"There are countless ways to make television, which means there are countless ways to be great on television. A great performer can burn brightly off the glossy sheen of serialized drama and would do so differently but no less substantially than if they popped up in a reality competition show, an animated sitcom, or a loose variety show. The 18 performances that follow represent just a portion of that range."
"Adlon, now in her late 50s, naturally brings more lived-in warmth to Bobby, now aged up into his early 20s and navigating adulthood with the same wide-eyed earnestness that once fueled his childhood shenanigans. What's remarkable is how gracefully Adlon continues to thread that needle: Bobby still has the musical, slightly off-kilter cadences that made him so quotable, but there's a new softness and self-knowledge rippling underneath."
Television spans many formats—serialized drama, reality competitions, animated sitcoms, and variety shows—allowing performers to excel through diverse approaches. Strong performances come from leads and ensemble members, newcomers and veterans, each employing different techniques to create memorable moments. The range of work includes tonal dissonance, musical cadences, and emotional depth that reshape familiar characters. Pamela Adlon's vocal performance in the King of the Hill revival ages Bobby into his early twenties while preserving his distinctive delivery; Adlon layers lived-in warmth and self-knowledge beneath the familiar rhythms, renewing the character without erasing his essential qualities.
Read at Vulture
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