Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the fifth year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 3, Episode 10 “A Very GLOW Christmas” (B+)

This is one show that I tend to enjoy when I watch its Emmy episodes, though only Betty Gilpin, who plays Debbie, has been nominated since season one, which means I don’t experience much of it. I obviously missed a lot since episode four of season two, like whatever hate crime occurred and the developments in all of the relationships each of the characters have with each other and their own romantic partners. As another showcase of Gilpin’s work, this episode did lean heavily on Debbie and her business interests. Being told by her boyfriend, played by Toby Huss from “Dickinson,” that she was always just going to be his girlfriend – or maybe eventually his wife – and good only for making dinners more bearable was the impetus she needed to come in and undercut him with Bash on his own deal. She seems fine with Ruth, which wasn’t always the case, but Ruth isn’t interested in what she counts as success. Carmen is in a better place than she’s been, though that also means that she’s leaving this world, something that her colleagues didn’t want to hear. There were some other positives, like Cherry’s husband talking about adoption rather than an affair, and Arthie coming out to a supportive and unfazed audience. I know that season four will be the end of this show, and I wouldn’t mind watching more of it if any of its players end up getting nominated.

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the fourth year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 2, Episode 4 “Mother of All Matches” (B)

This is a show that I actually enjoyed watching quite a bit when I sampled the six episodes submitted last year for Best Comedy Series consideration, and I debated continuing to watch the whole thing since it was really entertaining. It turns out that the show didn’t perform nearly as well this year, earning just a nomination for supporting actress Betty Gilpin, who was also the only performer honored last year. I liked Gilpin a lot on the final season of “Masters of Sex,” and I’m glad to see her continue to get recognized. Her role in the recently-cancelled film “The Hunt” about liberals hunting conservatives was a puzzling choice, and so I hope she’ll stick to fare like this. This episode got much more personal and intimate than other half-hours I had previously watched, dealing extensively with two of its characters and culminating in an impactful staged match. Debbie was very prominently featured, so angered by her ex having his secretary call her to ask what kind of bed she had so that he could get the same one that she had to do everything possible to rid herself of all of his possessions. It’s a pretty fantastic performance, and though she’s the greatest definition of a longshot, this is a solid submission. The more emotional storyline featured Tammé visiting her son at college and being embarrassed to tell him about what she did for work. Comparing her to a minstrel character wasn’t kind, and his face watching her lose and be shouted at to get a job was tough. Complimenting her on the physical strength it took to throw a white woman across the ring was a nice way to salvage that situation. The only other regular cast member we saw was Alison Brie as Ruth, who knew just what to do when the crowd was turning against the prescribed victor of the match. I’ll be more than happy to check this out again should it earn any future nominations.

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 1, Episode 10 “Money’s in the Chase” (B+)

I had debated whether or not I should skip the ninth episode after seriously enjoying everything I’ve watched thus far, but having already missed episodes two through four, I figured I’ll just catch up by watching this episode and paying attention to context clues. The big news is that Sam is apparently Justine’s father, news that he did not take well after he tried to make a move on her. Debbie also appeared to have dropped out of the show to try to make it work with her husband, but evidently that was all a ploy which turned out to be a cool development. The ladies giving money to people waiting outside a nearby movie theater to get them to come join the audience was smart, and it was cool to see the show play itself out in front of a crowd. Britannica the British bookworm facing off against the Middle Eastern terrorist evoked an overly participatory reaction from the audience that seemed to be heading somewhere dark, and it was more inspiring to see Carmen get some very supportive cheers when she nearly had a panic attack again in the ring. China and Russia versus the geriatrics was strange, but it provided a perfect segue into Debbie standing up in the audience to challenge Ruth on behalf of America. Sam adding a new twist that makes it so that Debbie has to fight her way back to the top didn’t provide a neat finish, but did make it very enticing to revisit whatever comes next. The same was true of Debbie telling Ruth that they weren’t yet at the point where they could have a drink despite their joint professional accomplishment. Watching these six episodes made me really like this show, and though I don’t think it could happen, I’d be perfectly fine with it triumphing on Emmy night. At the very least, I think I’ll now start watching this show, making my way through all of season two a bit later this year. This is a great show!

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 1, Episode 8 “Maybe It’s All the Disco” (B+)

There are a few plot points that I miss watching just six episodes of this show, like how Ruth got pregnant (I’m presuming it was Mark), but it’s still easy to see its quality. The fifth of six submitted episodes was actually the least exciting, though it was still good. Sam isn’t nearly as despicable as he was when he was first introduced in the pilot, and now he’s concerned about opinions and set on making Rhonda wait to come in so that he can shame her for being late. He was relieved that she was going to initiate the break-up instead of him, but then all he wanted was to still be with her. Taking Ruth to her abortion was a fitting follow-up to that because, even though he doesn’t value her business input, he showed his softer side by making her smile pretending to be her husband instead of once again reaffirming that they’re not dating. Everyone was much more excited about Sheila’s birthday than she was, and it was great to see her actually enjoy herself when she was skating alone while Jenny blew out the candles on the cake. Bash is MIA, and Carmen may have spilled the beans about the money problems, which definitely won’t be good for morale. I really don’t know the history of Debbie’s relationship with Mark, but this was a serious improvement over their interaction at the end of the previous episode. Next and last up for me and Emmy voters is what I’m sure will be a memorable season finale.

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 1, Episode 7 “Live Studio Audience” (B+)

One of the great things that I’m realizing about this show as I screen the fourth of the submitted episodes for Best Comedy Series is that it’s focused much more on characters than on plot. Justine stealing the camera and trying to frame Rhonda barely registered as we learned much more about what kind of investor Bash is, putting a mesmerizing $600,000 of his own (mom’s) money into all this. I remember actor Chris Lowell from his debut role on the short-lived TV series “Life As We Know It” way back in 2004, and it’s great to see him cast in a part like this that allows him once again to be entertaining but also portray a character of substance. I thought that Carmen was having a panic attack, but it turns out that it was just her health, something that the paramedic told her in a not-so-kind way. Watching Ruth and Debbie try to learn some serious wrestling moves was very fun, and they really did almost manage to save the day after a rough start to the live studio audience session. The Ku Klux Klan bit went over better than in the end than it started, but the ultimate hero of the half-hour, surprisingly, was Rhonda, who stepped in to start her wrap and eventually got all the women to join her in singing the fun new theme song for their show. The return of Debbie’s husband Mark, played by Rich Sommer, was a harsh return back to reality that’s going to shake Debbie’s confidence at exactly the wrong time.

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 1, Episode 6 “This Is One of Those Moments” (B+)

I’m finding this show to be very strong as I watch more of it, the third submitted episode for Best Comedy Series, more about the genesis of the production of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling than the actual wrestling itself. I was pretty sure even though it wasn’t stated explicitly in the previous episode that Debbie hated Ruth because she had slept with her husband, and ultimately I think that’s going to be best for their rivalry for Debbie to get her anger out at Ruth in the ring. Trying to pair Debbie up with any of the other women went exceedingly poorly, and, if Ruth is a handful, Debbie is definitely a diva who wants to be treated like the experienced actress that she is. Ruth trying to get into true Russian character by following Gregory around was very entertaining, and I can’t understand why he would bring her along to an adult bris. Singing a song from “Yentl” proved to be very successful, and her subsequent Orthodox Jewish woman fighting a terrorist bit was a huge misstep. Fortunately, that was enough to inspire Debbie to get into character, and now they’re getting into it and ready to really get started. Miss USA fighting against Miss Soviet Union is going to be a great show. Justine is a great character, one who doesn’t want to have her ideas put down by Billy and really wants to make sure that Sam listens to her, even if she’s not sleeping with him.

Emmy Episodes: GLOW

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the third year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

GLOW: Season 1, Episode 5 “Debbie Does Something” (B+)

I remember watching the pilot of this show, which is already in its second season, about two weeks after it started and enjoying it well enough, but not figuring I’d have much time to watch it. Over a year later, the show ended up with a handful of Golden Globe and SAG nominations, and then managed to earn an Emmy bid for Best Comedy Series with both of its main stars snubbed. The only one who wasn’t was Betty Gilpin, who I found to be terrific in the fourth and final season of “Masters of Sex.” In addition to being the second (after the pilot) of six submitted episodes for Best Comedy Series, this is also Gilpin’s selected showcase. It’s a pretty terrific one too, as Debbie, clearly resistant to the idea of being part of the show they’re filming because of events I missed, gets taken to her first real wrestling match, and has an epiphany when she realizes that it’s all a soap opera. The wrestler being a big fan of hers was a big win, and getting to sleep with him helped her to move on to the realization that she should in fact do the show since she could be great at it. I’m not sure it’s the showiest role, but Gilpin is superb, and I’d be thrilled if she won. Alison Brie, who didn’t get an Emmy nomination, is excellent as well, putting on a Russian accent to help sell the chairs through reverse psychology and show her worth. The pizza delivery guy subplot and the crank calls were entertaining also, and I’m very much looking forward to watching the remaining four submitted episodes.

Pilot Review: G.L.O.W.

G.L.O.W. (Netflix)
Premiered June 23

I didn’t know much about this show going into it other than that it was set in the 1980s and had to do with women wrestling. Neither of things seemed all that appealing to me, and while I did find some of this pilot to be entertaining, it’s not really my kind of show. What was most startling to me is that the show’s main star, Alison Brie, is almost completely unrecognizable. I wasn’t a fan of “Community” but I appreciate Brie’s endearing and funny nature, and I was impressed by her recurring work on “Mad Men.” I loved her in the hilarious comedy “Sleeping with Other People,” and I think she’s a great fit for this show. Opposite her is Betty Gilpin, who was terrific on the final season of “Masters of Sex” as Nancy and has a far less subdued and much more foulmouthed role here. I wasn’t sure exactly where I knew Marc Maron from (maybe an episode of “Easy”), but he does a terrific job of being a jerk as the truly sexist and all-around intolerable director trying to cast his wrestling show. The concept here is clever and I’m sure there’s room for some interesting and funny stories. It’s a stretch in terms of the suspension of disbelief necessary to watch it, and it’s truly entrenched in its portrayal of the 1980s, a decade I didn’t really experience but does seem to be captured well on film here. This show has some good things going for it, namely Brie, and I’m sure it will be fine for some light, exaggerated fun.

How will it work as a series? Maron’s Sam is definitely ready to have his show take off now with Ruth and Debbie at its center, and though Ruth would be thrilled to get the gig, I think it’s going to be an uphill battle to get them to continue their fighting for the cameras, but I’m sure it will work out in the end once everyone else gets on board and in on the action too.
How long will it last? Reviews for the show seem to be pretty great, and I think that its focus – 80s female wrestling – is specific enough that it should have an appeal and encourage Netflix to bring it back for another year.

Pilot grade: B