| Sharon Newman | |||||||||||
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| Sharon Case as Sharon Newman. | |||||||||||
| The Young and the Restless | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Sharon Case | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1994— | ||||||||||
| First appearance | March 28, 1994 | ||||||||||
| Created by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Aliases | Sherry Coleman | ||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Residence | The Newman Cottage at the Newman Ranch Genoa City, Wisconsin |
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Sharon Newman (née Collins; formerly Abbott) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by Soap Actress Sharon Case. She first appeared on March 28, 1994, introduced by creator William J. Bell as the love interest for Nicholas Newman. Initially portrayed by Monica Potter, both her and Heidi Mark had short stints on the show before Case took over, and continues to play Sharon, who is regular central part of the series, today.
The characters of Nick and Sharon were married in 1996. Sharon's emotionally angsty storylines generally focus on her children and her romantic relationships. She has been separated and divorced from Nick, and been in several romantic relationships, as well as marriages to Jack Abbott and the manipulative Adam Newman; her controversial ongoing relationship with Adam has been question in the Soap and the real world. Recently, Sharon was assumed dead following an escape from prison where she had been sentenced after being falsely accused of the murder of Skye Newman, however has returned and her name has been cleared. Sharon also has three children, Cassie Newman (who was killed during a car accident in 2005), Noah, and Faith Newman born in 2009, and was briefly thought to be dead until March 2010, when it was revealed that Adam Newman switched her with Ashley Abbott's miscarried child.
For her portrayal of Sharon (critically acclaimed during her early years) Case has won various awards, most notabley a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In 1999, among 5 other Emmy nominations, and has garnered 2 Soap Opera Digest Award wins in addition.
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Sharon Collins' original character outline was written by William J. Bell. Monica Potter portrayed Sharon for under two months.[1] Following Potter's exit, Heidi Mark was hired to take over the part.[2] Mark's reign on the character did not last, and the character was once again recast, this time with actress Sharon Case, who premiered as Sharon in August 1994.[3] Case was no stranger to working on a soap, having had recurring stints on several other soaps, such as General Hospital and As The World Turns.[4] Upon being cast into the role, Case became the third actress to hold the role of Sharon Collins in two months.[5] In 2003, Case breifly vacated the role of Sharon, due to contract negotiations. Case was off-screen from February 17 to May 1, 2003.[6] On April 3, 2003 it was announced by Times Daily that Case has managed to reach a deal with the soap to continue her portrayal of Sharon.[7] During her absence, the show chose to have the character run away from Genoa City rather then kill her off or recast the actress.
Sharon's character is described as "grown from a young girl from the poor side of town to a mature wife and mother and successful businesswoman" since her inception in 1994.[8] In 1995, Sharon Case, on her character said to Soap Opera Weekly that the early Sharon resembled to the early version of Jill Foster Abbott.
Case has also voiced her pleasure in bringing the storyline to life. During the 2001-02 plot (in which Sharon and Nick had faced marriage problems and had a stillborn child, among other family issues), Case stated on her character, her imperfections and personality—
Case, on her character has further stated has stated that "It’s stress that causes her to do weird things and panic. These are really extreme circumstances, where people can blank out or do things unlike themselves, or freak out. They even could go blind, temporarily."[10] Sharon's mistakes eat her up alive and that she doesn't do well in secrets.[9] Sharon was described as being "insecure" and "feeling she was never good enough to have a happy relationship with a man" in the beginning, having come far despite slip-ups along the way.[9]
In 2011, head writer Maria Arena Bell dedicated the 4th of July episode to Sharon,[11] to "remind viewers of what the character's been through". On the event, Case said "I'm trying to show why Sharon's in the place that she's in," and also touched on the fact that all of Sharon's moves (controversial moves and the effects of other's actions) will be heavily examined,[11] like her character's recent story lines which involved taking up with the man who kidnapped her baby, going on the run after being convicted of murder and letting her loved ones think that she's dead.[11]
The character has an on and off romance with Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow), who is considered the Love of her life. They met in her first episodes apart of the serial, and she was introduced as a short-term love interest for him. However, much like the character of Victor (his father) Sharon has gone from a recurring short term character to a full time central character of the series, and is a permanent Love interest for the part of Nick. She has also had a bitter friendship/relationship with Nick's sister, Victoria Newman (Heather Tom, now Amelia Heinle).
The pairing of Nick and Sharon, has been a strong, gaining many fans since their initial introduction. They are popularly referred to by the portmanteau Shick for Sharon and Nick on Internet message boards and Soap Opera magazines. During their beginning days, they often fantasized about running off and eloping; however Sharon refused (while Nick was the person craving closure away from his family) due to the high status of Nick's family.[12] They faced issues like Matt Clark exposing Sharon's past[13] (having given birth previously) to Nick, who looked at her as his virginal girlfriend, however they got past this and many other marriage dramas. A Love scene of the Shick reunion from 2009 has garnered over a million YouTube views.[14] Her continuing affair and connection to Nick during his four-year marriage to Phyllis Summers Newman has sparked a six-year rivalry between the women (ever since she cheated with Nick initially in 2005). When Nick returned after being presumed dead in 2007 with amnesia, he kissed Sharon while Phyllis was sentenced to Jail for Blackmailing Sharon and Brad Carlton. Phyllis learned of the kiss and assumed that Nick would return to Sharon and their family.[15] In 2009, Sharon experienced one of her biggest Story lines so far. During the plot line in which Nick and Sharon would reunite and she would have his baby, Case stated "Sharon wants Nick more than anyone, but only under certain terms. Only if he's done with [current wife] Phyllis and in love with Sharon. Then, Sharon wants to be with him",[16] she also said in the same interview with The Daily News entertainment when asked about the question of Nick switching from Phyllis to Sharon repeatedly "That throws everything into a spin again. Sharon is, like, 'Now, what?' She has to make the decision all over again because she has new information."[16]
In an interview with TV Guide Canada in 2009 in response to the character's unstable ways and craziness, case stated of how she would react "It all makes sense and I welcomed the challenge. No matter how [head writer] Maria Arena Bell writes the storyline, it’s all up to me to decide how functional Sharon appears to people. I get into a lot of debates with our directors on how to play the story."[17] In another interview, Michael Fairman said "Sharon is acting so bizarre!"[10] In addition, the days January 26-30, ratings for The Young and the Restless increased, and the show gained an average of 400,000 viewers, in the eve (and after promotion) of the Nick and Sharon reunion, which was heavily awaited by fans, and this boosted up the Nielson Ratings for the show (Don Diamont's exit as Brad Carlton was equally credited for this however).[18]
In 2011, when asked by Michael Fairman if "OK in closing…. the big question: Are “Shick” (Sharon and Nick) finally over?" Case said "I don’t think “Phick” or “Shick” are over, and “Phick” are still happening now. I don’t think “Shick” will ever be over. “Shick” is not on right now, because we have “Shadam”".[19] The relationship has deteriorated however critics and fans alike assume it will not come to a conclusion. In recent events Nick has consistently questioned Sharon's better judgement over her relationship with the scheming Adam, and has a fixation in his mind that Sharon is always on the path to self destruction.[20] As of 2011, Nick has begun a relationship with Sharon's lawyer Avery Bailey Clark (Jessica Collins), who helps her (despite not being the final contributing factor) be set free from jail however refuses to represent Sharon against Nick during a custody battle for Faith Newman due to her romantic entanglement with Nick.[21] He has told Avery he is no longer romantically connected to Sharon or even Phyllis for that matter,[22] despite this he breaks it off with Avery and returns to Phyllis, while he is furious about Victor proposing to Sharon, the mother of his children.
Since the beginning, Sharon's storyline has always been intertwined with Nick's family, the Newman Family. She was opened into the family with open arms by its patriarch, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) while pushed away by its matriarch, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott).
She has had a great bond with Nick's father, Victor from the start, and views him as a father figure despite sharing a kiss with him once,[23] which sparked marriage problems with her and Nick which allowed her to leave town (while Case was in contract negotiating). He supported her greatly through her legal problems in 2011 when she was convicted for murder (un-rightfully), He even paid her bail at first.[24] Victor also paid for her mother Doris' expensive surgery in 1994 as the Collins couldn't afford it.[25] However, the dynamic between the father-daughter relationship that had been forged was overseen when Victor proposed marriage on Sharon on New Years Eve 2011, to which she initially declined but has considered it for her long term well being and that of her daughter, Faith. She enjoys a Hot and Cold (Mostly negative) relationship with his mother, Nikki Reed-Newman who has always questioned her (despite being a hooker and stripper at the beginning of her career herself), and at one point even bribed her to move away from the ranch, to which Sharon declined.[26] Nikki also (during the beginning) constantly urged Nick to drop Sharon as his girlfriend.[12] The two seemed to tolerate one another before and after Cassie's death, however even most recently Nikki has stood by her suggestion that Sharon is a gold-digger; insisting that Sharon has had relationships with the sons (Nick, Adam) and wants Victor as her "end game" for the ultimate "jackpot".
In 2009, Sharon gave birth to her baby girl, Faith Newman, however Adam Newman (Michael Muhney) (who is Victor's other son who wasborn and raised away from Genoa City on a farm) stole the baby and gave it to Jack Abbott (Sharon's former husband)'s sister, Ashley due to him causing her to lose her initially baby (She suffered a hysterical pregnancy). Adam bonded with Sharon out of guilt however they fell in love and married. The truth was revealed however since Sharon has been unable to resist the hook that draws her towards Adam. She continued to go back to him. By the end of 2010, the town was against Sharon and her relationship with criminal Adam.[27] On Sharon actually forgiving the man who stole her baby from her straight after the birth (and continuing to have feelings for him) Case said "Well, I know that that’s really a tough pill to swallow. But there have been a lot of real-life situations where people who are in love forgive each other for a lot of different things. The only thing I can compare it to is that Nick is very much in love with Phyllis regardless of her flaws. And she’s blown people up and ran people over. Sharon hasn’t committed any crimes. So it looks like they’ve chosen people to fall in love with who weren’t so perfect!"[28] comparing it to Nick and Phyllis' relationship.
In 2011, following the storyline when Sharon broke out of jail, [29]and fled Genoa City after being sentenced to life in jail, when asked if she was still a "Shadam" fan, Case stated "Of course! The pairing took us all by surprise. And that is what I was referring to with this storyline because of the pace and the vitality that “Shadam” has."[19] The actress has previously voiced her supporting of the onscreen romance between the two.[19] Sharon had a relationship with a man named Sam Gibson while hiding away from Genoa City (even Adam believed her death). Once she returned, Adam felt betrayed and conned her into a jailhouse wedding in which he revealed his disgust and never wanting to be with her.[30] Sharon's relationship with Adam (as of late 2010 after his faults were revealed) have cost her important friendships, like to that of her ex husband, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), who suggests that Sharon trusts Adam, the man who kidnapped her baby and passed it off as his sister Ashley's for months, more then she trusts him (Jack).[20] The break up of their friendship saddened Sharon (who had chosen Adam's freedom over anything in the 2010 Skye fake death story line), she left the Abbott Mansion in tears when Jack blasted her for this.[20]
It is clear that Victor loves his daughter-in-law (through two marriages) Sharon more then his own son, Adam who he has disowned multiple times, but stands by Sharon despite flaws.[31] Her relationship with Adam has gained a notable following, but also a notable amount of negative feedback, of "Shick" (Sharon and Nick) fans who would rather Adam out of the picture and Sharon return to Nick, her true love. In 2009, Case that her dream storyline was always to have a “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” storyline[19] (while in a relationship with Brad Carlton), and In 2011 after her character went on the run, she said "I have always wanted to do this “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” storyline. And so when Sharon broke out of jail and became a fugitive, I went, “This is it! This is my chance!"[10] This storyline also (despite maintaining Sharon's physical freedom from Jail) saw Genoa City more against Adam then ever before—Sharon's own mother, Doris, Jack, Victor and others made it their personal effort to blame Adam for Sharon's believed death.[32]
The portrayal of Sharon and Adam has also been perceived as "showing us the many shades of love. In this case, mostly dark."[33] It was announced by an issue of Soap Opera Digest that from late 2011 to 2012 the character's physical romance would return, meaning their connection wouldn't discontinue as previously thought out, and that they would have sex eventually.[34] Sharon had a restraining order drawn against Adam by Nick's command, however previews suggest that Adam will fight the order, and a possible reunited may take place.[35]
Sharon was born in 1975. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin with her mother, Doris (Karen Hensel). Her father abandoned her. Sharon's mother is in a wheelchair afters she ran after the rebellious teen-Sharon, allowing the rest of Sharon's life at home to be her mother's full time carer. Sharon's best friend was Grace Turner (played by Josie Davis at first). She was pregnant by her boyfriend, Frank Barritt. She gave birth to a baby girl and gave it up for adoption to Alice Johnson (Tamara Clatterbuck), with Frank wanting nothing to do with her.[36]
In 1994, Sharon arrives in Genoa City and begins attending the local high school. Prior to moving to town she dated bad boy, Matt Clark, (Eddie Cibrian). She meets Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), who was dating Sharon's good friend from school, Amy Wilson (Robin Scott, later Julianne Morris), they instantly connected and later began to date. Later, Matt comes to Genoa City from Madison, determined to win Sharon back. Nick ends up winning Sharon's heart from Matt. Matt stalked Nick and Sharon, and he got into a fight with Nick, allowing Nick to be bruised. Overcome with anger and animosity, Matt chooses to get even with Sharon, trapping her in his car and raping her; Sharon hides this event. When Nick and Sharon are crowned the queen and king of their high school dance, rather than Matt and Amy, Matt takes revenge. He finds out that Sharon had given birth, and used this information to draw Nick away from Sharon in disgust. Nick and Sharon engaged, and he believed she was a virgin. He later learned the truth, and the two drifted apart but were eventually reunited. During these events, Nick's mother Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) strongly objected to Sharon, calling her a gold-digger.
Nick and Sharon engaged again, and Sharon shared the truth about her Rape. Later, Matt was found shot in a pool of blood. Nick was suspected to be the culprit, and Matt told the police Nick shot him. Nick's trial began and he was jailed (shortly before, they eloped however the marriage was invalid). It was later revealed Amy was the person who shot Matt after he raped her, as she had suffered from emotional trauma when Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) tracked her down. Matt fled town, Nick was cleared and Nick and Sharon had a proper wedding. Sharon and Nick had their first child (who nearly didn't make it), Noah Newman. Later, Sharon's best friend Grace arrived in town, and helped Sharon track town her long lost child, Cassie (Camryn Grimes). Grace had previously told everyone that the child was her relative and attempted to keep her; however Sharon learned the truth. They (Nick and Sharon) managed to gain custody of her and become a family. Later, Nick sleeps with Grace (now played by Jennifer Gareis) twice (one time being an accident). Despite hardship, they get through this. Matt returns under the aliases of Carter Mills (now played by Rick Hearst). He plays with Sharon and tries to rape her, and succeeds. Eventually the truth of his identity comes out and he ends up dead driving off a cliff.
Sharon ends up pregnant, and it is unknown if it was conceived over Matt raping her, or if it was Nick's child. During an argument with Nick, Nick drives off and Sharon trips and falls. She gives birth to a stillborn baby girl, and the paternity of the dead child was in fact Nick. Sharon finds solace in Diego Guittierez (Diego Serrano, later played by Greg Vaughan) who was dating Victoria Newman (Heather Tom, now played by Amelia Heinle) Nick's sister at the time. They had sex after Sharon mis-interrupted a situation and assumed Nick had slept with Grace a third time. Sharon admitted this to Nick, who was initially angry but later accepted this and gave their marriage a chance. Nick caught Sharon kissing his father Victor. Once the kiss with Victor (which was nothing romantic) surfaced, Sharon left Genoa City, leaving her kids behind ashamed of herself.
Sharon returned to Genoa City months later, and she reunited with Nick however her daughter and Nikki were extremely discouraged and angry about her abandoning her family. It was revealed that while Sharon was away she had an affair with Cameron Kirsten (Linden Ashby), who had eventually been abusive to her. Sharon stayed away (from what was meant to be a brief break from her life) for months to recover from her abuse wounds. Cameron came to Genoa City, for Business deals, however he was intent on being with Sharon. He nearly raped Sharon, however she threw a bottle at his head, "killing" him. She moved his body to the sewer. She later found herself being scared by his ghost, however he was later revealed to be alive and the dead body that Cameron replaced himself with was Sharon's ex, Frank Berrit, who had come to town to meet Cassie. Cameron fled town, however Nick and Sharon followed him. The three ended up in a Jett together, and Nick threw Cameron off, he injured himself and was forced to Jail for abuse. Nick forgave Sharon for her infidelity as she had experienced quiet an ordeal.
Later, Sharon's daughter Cassie began to grow up and had crushes on older boys, such as Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei). Cassie became a joke among the older crowd at school, being very young and trying to be an adult. While out at an older party she wasn't allowed to be at by Sharon and Nick, Cassie saw Daniel who was drunk (his girlfriend, Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) had dumped him). She tried to drive him home, (as they lived in the ranch) but crashed. She remained in hospital, however she fled the hospital briefly to tell Daniel that he wasn't driving, however this enabled her condition to get worse, and she died.
After Cassie's death, Nick became obsessed with revenge, however this situation calmed down, but he locked Sharon out emotionally and closed up from his family. By late 2005, Nick had an adulterous affair with Daniel's mother, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford). Sharon learns and legally separates him, and begins an emotional (not physical) affair with another of Victoria's lovers, Brad Carlton (Don Diamont). Sharon and Brad have sex after he and Victoria wed, during a business trip. It was later revealed to the town, and after Phyllis ends up pregnant (after Sharon had decided to give Nick another chance) and they divorce after ten years of marriage (one of the longest marriages on the show, despite tumultuous events). They shared joint custody of Noah. During the divorce Nick and Phyllis moved into the Tack House on the Ranch, which was right near Sharon's house. Sharon found comfort in The Newman's rival, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). Phyllis (who is now Sharon's arch rival), finds out about Sharon and Brad's affair, and blackmails Sharon. She uses the knowledge of this to get her way in Newman Enterprises, the Newman Family company.
During a Fashion shoot (Sharon is a model) at a Cliff with Phyllis, Sharon and Sharon's best friend Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell), Sharon and Phyllis engaged in an argument; resulting in Drucilla and Sharon falling off a cliff into the cold water stream below. Sharon was announced to be dead. However, she was revived but Drucilla to this day has never been found. Sharon married Jack, and later her affair with Brad is revealed. She moves into the Abbott Mansion, and officially is apart of the Newman's Rival family. Victoria and Brad split up, and Victoria becomes bitter towards Sharon. Later, The Newman Jet went down, Sharon and Nick were presumed dead, as they were both scheduled to travel for work together. Sharon was revealed to be alive, having not taken the flight. Nick was presumed dead, until returning months later. Nick returned with amnesia, and he was still in love with Sharon. They kissed however he regained his memory and returned to Phyllis. Later, Nick, Phyllis, Jack and Sharon developed a company called Restless Style together, a magazine. The Company caused clashes and didn't work out; Jack and Sharon left. In October that year, Nick and Sharon met in Paris and had a passionate kiss, witnessed by Phyllis, beginning their love affair. Jack and Sharon filed for divorce after Jack's secret tampering with Victor's life and claiming (falsely) to be a sex addict.
During a snowstorm, Sharon (at the Abbott Cabin) was approached by Nick. Snowed in unable to reach roads, they had sex and professed their love for one another. Noah, nearly died ice skating however was saved by Brad, who died when he himself fell into the ice. Sharon started to experience mental problems, experiencing Kleptomania. She had a an affair with Billy Abbott (Billy Miller). She and Nick made love for a second time. Nick continued to go back and forth between Phyllis and Sharon. She finds out she is pregnant, with three possibilities being Jack, Nick and Billy. Nick and Sharon reunited, and they named their unborn baby "Faith". Nick's daughter Summer is poisoned and ends up in hospital. Nick goes back to Phyllis and Summer who need him. Sharon, knowing that Nick is the father, tells everyone that Jack is the father. Jack agrees to raise the baby and Phyllis and Nick re-marry. Sharon goes to a psychiatric ward, and tells Nick the truth and he comes to support her. Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson), also Jack's sister was in the same ward, having a hysterical pregnancy (This was triggered by Adam Newman (Michael Muhney), who wanted revenge on Victor by gas-lighting his wife Ashley). When Sharon gave birth, Adam stole her baby Faith and presented it to Ashley as her own. Sharon mourned the loss of her baby and Ashley named Sharon's baby "Faith", not knowing that Sharon was going to name her that. Sharon bonded with Adam (who was guilty) and they got romantic, and eventually married. They're marriage ended when the truth about Faith being alive was revealed. Adam fled the country and during the course of 2010, Nick and Sharon re-connected, and were reunited by November, however she ended up sleeping with Adam, and Nick left her. Sharon and Adam were reunited, and she lost custody of Faith to Nick.
In late 2010, Adam is convicted for the "murder" of his ex wife, Skye Newman (Laura Stone). Sharon worked with Adam, Phyllis and Jack and knew that Skye was hiding in Hawaii (Victor had help her fake her death as he hates his son, Adam and wants him in jail). Sharon went to Hawaii, and met up with Skye on a Volcano Hike. They ended up fighting, and by accident, Skye fell into the Volcano and died. Adam was freed, however Sharon was convicted for her murder and after a trial, she escaped Genoa City and fled to Mexico City. There, she met Vet Sam Gibson (Sean Patrick Flanery), who took her in. While this was happening, everyone at Genoa City thought Sharon was dead after she was carjacked, and the female that stole her car (wore her ring and had her ID on her) had crashed and died. Sharon accepted this, and didn't contact anyone. She bonded with him, the animals and Piper, a young girl there. She had sex with Sam, however returned to Genoa City after being caught, and was convicted for Life. She shocked everyone by being alive. Eventually, the full truth came out that she was innocent, and she was freed with the help of attorney Avery Bailey Clark (Jessica Collins). Sharon now despises Adam, and is devoting her time to get Victor out of Jail as he committed to the crime of killing Diane Jenkins (Maura West), which he did not do. Nick urges Sharon to have a restraining order against Adam (whom she still loves), and she does. She and Adam have sex, spending one last night together before the restraining order is active. In a bid to keep his assets safe and with someone he trusts, Victor proposes marriage to Sharon (while in jail), to which she actually considers. Nikki has accused Sharon of plotting to get Victor for money since she arrived in Genoa City. Sharon has since reclaimed joint custody of Faith, angering Nick.
Despite crimes and faults, the character is described as a central heroine on The Young and the Restless, who has endured many challenges to get to where she is today[37].
Case received Daytime Emmy Award nominations in 1996 and 1997 as Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series[38]. Case was nominated for a Soap Opera Digest Award for "Favorite Hottie" at the 1998 Soap Opera Digest Awards[39]. In 1999, she was nominated (for the first time) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and won the award[38][40]. In addition, She was nominated in 2000 and 2004 for the same award. In 2003 she received a Soap Opera Digest Award Nomination for "Outstanding Supporting Actress for The Young and the Restless".
The Cassie's 2005 death story line (and Sharon and Nicholas coping as parents afterwards) earned the show a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team. The death of Cassie Newman is rated Number 41 in the list of "The 100 Most Memorable Moments In Soap History", both recognitions by Soaps Hunks.[41] The Nick/Sharon/Phyllis love triangle, which occurred during 2006–2010, was also well received. The love triangle was popular and successful by critics who felt that it changed Nick and Sharon's romance after the death of their daughter, Cassie; Soap Opera Digest deemed it "Best Love Triangle". A 2011 Daytime Emmy "Final Push" suggested that Case's performance needed more Emmy attention, along with others[42].