Season 2, Episode 4
Air Date: Thursday, October 19, 2017, 8/7c on NBC
Rating:
“Everyone here respects us and they think we’re cool.” – Greg
How great does Katie look?
After years of being snubbed, The Breakdown finally gets the recognition it deserves when it’s nominated for an American Journalism Award for “Best Late Afternoon Early Evening News Program.” Even more surprising is Katie’s (Briga Heelan) individual nomination for her Biscuit Blitz story. After years of being denied, will the MMN crew take home some awards or will they leave empty handed once again?
Throughout my reviews, I’ve constantly said Great News is at its best when the personal dynamics between Katie and Carol (Andrea Martin) are front and center. This especially holds true for “Award Show.” I absolutely love how Katie tries to ensure Carol won’t do anything to embarrass her or disrupt the ceremonies. The comedic timing between Martin and Heelan is impeccable, making the two a riot to watch. I never get tired of seeing Katie constantly worked up over her mother. If there were an Emmy for panic-stricken performances, Heelan would easily win. Speaking of Heelan, I’ve confessed my TV crush on Katie in previous reviews but did you see how stunning she looks at the award show?
Martin is hilarious.
Once again, Martin is hilarious as Carol finds a way to attend the award show as a seat filler. I doubt I was the only one who couldn’t stop laughing at the cat and mouse game Carol plays when she materializes next to Katie out of thin air and consistently avoids Mr. Petrovian (Dan Istrate), the supervisor of the seat fillers. The mother-daughter storyline is well written and has a nice message at the end. Carol’s relentless aspiration to be a part of Katie’s life is a big reason for the show’s success and why I love Great News so much.
He will always be Shooter McGavin
Meanwhile, Chuck (John Michael Higgins) is thrilled to reconnect with some of his fellow news colleagues, including Len Archer (Christopher McDonald) who is slated to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Having appeared in countless films and shows, anytime I see McDonald I fondly remember his character, Shooter McGavin, from Happy Gilmore. The role of Len is perfect for McDonald, who is absolutely hysterical as a newsman who has seen better days. Speaking of guest stars, how great is it seeing Fred Grandy of Love Boat fame as Fred, a former news anchor whose career has been reduced to Embassy Nightly News host.
Directed by John Riggi and written by Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein, “Award Show” is the funniest episode of the season so far and I’m thrilled to see Great News return to its comedic best. By taking the MMN staff outside the newsroom, the writers are able to show different sides of the various personalities, which translates into stronger character development. In addition to learning more about each character, we also get to see the MMN staff function as a cohesive group, something we haven’t seen since last season’s “Carol’s Eleven” episode.
As someone who loved the first season of Great News, reviewing the first few episodes this season has been difficult. Despite being a talented actress, the addition of Tina Fey as Diana St. Tropez fell flat. Watching Fey’s appearances, it felt like the writers were trying to fit Great News into the 30 Rock mold as opposed to having Fey’s introduction fit into the established Great News world. In other words, the show was trying to be something it’s not.
After a few negative starts, it’s refreshing to see an episode that works on every level, from the writing to the comedic performances. With former 30 Rock executive producers producing Great News, it’s easy to see why they would want to take a similar path. Yet this isn’t 30 Rock; it’s its own show. Hopefully, the writers will continue to focus on Great News’ future rather than trying to recreate its 30 Rock past.
Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Award Show.”
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Photos © 2017 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Greg Staffa
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