, to the new chief of surgery. I thought that the season premiere had better acting, but "Through the Looking Glass" was more showy, being a two-hour finale and showing Jack leading a trek instead of being locked up in an underwater cell and dealing with a divorce.
I can't remember the name of the episode, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but the one where Jack cuts Ben open and refuses to repair him... now that was decent Fox work.
---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1945 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson: I can't remember the name of the episode, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but the one where Jack cuts Ben open and refuses to repair him... now that was decent Fox work.
Agreed, "I Do"/"Not in Portland"--the latter has him telling Kate to never come back for him--was great, but without enough screentime for a lead's tape submission. Do you have any insight as to whether Holloway should submit "LaFleur" to supporting or lead? I think that he, Fox, Lilly and Elizabeth Mitchell should best just stick to where they have traditionally campaigned.
And do you think that he should submit "LaFleur" or the finale? Being in the supporting category, i.e. his tape will be edited down to just his scenes, he will not be harmed by the lack of screentime in "The Incident", as the episode is so long. I would stick with "LaFleur" anyway, but Sawyer comes off as p1ssed off throughout the 1974 storyline and it is a bit off-putting. Even though he has fairly good reason to do so with the time traveling and whatnot, his fellow cast members choose different routes for their acting. Also, as you mentioned, there is that great scene where Sawyer tries to hold onto Juliet near the end of the finale, so there is another reason against "LaFleur". Hopefully we get some others in this thread, so that it is less of a two-way conversation verging on instant messaging chat, but it is late right now, so I doubt that we will for several hours.
Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson: Two things really brought me to create this topic:
(1) I am a big fan of LOST, and (2) I saw the Ellen Pompeo one, and decided to totally rip it off.
Looking back on Season 5, I think a few things stick out. For starters, it took a few too many episodes for the Oceanic 6 to get back to the Island. Second, there were just few too many Locke and Ben scenes. And finally, it really, in reflection, was Sawyer's Season.
Since the pilot episode, the producers have presented James "Sawyer" Ford as a vengeful rouge, a con man driven to same profession as the man who (in a manner of speaking) killed his parents. However, by the time the fifth season rolled around, all of that had changed. After all, Sawyer had strangled the man who caused his parents' death, and had jumped from a helicopter as a sacrifice to those he cared about. From there on, his entire storyline resets itself, and he gets away with a clean slate.
In the fifth season's premiere, he really acts as the voice of the audience, a shirtless country bumpkin amidst psychologists, anthropologists, and sarcastic Asian men with sixth sense. When he slaps Daniel Faraday across the face, you cheer, because just like you, Sawyer didn't understand a darn thing that came out of that wirey fella's mouth. Hearing people talk about time-travel, and records skipping, Sawyer became confused, frustrated, like that kid who keeps re-reading the same sentence over and over, but still just can't "get it."
When Locke disappears inside the well, the frustration is Sawyer's eyes mounts to fear. Keep in mind, Locke was the only other 815 passenger in the group experiencing the time skips. Before Jin shows up, the rest of the team are people who only joined the cast at least three seasons in.
And when the team enters 1977, and joins DHARMA, that's when I think Josh Holloway's acting really kicks in. Suddenly, he's getting the chance to play a man who is wiser than he was before; in a position of power, he has the platform on which to exhibit his leadership potential. Not to mention, for the first time, he seems to really be in love. When Sawyer and Juliet first meet in Season 3, never did we think they would end up as romantic interests. And yet Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell sell it so well, that you forget that she's the same woman who once tazed him for escaping his cage.
I apologize for the amount of plot summary I drowned this post with. However, I think it is necessary to highlight the numerous praises that Holloway deserves this year of years. Never before has his character grown this much. And if you thought "The Brig" from season 3 would have made a good Emmy tape for him, just wait until you see "LaFleur." Or, for that matter, just watch the 'Don't you leave me' scene in the Season five finale. That'll have you feeling every ounce of pain that his character is.
I think its necessary to say, Sawyer was one of my least favorite characters at the beginning of the series. But now, given the material he was written this year, he ranks in my top five. And I credit that entirely to Josh Holloway's growth as an actor. I really think that he needs to be heavily considered for the Emmy alongside Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn.
I so completely agree with you. Except that I would argue that Holloway deserves to be considered for Lead Actor status, because of everything you said.
I totally agree. I've been cheering for Holloway's nomination for years. I thought he was incredible in season 1. The scene between him and Jack in the finale of season 1 is easily my top 5 favourite scenes ever on Lost.
He was incredible this year.
Grammy FYC: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak; Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.; John Legend, Evolver; Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up; David Guetta, One Love; Kelly Clarkson, "Already Gone"; Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield"; Kings Of Leon, "Use Somebody"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
I don't think that Holloway performances really scream Emmy, not in comparison with other supporting acotrs in a drama series like Walton Goggins, John Mahoney, Aaron Paul or William Hurt.
BUT I agree he was this season standout. I didn't love season 5 but Sawyer (with Juliet) was the only one I still cared about. I think Hollway has been able to keep his character believable and likeable.
It's the first time ever I would rank for the Emmy consideration a Lost castmember before O'Quinn and Emerson, both hurt by bad written storylines that didn't allow them to shine.
In 2009 the three best TV female performances in a drama series were all snubbed. Shame to Emmy voters for not nominating January Jones, Alison Pil and Chloe Sevigny.
I edited together all of Elizabeth Mitchell's scenes in "The Incident" and then cut it down to ten minutes, kind of Emmy tape submission style, and uploaded the video to YouTube (link).
I also made one for Matthew Fox in "A Tale of Two Cities", the third season premiere, which he submitted for Emmy consideration and landed him in the top ten (link).
I'm sorry about Mitchell does not deserve a nom this year. There are SEVERAL actresses that are far more deserving of a nom this year than Mitchell that could easily make up the category.
Grammy FYC: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak; Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.; John Legend, Evolver; Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up; David Guetta, One Love; Kelly Clarkson, "Already Gone"; Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield"; Kings Of Leon, "Use Somebody"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
I am kind of using this as a general Lost thread now.
Boomer posted the category placements and submissions for the Lost actors in the campaigns thread. All of the main actors submitted to the categories that they have traditionally submitted to, i.e. Fox and Evangeline Lilly are leads, while Holloway is supporting. Additionally, Rebecca Mader submitted in supporting, Reiko Aylesworth and Fionnula Flanagan are in guest actress and Sterling Beaumon, Nestor Carbonell, Alan Dale, Jeff Fahey, Doug Hutchison and Mark Pellegrino are in guest actor. I do not believe that Lost has ever submitted this many guest stars. What do you think their chances are? Can Sterling Beaumon or Mark Pellegrino break in? I say maybe for the former, depending on how crowded the category is, and no to the latter.
Fionnula Flanagan may have a shot. She is pretty well known. And "The Variable" actually gave her some good material.
I think Sterling Beaumon was easily the best guest actor on LOST this season. But, I see about a 1% chance that he could get nominated. And that may be optimistic. LOL. Mark Pellegrino had a great presence in the finale. That opening scene, in particular, was fantastic. But.... I don't think so. I think the Guest categories are too biased toward bigger names. Ian Cusick got in for the Season 2 finale, but that was a huge performance. And I still consider that one of the biggest surprises in Guest Actor in a long time.
I kind of wish Fox and Lilly would move themselves down to Supporting. I don't think either one was a Lead this year. I think LOST started out an Ensemble show and has gotten even more Ensemble-based as it has gone on. If Terry O'Quinn, Michael Emerson and Josh Holloway are all Supporting, I think Fox and Lilly should be, too. Alas. Heck, Fox might even have a shot in Supporting.
I think Holloway was great this year, but I would be (pleasantly) surprised to see him nominated. Cusick had a brilliant performance last season and was overlooked even in the Top 10. Pure popular vote determining nominees has to seriously cut down on Holloway's chances this year.
Terry O'Quinn was only in about half the season. He has a brilliant tape if he does get nominated, which contains the best scene of the season. Who knows if he had enough of a presence to register in the nominations, though?
I am starting to doubt my belief that LOST actors should always submit episodes centered on their character. I am wondering if Michael Emerson should submit the finale? I honestly thought the finale was his best work of the season. I don't think it is enough to win with, though. I *think* he should still be able to get in. But, this category is pretty strong, so who knows?
Women were non-issues to me this year. Lilly gave a decent performance in "Whatever Happened, Happened", but there is just no way it is good enough for Lead Actress. Mitchell was given nothing to do until the finale. And even though the Emmys are based on one tape, I just can't justify a nomination for her based on the entire season. Kim was given even less, if that is possible. Sigh. Not a good year for LOST women.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: LadyHathor25,
I think we can all rave about Holloway as much as we want, but it won't help him. Yunjin Kim gave just as strong a performance in Season 1 and maybe even Season 4. Elizabeth Mitchell was great in Season 3. Does Holloway really have that much better of a shot than them? Maybe a bit, but I don't think it is enough.
If he does manage to get nominated, he has a good tape in "LeFleur". That may actually be a competitive tape, depending on who the other nominees are.
And a few more things about Michael Emerson. I think he is just brilliant on LOST. Amazing. But, what kills me is that his best scenes come in other actors episodes. It has been like this since he came on the show. Excepting maybe Season 4. But even then, I think some of his strongest scenes came earlier in the season.
The Ben episode this year was just TOO plot oriented for me. The flashbacks Emerson was in were all about Island history and show mythology. And I don't think the on-island story gave him quite good enough material.
Whereas, there was that great scene in one of the early Oceanic 6 stories. The scene in the church between Ben and Jack. Ben talks to Jack about faith and the apostle Thomas. This was a fabulous scene for Emerson. And the scene in the Locke episode where Ben talks Locke out of suicide and ends up killing him. And then there is his great work all through the finale.
Bah. He is someone who could really benefit from going back to letting Supporting Actors submit TWO episodes.
The one thing that I don't like about the Emmys is that a "tape" can only consist of scenes in one episode. I wish instead that there was a system in place like this:
The producers can compile a tape of an actor's five best scenes from throughout the season, and submit it like that. That way, we wouldn't have to choose between "Dead is Dead" and "The Incident" for Emerson for example. Instead, we would be able to say:
(1) The suicide scene in "Jeremy Bentham" (2) The Monster scene in "Dead is Dead" (3) 'I would have just taken an apology' from "Dead is Dead" (4) 'So I can Kill him' from "Follow the Leader" (5) Jacob's murder in "The Incident"
See? Five great Emerson scenes from throughout the season, giving the voters a much better taste as to how good he is despite some crummy writing.
I think Josh Holloway has a chance this year simply because it is a popular vote system this time-'round. Of course, Holloway's name is not a household one, but if enough talk is done behind closed doors about him, I think he could gain some steam.
I do think that the Emerson is the only lock at the moment. And I hope that O'Quinn is right behind him.
I really hate the dialogue given to LOST's women. Its so bipolar that I sometimes have to mute it.
---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1945 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
I edited together a couple more ten-minute videos highlighting people's scenes in an episode, somewhat Emmy tape style, this time for Michael Emerson in "Dead is Dead" (link) and "The Incident" (link). Perhaps these will make it easier to decide which tape should be submitted.
Why not Jorge Garcia??? 