Yahoo Lifestyle Performer of the Week: Jason Segel
THE PERFORMER | Jason Segel
THE SHOW | Shrinking
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THE EPISODE | “The Drugs Don’t Work” (Dec. 18, 2024)
THE PERFORMANCE | In the Apple TV+ comedy’s penultimate Season 2 episode, a flurry of personal dramas came to a head, sending Jimmy closer and closer toward another tailspin. Yet despite all of Paul’s warnings – that “Jimmying” his clients wouldn’t do anything to fix his own problems – Segel played up his character’s unease, first by attempting to crack wise with his daughter Alice and later, by once again trying to bury himself in work. When Paul confronted his colleague saying that Jimmy was “this close to a breakdown,” the actor rolled his eyes and exuded defensive body language, waving it off like a teenager refusing to listen to his elder’s wisdom.
But no amount of forced humor and nonchalance could mask Jimmy’s pain after Alice chastised her dad’s lack of empathy for Louis and left home to crash at a friend’s house. Even after helping a difficult patient, we could feel the hurt in Segel’s eyes upon realizing that his “Jimmying” technique was no longer providing him with relief. And his sadness hit us just as hard as it hit him.
However, the actor’s best work came when Jimmy finally hit rock bottom and called one of his former sex workers to distract him from his sorrow. Without words, Segel showcased the character’s suffering and deep-seated hatred for himself, as he knew all too well that he was slipping. The jig was up. As he stumbled through the streets in an almost fugue state, Segel convinced us that Jimmy needed help and fast. When he finally reached out to Paul for help, we prepared ourselves for emotional annihilation. “I’m not OK, Paul,” he whimpered. In a show that often leads the way with heart and humor, Segel hit all of the high notes as his character plummeted to the depths below.
Scroll down to see who got Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
HONORABLE MENTION: Wes Bentley
No one can say that Bentley’s performance in Yellowstone’s series finale (recapped here) didn’t pack a punch. After Jamie gave a speech that was top to bottom lies with the faux sincerity and outrage of the scariest kind of politician, the A.G. was thrust into the fight of his life — and for his life. Years of moldering hatred between him and adoptive sister Beth came to a brutal head in the wake of their father’s funeral, resulting in a no-holds-barred brawl. Throughout the smackdown, Bentley toed a fine line between his character’s physical pain and a fury that made him a real rarity: Beth’s frightening equal. But Bentley’s acting coup de grâce came in the moment that Beth informed Jamie that she’d sold the ranch; what he’d thought was his upper hand had been cut off. “Your face,” she laughed. And she was right; Bentley’s expression of disbelief was one for the books. Jamie may have wound up being the one who died, but Bentley nevertheless killed. — Charlie Mason
HONORABLE MENTION: London Garcia
If you ever wondered what a Case of the Week-less NCIS episode might look like, CBS’ NCIS: Origins unwrapped one for its first Christmas outing, and it was a heart-tugging classic — due in great part to the work of guest star London Garcia. Returning as Ruth (opposite recent Performer of the Week mention Austin Stowell), Garcia was gifted the opportunity to flesh out her apartment manager character in unexpected and engaging ways. Introduced weeks ago as irascible, Ruth let slip a warmer side as she witnessed Gibbs’ post-murder breakdown, though Garcia maintained juuust a hint of a prickly edge. Later, as Ruth and Gibbs bonded after pursuing some burglars, trading beers and secrets, Garcia instantly became a memorable (if short-lived) piece of Gibbs’ past. She also shined when Ruth got in Franks’ mustachioed face to stand up for her newfound friend! R.I.P., Ruth — whenever we hear “Blue Bayou,” we’ll think of you. — Matt Webb Mitovich
HONORABLE MENTION: Rose McIver
As fans of iZombie, we know that the versatile Rose McIver is capable of making us laugh, but she doesn’t often get to play the big comedy beats on Ghosts as the show’s straight woman. So it was a hilarious delight to watch McIver’s Sam get possessed by rough-around-the-edges basement ghost Nancy in the Christmas special. The actress nailed the spirit’s gruff voice and distinctive posture, throwing herself into Nancy’s mannerisms with the same level of gusto that the ghost exhibited while chowing down on guacamole. Every sentence that McIver delivered as Nancy, especially her outburst about “tiny foot prisons,” had us in stitches. While possession is a harrowing ordeal for Sam, we hope it continues to be a yearly tradition if it means that McIver gets to shine like she did this week. — Vlada Gelman
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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