GQ Australia  has some webpages covering their Men of the Year Awards.


http://moty.gq.com.au/

http://moty.gq.com.au/categories/view/category/man-of-style/#nominee-simon-baker\
1


Man of Style Winner
Simon Baker
Who ever would have expected a true-blue Aussie to woo America’s Tinseltown?
With golden surfer locks, Simon Baker has flown to stardom in some of
Hollywood’s biggest films and television shows. All that said, he also happens
to be a truly stylish man, just as comfortable in black tie on the red carpet as
he is back at home in the surf.


Thanks for finding that hilarious video, Tia. ;)

  -- Paula

ROFL!

You can't pull the wool over our eyes, Simon.  We know that jacket is yours. 
You wore it on The View with that plaid shirt proving that you have... er, style
all right. ;)

  -- Paula


On Nov 21, 2009, at 11:47 PM, tiacelaya wrote:

>
> Here is the link to the vid of Simon accepting the AU GQ Award, too funny.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-tiUTyBYo#t=00m48s
>
>
> Tia
>
>
>

--- In simonbaker@yahoogroups.com, "tiacelaya" <Tiacelaya@...> wrote:
>
>
> Here is the link to the vid of Simon accepting the AU GQ Award, too
> funny.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-tiUTyBYo#t=00m48s
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-tiUTyBYo#t=00m48s>
>
>
>
> Tia
>

Here is the link to the vid of Simon accepting the AU GQ Award, too funny.

Hi Shoshie

Interested to hear your view of this film which is not released here until
February. It doesn't sound like my type of film really, but I thought it sounded
an interesting role for Simon. I had already pre-ordered it, so am pleased to
hear that his performance lives up to our very high expectations.

Frances

--- In simonbaker@yahoogroups.com, "S. Markham" <shoshie1943@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, all,
>  
> I finally got to watch my DVD of Not Forgotten and just want to make a few
comments. It has been well critiqued and reviewed here, so I won't have much
else to say. NF kept me moderately interested, but was it one of those WHBISWIT
(Wouldn't have Bothered if Simon Weren't In It) movies? Definitely. Having said
that, my main comment is that Simon's portrayal of a parent whose child has been
taken was so heart-wrenchingly realistic that, as a parent myself, my chest
feels like a block of ice just writing about it now. This is what Simon does in
all of his work. No matter what kind of role he's playing, no matter light or
heavy, sweet or vicious, he grabs you or strokes you or twists you and won't let
go. (Paula put it all very well in her post of just a few minutes ago.)
>  
> Just one remark about the ending--no real spoilers--if that was supposed to be
a shocking twist, it didn't work for me. More of a muddled cheat, JMO. I've
probably said before that I'm a very harsh critic of movies, and a very big
admirer of movies of the 1940s and '50s, so practically nothing coming out today
appeals to me. I think television is much better, once you dig through the
landfill for the diamonds, of course.
>  
> Just wanted to post this before the avalanche that will no doubt follow
tonight's episode of TM. I'll be watching about 4 a.m. after I get home from
work, wrapping myself up in a warm blanket with a good supply of tissues and
naturally the dogs and rats. Will look forward to the posts.
>  
> Shoshie
>

Great post Paula - thank you. Like you, it makes me furious when Simon's ability
is not recognised. His performances are so understated and subtle that some
people seem to think he is just being himself. But he's done a range of
different and completely convincing characters now, so you would think critics
of all people would be capable of recognising his remarkable talent.

I can't wait to see this episode which sounds great. Series 2 is not being shown
in the UK yet so I'm getting dreadfully impatient. Don't think we'll see it
until Xmas is out of the way....grrr!

Frances

--- In simonbaker@yahoogroups.com, Paula Vitaris <pvitaris@...> wrote:
>
> I think I just sent a message to this group with no reply in it...
> apologies.
>
> Anyway, re this sentence:
>
> "Many weeks, you might think Simon Baker coasts on his star charisma
> to make this show a winner."
>
> Stuff like this makes me want to rip out my fingernails -- or the
> writer's.
>
> As if Simon would EVER coast when it comes to acting...!
>
> When are the critics going to realize that Patrick Jane's demeanor --
> his smiles, his body language, his charismatic aura, and yes, the
> smugness -- is carefully planned, with laser-like precision, by Simon
> Baker?  That Simon is giving a *performance*?  Yes, Simon himself is
> immensely charismatic, but if you watch him in real life, he never
> wields that charisma at all in the same way that Jane does.  I do love
> episodes when the story affects Patrick to the point that he can no
> longer maintain the smile and we finally see the pain always lurking
> underneath, because Simon does that so well too, but I believe he is
> giving as much thought to "happy" Jane as he is to distressed Jane.
>
> I'm 3/4 through the Guardian set (and plan to write a little something
> about it once I'm done, which should be in a day or two) and watching
> Simon as Nick is really kind of breathtaking because his body language
> is so utterly different from Patrick's.  The two characters do  have a
> number of things in common (including charisma -- people keep
> gravitating to Nick no matter how much he annoys them) but their
> physicality is completely opposite from one another.  And in each case
> it seems completely natural and just how that character should be.
>
> I would say the same for Jeff in Smith, who is yet another animal
> entirely and again, his physicality is nothing like either Nick or
> Patrick.  And yet he absolutely is who he is -- there is nothing
> forced about Simon as Jeff either.
>
> Good grief.  Matt Roush, take off your blinders.
>
> But, Matt, I'm glad you liked the episode.  I'm really looking forward
> to 10 p.m. tonight. :)
>
>   -- Paula
>

I meant to say IT WAS SAD.  :-O

--- In simonbaker@yahoogroups.com, "tiacelaya" <Tiacelaya@...> wrote:
>
>
> It was said to read that Itzin leaving was not necessarily his choice,
> so I don't believe he would be returning. But you never know.
>
> ***************************************
>
> What was the highlight of your time on the show?
> Pretending that I don't like Jane is fun because Simon and I
> actually hit it off very quickly. Both of us have an attention to
detail
> and like to question every single moment. And we always like to be
> playful. When he realized that he couldn't throw me off, he decided
> he was going to have fun working with me.
>
>
> How were you celebrated on your final day?
> On my last day I was in the hospital bed and (show creator) Bruno
Heller
> came to the set late at night. Everyone gathered and it was very
moving.
> I really got that they wanted me to stay, but the integrity of that
arc
> had to be honored.
>
> They gave me a bottle of champagne that I won't touch. I'm just
> going to leave it in my refrigerator to remember them by.
>
> So Greg wasn't expecting this?
> I think he was as surprised as anybody. I don't know that his
> character was meant to be finite. We did joke with each other about
our
> leaving – who goes first? And if either of us was going to get a
> monologue.
>
>
> He took off. Everyone said that when he was done he slipped out the
back
> door because I think he was sad about it. I did the opposite. I went
> around hugging everybody forever until they were probably like, `Get
> out – you're dead
>
>
> So maybe you, coming back as Bosco's long-lost twin?
> A guy with a little more hair and glasses… Oh no. We talked about
> that, but I just got a laugh.
>
> Here is the link to the complete article
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yd2a4sz
>

Owain actually is Welsh, not Scottish.

The song is traditionally played at police funerals so it would be natural for
them to think of it, though to be honest I thought its use a little heavy-handed
in this episode, which at various times I felt was a little too "on the nose."  
I think I would have been heading out the door with Jane. ;)

Bosco's death scene was weird... I mean, I liked all the interaction and the
secret whispered message (how Lost in Translation) :), but where was Mrs. B?  It
took a week for Bosco to die and she couldn't get there from New Hampshire or
wherever she was?  What about other relatives?  And where is the medical team --
why didn't they rush in the minute he flatlined and everything started beeping?

Also not too sure how I feel about Red John turning into some kind of criminal
mastermind -- a cross between Moriarity and Charles Manson and Jack the Ripper,
apparently -- who can blithely infiltrate the CBI offices, tamper with all the
security cameras, assassinate his accomplice while she's surrounded by officers,
etc.  It feels just a little too comic-book to me.

But that said, I really loved all the interaction and Simon was simply
magnificent.  What a performance!  The expression on his face at the end as his
wish is fulfilled, to have the Red John case literally back in his hands and the
files open before his eyes!  Bosco was so right about Red John being like crack
cocaine to him.  Jane can't even give a moment's thought to poor Bosco... he's
just GOT to get to those files.  Sometimes I feel so very sad for him, not just
because of the traumas he has suffered in his life, but because he seems like an
empty shell with nothing to keep his physical self going except Red John.  I
keep getting the feeling that if you stuck a pin in him, he'd collapse like an
air-filled balloon.

So what happened to the table in the interrogation room?  I did love the staging
with Jane and Rebecca just in chairs with nothing but air separating them -- the
unusual arrangement made everything seem a little off-kilter and you could feel
the vibes going back and forth -- but this is the kind of mundane detail I tend
to mull over a lot. :)

So, Jane keeps a change of clothing at the office.  No surprise there
considering how much he likes to sack out on the couch.  And Lisbon has extra
clothing there too.  (I bet a lot of the male fans loved the washing the shirt
in the bathroom scene.) :)   I wonder if there is a locker room in the building
that they can use for their personal belongings.

Hail and farewell to the great Virgil Minelli.  Gregory Itzen has such an
idiosyncratic way with line readings that I will sorely miss.  Of course I'll
get to hear him do his thing on 24 since President Logan is returning but much
as I enjoy Logan, I don't love him like I love Minelli. :)  Perhaps Minelli will
be able to return in another season.

  -- Paula





On Nov 20, 2009, at 8:30 PM, Sharon Huddle wrote:

> I thought that it was quite interesting that Yeoman began the singing of
'Amazing Grace', as I believe the song and/or melody are traditionally Scottish,
which he is.  Most often, it's heard played on a single Scottish bagpipe.  The
singing seemed very spontaneous -- almost as though it was unscripted and when
it happened, was allowed to remain.
>
> --- On Fri, 11/20/09, tiacelaya <Tiacelaya@...> wrote:
>
> From: tiacelaya <Tiacelaya@...>
> Subject: [Simonbaker] His Right Red Hand thoughts
> To: simonbaker@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, November 20, 2009, 4:43 AM
>
>
> I really enjoyed the episode, especially Simon, but somehow it was a little
bit of a let-down for me. Maybe I read to many spoilers. I live in the Pacific
time zone and was able to read about the epi a few hours before it aired, from
those who posted info and live in the Eastern time zone. That'll teach me. ;-D
> Anyway a few thoughts.
> I always thought it strange that Bosco always wore his shoulder gun holster in
the office, it looked uncomfortable to me. So on the day he doesn't wear it he
gets shot. That'll teach him, well it would have it he had survived.
> What a juicy part for the actress, Shauna Bloom, who played Rebecca. She gets
to be an almost nobody in 3-4 episodes and then gets to be Red Johns accomplice
and the murderer in a pivotal episode of one of the most popular shows on TV.
She played the part OK but I think she was lacking something. To me she just
wasn't convincing enough. Especially in the scene where Jane interrogates her.
> I was surprised that I got more emotional in the scene where Minelli tells
Lisbon that he is retiring then in the scene where Bosco expresses his love for
her. I never really cared for Itzens acting in TM, but he had a couple of
powerful scenes in this episode and he was fantastic.
> In the scene where Jane and Lisbon are discussing what Bosco told him, Jane
brings out the Tequila bottle, which appeared to me to be almost full. Yet when
the group gathers to make a toast, to Bosco, the bottle is almost empty. Did
Jane and Lisbon drink up most of the Tequila themselves? Also I noticed that
although a drink was poured for Cho, and he did partake in the toast, he didn't
drink it. Instead he drank from his water bottle. Wonder if we'll learn that Cho
had or has a drinking problem?
> Lastly I thought that Yeoman has a good singing voice, he and Amanda made a
good duet when they were singing Amazing Grace. Its possible that Robin was also
singing but I couldn't tell.
> Waiting to read others thoughts on the Episode.
> Oh and thanks Paula for sharing the pictue of Simon from People Mag, much
appreciated
> Tia
>
>

I'm sure you've all read the news that Simon and Mark Johnson (who was one of
the producers on The Guardian) have teamed up to buy the rights to Australian
author Tim Winton's novel Breath, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award. 
According to the Variety article, "Baker and Johnson will produce together, and
Baker plans to play one of the lead roles. They will set a director before
setting up funding.  Published in 2008, the novel is set in a small town in
Western Australia, where two 16-year old boys take up surfing under the tutelage
of an enigmatic surfer named Sando (Baker) and his mysterious wife. Spurred on
by their mentor, the boys test the limits of courage and recklessness both on
the water and off as they try to escape their mundane lives."

Of course I immediately ordered up a copy of Breath from Amazon and plan to read
it while on my Thanksgiving vacation.  But I couldn't resist taking a peek to
see how Sando, Simon's character, is described.

The book is in the first person, narrated by one of the 16 year olds.  Here's
how he describes Sando:

"The bloke had a mass of curly bleached hair and his beard was of the same
stuff. He was a big man and muscular, with grey eyes.  It was hard to tell his
age but he had to be thirty or more and that made him a genuinely old guy. His
dog panted and whined besides him but the moment he glared at the mutt it lay
silent."

Since this takes place in a beach town and is about surfing and coming of age, I
suspect this is a tale Simon can relate to, even though it takes place on the
southwest coast of Australia rather than the east coast where he grew up. 
Should be a beautiful movie with all the Pacific Ocean and Australian coastal
landscape.  I hope they find the right director and right screenwriter and that
it gets a solid theatrical release.

  -- Paula

 

On Nov 20, 2009, at 6:02 PM, suzriz wrote:

> Thanks for scanning the page with Simon!
> A bit OT - by chance did Alexander Skarsgard (my sexy sweedish vampire Eric- yeah he's mine lol - from TrueBlood) make the list?? If he did not, that is a massive crime lol

Dear Suzriz,

Never fear -- Alexander is there, as "Sexiest Bad Boy," right next to Stephen Moyer as "Most Smoldering." ;)

They're on a page called "Vampire Hotties" along with New Moon's Peter Facinelli and Vampire Diaries' Paul Wesley (never heard of him) and Ian Somerhalder. ;)

I have another friend who is completely obsessed with Alexander Skarsgard. (She's a big Simon fan too.) :)

So I guess the next question is... when is Simon going to play a vampire? :)

-- Paula

On Nov 20, 2009, at 6:02 PM, suzriz wrote:

> Thanks for scanning the page with Simon!
> A bit OT - by chance did Alexander Skarsgard (my sexy sweedish vampire Eric-
yeah he's mine lol - from TrueBlood) make the list??  If he did not, that is a
massive crime lol

Dear Suzriz,

Never fear -- Alexander is there, as "Sexiest Bad Boy," right next to Stephen
Moyer as "Most Smoldering." ;)

They're on a page called "Vampire Hotties" along with New Moon's Peter Facinelli
and Vampire Diaries' Paul Wesley (never heard of him) and Ian Somerhalder. ;)

I have another friend who is completely obsessed with Alexander Skarsgard. 
(She's a big Simon fan too.) :)

So I guess the next question is... when is Simon going to play a vampire? :)

  -- Paula

 

On Nov 19, 2009, at 10:21 PM, Lesley Tillier wrote:

>
> However, if there is a great picture of Simon I might have to break my rule and buy a copy of People after all. :-)

We wouldn't want you to break your rule. :)

I've scanned in the photo and you can find it in our group files in the "Magazines and Newspapers" folder. The title is PeopleNov.30,2009gb.jpg. :) I'm sending it to Nikki too so she can put it up on the SBLand blog.

However, if you are in the mood to break your rule, there are lots of other photos of rather nice men, including a bunch of Hugh Jackman photos on the reverse side of the Simon photo page, illustrating "Hugh Jackman's Sexy Year." LOL There are worse ways to spend a few minutes than paging through this issue. :)

Have I mentioned I'm going to see Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in A Steady Rain in New York next week? *grin* I probably have mentioned it. :)

>
> Do send Ha Jin an email, I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it.

I probably will. ;) I scanned in the book review. You can see it at: http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7573/hajinpeoplemagnov302009.jpg

>
> I must check out his writing. I'm always looking for new authors to read.

Ha Jin is definitely worth your time. He was studying for his Ph.D. when the Tiannanman Square massacre took place, and he realized he would not be able to return home. Fortunately, he was able to bring his wife and son to the U.S. and he made the agonizing decision to write in English in order to have an audience in this country. Our faculty picked him out of an applicant pool of over 200 to be our new poetry professor (he had published two books of poetry). He immediately proceeded to start publishing fiction, first short stories, then novels, and started getting a lot of attention for his work. I remember when he won the National Book Award for Waiting. It was a VERY big deal. :) At first he just wrote stories and novels about life in China but then he finally started grappling with the Chinese immigrant experience here in the U.S., which is the subject of his new story collection too. A couple of years after winning the National Book Award he left us *sob* for Boston University but we remember him most fondly. He came back last year to give a reading here and it was wonderful to see him again. :) We're all getting old though. I can't believe how gray his hair has gotten. (Mine too.) :)

Apologies for this off-topic discussion, but it's not every day an author I actually know a little is in the same issue of People magazine with Simon and Hugh. I hope my favorite actors took time out to read the book review page. ;)

-- Paula

Apologies for a bit more of off-topic-ness...

On Nov 20, 2009, at 9:01 AM, Krisztina Csiki wrote:

>
>
> I know this guy! I saw him sing on Mezzo some time ago. His voice
> stopped me from what I was doing and I had to check his name online.
> I agree, he's amazing, and he's SO easy on the eye, too. :) So
> you're seeing him live?
>

Yup.
> Have you seen him before?
>

Only on video. :)

My aunt saw him a few weeks ago in San Francisco and said he was
wonderful.
> These men with their incredible voices are even more incredible when
> they are in the same building and their voices fill everything
> around you. :) Have a great time, I'm sure you will! (Me, I'm
> waiting with bated breath to see Josh next year when he starts
> touring the world again. I've seen him before and that experience is
> hard to top!!!)
>


Alas Josh doesn't do it for me but that's the way the world works.
Everyone has their own thing. :)  On this list there is one thing we
all do agree about and that's Simon. :)

   -- Paula

>This guy is the voice of my century:

>http://www.juandieg oflorez.com/

>He should definitely be in a sexiest man issue too. ;)  I'm going back to >NYC
in February to see him at the Met. :)

>-- Paula

I know this guy! I saw him sing on Mezzo some time ago. His voice stopped me
from what I was doing and I had to check his name online. I agree, he's amazing,
and he's SO easy on the eye, too. :) So you're seeing him live? Have you seen
him before? These men with their incredible voices are even more incredible when
they are in the same building and their voices fill everything around you. :)
Have a great time, I'm sure you will! (Me, I'm waiting with bated breath to see
Josh next year when he starts touring the world again. I've seen him before and
that experience is hard to top!!!)

Krisz

On Nov 20, 2009, at 2:07 AM, Krisztina Csiki wrote:

>
> The reason I am getting this magazine sent to me from abroad is page 90, I
think. Dark hair, dark eyes, the voice the of the century.


This guy is the voice of my century:

http://www.juandiegoflorez.com/

He should definitely be in a sexiest man issue too. ;)  I'm going back to NYC in
February to see him at the Met. :)

  -- Paula

On Nov 19, 2009, at 10:21 PM, Lesley Tillier wrote:

>
> However, if there is a great picture of Simon I might have to break my rule
and buy a copy of People after all. :-)

We wouldn't want you to break your rule.   :)

I've scanned in the photo and you can find it in our group files in the
"Magazines and Newspapers" folder.  The title is PeopleNov.30,2009gb.jpg. :) 
I'm sending it to Nikki too so she can put it up on the SBLand blog.

However, if you are in the mood to break your rule, there are lots of other
photos of rather nice men, including a bunch of Hugh Jackman photos on the
reverse side of the Simon photo page, illustrating "Hugh Jackman's Sexy Year." 
LOL  There are worse ways to spend a few minutes than paging through this issue.
:)

Have I mentioned I'm going to see Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in A Steady Rain
in New York next week? *grin*  I probably have mentioned it. :)

>
> Do send Ha Jin an email, I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it.

I probably will. ;)   I scanned in the book review.  You can see it at: 
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7573/hajinpeoplemagnov302009.jpg

>
> I must check out his writing. I'm always looking for new authors to read.

Ha Jin is definitely worth your time.  He was studying for his Ph.D. when the
Tiannanman Square massacre took place, and he realized he would not be able to
return home.  Fortunately, he was able to bring his wife and son to the U.S. and
he made the agonizing decision to write in English in order to have an audience
in this country.  Our faculty picked him out of an applicant pool of over 200 to
be our new poetry professor (he had published two books of poetry).  He
immediately proceeded to start publishing fiction, first short stories, then
novels, and started getting a lot of attention for his work.  I remember when he
won the National Book Award for Waiting.  It was a VERY big deal. :)  At first
he just wrote stories and novels about life in China but then he finally started
grappling with the Chinese immigrant experience here in the U.S., which is the
subject of his new story collection too.  A couple of years after winning the
National Book Award he left us *sob* for Boston University but we remember him
most fondly.  He came back last year to give a reading here and it was wonderful
to see him again. :)  We're all getting old though.  I can't believe how gray
his hair has gotten.  (Mine too.) :)

Apologies for this off-topic discussion, but it's not every day an author I
actually know a little is in the same issue of People magazine with Simon and
Hugh.  I hope my favorite actors took time out to read the book review page. ;)

  -- Paula

On Nov 19, 2009, at 6:54 PM, tiacelaya wrote:

>
> Paula
>
> Is the picture a new one, or one previously used before?
>
>

It's not familiar to me so I'm guessing new but I could be wrong.

I dunno why People doesn't just give in and admit Simon should be their cover
boy... I get the feeling they would have liked to, since he's the first face you
see in that Leading Man section. ;)

I'm still waiting for him to get a GQ or Details or Esquire cover.

Though I think the true marker of success will be when Mad Magazine does a
Mentalist parody. ;)

  -- Paula

Paula

Is the picture a new one, or one previously used before?

Tia

--- In simonbaker@yahoogroups.com, Paula Vitaris <pvitaris@...> wrote:
>
> Well, Simon wasn't chosen for Sexiest Man of the Year (the choice is Johnny Depp, an actor whose talents I admire endlessly but he has too much facial hair and too many tattoos for me to find him sexy), but if you open to page 90, there's a gorgeous full page of pic of Simon giving out with a big smile. :) He gets top billing as "Leading Man."
>
> The page has a quote from Robin Tunney:
>
> "I won't mention Simon's hair because frankly I'm sick of speaking and hearing about that man's hair. Hair does not make a man sexy. I will say that Simon has a fantastic smile, and the reason that it melts the hearts of so many is because it's genuine. Simon likes to have a laugh; his grin is effortless, and as a result infectious."
>
> The eyes definitely look blue. :)
>
> However, the most interesting man (well, besides Simon) in this issue is not an actor but author Ha Jin, whose latest book of short stories, "A Good Fall," is reviewed on page 57.
>
> I worked with Ha Jin for several years and he not only is a great author, but a true gentleman and extremely nice person.
>
> I'm really amused he's featured in the Sexiest Man issue (although in the review section not in the piece about the sexiest men). I'm half tempted to send him an e-mail about it. :)
>
> -- Paula
>

Well, Simon wasn't chosen for Sexiest Man of the Year (the choice is Johnny
Depp, an actor whose talents I admire endlessly but he has too much facial hair
and too many tattoos for me to find him sexy), but if you open to page 90,
there's a gorgeous full page of pic of Simon giving out with a big smile. :)  He
gets top billing as "Leading Man."

The page has a quote from Robin Tunney:

"I won't mention Simon's hair because frankly I'm sick of speaking and hearing
about that man's hair.  Hair does not make a man sexy. I will say that Simon has
a fantastic smile, and the reason that it melts the hearts of so many is because
it's genuine. Simon likes to have a laugh; his grin is effortless, and as a
result infectious."

The eyes definitely look blue. :)

However, the most interesting man (well, besides Simon) in this issue is not an
actor but author Ha Jin, whose latest book of short stories, "A Good Fall," is
reviewed on page 57.

I worked with Ha Jin for several years and he not only is a great author, but a
true gentleman and extremely nice person.

I'm really amused he's featured in the Sexiest Man issue (although in the review
section not in the piece about the sexiest men).  I'm half tempted to send him
an e-mail about it. :)

  -- Paula

 

I think I just sent a message to this group with no reply in it...
apologies.

Anyway, re this sentence:

"Many weeks, you might think Simon Baker coasts on his star charisma
to make this show a winner."

Stuff like this makes me want to rip out my fingernails -- or the
writer's.

As if Simon would EVER coast when it comes to acting...!

When are the critics going to realize that Patrick Jane's demeanor --
his smiles, his body language, his charismatic aura, and yes, the
smugness -- is carefully planned, with laser-like precision, by Simon
Baker? That Simon is giving a *performance*? Yes, Simon himself is
immensely charismatic, but if you watch him in real life, he never
wields that charisma at all in the same way that Jane does. I do love
episodes when the story affects Patrick to the point that he can no
longer maintain the smile and we finally see the pain always lurking
underneath, because Simon does that so well too, but I believe he is
giving as much thought to "happy" Jane as he is to distressed Jane.

I'm 3/4 through the Guardian set (and plan to write a little something
about it once I'm done, which should be in a day or two) and watching
Simon as Nick is really kind of breathtaking because his body language
is so utterly different from Patrick's. The two characters do have a
number of things in common (including charisma -- people keep
gravitating to Nick no matter how much he annoys them) but their
physicality is completely opposite from one another. And in each case
it seems completely natural and just how that character should be.

I would say the same for Jeff in Smith, who is yet another animal
entirely and again, his physicality is nothing like either Nick or
Patrick. And yet he absolutely is who he is -- there is nothing
forced about Simon as Jeff either.

Good grief. Matt Roush, take off your blinders.

But, Matt, I'm glad you liked the episode. I'm really looking forward
to 10 p.m. tonight. :)

-- Paula