Hilton Als reviews the brilliance otherwise known as Khandi Alexander in next week's issue of The New Yorker: Als writes the actress and co-star of HBO's Treme "acts as though her life depends on it" and is one of three actresses who have managed to surpass their stage and big-screen peers.
"This list includes Edie Falco, in The Sopranos, and now Nurse Jackie, and Lisa Kudrow in the short-lived series The Comeback; Khandi Alexander completes the trinity. In 'Treme”'(which has been picked up for a second season on HBO), as LaDonna Batiste-Williams, a bar owner in post-Katrina New Orleans, Alexander—the Queens native who was equally brilliant in “The Corner” (2000) and subversive as the coroner Alexx Woods on 'CSI: Miami'—acts as though her life depends on it. She not only brings a linguist’s scalpel to the script—she emphasizes a word like “busted,” say, until you feel just that—she also shows us LaDonna’s need to survive in her newly changed world with a glance, or a gesture."
Absolutely. Treme has become Sunday evening's must-see-tv. Just like in The Corner, Khandi Alexander dominates every scene where she appears. And those facial expressions last night? Brava to a sistah who has been steadily working in tv and film for the past two decades.
The Treme clips are being quickly removed from HBO but Alexander is featured in this week's promo. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...
I've been a fan of Khandi's for years and I love this show!! And Ms. Alexander,s Ladonna is my favorite character. With programs like The Corner, The Wire, and Treme, HBO is THE network for quality roles for black actors. It's not like Hollywood is exactly throwing these roles our way.
Posted by: VJ | 27 April 2010 at 14:48
man i live for this show.
and khandi is from the q!
KA can act circles round these youngns...
Posted by: Rockaway | 27 April 2010 at 14:57
KHANDI ALEXANDER ACTS LIKE HER LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT!"
WOW! That's nothing but the truth! Khandi is so good, it's scary! She's so brilliant that I can't believe that she hasn't had her own series or a movie lead. SHE'S THE TRUTH!!!
I love her SO MUCH that I was actually UPSET that Natalie Cole won Best Actress in 2001 for her life story (WHICH I WORKED ON AS RESEARCHER), only because it meant that she beat Khandi's INSANELY GORGEOUS PERFORMANCE in "THE CORNER!"
WAY TO GO, ROD!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 27 April 2010 at 15:53
Yeah I miss her alot on CSI:Miami! She werk those onset wardrobes.
Posted by: Cedric | 27 April 2010 at 16:08
Have been a fan for quite sometime! I really miss Dr. Alex on CSI: Miami! But I can totally understand why she took this role on Treme! I've seen all the episodes of this show and plan to continue. At times I feel like I'm watching a dramatic documentary, because I feel like these people are REAL and not just actors playing a role. Khandi really digs deep into her role... she kinda dissapears into it and that is what I call TALENT!
Posted by: Isis | 27 April 2010 at 16:25
....'Gon and get you some Miss Khandi...you damn well deserve it...!
Posted by: sonofabutch | 27 April 2010 at 16:37
She's an absolutely brilliant actress, all the way back to her "What's Love Got to Do With It" days
Posted by: david | 27 April 2010 at 17:55
The entire cast is amazing. The story telling is incredible. If this show doesn't rack up the trophies come award season; there is no god.
Posted by: FREELEO | 27 April 2010 at 21:39
....I now remember her for being the fierce ruling diva on that show news radio....hanging out with andy dick, slapping people's faces and thangs...!
Posted by: sonofbutch | 27 April 2010 at 22:19
Speaking of facial expressions, I love how Khandi oh so subtly told off that secretary in her brother in law's office then goes into the office and turns around and gives her a don't eff with me look! Clarke Peters is excellent in this show too.
Posted by: Dluv | 27 April 2010 at 22:35
Definitely loving her on this show!! And they finally got her hair lookin right (as opposed to that unfortunate ponytail they had her in on CSI!!!)
She definitely deserves some shine come awards season ;-)
Posted by: jbyrd130 | 28 April 2010 at 00:36
GREAT cast on Treme. khandi's always been a big favorite of mine. the camera loves her, and so do i.
Posted by: chris-leo | 28 April 2010 at 15:28
khandi and the latino dude were the reasons I watched CSI:Miami. every moment when she was on the screen seemed so real.
Posted by: robert | 28 April 2010 at 23:57