After years of visitor spots and smaller film roles within the ’90s, Timothy Olyphant established himself as considered one of Hollywood’s go-to macho actors within the 2000s. His breakout got here in 2004 when he was forged as Seth Bullock, the reluctant camp sheriff, in HBO’s Deadwood, the place his rugged beauty and hard-nosed demeanor made him an ideal match for the western style. After Deadwood’s too-short run, he nabbed the position that might outline his public persona for years: Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in FX’s Justified, a personality he’d play for six seasons and a revival collection in 2023.
Justified allowed Olyphant to precise the complete vary of his skills, injecting his powerful man character with a dose of sly humor. Or no less than, it appeared that manner, till the Netflix collection Santa Clarita Eating regimen confirmed a unique aspect of the actor. Relatively than a stone-cold badass, Olyphant’s Santa Clarita character, Joel Hammond, is a cornball, overly earnest dad who can barely deal with the sight of blood. Regardless of its quick life, the present proved as soon as and for all that Timothy Olyphant may deal with comedy with gusto.
Santa Clarita Eating regimen
- Launch Date
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2017 – 2018
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Victor Fresco
- Administrators
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Victor Fresco
- Writers
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Victor Fresco
‘Santa Clarita Eating regimen’s Cult Pedigree
Santa Clarita Eating regimen was created by Victor Fresco, a veteran TV author and showrunner who was behind a pair different short-lived however cultishly-adored collection, 2002’s Andy Richter Controls the Universe and 2009’s Higher Off Ted. His reveals are sometimes apprecited by critics and a small subset of followers, however wrestle to run for greater than a pair seasons. Santa Clarita Eating regimen is definitely considered one of Fresco’s longer-running initiatives, banking three seasons on Netflix earlier than being canceled in 2019.
Olyphant stars alongside newly-minted discuss present queen Drew Barrymore as Joel and Sheila Hammond, married realtors who make a superb crew as enterprise companions and fogeys to their teenage daughter Abby (Yellowjackets’ Liv Hewson). One night time, after consuming questionable mussels at an area restaurant, Sheila undergoes a wierd transformation, changing into basically a zombie (albeit one together with her schools nonetheless intact) and craving human flesh. Relatively than let her waste away, Joel tries to produce Sheila with a provide of the bloody stuff whereas holding the entire thing a secret of their overly-manicured suburban neighborhood.
The couple initially attempt to hold it a secret from Abby as properly, but it surely does not take lengthy for her to seek out out what is going on on and get in on the motion. She’s supported by her pal Eric (James Gunn’s future Jimmy Olsen, Skyler Gisondo), who harbors a not-so-secret crush on her, in addition to a wholesome information of zombie lore. The household tries to discover a remedy for Sheila’s affliction whereas dodging the eye of an area cop named Anne (Natalie Morales), who suspects they may be as much as one thing.
The collection strikes a really pleasant tone that mixes bloody horror comedy with a satirical tackle suburban life, however its foremost draw comes from its performers. Sheila and Joel are the uncommon sitcom couple that truly appear to like and help each other, and Barrymore and Olyphant’s chemistry offers their plight real emotional stakes. In distinction to his previous assured characters like Raylan Givens or Seth Bullock, Joel is a bundle of nerves, and Olyphant leans into the position, garnering a few of the collection’ greatest laughs.
Hewson makes for a enjoyable foil because the sarcastic Abby, standing in distinction to her mother and father’ earnestness, and Gisondo rounds out the primary foursome because the lovesick Eric, expertly taking part in his character’s awkwardness to the hilt. They anchor a collection that mixes a reasonably easy sitcom setting with some surprisingly heavy gore, usually to hilarious impact.
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Olyphant’s Comedic Future
Santa Clarita Eating regimen wasn’t the primary time Olyphant had an opportunity to do comedy, but it surely was in all probability essentially the most sustained. He’d performed visitor spots on sitcoms like My Identify is Earl and The Workplace, and only a yr or two earlier than Santa Clarita Eating regimen, received to poke enjoyable at his persona by taking part in himself on one other short-lived collection, The Grinder. These earlier comedic roles labored largely as a result of they felt just like the actor was intentionally subverting the picture many TV followers had of his performances on Justified and Deadwood, however Santa Clarita Eating regimen felt like one thing of a turning level in his profession.
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For the reason that present’s cancellation, Olyphant has alternated between comedic roles and extra critical initiatives, however has introduced a welcome dose of humor to nearly all of his latest roles. His visitor spot in Season 2 of The Mandalorian as Cobb Vanth, a former slave posing as a Mandalorian to function city sherriff in a dusty Tattooine city, was one other alternative to satirize the sorts of lawman roles that had introduced him to fame. Even in additional “critical” initiatives like season 4 of Fargo or his villain character in 2022’s Amsterdam, Olyphant has introduced an oddball sensibility that retains his characters from feeling too dramatic.
This shift into extra comedic roles is a brilliant transfer for the actor at this level in his profession, exhibiting a variety that enables him to be forged in quite a lot of initiatives. Santa Clarita Eating regimen confirmed TV followers a softer, goofier aspect of Olyphant that has confirmed very profitable to date, partly as a result of it is surprising, however largely as a result of he is so good at it.