Cousin Mike was on fire this week. Well, he’s on fire every week, but two pieces came out on practically the same day, praising him for two separate things happening in his career right now, and it’s awesome.
1. Performer of the Week: Mike O’Malley, Justified: “Perhaps especially impressive is the fact that O’Malley’s performance here is a full-on 180 from the role for which he’s best known: Kurt’s dad – perennial Father of the Year Burt – on Glee. That he can not only make us forget Burt but make us forget Burt and absolutely loathe Nicky is the kind of feat that deserves recognition.”
2. “Civil Wrongs” – Shameless review. “First, I want to get into all the good stuff about ‘Civil Wrongs,’ because there was as much to love about it as there is any Mike O’Malley-penned episode of this show. I’m ready to declare O’Malley this show’s MVP. He seems to have a precise understanding of the show’s voice that elevates any episode he writes. He’s not responsible for my favorite episode of Shameless (that distinction belongs to Alex Borstein, who wrote season one’s ‘But At Last Came A Knock’), but there’s something about the way he integrates the show’s elements that always feels incredibly balanced and confident.”
