Has got to be one of the best characters in television history. He steals every scene he is in, which is crazy because of how good the actress that plays Midge is. I picked this show up late and I am about halfway through season 2 and find myself cracking up at Abe nearly every time he is on screen. Figured I would make an appreciation post because it is such a job well done. The show is really fantastic.
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Tony Shalhoub in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
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Last: 2 yr ago by Yoda
Hell yeah.
Just FYI, my two cents…
- The first two seasons are two of the all-time best seasons of television. Just absolutely phenomenal stuff.
- The first half of season three is great too, but it then starts to miss the mark a bit in the second half (which, to be clear, is still better than 99% of everything else on TV).
- Season four is better than the second half of season three - with some fun highlights - but is still not quite up to the level of the first two seasons. It's not necessarily that the quality ever dips, it's just that they start to draw things out a bit too much in the middle of the show's run.
The only reason I'm bringing any of this up is because I know multiple people who dropped out during seasons three or four, but STICK WITH IT because season five is a return to form, and they absolutely nail the landing in glorious fashion.
Just FYI, my two cents…
- The first two seasons are two of the all-time best seasons of television. Just absolutely phenomenal stuff.
- The first half of season three is great too, but it then starts to miss the mark a bit in the second half (which, to be clear, is still better than 99% of everything else on TV).
- Season four is better than the second half of season three - with some fun highlights - but is still not quite up to the level of the first two seasons. It's not necessarily that the quality ever dips, it's just that they start to draw things out a bit too much in the middle of the show's run.
The only reason I'm bringing any of this up is because I know multiple people who dropped out during seasons three or four, but STICK WITH IT because season five is a return to form, and they absolutely nail the landing in glorious fashion.
Abe is one of my favorite characters in all of television/film. And honestly, MMM probably has several of my favorites, but he's tops.
Agreed on the drop-off in storytelling quality in a few places during the series, but I do think some of that feeling is related to what they were doing with Midge's character over those spans. I think the intention was for the audience to dislike her and what she was doing, which made the show more of a chore to get through for a bit. Without getting specific, the juice is worth the squeeze there. Power through and finish it out if you haven't. I've watched the whole series at least three complete times and there's just so much humor packed into every scene.
Agreed on the drop-off in storytelling quality in a few places during the series, but I do think some of that feeling is related to what they were doing with Midge's character over those spans. I think the intention was for the audience to dislike her and what she was doing, which made the show more of a chore to get through for a bit. Without getting specific, the juice is worth the squeeze there. Power through and finish it out if you haven't. I've watched the whole series at least three complete times and there's just so much humor packed into every scene.
Oh yea, I will definitely finish. I like the show and the world they built too much to give it up. Unfortunately, I probably won't finish until sometime in late January because I really only watch TV when I am working and I am due off in a few days for a while. I already have the entire series downloaded so I am prepared.
It's such a unique show and I still can't believe they pulled off the stand-up so well. The writers had to nail it from multiple angles:
the content being funny
...but also believable to have been period appropriate
the style of Midge's humor
how she grew over time
The way she was weaving prepared material and off-the-cuff remarks
And of course when they had a set that bombed they had to sell that too without making you think "well she's only bombing this gig because the plot needed it"
The entire show depended on those sets and they rarely took the easy way out of describing how a set went without showing us. They even showed a stage production, twice, just to advance the plot.
And of course the rest of the show was so great because that's where the cast was. But I'll always marvel at the comedy sets.
the content being funny
...but also believable to have been period appropriate
the style of Midge's humor
how she grew over time
The way she was weaving prepared material and off-the-cuff remarks
And of course when they had a set that bombed they had to sell that too without making you think "well she's only bombing this gig because the plot needed it"
The entire show depended on those sets and they rarely took the easy way out of describing how a set went without showing us. They even showed a stage production, twice, just to advance the plot.
And of course the rest of the show was so great because that's where the cast was. But I'll always marvel at the comedy sets.
The scene where Abe sees her do stand up and her incredibly nervous set i couldn't believe how good she was.
Incredible scene. Her stumbling through the rest of the awkward set after she sees him all the way to the car ride back to camp with Suzie in the back seat was just amazing.
jeffk said:
Incredible scene. Her stumbling through the rest of the awkward set after she sees him all the way to the car ride back to camp with Suzie in the back seat was just amazing.
Agreed, incredible acting. Them standing in the sunroom afraid to move was amazing. Susie: " Are we in trouble?" on the car ride home. Hilarious.
Great great great show. Abe is a legend. Was sad to see it come to an end (but it was time). He added so much color to the show, and the writing for his character was on point. And he took it to another level with his acting. A close second for current era shows for me is Martin Short in OMITB.
Is there anything Tony Shaloub was bad in?
Marin Hinkle gets no love, she was pretty great too.
It was one of the greatest things ever to appear on television.
GoAgs92 said:
Marin Hinkle gets no love, she was pretty great too.
Is that Midges mom? Agreed, she is great as well. Her flippant attitude in France was perfect and I could absolutely feel Abes frustration. "YOU GOT A DOG?! YOU TRAINED IT?!?!?!!"
Agree with all of this. Maisel is a tour de force, no question, and owes much of its success to the cast.
As for Tony Shalhoub, he has stood out in damn near everything I know since "Wings" back in the mid 90s. Honestly, I think my favorite role of his was in "Galaxy Quest".
As for Tony Shalhoub, he has stood out in damn near everything I know since "Wings" back in the mid 90s. Honestly, I think my favorite role of his was in "Galaxy Quest".
As a huge Monk fan, I have to agree.
Class of '91 (MEEN)
I went back and watched it again and it was so very good. The entire crew fits together almost perfectly. I didn't feel like there were any "extra" characters that brought nothing to the show.
If you say you hate the state of politics in this nation and you don't get involved in it, you obviously don't hate the state of politics in this nation.
You work with Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer for 12 years, you learn things.GoAgs92 said:
Marin Hinkle gets no love, she was pretty great too.
Nope.Arrakis ecologist said:
Is there anything Tony Shaloub was bad in?
Watch his small part in "Quick Change".
He is the second best part of the movie.
(The best being the bicycle joust scene)
One of the best shows of all time. Have rewatched each season, and expect we will many more times over the years. Abe is amazing, but for my money, this was his best moment, in the second to last episode of the series.
Nice article about the scene, which I figured this crowd would enjoy.
Abe's revelation
Nice article about the scene, which I figured this crowd would enjoy.
Abe's revelation
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