Ever since I saw the first episode of CBS’ Ghosts, I have been drawn to Román Zaragoza’s Sasappis. Dying at a young age, Sas remains one of the more senior spirits of Woodstone Manor, so his fatigue at watching others is understood and, somehow, quite relatable. Zaragoza brings a patient wit to Sas, and we can all learn from his measured communication. With Ghosts deliver yet another strong season, Zaragoza is afforded an opportunity to bring balance and intelligence to a madcap manor.
Going into the sophomore season, we didn’t know a lot about Sas’ backstory. Showrunners Joe Port and Jose Wiseman skillfully don’t fork over all the details in season one, so we can learn and love these deceased folks more and more as time goes on. Unlike some of Sas’ comrades, there is no equivalent to Sas on the previous BBC series, and Zaragoza reveals what he loves about building a character from the ground up.
Zaragoza and I spoke before last night’s episode, “The Tree,” aired, and the episode is such a highlight for the him. He teased what he was excited for us to see as an audience, but episode four brought an emotional punch that I was not expecting of ready for. Zaragoza is an actor that we are still getting to know, but he is such an integral part to Ghosts’ stellar ensemble (best group of performers working on TV together, if you ask me).
Sas does think that he is smarter than everyone around him, but Zaragoza doesn’t make him arrogant–he would be intolerable if that choice was made. Maybe, even after all these years, he is guarded despite his circumstances. How thrilling it is to witness a performer volley so well with a dependable cast, but also shine in a genuine way. Whether it is a quick, playful jab at one of his housemates’ expense or breaking down a vulnerable wall, Sas gives us a dose of humanity and truth with every line or unspoken gesture.
Ghosts airs every week on CBS and episodes are available weekly on Paramount+.
Offtopic, but since there was no AD created topic, it goes here. 2022 People’s Choice TV nominations announced and a smashing surprise (in bold).
The Show: ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, BETTER CALL SAUL, GREY’S ANATOMY, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, OBI-WAN KENOBI, SNL, STRANGER THINGS, THIS IS US
Drama: BETTER CALL SAUL, COBRA KAI, EUPHORIA, GREY’S ANATOMY, LAW & ORDER: SVU, OZARK, THE WALKING DEAD, THIS IS US
Comedy: ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, BLACK-ISH, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, NEVER HAVE I EVER, SNL, THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW; YOUNG ROCK, YOUNG SHELDON
Daytime Talk: GMA. LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN, THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW, ELLEN, THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW, THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW, THE VIEW, TODAY WITH HODA AND JENNA
Nighttime Talk: JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS, THE DAILY SHOW, LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN, THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN
Bingeworthy: BRIDGERTON, BEL-AIR, DAHMER – MONSTER: THE JEFFREY DAHMER STORY, INVENTING ANNA, SEVERANCE, THE BEAR, THE BOYS, THE THING ABOUT PAM
Sci-Fi/Fantasy: HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, LA BREA, MOON KNIGHT, OBI-WAN KENOBI, SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW, STRANGER THINGS, LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Reality: 90 DAY FIANCÉ: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS, BELOW DECK SAILING YACHT, JERSEY SHORE: FAMILY VACATION, LOVE & HIP HOP: ATLANTA, THE KARDASHIANS, REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA, REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS, SELLING SUNSET
Reality Competition: AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, AMERICAN IDOL, DANCING WITH THE STARS, RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE, THE BACHELORETTE, MASKED SINGER, LIZZO’S WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG GRRRLS, THE VOICE
Actor:
DWAYNE JOHNSON, Young Rock
EWAN MCGREGOR, Obi-Wan Kenobi
ICE-T, Law & Order: SVU
JASON BATEMAN, Ozark
NOAH SCHNAPP, Stranger Things
NORMAN REEDUS, The Walking Dead
OSCAR ISAAC, Moon Knight
STERLING K. BROWN, This Is Us
Actress
KRISTEN BELL, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN, Stranger Things
ELLEN POMPEO, Grey’s Anatomy
MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN, Never Have I Ever
MANDY MOORE, This Is Us
MARISKA HARGITAY, Law & Order: SVU
QUINTA BRUNSON, Abbott Elementary
SELENA GOMEZ, Only Murders in the Building
Drama Star:
ELLEN POMPEO, Grey’s Anatomy
JASON BATEMAN, Ozark
MANDY MOORE and STERLING K. BROWN, This Is Us
MARISKA HARGITAY, Law & Order: SVU
NORMAN REEDUS, The Walking Dead
SYDNEY SWEENEY and ZENDAYA, Euphoria
Comedy Star:
KRISTEN BELL, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window
BOWEN YANG and KENAN THOMPSON, SNL
DWAYNE JOHNSON, Young Rock
MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN, Never Have I Ever
QUINTA BRUNSON, Abbott Elementary
SELENA GOMEZ, Only Murders in the Building
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, Black-ish
I’m glad you wrote about this show, Joey. My husband and I started watching it midway through last season and eagerly went back to catch all the episodes. I especially enjoy Thor. It’s the sort of lighthearted show that you can have fun with. I like how we have all these tv shows that aren’t necessarily critically acclaimed or awards bait, so we can just watch and enjoy without the dreaded “awards gaze” where you’re picking it apart trying to decide if it will win some sort of award. That’s something I enjoyed about Top Gun, though I know that it can nominated in different categories like sound and editing.