There’s no better current showcase for character actors than The Good Wife on CBS. It’s given established stars such as Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane fun new things to do as they play off the legal drama’s leads, Julianna Margulies (as Alicia Florrick), Josh Charles (as Will Gardner), Christine Baranski (as Diane Lockhart), Matt Czuchry (as Cary Agos), and Chris Noth (as Peter Florrick). The show creators, the husband-and-wife team Robert and Michelle King, clearly delight in giving actors this showcase, and fans follow guest stars’ comings and goings with great interest.
So I decided to rank them according to excellence. And now I’m barely alive. Oh, and “excellence” here is defined as “in my opinion.”
A few notes, and then we’ll get to it (I’ve included a longer explanation of my “methodology” — ha! — at the very bottom). I included actors who have been on three or more episodes; and I did not include actors such as Zach Grenier (as David Lee) and Mary Beth Peil (as Jackie Florrick), who are basically series regulars, even though they’re not technically in that category. And so, as I went, the structure that emerged in the rankings was basically this: At the top are the characters (and actors) I consider to be superb; then it’s ones I think are pretty great; after that are ones I like; then it’s characters played by wonderful actors who maybe didn’t have a ton to do (playing judges, mostly) and don’t stand out in my memory; and then it’s characters the show has forgotten (remember Courtney? Anyone?). The very bottom is filled with characters I actively disliked and/or was disappointed with: Some of my favorite actors are here.
As far as those bottom-dwellers go, there’s no blame to be meted out here. It’s not the actors’ faults, and it’s not the writers’ faults, either. If the show is going to continue to take wild swings and offer us high points, there will be lows too. I appreciate the ambition. And if every judge and every friend of the Florrick kids had some memorably wacky attribute that stood out in our minds for all time, the show would be The Practice, and we’d all want to scream in frustration.
To the list!
1. Michael J. Fox
Character name: Louis Canning
Number of episodes so far: 8
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 6: “Poisoned Pill”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 13: “The Seven Day Rule”
While I’m happy for Michael J. Fox — and fans of Michael J. Fox — that he will have a new show on NBC this fall, if that means we never see Louis Canning again, I will freak out. His rapport with Julianna Margulies in his role as the diabolical Canning — especially when Louis is using his ailment to manipulative advantage and Alicia gets furious — is unparalleled.
2. Martha Plimpton
Character name: Patti Nyholm
Number of episodes so far: 5
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 5: “Crash”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 22: “What’s in the Box?” (Meaning, she’s in the finale on Sunday!)
Another sneaky, winking attorney opponent of Lockhart/Gardner, the Patti character is known to use pregnancy and, later, her infant to win sympathy. Plimpton won an Outstanding Guest Star Emmy for this role for good reason (specifically for the Season 3 finale, in which Patti and Louis tried to take over Lockhart/Gardner). Patti! Grr.
3. Mike Colter
Character name: Lemond Bishop
Number of episodes so far: 7
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 16: “Fleas”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 16: “Runnin’ with the Devil”
Whenever you ever start to think Lockhart/Gardner is populated by heroes, Lemond Bishop is there to remind you that they also represent a murderous drug kingpin. The Bishop-centric episodes tend to be real star-turns for Mike Colter, and sometimes when he’s on, the show starts feeling like the closest thing to The Wire since The Wire ended. None of this would work without Colter’s frightening, calm intensity — he’s from the Stringer Bell school of crime. His most recent episode paired him and Alicia with Wallace Shawn as his fixer, and I wish it had been a miniseries.
4. Carrie Preston
Character name: Elsbeth Tascioni
Number of episodes so far: 9
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 20: “Mock”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 15: “Going for the Gold”
The Elsbeth character is so over the top, and so completely insane — and yet, I would want her to represent me over any other lawyer on the show? And the Lockhart/Gardner lawyers feel the same way, since they’re always her clients (Alicia, Will, and Eli have all employed her, at last count). I have no idea how Carrie Preston — best known as Arlene from True Blood — came up with Elsbeth’s odd speech patterns. A total freak, really. She brings me joy.
5. Dylan Baker
Character name: Colin Sweeney
Number of episodes so far: 6
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 13: “Bad”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 22: “What’s in the Box?” (Yes! The coming finale!)
Love. This. Creepy. Murderer. My favorite Lockhart/Gardner client. If only he could be a series regular. Dylan Baker is so good at being a charming deviant. Remember the movie Happiness? Don’t remember it! It’s upsetting! But he’s great in it/everything.
6. Matthew Perry
Character name: Mike Kresteva
Number of episodes so far: 4
First seen in: Season 3, Episode 19: “Blue Ribbon Panel”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 18: “Death of a Client”
I know Matthew Perry is a funny actor. But post-Chandler, I so prefer him bringing his edgy sarcasm — which verges on angry-sounding — to dramas than to half-hour comedies such as Go On and the late Mr. Sunshine. As Peter’s governor’s race rival, the delightful liar Mike Kresteva, Perry has been terrific: I wouldn’t necessarily want Peter to win? But against Kresteva I do. He also hasn’t been on enough — and won’t be in the finale, which doesn’t really make sense — but I realize that he has another television show on another network.
7. Anika Noni Rose
Character name: Wendy Scott-Carr
Number of episodes so far: 14
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 3: “Breaking Fast”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 11: “Boom De Yah Da”
Of all the nemeses our lead characters have, Wendy Scott-Carr is the definitely the most frightening one: She really hates all of them, and wishes them ill! It’s fantastic. To be honest, I never really understand what she’s up to in her elaborate plots, like her prosecution of Will to get to Peter? Even as I type those words, my mind feels hazier than usual. But who cares: Anika Noni Rose is perfect here. Speaking of confusing, WSC was going to lead the charge against Eli, and then was replaced by the Kyle MacLachlan character, who cited her conflicts, if memory serves. Was that the way it was supposed to play out, or was Rose not available or something? Kings, if you’re reading this, please send a raven, as they say on Game of Thrones, to let me know; I realize I’ve been wondering about this abrupt turn. Which all leads me to say that Wendy Scott-Carr’s stories tend to peter out (pun intended). Yet she’s the best villain The Good Wife has. And a tragic one at that, since she’s been corrupted along the way herself.
8. Anne Marsen
Character name: Jennifer
Number of episodes so far: 4
First seen in: Season 3, Episode 1: “A New Day”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 8: “Death Row Tip”
How I miss this character! Grace’s (Makenzie Vega) crazy tutor/friend who is an avant-garde dancer/YouTube star! Let the campaign to bring Jennifer back begin here. In the meantime, here’s Anne Marsen’s website.
9. Nathan Lane
Character name: Clarke Hayden
Number of episodes so far: 9
First seen in: Season 4, Episode 1: “I Fought the Law”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 13: “The Seven Day Rule”
Considering that Nathan Lane is not necessarily the most understated of performers, I held my breath when his new character — as a trustee brought in to oversee Lockhart/Gardner during its bankruptcy — was introduced this season. I feared quirk overload; quirk overdose. Then I was so pleased. Lane was, if anything, somewhat quiet and restrained. And poignant — in his affection and respect for Cary, and in his path to discovering that he loved the law. I hope we see him again. Especially if it’s across the courtroom from Will or Diane. (Or Cary.)
10. Anna Camp
Character name: Caitlin D’arcy
Number of episodes so far: 8
First seen in: Season 3, Episode 5: “Marthas and Caitlins”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 17: “Long Way Home”
What a surprise Caitlin turned out to be. Alicia is forced to hire her — over the candidate she prefers — because she’s David Lee’s niece: And then she turns out to be talented. She then chooses to stop her career short because she’s pregnant and wants to be a stay-at-home mom, reminding Alicia of her own winding path. But most important, I will not rest until Anna Camp is a star: in movies, of her own TV show, whatever. ANNA CAMP IS GREAT. Have you not seen Pitch Perfect? Come on!
11. Mamie Gummer
Character name: Nancy Crozier
Number of episodes so far: 5
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 13: “Bad”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 21: “A More Perfect Union”
If The Good Wife can sometimes veer too much into the land of quirk, as I’ve mentioned, it’s still true that the recurring characters I love the most are the ones just on the right side of that line (the wrong side of the line for me would be a David E. Kelley character: like, everyone from Boston Legal). As I compiled this list, I realized that the opposing attorney characters I favor all have some deceptive technique they use to charm judges or the jury: In Mamie Gummer’s case, Nancy pretends to be a bumbling, innocent spaz when she is, in fact, a skilled snake. Nancy is the only character Gummer has played so far (that I’ve seen, anyway) that has displayed her true skills as an actress.
12. Gary Cole
Character name: Kurt McVeigh
Number of episodes so far: 6
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 15: “Bang”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 19: “The Wheels of Justice”
As the right-wing, possible secessionist with the on-the-nose last name, who also happens to be Diane’s love interest (and fiancé), Gary Cole has gotten to do things he doesn’t usually: namely, play a romantic character. Love it. Also, Cole’s affect seems super-Chicago-y to me, which the show usually ignores as its setting. But Chicago people are so…Chicago. It’s a compliment!
13. Titus Welliver
Character name: Glenn Childs
Number of episodes so far: 16
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 7: “Executive Order 13224”
Welliver’s Glenn Childs was a fixture in the early days of The Good Wife as Peter Florrick’s — and therefore, Alicia’s — nemesis, as the state’s attorney who took Peter’s place (and humiliated him/Alicia by leaking the tape of Peter’s prostitution dalliances). He was a great villain (as he so often is in his roles) who was sometimes right; I miss him.
14. Rita Wilson
Character name: Viola Walsh
Number of episodes so far: 4
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 14: “Net Worth”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 3: “Two Girls, One Code”
Rita Wilson is so good on The Good Wife that it makes me wish she’d… This is going to sound wrong, but I wish she’d had a different career in which she hadn’t been primarily known as Tom Hanks’ wife, but had been, like, the Abby Perkins character on L.A. Law or something. (No offense to Michele Greene who played Abby! Not that she’s reading this!) As the sneaky Viola, Wilson is terrific. That’s all.
15. Kevin Conway
Character name: Jonas Stern
Number of episodes so far: 3
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 9: “Threesome”
Most recently seen in: Season 2, Episode 19: “Wrongful Termination”
As the founding partner of Lockhart/Gardner (when it was Stern, Lockhart and Gardner at the show’s beginning), Kevin Conway was scene-stealing as a stubborn, brilliant man in the early stages of dementia. His anger as his mind began to slip away was realistic and nuanced. He’s also one of the only characters on this list who is dead.
16. John Benjamin Hickey
Character name: Neil Gross
Number of episodes so far: 4
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 16: “Great Firewall”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 13: “The Seven Day Rule”
Chumhum, which Neil Gross is the founder of, is The Good Wife’s stand-in for Google and has played a part in some of the show’s best technology-focused episodes. (It even factored into Sunday’s episode about unionizing coders at the last moment.) As a tech CEO, though, Hickey’s Neil Gross is pure Steve Jobs, with his acid ambition.
17. Renée Elise Goldsberry
Character name: Geneva Pine
Number of episodes so far: 13
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 12: “Painkiller”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 15: “Going for the Gold”
One of the many wonderful things about The Good Wife is you see things one way because of the main characters’ points of view, and then something shifts, and you realize that things weren’t as they seemed. Geneva has been a good vessel for that as a critic of Peter’s hiring/promoting practices by race: They’re possibly discriminatory! Also, she delivered the great line about Kalinda: “Whenever I see that bitch I know we’re in trouble.”
18. Dallas Roberts
Character name: Owen Cavanaugh
Number of episodes so far: 8
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 3: “Breaking Fast”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 21: “A More Perfect Union”
Alicia’s gay brother, and the only friend the show allows her to have besides Kalinda. If these supporting characters are meant to jar the leads out of any stasis, Owen’s role is to force the repressed Alicia to discuss her feelings — and even, sometimes, her desires.
19. Jess Weixler
Character name: Robyn Burdine
Number of episodes so far: 6
First seen in: Season 4, Episode 16: “Runnin’ with the Devil”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 22: “What’s in the Box?”
The last time the firm had a second investigator…well, see No. 75 on this list. But so far, I’m loving this Millennial weirdo. And it’s nice for Kalinda to have a colleague — even if she doesn’t like it.
20. Stockard Channing
Character name: Veronica Loy
Number of episodes so far: 3
First seen in: Season 4, Episode 9: “A Defense of Marriage”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 21: “A More Perfect Union”
I have no idea what Stockard Channing is like in person, but I hope she’s somewhat like the flaky, fun lush Veronica Loy, Alicia’s mother. We didn’t see Veronica for the first three seasons of the show — and now we know why Alicia is the way she is. She had an excellent moment in her most recent episode when she went to tell Will that it was now or never with Alicia.
21. Denis O’Hare
Character name: Judge Charles Abernathy
Number of episodes so far: 7
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 2: “Stripped”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 22: “What’s in the Box?” (Yes, he’s in the upcoming finale too.)
Love Denis O’Hare in general, and here especially. Like when he cried, or just had irritated eyes, after being pepper sprayed at an Occupy protest. Judge Abernathy has inspired some animated GIF action with his quips.
22. Chris Butler
Character name: Matan Brody
Number of episodes so far: 11
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 10: “Battle of the Proxies”
As one of the prosecutors, Matan is one of those characters the audience ends up rooting against because of the point of view of the show; he’s an effective hard-ass (and was also a foil for Cary when he joined the state’s attorney’s office). Kalinda fans felt a real sense of dread when Blake (Scott Porter) went to talk to Matan before leaving Chicago. More Matan!
23. David Fonteno
Character name: Judge Robert Parks
Number of episodes so far: 7
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 5: “Crash”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 20: “Rape: A Modern Perspective”
Judge Parks has stood out from the scrum both because he was one of the judges involved in Will’s corruption case, and also because David Fonteno is good at being exasperated. The recent episode, “Rape: A Modern Perspective,” based on the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case — in which social media played a key part — highlighted exasperated Judge Parks, as an anonymous hacker group helped Lockhart/Gardner by digging up evidence despite his no-leaks rule. My second favorite judge (Denis O’Hare is No. 1).
24. Jill Flint
Character name: Lana Delaney
Number of episodes so far: 9
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 8: “Unprepared”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 5: “Waiting for the Knock”
As the hot FBI agent Kalinda flirts with (and more), the Lana character is a Tumblr favorite. We haven’t seen her since the disastrous Kalinda/Nick story line early this season when Nick threatens her; more on that mess later. Come back, Lana! There are so few lesbians on TV right now!
25. Kelli Giddish
Character name: Sophia Russo
Number of episodes so far: 3
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 22: “Getting Off”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 1: “A New Day”
The relationship between Kalinda and Sophia — who might actually be trickier than Kalinda — was just getting going when Kelli Giddish was cast as a regular on Law & Order: SVU, where she is to this day. I’ve put Sophia and poor Lana here together to show what might have been for Kalinda.
26. Dreama Walker
Character name: Becca
Number of episodes so far: 7
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 9: “Threesome”
Most recently seen in: Season 2, Episode 16: “Great Firewall”
As Zach Florrick’s (Graham Phillips) girlfriend, the Becca character truly made no sense: Why would some kid be leaking campaign information and plotting against adults? However, she was a delight because Dreama Walker is: and because making no sense is sometimes fine. Now that Don’t Trust the B—— in Apartment 23 is no more, Becca — and Dreama Walker in general — deserves a spin-off. Maybe on Showtime.
27. Tim Guinee
Character name: Andrew Wiley
Number of episodes so far: 8
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 12: “Silly Season”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 22: “The Dream Team”
I miss this BabyBjorn-wearing investigator! Who, despite wearing a baby all the time, was insanely driven. Tim Guinee is on Revolution sometimes — and frankly, that’s not a good enough reason not to be on The Good Wife.
28. David Paymer
Character name: Judge Richard Cuesta
Number of episodes so far: 5
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 21: “The Penalty Box”
It’s a hard thing with the Good Wife judges, and judges on legal procedural shows in general: No matter how good the actor is, they do tend to blend together. The Cuesta character was also a client of Diane’s in “The Penalty Box” in Season 3. But if memory serves, he can no longer preside over one of their cases because of that? Does that mean bye, bye, David Paymer forever? Sad!
29. Michael Boatman
Character name: Julius Cain
Number of episodes so far: 15
First seen in: Season 1, Episode 10: “Lifeguard”
Most recently seen in: Season 3, Episode 19: “Blue Ribbon Panel”
I remember Julius with fondness for saving Will and Diane from Derrick Bond; I also liked when he tried to backstab Will when he was suspended in Season 3. And… I can’t remember what happened after that. Where’s Julius???
30. Jerry Adler
Character name: Howard Lyman
Number of episodes so far: 5
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 16: “Great Firewall”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 14: “Red Team, Blue Team”
The idea for the Howard Lyman character is so funny: The cranky, old law partner who does nothing but collect money, but every once in a while is either useful for a vote or makes ridiculous trouble. It’s always good to see Hesh from The Sopranos dropping in.
31. Amanda Peet
Character name: Laura Hellinger
Number of episodes so far: 7
First seen in: Season 4, Episode 6: “The Art of War”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 19: “The Wheels of Justice”
When she started out as Alicia’s friend, after having been represented by her, the Laura character seemed great. I liked that Alicia and Peter got her a job at his office. Then Laura went down the ill-fated Will path. Have we seen the last of Peet now that she realized that Will is still in love with Alicia?
32. Mike Pniewski
Character name: Frank Landau
Number of episodes so far: 9
First seen in: Season 2, Episode 7: “Bad Girls”
Most recently seen in: Season 4, Episode 15: “Going for the Gold”
One of the gratifying things about making this list was finding out the names of actors who’ve made key, if occasional, contributions to this show. Landau is the Democratic strategist who never brings good news to Peter and Eli, and I’ve always appreciated hi
Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/the-good-wife-season-finale-best-guest-stars
76 Guest Stars Of "The Good Wife" Ranked In Order Of Excellence
No comments:
Post a Comment