IFC Hits a Grand Slam with “Brockmire”

Were it not for the fact that two television stars of a certain stature amp8211 Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet amp8211 head its cast Brockmire would be a thoroughly modest production in every wayamp160 Thatamp8217s not to detract from their performances or the overall effectiveness of the show which finds moments of personal achievement and inspiring grace notes in the life of a man who was once considered one of the greats in his field but amp8211 thanks to a boozefueled public meltdown preserved forever on the Internet amp8211 is now off the scene except as an object of online ridiculeamp160 Azaria has had many terrific roles in his career but his layered portrayal of Jim Brockmire looks to be a career best amp160He first played the character back in 2010 in an episode of the Funny or Die series Gamechangers The same can be said for Amanda Peet as Julia amp8220Julesamp8221 James the strongwilled and goodhumored and also somewhatamp160damaged owner of both the Morristown Frackers amp8211 the team Brockmire now serves as announcer for and conveniently a popular local bar known as Rustyamp8217s a clever name given that Morristown is located within the increasingly influential American amp8220rust beltamp8221 a region that recently flexed its collective muscles and amp8230 well we all know how that turned outIt is Jules who convinces Brockmire to come to fictional and failing Morristown PA and begin to put his life back together by doing what he still loves best calling playbyplay She offersamp160unconditional personal professional and emotional support along the way Her goal is not simply to revitalize the Frackers but to restore the entire town itselfThere are grand themes at play here amp8211 pride redemption forgiveness selfdoubt selfloathing selfrespect and the power of love friendship and community amp160Oh and the unrelenting menace of technology which ensures that if caught on video the lowest and most embarrassing moments of peoplesamp8217 lives will be preserved on the Internet for the entertainment of millions for millennia to comeamp160 Thatamp8217s enough dramatic weight to crush the funny out of a comedy of any kind But not hereamp160 Some of the credit goes to the profoundly effective writing by Joel ChurchCooper and the equally fine direction by Tim Kirkby who are so detailed in their storytelling and its execution itamp8217s as if they have lived in Morristown or one of the hundreds of American towns very much like it for most of their livesamp160 Consider Brockmireamp8217s own description of such placesamp160 amp8220They are scraped out husks amp8230 victims of the capitalism that made a lie out of the American Dreamamp8221ChurchCooper and Kirkby seem to have a genuine understanding and a sincere affection for folks who live smallish lives in tiny places amp8211 for hardworking Americans who reap little or no rewards throughout years of hard work but carry on anyway and manage to enjoy lifeamp8217s simplest pleasuresamp160 Small town sports are everything to many of these folks something that hasnamp8217t been explored on television since the modern classic Friday Night Lights ended its run on NBC and DirecTVAs did so many of the sublime actors who made the characters in Lights so painfully yet rewardingly real Azaria and Peet work wonders with the material they are given here raises Brockmire far above the niche appeal that the original programming on IFC is known for and quite possibly into the rarefied space reserved for mainstream hits of uncommon high qualityamp160 It will be a crime if the two are not acknowledged along with the show throughout the next TV awards season Tyrel Jackson Williams is similarly sublime in a disarmingly charming performance as an eager young intern thrilled to be working for the Frackers amp160The show wouldnamp8217t be the same without himIFC did many extremely smart things in promoting this show amp160They began to build buzz for it over a year ago at the networkamp8217s intimate 2016 Upfront press lunch in New York City where the recently renewed horror comedy Stan Against Evil was also launched and the second season of critical favorite Documentary Now was first promoted That was followed by a junket in Atlanta where the series was filmed The bottom photo of Azaria and Peet was taken at an onlocation press conference last July at the Yaarab Shrine Temple on the outskirts of the cityamp160Then came the wisest move of all amp8211 sending critics a DVD screener with all eight episodes from the showamp8217s first season allowing them to not merely be tantalized by its terrific pilot but to binge their way through the rest becoming happily obsessed along the wayI find it interesting and well worth noting that the buzz for Brockmire has been building throughout broadcastamp8217s pilot season when almost every hour brings with it news of another bigbudget lavishly produced drama or comedy that its network and studio envisions as the next big thing amp160Most of those will ultimately fall into the category of the next big bust amp160Maybe theyamp8217re just trying too hard amp160The entire eightepisode first season of Brockmire was shot with humbling efficiency in just 22 days in and around Atlanta at a budget that was probably less than the catering tab for some of those amp8220biggeramp8221 showsIn television as in baseball amp8211 and most other things amp8211 bigger is not better amp160This show provides incontrovertible proofamp160 Hereamp8217s hoping IFC continues to amp8220Keep It Brockmireamp8221 for years to comeClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this article are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggersamp160amp160amp160amp160amp160

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IFC Hits a Grand Slam with “Brockmire”

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IFC Hits a Grand Slam with “Brockmire”

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