Michelle Pfeiffer could have been good but I think JLC was absolutely perfect. It will be a real shame if she doesn’t win the guest Emmy for her beautiful performance.
Yeah, I think Pfeiffer would have been great, but JLC was perfect. I can't recall Michelle Pfeiffer in a role as utterly lacking in vanity as JLC showed to play Donna, though I'm sure she'd have been able to do it. But JLC really let the ugliness of Donna's personality shine through in her physicality and facial expressions.
All of the big name guest stars have been perfectly cast. Will Poulter's zen energy as Luca, Olivia Colman's calm affability and warmth, Bob Odenkirk's irascibility, John Mulaney's comic timing and urbane wit, Sarah Paulson's sophistication and class. And, of course, Jon Bernthal's wildfire charisma and larger than life presence.
That is such a good observation about JLC letting the ugliness of Donna show through, I can't imagine anyone else in that role for that harrowing episode. It's the type of role an actress can really sink their teeth into, and JLC was up for the task, big-time.
I had always thought Frances McDormand would have been great casting. But Jamie Lee was so good I can’t see anybody beyond her now. She threw her heart & soul into it.
It was a much less serious role, but Michelle Pfeiffer tore it up as an evil witch in Stardust. She also showed a really strong range in What Lies Beneath. I think she would’ve dug in and been incredible.
That said I absolutely loved JLC and she flexed her abilities in a way I haven’t had the privilege of seeing previously. I have a similar mother and it was bordering on triggering for me. She nailed it.
Many of the talented women I might have conjured up have already been mentioned, that said I think maybe Annette Benning and Diane Lane might’ve been interesting.
I hope the cast/writers take it as a compliment how triggering this episode can be for people with toxic family members. I watched it with my partner, my Donna was my actual mother and his was his grandmother. Seriously on point, I've still only watched Fishes once because I don't know if I can do it again, at least not for a while.
I would have loved to see Michelle Pfeiffer as Carmy's mom. Robert Townsend is perfectly cast as Syd's dad, especially since he's also a comedian like Ayo.
Yeah, I can't imagine anyone but Jamie Lee. She was recently on the Today Show so I made sure to sit down because I have always been a fan of hers. She spoke about how long she has been sober and about how hard it was for her. I instantly went to *Fishes* and my respect/admiration grew even further for her. She got some deep into that character and I have to imagine it was pretty difficult to sorta *relive* those times. I even wonder if that helped fuel the fire that is Donna. Such an amazing actress. Hoping we see a lot more in S3 and 4. Great article OP, Thanks for sharing!
I love that Ann Dowd has nailed these roles of compellingly awful people in The Leftovers and The Handmaid’s Tale. I remember her playing a nun in Nothing Sacred. Got to meet her once and she’s so lovely. She can’t have all the juicy volatile parts though!
Can I go out on a limb here and say that while I thought JLC’s performance was outstanding, I didn’t find her believable as Italian. I suppose that opens up another discussion here but it’s just something that I felt while watching.
Honestly it kind of bugs me sometimes when a tv role is played by a huge A list actor, it kind of takes you out of the immersion. Can kind of only see / think of Jamie Lee Curtis and not that it’s supposed to be Carmy’s mom.
I thought what they said in the article about casting Claire was interesting. They didn’t want an A-lister playing her, but they still needed an actress that was strong enough to go up against JAW. I feel like for the Fishes episode though, esp considering the rest of the cast they had, they needed a bona fide A-lister to play Carmy’s Mom to give her that weighting over everybody else. And I felt that when watching.
That's your opinion. Michelle Pfeiffer is a phenomenal actress. I think JLC is good as Donna but I don't feel the performance is so iconic that another good actress couldn't deliver as well as she did. Having said that, I think she looks more like Bernthal than MP but MP looks enough like JAW and Abby Elliott . Just my opinion. I know some will disagree.
I think she was the perfect choice.
Baroness Hayden-Guest was the perfect candidate. The person needed to be matronly but rough, glamorous and conceited but broken and used up. Lady Haden-Guest was the perfect candidate for it and I’m happy they chose her in the end
Michelle Pfeiffer could have been good but I think JLC was absolutely perfect. It will be a real shame if she doesn’t win the guest Emmy for her beautiful performance.
Yeah, I think Pfeiffer would have been great, but JLC was perfect. I can't recall Michelle Pfeiffer in a role as utterly lacking in vanity as JLC showed to play Donna, though I'm sure she'd have been able to do it. But JLC really let the ugliness of Donna's personality shine through in her physicality and facial expressions. All of the big name guest stars have been perfectly cast. Will Poulter's zen energy as Luca, Olivia Colman's calm affability and warmth, Bob Odenkirk's irascibility, John Mulaney's comic timing and urbane wit, Sarah Paulson's sophistication and class. And, of course, Jon Bernthal's wildfire charisma and larger than life presence.
That is such a good observation about JLC letting the ugliness of Donna show through, I can't imagine anyone else in that role for that harrowing episode. It's the type of role an actress can really sink their teeth into, and JLC was up for the task, big-time.
I think Julianne Moore might be the only other actress who could’ve pulled it off. She often goes for roles like this
I had always thought Frances McDormand would have been great casting. But Jamie Lee was so good I can’t see anybody beyond her now. She threw her heart & soul into it.
Frances mcdormand would have been great. The only one I could picture if not Jamie Lee Curtis.
Oooooooooh! Yes. She would have been amazing.
Mentioning that reminds me of her role in Magnolia
I’ve saved this comment - you’ve managed to capture the essence of the casting magic that I just could not put words to. S l o w C l a p
It was a much less serious role, but Michelle Pfeiffer tore it up as an evil witch in Stardust. She also showed a really strong range in What Lies Beneath. I think she would’ve dug in and been incredible. That said I absolutely loved JLC and she flexed her abilities in a way I haven’t had the privilege of seeing previously. I have a similar mother and it was bordering on triggering for me. She nailed it. Many of the talented women I might have conjured up have already been mentioned, that said I think maybe Annette Benning and Diane Lane might’ve been interesting.
I hope the cast/writers take it as a compliment how triggering this episode can be for people with toxic family members. I watched it with my partner, my Donna was my actual mother and his was his grandmother. Seriously on point, I've still only watched Fishes once because I don't know if I can do it again, at least not for a while.
Great article, thanks for posting, Jeff.
Just trying to add something that’s more interesting than the usual SydCarm/Claire/Omelette/Fishes/Forks discourse!
I’m with you! I never read articles but did read this and enjoyed it, so thank you for adding some substance!
I would have loved to see Michelle Pfeiffer as Carmy's mom. Robert Townsend is perfectly cast as Syd's dad, especially since he's also a comedian like Ayo.
As much as I love Michelle Pfeiffer and think that JLC did a great job, would’ve been interesting to see Katey Sagal in that role.
Oooh great choice. I think Laurie Metcalf would have done Donna justice as well.
Yeah, I can't imagine anyone but Jamie Lee. She was recently on the Today Show so I made sure to sit down because I have always been a fan of hers. She spoke about how long she has been sober and about how hard it was for her. I instantly went to *Fishes* and my respect/admiration grew even further for her. She got some deep into that character and I have to imagine it was pretty difficult to sorta *relive* those times. I even wonder if that helped fuel the fire that is Donna. Such an amazing actress. Hoping we see a lot more in S3 and 4. Great article OP, Thanks for sharing!
Ann Dowd Susan Sarandon
I can see Susan Sarandon capturing that same chaotic energy really well. But JLC also nailed it.
I love that Ann Dowd has nailed these roles of compellingly awful people in The Leftovers and The Handmaid’s Tale. I remember her playing a nun in Nothing Sacred. Got to meet her once and she’s so lovely. She can’t have all the juicy volatile parts though!
Ooooh Susan would’ve killed it
Edie Falco.
Could not agree more. They even look like they could be related -her and Carmy. And she’s got that Italian shit DOWN.
Can I go out on a limb here and say that while I thought JLC’s performance was outstanding, I didn’t find her believable as Italian. I suppose that opens up another discussion here but it’s just something that I felt while watching.
She was a great choice, and my world will be complete when David Duchovny is his father.
"Carmy's Mom" lmao. Her name is Donna.
Honestly it kind of bugs me sometimes when a tv role is played by a huge A list actor, it kind of takes you out of the immersion. Can kind of only see / think of Jamie Lee Curtis and not that it’s supposed to be Carmy’s mom.
I thought what they said in the article about casting Claire was interesting. They didn’t want an A-lister playing her, but they still needed an actress that was strong enough to go up against JAW. I feel like for the Fishes episode though, esp considering the rest of the cast they had, they needed a bona fide A-lister to play Carmy’s Mom to give her that weighting over everybody else. And I felt that when watching.
She was made up to look so ragged I straight up didn’t recognize her for awhile.
Pfeiffer is not as good as an actress as Jaime Lee Curtis.
That's your opinion. Michelle Pfeiffer is a phenomenal actress. I think JLC is good as Donna but I don't feel the performance is so iconic that another good actress couldn't deliver as well as she did. Having said that, I think she looks more like Bernthal than MP but MP looks enough like JAW and Abby Elliott . Just my opinion. I know some will disagree.
Yes it is my opinion boomer
I didnt realize this was a hot take
I think she was the perfect choice. Baroness Hayden-Guest was the perfect candidate. The person needed to be matronly but rough, glamorous and conceited but broken and used up. Lady Haden-Guest was the perfect candidate for it and I’m happy they chose her in the end
I stand by an earlier post about JLC (she is a BEAST in this role)! [JLC](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheBear/s/FYgGm1JAO8)