After the Emmys

Was happy to see Michael Emerson (Best Supporting Actor, as Ben Linus on "LOST") and PBS Masterpiece Classic miniseries "Little Dorrit" (Best miniseries, as well as in six other categories for writing, directing, art direction, costumes and cinematography) take home Emmy awards.

I cannot think of any other actor who could bring more to the Benjamin Linus character --- a character that was originally a bit part on the show until Emerson fleshed him out. Fleshed him out, indeed, into the most devious, creepy, sly, lying / prevaricating, and brutal screen character ever. The man who always has a plan, and with complicated schemes, almost always gets what he wants. Credit the show's writers for subsequently crafting Ben into all that he is. It includes the qualities above, but what makes Ben such a great character is his ability to reconnect with the audience, and even make us feel pity for him, even after the darkest of his turns. It's the wry sense of humor, our knowledge that he holds so many secrets to the mysteries of the island that we want to find out about, the losses he endures as he watched his leadership crumble (as well as the humor-in-defeat philosophy this produces), the hilarious silent scene with Hurley and the Apollo candy bar outside of Jacob's cabin, and the sense that this man is destined to be screwed by fate. To this point, the best moment in the series was the scene where Ben moves the island. Emerson won the Emmy this year for his work in "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" alone. I also appreciate Emerson's own level of interest in the show. In so many interviews celebrities talk about themselves ad nauseum, but in a show where virtually any character can be killed off at any moment, his enthusiasm for the work shows. Emerson is as much a fan as us.

I was thinking last night while watching the "Inspector Lewis" series that I've been really impressed with the redesign of Masterpiece under Rebecca Eaton. A couple of seasons ago, it was divvied up into Masterpiece Classic, Mystery, and Contemporary, given much better intro and end graphics, along with less stodgy hosts that give a brief introduction --- among them, Alan Cumming, Laura Linney and Gillian Anderson. High-definition television has really helped the program as well --- technology that PBS was the first to really embrace. It's brought new life to the series, and it's nice to see them get recognition. "Little Dorrit" in particular was a very good Andrew Davies adaptation of the rags-to-riches-and-back-to-rags classic. The character of Rigaud was overplayed (then again, it was overwritten by Dickens), but Matthew MacFadyen, Claire Foy and Tom Courtenay were top-notch. Also, an under-valued performance from James Fleet as the pitiable Frederick Dorrit.

'Course, I didn't watch the Emmy Awards. Honestly, who does?