Top 20 TV Performances of the Century So Far

“Watchmen” (2019)
Throughout the century, Regina King has evolved from one of our best character actresses to one of our best actresses, period. She takes center stage in this continuation of the iconic comic series as Angela Abar, aka Sister Night, a cop forced to conceal her identity behind a mask. King blurs the lines between detective and superhero, possessing the grounded realism of Olivia Benson and the mysterious nature of Batman. Angela tries to keep her work separate from her family life. But once those two worlds collide, Angela doesn’t hesitate to make the necessary choice, as much as it breaks her heart. King always brings out the character’s humanity, complexity, and raw heroism.

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2017-)
It takes a master performer to make Amy Sherman-Palladino’s rapid-fire dialogue roll off the tongue with ease. Rachel Brosnahan truly inhabits the role of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a ‘50s housewife who stumbles into her true calling by accident. Midge is a natural standup comedian with a witty remark always ready to go, whether she’s onstage or not. The world is Midge’s audience and Brosnahan beams with confidence in the role. Her life isn’t all laughs, as Midge must deal with divorce, sexism, and folks who just don’t get the joke. Whenever life presents her with a challenge, Mrs. Maisel finds a way to channel her frustration into humor. By the end of the pilot, it’s as if we’ve just witnessed a star being born.

“Lost” (2004-10)
In a show full of enigmatic characters, few proved as intriguing as John Locke, played by the invaluable Terry O’Quinn. Compared to his fellow plane crash survivors, Locke at first seems like he has it all figured out. As we dig deeper into his past, present, and future, however, it becomes clear that he’s just as lost as everyone else. Desperate to find his purpose in life, Locke puts himself and others in danger. As reckless as his decisions are, we’re still drawn to the tragic Locke, just as he’s drawn to the island. Dating back to his breakout work in “The Stepfather” movies, O’Quinn has always been great at playing men of many faces, and nowhere is this more evident than with John Locke.

“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
Not every former child star can move beyond their roots, but Barney Stinson quickly turned Doogie Howser into a distant memory. One of the main reasons “How I Met Your Mother” lasted nine seasons, Neil Patrick Harris essentially wonderfully hijacked the show as womanizer Barney. This wild card could seamlessly transition from a magic trick to a musical number, constantly leaving the audience guessing what he’d do next. Whenever he donned one of Barney’s suits, Harris became a comedic force of nature who couldn’t be tamed. That said, Harris also shined in Barney’s rare moments of vulnerability, especially while confronting his daddy issues. It was Barney’s hijinks that kept us coming back, though, and Harris turned this party animal into something truly legend - wait for it...

“When They See Us” (2019)
This Netflix miniseries is full of exceptional performances, although Jharrel Jerome stands out like no other. Where the other members of the Central Park Five are played by two actors each, Jerome was presented with the challenge of portraying Korey Wise both as a teenager and a grown man. He goes through such a shocking transformation as Korey that it’s almost like watching two different individuals. Jerome captures all of Korey’s fear and anger as he’s wrongfully accused of a heinous crime. It’s the final episode where Jerome really shines, as we see the years of imprisonment, beatings, and isolation take their toll on Korey. As heartbreaking as Jerome’s performance is, he also conveys the unbreakable spirit that helped Korey survive this horrific ordeal.

“Homeland” (2011-20)
Claire Danes is among the finest actresses of her generation, and Carrie Mathison has been the role of a lifetime. More often than not, this CIA officer is the smartest person in the room, seeing things others can’t. Due to her bipolar disorder and reputation for not playing by the rules, Carrie is repeatedly undermined by her superiors. She’ll get the job done, however, even if it comes at a steep personal cost. Carrie struggles to function when she isn’t working, although her job is beyond emotionally draining. It’s a double-edged sword, but Danes strikes a difficult balance as a workaholic who’s frequently on the verge of a breakdown, yet still somehow in control. It’s no wonder why this passionate performance won her back-to-back Emmys.

“Deadwood” (2004-06; 2019)
When we first meet Al Swearengen, he’s a ruthless, manipulative son of a gun at the root of “Deadwood’s” depravity. Although we love to hate Al, we also hate to love him, which can be largely attributed to Ian McShane’s charismatic performance. McShane won a Golden Globe playing Al with the hot-headed temper of a foul-mouthed Yosemite Sam, putting the swear in Swearengen. At the same time, Al is an intelligent businessman who can be charming and eloquent. Throughout three seasons and a later movie, we see McShane evolve Al from antagonist to anti-hero. His methods are rarely ethical, but Al is among the few leaders who can maintain order in a lawless town.

“Sherlock” (2010-17)

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable figures in literature and while the character had been brought to the screen numerous times before, there hadn’t really been a definitive portrayal. After seeing Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock, though, it is hard to accept anyone else in the role. Cumberbatch embodies everything we associate with Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation: a cocky demeanor, a witty vocabulary, and a sense of deduction that’s borderline supernatural. What’s more, Cumberbatch creates a Sherlock who could feasibly exist in today’s world, with his appreciation of technology and his incredible focus. We know Shocklock is an intellectual, but Cumberbatch plays him with the conviction of a daredevil who will crack the case even if it kills him.

“American Crime Story” (2016-)
Marcia Clark is no stranger to scrutiny. Watching Sarah Paulson’s performance in “The People v. O. J. Simpson”, the self-contained first season of this true-crime anthology series, though, your perception of the prosecutor will be forever changed. Paulson depicts Clark as a hard-working prosecutor who goes into this infamous case with nothing but confidence. Yet, she underestimates the American people, the press, and Simpson’s defense team. Courtney B. Vance is also extraordinary as Jonnie Cochran, whose slick charisma played a key role in the trial’s verdict. Clark lacked Cochran’s onscreen showmanship, but behind closed doors, she was smarter and more determined than many gave her credit. While Clark lost the case, this performance won Paulson a deserved Emmy.

“Mr. Robot” (2015-19)
After years of impressing audiences in supporting roles, Rami Malek established himself as lead material in this breakout role. If you passed the hunched-over, hoodie-wearing Elliot Alderson on the street, you likely wouldn’t notice him. If you could peek inside his head, though, you’d find a mind unlike any other. Elliot operates like a machine, processing information at hyperspeed. Just as all machines have users, however, Elliot finds that he’s not quite entirely in control of his actions. Malek gives a layered performance as a social introvert who’s subdued externally, and on the go internally. Elliot is constantly at war with himself in a battle of brain vs. body and technology vs. humanity. Malek brings out the man in the machine and vice versa.

“Barry” (2018-)
On the surface, Bill Hader may seem like an unlikely choice to play a hitman, but that’s exactly why Barry Berkman is such a perfect role for him. A former Marine, suffering from PTSD, Barry wishes to leave his life as an assassin behind and escape into the world of acting. Although Barry comes off as inexperienced compared to his fellow actors, he’s actually living out his greatest role. At acting class, he’s mild-mannered Barry Block. Behind the scenes, Barry Berkman has more blood on his hands than a Shakespeare villain. The question is: who’s the real Barry, and who’s the character he’s pretending to be? Hader masterfully traverses Barry’s double life, juggling tragedy and comedy as they go hand in hand.

“The Leftovers” (2014-17)
“The Leftovers” might be the biggest oversight in Emmy history and at the forefront of this snub is Carrie Coon. Although Nora Durst basically begins as a supporting player, it isn’t long until she becomes the show’s core. Coon is heartbreaking as a woman who loses her husband and children in an unexplained global event that saw 2% of the population vanish. While Nora puts up a tough front with a cynical sense of humor, she’s crumbling to pieces inside. Few shows have been more profound in their depiction of grief, and Nora is the most fascinating example. Like everyone else, Nora searches for answers, but only finds more questions. Coon’s performance is an emotional roller coaster full of denial, anger, and eventually closure.

“Veep” (2012-19)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been a champion of comedy for decades and Selina Meyer might be her most acclaimed role. Behind Selina’s phony smile is an ego-driven politician who will break any promise and throw anybody under the bus to fulfill her career aspirations. Although she’s deceitful in front of the cameras, Selina is an honest portrayal of politics at their worst. Yet, Louis-Dreyfus makes Selina unusually lovable to the point that we want to see her succeed. Along the way, Louis-Dreyfus dishes out some of the funniest insults ever, making Washington seem more like a locker room. While it’s debatable if Selina truly broke the glass ceiling, Louis-Dreyfus broke all kinds of records with her six consecutive Emmy wins for the role.

“The Office” (2005-13)
We’re not sure how someone as incompetent as Michael Scott held down a regional manager position for so long, but Steve Carell deserves a mug that says, “World’s Funniest Boss.” One of the characters that put Carell on the map, Michael treats the office like his personal playground and his co-workers like playmates. As obnoxious as Michael can be, it’s impossible not to adore him for two reasons. 1) All he really wants is a loving support system, thus making his employees his surrogate family. 2) Carell is just so endearing in the role, even when Michael is at his most insensitive. While the writers made Michael more likable each season, Carell arguably played the greatest part in making Michael someone we can empathize with.

“Orphan Black” (2013-17)
Centering on a group of clones, this sci-fi series easily could’ve come off as too gimmicky with the wrong leading actress. The casting director won the lottery with Tatiana Maslany, however. “Orphan Black” has been the ultimate showcase for this Canadian actress, who goes beyond putting on different accents and wearing a variety of wigs. From street-smart protagonist Sarah, to tightly-wound soccer mom Alison, to mentally unstable Helena, we never see one actress playing a variety of characters. We see several distinct individuals who happen to share an uncanny resemblance. You’d better believe that there was an uproar amongst critics and fans when Maslany went overlooked at the Emmys. Thankfully, the Television Academy caught up with Maslany by Season 4, finally granting her the gold.

“Mad Men” (2007-15)
Some look back at the ‘60s as a simpler, more innocent time. If Don Draper demonstrates anything, it’s that there’s no such thing as a “simpler time.” People were just much better at hiding their true selves back in the day. Jon Hamm is confident and mysterious as this adman, who spends his days pitching consumers the American Dream, even though he’s not entirely sure what the dream is. Don searches for its meaning by making money, starting a family, and having numerous affairs, yet can never seem to find inner peace. Don is his own toughest customer, but Hamm’s performance had us sold from the first episode. Even when Don was at his most understated, Hamm said so much with so few words.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (2017-)
If one “Mad Men” cast member could give Jon Hamm a run for his money, it’s Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson. Moss would later outdo herself in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” playing a woman stripped of her freedom and name, but not her spirit. Even as the world around her goes to hell, nothing can blow out the fire burning inside June Osborne. In a grim reality where fertile women are forced to become mothering slaves, June must tread lightly, or else risk losing her life, and more. June refuses to give up the fight, though, persevering through one unspeakable ordeal after another on the road to salvation. Offred may blend into the crowd, but Moss’ daring performance makes June shine like a beacon of rebellion.

“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
Lena Headey managed to make audiences simultaneously loath and sympathize with Cersei Lannister. The character we identified with the most throughout this fantasy series, however, would have to be Tyrion Lannister. Brilliantly played by Peter Dinklage, Tyrion is viewed as his family’s black sheep due to his size and drinking habits. In the Game of Thrones, though, it’s the most underestimated players who usually come out on top. While he’ll never sit on the Iron Throne, Tyrion demonstrates all the traits of a natural leader: political intellect, a strong sense of honor, and the courage to say things others wouldn’t dare. Even when the show was at its most divisive, everyone could agree that Dinklage was consistently excellent, winning four Emmys for his scene-stealing work.

“The Sopranos” (1999-2007)
While we had seen other character studies about crime bosses, Tony Soprano made us look at mobsters in a whole new light. James Gandolfini brought a modern mentality to the genre, fleshing out the boss criminal archetype in ways that had never quite been done before. Tony walks the tightrope between mob life and family life, burying his enemies while still making it home for dinner. As powerful and thuggish as Tony comes off, everything he’s worked for could be gone in a second, and he wakes up every day knowing it might be his last. Tony never felt like just another gangster. He seemed like a real human being who could actually exist, and that’s mainly thanks to Gandolfini’s grounded portrayal.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Amy Poehler
“Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)

Cameron Britton
“Mindhunter” (2017-)

Michael K. Williams
“The Wire” (2002-08)

Tituss Burgess
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015-2020)

Mariska Hargitay
“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (1999-)

“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
From Aaron Paul’s gut-wrenching performance as Jesse Pinkman to Giancarlo Esposito’s haunting work as Gus Fring, a good portion of this list easily could’ve been populated by “Breaking Bad” actors. But if we single out the show’s best performance, as well as the best of the century thus far, it’s undoubtedly Bryan Cranston as Walter White. Just as Walt goes from family man to meth kingpin, Cranston evolved from his sitcom roots to reveal the dramatic powerhouse that was always within him. Television’s ultimate antihero, Walt is desperate yet manipulative, loving yet selfish, and cold-hearted yet capable of redemption. Cranston never missed a beat, taking home a slew of industry trophies: Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards.