100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Books, movies, television...
User avatar
daft twat
Rank This Poster
Posts: 5355
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 2:23 am
Location: The In Between

100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by daft twat »

Anyone else see this bullshit list?

https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-performances/

That said, it’s an interesting topic. I haven’t seen everything, but I can’t imagine how Tony Soprano isn’t number one.

Just off the bean, my top ten would include Al Swearingen (probably at 2), Boyd Crowder (Justified), Leon Black (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Selena Meyer (Veep), Johnny Lawrence (Cobra Kai). Tyrion Lannister (GoT), Dwight Schrute (The Office), Ted Lasso, and Saul Goodman (Bb/bcs).

I could be swayed. I’m sure I’m forgetting someone. I’ve also never seen Madmen, which I need to rectify some day.
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by tragabigzanda »

Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Fri January 09, 2026 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

Good call on Ian McShane as Al Swearengen in Deadwood. I would add:

Michael K Williams as Omar Little in The Wire

Matthew McConaughey as Rustin Cole in True Detective S1

Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Last edited by Ello Sailor on Thu February 20, 2025 2:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

tragabigzanda wrote:Rust and Marty are up there
Ya beat me to it. I think Rust edges out Marty though.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
epilogue
We All We Got, We All We Need
Posts: 84845
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 5:33 pm
Location: Ghorman
Contact:

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by epilogue »

Might?

It's no question.
User avatar
lennytheweedwhacker
The Master
Posts: 47947
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 3:21 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by lennytheweedwhacker »

Rust, man :heartbeat: . I don't even know what to say.
And they say that a hero could save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
User avatar
daft twat
Rank This Poster
Posts: 5355
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 2:23 am
Location: The In Between

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by daft twat »

tragabigzanda wrote:Rust and Marty are up there
Loved season one of True Detective. I’m also very partial to season 2 of Fargo. Great performances, as the title suggests, but I have a hard time putting them over characters developed over multiple seasons.

My next issue is when is a supporting character more important/iconic than a lead? They put Roy Kent on their list. Love Roy Kent, but he’s one note. Ted Lasso is the heart. I chose Leon Black over Larry David because he completely reinvigorated that show. They chose Michael Scott, also great, but also heavily based on Gervais. Dwight Schrute is not Gareth. He is what drew me to that show. Ensemble casts are so tough. How can they pick Sweet Dee Reynolds? She’s incredible, but they alternate mvp status from episode to episode (Mac rules!)

Upon further reflection, I think probably the most correct answer is Randy Marsh from South Park. His evolution has been breathtaking.
User avatar
daft twat
Rank This Poster
Posts: 5355
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 2:23 am
Location: The In Between

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by daft twat »

Who is running this tourney?
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

Fargo has so many top-tier performances. Gotta go with Billy Bob as Lorn Malvo in S1.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
spike
The Master
Posts: 35444
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 4:18 am

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by spike »

how is it even possible to exclude rust from that list?
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

Recency bias/blind spots/general stupidity.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by tragabigzanda »

Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Fri January 09, 2026 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
lennytheweedwhacker
The Master
Posts: 47947
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 3:21 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by lennytheweedwhacker »

Where is Disco Stu
And they say that a hero could save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

tragabigzanda wrote:Damn ello, good call on Omar. I thought of The Wire but immediately went to “ eh more of an ensemble show.” But you are right.
I think it's still more of an ensemble show based on the ludicrously high standard across the board, and the evenly-shared screen time. But Omar was special. Also shout outs to Andre Royos as Bubbles.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
spike
The Master
Posts: 35444
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 4:18 am

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by spike »

It’s pretty funny that the mother gets the nod from that HIMYM cast. Poor Barney.
Last edited by spike on Thu February 20, 2025 6:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Ello Sailor
10Club Complaint Department
Posts: 17234
Joined: Sun March 12, 2017 3:06 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Ello Sailor »

I could never stand that show. Is it actually good? Am I just an asshole?
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
User avatar
spike
The Master
Posts: 35444
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 4:18 am

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by spike »

I always enjoyed it for dumb and charming fun. But some folks seem to hate it with a blazing passion.
User avatar
Peeps
Fake NYC Setlist Relayer
Posts: 7303
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 12:41 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by Peeps »

i know it gets shit on for being on the WB but alexis denisof was amazing as Wesley Wyndam-Price on Buffy and then co-start on Angel. the character arc of him being a bumbling bafoon to being a total bad ass is so gradual and authentic and he plays each with great mannerisms. his death on Angel actually made me well up.
Did the Mother Fucker pay extra to yell?
User avatar
dimejinky99
what on earth am I talking about
Posts: 39789
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 12:35 am

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by dimejinky99 »

Stellan Skarsgård’s performance as Luthen Rael In Andor.
That monologue about the rebellion was easily the best acting and performance ever in Star Wars and easily up there with the best ever.

‘I burn my life for a sunrise I know I will never see’

That’s the true spirit of rebellion.
There’s the clip

https://youtu.be/-3RCme2zZRY
Calibrate your enthusiasm
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: 100 greatest tv performances of the 21st century

Post by tragabigzanda »

Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Fri January 09, 2026 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply