As a seasoned television critic with a penchant for theater and a soft spot for sitcom legends, I must say that Laurie Metcalf‘s addition to the cast of Elsbeth is nothing short of a masterstroke. Her extensive background in both comedy and drama, coupled with her undeniable talent, makes her the ideal choice for this unique role.
Elsbeth has added another notable figure to her cast, with Laurie Metcalf from ‘The Conners’ and ‘Roseanne’ joining in for the Season 2 finale on December 19. This episode, even if it weren’t the last one of the 2024 TV schedule, would be one fans wouldn’t want to skip as Elsbeth delves into police procedural shows, all while being within a police procedural series herself. Metcalf will portray a character who is playing a character, and executive producer Jonathan Tolins discussed with TopMob why the comedic actress was ideal for Elsbeth’s take on police procedurals!
In simpler terms, the title of this fall finale is “Toil and Trouble.” This episode stars Laurie Metcalf, a well-known television personality, as Regina Coburn, a fictional TV star who’s been playing the lead in a crime drama called “Father Crime” for two decades on network television. As you can see from the clip above, a regular season of network TV can consist of around twenty episodes, so it’s not often that an actor gets to take on a significant role in a play like “Macbeth,” also known as “The Scottish Play.
I recently had a conversation with showrunner and executive producer Jonathan Tolins regarding the final episode prior to the 2025 television schedule. He elucidated that the comedy legend was ideally suited for a one-hour long procedural series such as “Elsbeth.
Indeed, Laurie Metcalf seems exceptionally versatile, almost like the perfect choice for any acting role that comes up. To me, she stands among the most remarkable stage actresses of our era. She’s truly exceptional, and we had no doubt she would bring a unique humor to this character. The role of an actress trapped in a long-running part, yearning for recognition as a serious Shakespearean actress despite being thwarted, seemed tailor-made for her talents.
Laurie Metcalf, who is widely recognized for her role in approximately 350 episodes as Jackie Harris on both “Roseanne” and “The Conners,” is not just limited to sitcoms. In fact, Jonathan Tolins referred to her as one of the exceptional stage actresses. With six Tony Award nominations under her belt, two of which she won, and four Emmy Awards out of twelve nominations, not to mention an Academy Award nod for “Lady Bird,” it’s no surprise that Tolins was considering Metcalf for the role of Elsbeth. He further explained his reasoning:
In regards to portraying such a role, there’s no one more apt than Laurie Metcalf. She truly grasps it, delivering both depth and hilarity effortlessly, all while maintaining an authenticity that suggests the humor isn’t forced or intentional. That’s always the tricky part of our show – striking the perfect balance in tone. We were confident she could pull it off. [laughs]
Elsbeth, on television, possesses an unusual style that makes the killers both amusingly ludicrous and genuinely menacing. Michael Emerson’s character Judge Milton Crawford serves as a dramatic antagonist to the usually cheerful leading lady. Carrie Preston likened Crawford to Moriarty for his role as her Sherlock. You can now stream Emerson’s first episode with a Paramount+ subscription. Interestingly, off-screen, Preston and Emerson are married in real life.
As per Jonathan Tolins, the team involved possessed a solid understanding of procedural shows long before they delved into the genre with the meta Season 2 finale episode titled “Elsbeth“. In other words, they were already well-versed in creating procedurals prior to this specific production.
Among our team members, some of the writers, including myself, had previously worked on New York-based procedurals. My most recent project before Elsbeth was East New York. This realization struck me during casting for Father Crime, and I reached out to Billy Finkelstein, the showrunner of East New York who I collaborated with for five years on The Good Fight. Billy has been a TV showrunner on numerous shows, including L.A. Law and NYPD Blue, and he’s a seasoned professional. I appreciate his presence in Elsbeth because I believe he adds an impressive level of authenticity to the world of Father Crime, making it easier for viewers to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in the show.
Following Tolins revealing the showrunner for the fictional series “Father Crime“, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation. It turned out that Billy Finkelstein had previously worked on “Law & Order“, a long-running procedural that, with 24 seasons and counting, is often associated with the genre’s epitome. For me, when considering iconic procedurals, I either think of “Law & Order” or its spinoff “Law & Order: SVU“, which, currently in its 26th season and counting with Mariska Hargitay, is another staple. Interestingly, Billy Finkelstein will be contributing to a different project next, titled “Elsbeth“. This isn’t his typical role!
As a dedicated fan of “Elsbeth”, I’m excitedly reminding everyone to catch the fall finale of Season 2 on CBS this coming Thursday, December 19, at 10 p.m. ET. If streaming is more your thing, you can watch it on Paramount+ instead. We’ll then have a little break until January 30, when Carrie Preston and the rest of the team return to our screens, following the airing of “Matlock”.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-18 18:07