Oh dear. A week has come and gone without a new post. I’m sure you all could just die from not surprise. As you can imagine, between officially giving notice and the holiday season, I’ve been a little too focused on being a productive employee (for these final few weeks, at least) and holiday party planning to do much blogging. I hope you will all forgive me and check back in next week, for which I have a couple really good posts percolating.
For this week’s Friday frivolity, I was inspired by last night’s super-awesome-fantastic-six-seasons-and-a-movie episode of Community. The episode (which you should all go watch RIGHT NOW if you haven’t already) featured a guest appearance by Taran Killam, who is one of my television faves. He nailed the role of the glee choir director last night, lambasting Matt Morrison’s ridiculous performance as Will Schuester on Glee. This appearance reminded me how much I love Killam’s work and how sad I am that he’s stuck with guest starring roles, due to his contract with the barely-adequate Saturday Night Life.
So, in the spirit of New Years and new jobs, here are a few television all-stars I think should be dusting off their resumes and finding a better home for their talents:
- Max Greenfield – I first fell in love with Max as the charming Deputy Leo on Veronica Mars and have enjoyed every cameo he’s made since then (especially as Max’s boyfriend on Happy Endings – let’s get those crazy kids back together!) Sadly, his perfect mix of slightly douche but vulnerably lovable is wasted on the tragically un-funny New Girl.
- Naya Rivera – Have you seen her? Seriously, people don’t usually look like that. On top on her looks, she’s an incredible actress with serious pipes and the ability to move. She should be looking to be the next huge pop star, not wasting her time on the hot mess that has become Glee
- Nate Corddry – Once a delightfully wry Daily Show correspondent (just like his brother, Rob), Corddry is wasting away on the unimaginable popular Harry’s Law. His work in The Pacific proved he can do gritty – perhaps he’s willing to see out a guest role on Breaking Bad?
- Ellie Kemper – Look, The Office is not a bad show. It’s not as a good as it was but it’s not terrible. One of the best things this show has going for it is Ellie Kemper, whose sweet, slightly dim receptionist Erin is the shining light in an uneven, post-Carrell season. She’s clearly outgrown the show – perhaps her character can run off to help Michael and Kemper can head to funnier pastures.
- Maulik Pancholy – Why, why, why is Pancholy, best known as Sanjay or Jonathan in my house, wasting his time on Whitney? I can only assume he lost an epic game of Words with Friends to Alec Baldwin.
- Melissa McCarthy – It almost goes without saying but Sookie St. James deserves better than Mike and Molly and her breakout performance in this summer’s Bridesmaids should have had her agent freeing her up for better gigs.
- Ty Burrell – Everything good about Modern Family stems from Burrell’s brilliance as Phil Dunphy. Even as the show has rapidly declined in quality, Burrell slays with the best and worst material thrown at him. That kind of work ethic and showmanship would be better suited for the big screen. It’s time
- Finally, in addition to the aforementioned Taran Killam, let’s spring Jay Pharoah and Bill Hader from their SNL prisons. I’d love to see the trio on a dark comedy, perhaps on FX.
As you head into your weekend, who would you suggest could use a TV job upgrade? Leave your thoughts in the comments and have a great weekend!
Musings on Life After College 