April 6, 2008...7:11 pm
Top TV Performers of 2007
Welcome to my blog. To get things started, I’m going to be posting my top television performers of 2007. I did this back in December. Since it’s a Sunday and nothing inspiring to be written yet, I’ll just post this to get it started. Enjoy!
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Easily one of the funniest actors on television. Badlwin’s best moment of the year was easily the role-playing counseling session with Tracy Morgan in “Rosemary’s Baby”. It’s hysterical just thinking about it. And his chemistry with Edie Falco has been very impressive. His character is so ridiculous most of the time, but he somehow makes it work.
Kristen Bell, Heroes and Veronica Mars
We got our last dose of Bell as Veronica for a while, maybe forever, and she was just as smart and witty as ever. It was sad to see the show go, but at least we still got some of Kristen on Heroes. While her character Elle was a little underwritten and not that interesting, Bell made the most of it. As the season progressed, Elle became more intriguing. And the season finale gave us hope that Bell will sticking around on there for a long time. Plus she’s also doing a voice-over on Gossip Girl. Although that’s not enough to get me to watch that show.
Ginnifer Goodwin, Chloe Sevigny, and Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love
Big Love hit its stride in the second season. The wives were the standouts in the first season and they were even better this year. Margene started to grow a back bone, Nicki grew away from her family and the compound, and Barb had to deal with her feelings about their family situation. They all had their moment to shine and each actress was flawless in nearly every episode.
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Liz Lemon is one of my favorite characters on television right now. Thanks in large part to Tina Fey’s performance, she’s so likable and relatable and the most sane person in a show filled with crazy characters. While she has to act like the straight guy sometimes, she also gets her moments to shine. The wedding dress storyline in the season premiere was classic and her scenes with Alec Baldwin are perfect almost everytime.
Connie Britton, Kyle Chandler, Zach Gilford, Adrianne Palicki, & Jesse Plemmons, Friday Night Lights
I could have included the entire cast, but these were the standouts of the standouts. Matt Saracen is such a sweetheart, thanks in large part to Gilford. Then of course there’s Landry & Tyra. While the murder storyline wasn’t the greatest, it gave Adrianne Palicki & Jesse Plemmons some amazing moments. And finally Connie Britton & Kyle Chandler. Not much to say about them that hasn’t already been said. They’re both consistently incredible each episode.
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Another character that will be greatly missed. What else is there to say that hasn’t been said about Gandolfini? He created such an iconic character with Tony Soprano and his performance was never less than perfect.
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
I don’t even know where to begin. Don Draper is such an interesting and mysterious character, and Hamm played him perfectly. The show would not have worked as well if this role had not been successful. He was excellent all season long. The Carousel scene in the season finale was one of the best acted scenes I’ve ever seen. Heartbreaking and beautiful.
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
The show wasn’t all that great at first, but Hunter was consistent throughout. It wasn’t until the last episodes in December that the show really seemed to take off, giving Hunter better material to work with. While Grace isn’t the perfect character, and isn’t even a well-written one, Hunter really throws herself into the role and makes the show more memorable then it probably should be.
Robert Iler, The Sopranos
One of the surprises of the year. I found Anthony a little spoiled and was never impressed with Iler. The first part of Season 6 showed tremondous growth, and this year showed even more growth. The suicide storyline was incredibly difficult to watch, but Iler was fantastic throughout. He definitely deserves some recognition for those final episodes.
January Jones, Mad Men
I was going to pair her with Hamm, but she deserved her own spot. Easily the best desperate housewife on television. It was so great to see the character of Betty Draper evolve throughout the season. Jones played her perfectly and was a pleasure to watch. It’s ridiculous how many great scenes she had. The scene in the finale with the neighbor boy in the car was so well-acted and tragic. Hopefully she can gather some support and get an Emmy nomination. She deserves it.
Rosie O’Donnell, The View
Not really a performer, but certainly one of the best things about television this year. She made The View can’t-miss-television. From her political rants to personal musings, she was just all-around enjoyable. Some of the highlights: the meltdown with Elisabeth on her “unofficial” last day, rapping with LL Cool J, flirting with Rose McGowan, and more I’m probably forgetting. She’s definitely missed on there and hopefully she’ll make her way back to some kind of talk show soon.
Steve Carell & Melora Hardin, The Office
They’ve become my new favorite couple on The Office. Nothing against Jim and Pam, these two are just a little more interesting. Their relationship is a little outrageous, but they make it work. Sometimes it seems so odd that they’re together, then there’s moments where it makes a lot of sense. One of my favorite scenes of television this year was at the train yard in “Money”. So well filmed and acted. Plus Carell is so perfect as Michael. His character can be too dumb sometimes, but Carell is always enjoyable.
Kristin Chenoweth & Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies
They almost steal the show with their performances. Chenoweth is just so infectious and fun to watch. Plus they’ve already let her sing. “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was one of the highlights of the year. Then there’s Chi McBride. Watching his performance, it really seems like he’s having the time of his life. Pair them with two fantastic leads, you’ve got one of the best ensembles on television.
Minnie Driver & Eddie Izzard, The Riches
Such an odd couple, yet they work perfectly together. It was so surprising to know that these two had such great dramatic acting skills. For mostly being known as a cross-dressing comedian, Izzard was the most surprising. Minnie Driver was very impressive all season long. Watching Dahlia adapt to life after prison and trying to get over her drug addiction was so fascinating and Driver’s range was perfect.
Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica and Bionic Woman
Sackhoff got to shine more than ever this year. “Maelstrom” was a fantastic performance highlighted by a phenomenal performance from Sackhoff. The end of that episode ended with a shocker and set up for an amazing cliffhanger in the season finale involving Starbuck. Starbuck is easily the most fascinating character on a show filled with them. Cannot wait to see her return next season. Sackhoff also stole the show on The Bionic Woman. She was the best thing about that mediocre series.
James Spader, Boston Legal
Pretty much the only reason I enjoy Boston Legal sometimes. It’s such a joy when an episode includes a great closing argument from Alan Shore. It’s a little annoying that it’s basically David E. Kelley on a political soap box, but the passion and intensity from Spader makes for a compelling performance.
Tim DeKay & Ally Walker, Tell Me You Love Me
Another married couple appears on the list. Easily my favorite characters on the show. They’re not always likable and relatable, but they are the most compelling to watch. Watching them struggle with their marriage was sometimes hard to take, they were the couple on the show you could root for the most. Walker was excellent from the start, and DeKay started to get some great material towards the end. The final scene in the finale was so awkward and a little uncomfortable, but made for a great ending. Can’t wait for the second season, whenever it’ll be, to see how these two move along.
Becki Newton & Michael Urie, Ugly Betty
When Ugly Betty first started, I didn’t like these actors at all. The characters seemed shallow and unappealing. But that has changed significantly. They’ve became my favorite part of the show. Urie has great chemistry with everybody on the show. I really liked that they decided to give Mark a boyfriend, especially one that was a little schloppy and not as fashionable as him. It produced one of the funniest lines of the year when the boyfriend got cleaned up for Bradford & Wilhelmina’s wedding: “Who knew there were hardwood floors under that shag carpeting?”. Becki Newton as Amanda has also been hilarious, trying to reap any fame and fortune from being Fey Summers’ daughter. Performing “Milkshake” at the wedding was hysterical. Put Newton & Urie together, and they are just gold.
And of course, some Honorable Mentions: Glenn Close (Damages), Jack Coleman (Heroes), Michael Emerson (Lost), Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Kevin Michael Richardson (The Knights of Prosperity), Sarah Shahi (Life), Maura Tierney (ER), Sonya Walger (Tell Me You Love Me), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
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