Tuesday, July 11, 2006

AMERICANS THINK YOU'RE THE CHAPERONE AND I'M RUNNING FOR PROM KING: It occurred to me over the weeekend, upon seeing that he just turned 51, that Jimmy Smits doesn't get enough credit for what he's accomplished.

Three major tv dramatic roles in twenty years -- "L.A. Law", "NYPD Blue" and "The West Wing" -- and in the latter two, he joined existing hits and made them better. Yes, all three roles had similarities in their strong moral core and the fact that the man just happens to be really good-looking, but compare, for example, Cong. Matthew Santos' ego and slyness with long-suffering Bobby Simone. (Indeed, take a look at this review of Smits' final "NYPD Blue" episode or this Sepinwall appreciation if you've forgotten how good he was there.)

All in all, eleven Emmy nominations (one win for supporting for "L.A. Law in six tries, no wins in five tries for "Blue" as lead), adoptive father of Princess Leia, and yet, you don't hear him spoken of as one of the great tv actors of the past two decades. Why not? And what would you like to see him do next?

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