The best TV performances of 2021
This year's best TV performances can be found in dramas like Succession and promising new comedies like Reservation Dogs
TV Lists Poppy
As we enter the final days of 2021, we can all breathe a big sigh of relief, and let go of the long-running debate over whether TV is back in full swing. Considering all of this year’s debuts and returning series, we’ve had as many compelling reasons to stay inside as frightening ones. Great adaptations, poignant new comedies, and outlandish sketch shows beckoned us throughout the year, led by an array of actors from the big and small screens (and a few frequent fliers in between).
Some performers gave new life to a role they’ve embodied for years, while others found the role of a lifetime. One of Christopher Guest’s favorite collaborators clawed her way to the top of a cast of standouts, as two comedy icons welcomed a third into their fold/Manhattan apartment building. A magnetic young actor held Barry Jenkins’ gaze and our own. And the star of an HBO Max comedy and an HBO limited series made us consider giving her two spots on our list.
In putting together the best TV performances of the year, The A.V. Club always looks to highlight ensembles and individuals. But when the nomination process began, we once again found ourselves singling out powerful leads, stalwarts in supporting roles, and those who are climbing through the ranks. So the ensembles will (mostly) have to wait until next year.
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A little early with this post given the egregious exclusion of Jeremy Strong delivering what had to be one of the most shattering performances in the Season 3 finale of SUCCESSION elevated an already great series to something quite extraordinary. The level of defeat and misery, the agony of his world crashing down around him , his annihilating confession to Shiv and Roman of his accidental killing of a bartender, was so painfully modulated down to his entire physical appearance reduced to rag and bone was absolutely stunning.
All the talent on the show will split the votes, I fear. It seems every week is an Emmy reel for one actor or another. Logan having his grandson taste his food last week was rather potent, as was Tom’s aforementioned file cabinet surfing.As good as Strong has been, I’m still on the “Kieran Culkin is the finest actor of his generation” train.
I wouldn’t normally put Culkin in quite the same league as some of his colleagues, but holy shit he was great in this episode. He looked like he wanted to cry and puke at the same time. My wife felt queasy herself.
And then he brings up “love” to Logan? Whew… he looked hurt.
No one will doubt how, well, strong—Strong is in his painful moments and also against other family members (Cox and him together are most electric) but broody scene after broody scene doesn’t perk up my energy. Matthew Macfadyen on the other hand, to me, is dizzying in the ability to switch gears from high to low, fine or not, confused or clear with the most minimalist eye movement, head tilt or vocal quality; even his single syllable noises are multifaceted and revealing. His kinetic self wins in a waltz.
I don’t know how to choose between Culkin, Snook and Strong. They are all truly phenomenal, who don’t need a single line for them to transmit whatever they are feeling onto the viewer simply with their expressions and body language. The pain feels so real.Prop to MacFadyen too for being such an amazing actor as well, but I never feel much sympathy for him in the same way, but maybe that’s the point. He’s such a crook but in a different way.
Non-Midwestern folk just fall hook, line, and sinker for Minnesota nice all the time. It’s so infuriating!(This is no shade on Macfayden’s performance, which is excellent. I actually feel like he captures the contradictions of Midwestern passive aggression exceptionally well, which is why I’m continually outraged by all the chatter about how Tom is genuinely better/more sympathetic than the other damaged, self-interested characters.)
Yes, and in some ways he seems less damaged than the other characters, which makes his Midwestern spit in your drink personality feel more sinister than the others, because on some level he knows better.
Sarah Sherman is random as fuck lol. Who did she pay off?The White Lotus was my favorite show of the year and featured so many great performances. Just an exhilarating watch.
Right? I think the pictured sketch is the only one I can remember her from. And it basically just made me go “…ooookaaaay sure I guess”
I think Sarah’s a decent pick. She has a very chaotic, risque energy for the corporate SNL, when she gets the rare opportunity – that whole Update appearance ran on the expectation, fear or hope that she would say something to get them yanked off the air. Yet she also has good comic chops and can blend into scenes easily. I’m not sure she would have been my SNL pick (I would have gone for Ego Nwodim or Andrew Dismukes) but she’s worthy.
I think the thing with Sarah Sherman is that she was an exciting, rising talent in the Chicago comedy scene so a lot of critics who are familiar with her work there want her to bring some of the weird energy she developed a reputation for to SNL and become a breakout star. But yeah aside from that one Weekend Update bit she really hasn’t had much of a showcase yet, certainly not enough to say that she’s one of the best TV performers of the year.
I would argue that Cecily Strong’s portrayl of a clown that had an abortion at age 22 is at least as strong-that coupled with her mad wine throwing skills is a stand out for me.
Especially when James Austin Johnson has been far more prominent as a newcomer; I honestly can’t think of a debut featured player who’s seen this much screentime, dude opened the season as Biden and has done non-impersonation sketches as well.No offense to Sarah Squirm but she’s just not been given as much to do, and JAJ is killing it.
Sarah Squirm making the list is definitely a hometown shout out since that Update bit is the only thing she’s really done and it was just like, ok.
I think it’s a good pick. That weekend update bit is pretty much the only SNL moment I can remember from this year.
She took the ground that Che spent years tilling and just ran it up on Colin. I thought it was hilarious.
I mean I agree? But Jennifer Coolidge has been playing this part for most of her career. It’s not even the best example. I don’t see how it “stands out”. Amazing show though, and she’s amazing in it, but so are the other actors just as much, if not some more so.
I found her performance in Lotus just not believable as an actual IRL person. Alexandra Daddario meanwhile did by far the best work of her career playing a woman who wants to be more than a trophy, and Murray Bartlett put up the best comedic performance of the year among shows I’ve seen.
Exactly. It was one-note, with a character “arc” (more like a flat line) that you could see coming miles away. Daddario was great and so was whomever played the kids, all three of them were pitch perfect.
That was a great performance, but it was one-note by design, because…it was like a five-minute explosion. It was sorta supposed to be? It ruled, but it’s weird to get so high on the list there.
Sherman was barely on, WTF????? You wanna go with a newbie? James Austin Johnson, bro…between this and saying Selena Gomez “held her own” against Short and Martin, I don’t even know what the AV Club people are on
My only guess is that she is from Chicago and that’s where AVClub is based so they have a soft spot. She is the most forgettable of the current crop of featured cast members. I’m not a huge fan but Punky had a better Weekend Update appearance as herself and I can actually remember her being in sketches.
Honestly think the best performance was by George Harrison’s black fur coat
the acting in squid game was atrocious, unnatural and heavy handed. so basically like everything about that series. i repeat myself but if this would’ve been an american production people would rip this to shreads over how hollow and stupid everything about it is. but its korean so i guess.. wojak pointing.jpg
You do realize every country basically has their own standards of acting, right? Squid Game has stellar acting. You can pick apart anything for being “unnatural” if you’re insufferable enough. Do you think people on American TV shows talk like how Americans actually talk?
What exactly is wrong about his opinion? Especially with you unnecessarily resorting to attacking him with the stupid insults for it? Nobody actually watched this show because of the acting and drama, especially compared to the much better acting going on out there, as it’s not going to get nominated for any acting awards or anything. People liked this show because it was different as far as the plot, how shocking and sudden the violence was, and its somewhat unpredictable plot, and for the socio-political commentary and message.
“Nobody actually watched this show because of the acting and drama”*Raises hand* I was so happy to see Park hae-Soo on this list. The way he “tried” to subdue the flashes of irritation and anger on his face were great.
He did a good to decent job for the most part, but I don’t think it should be up there and on par with any of these shows on the list. Maybe HoYeon Jung if there was anyone…..
I think their opinion is wrong, objectively, but it’s also silly because they suggest that if this show was somehow something different than what it was, then critics wouldn’t like the acting. So … uh … what? I don’t even know how to unpack that. I mean, clearly if it were shot in the United States, it would be different … but yeah no shit? How does that bear on the effectiveness of these particular actors? It’s as random as saying “I can’t believe you liked Henry Winkler as Fonzie because if he were played by Brian Cranston you wouldn’t think Happy Days was so good.”
So you too want to unnecessarily resort to attacking him with the stupid insults for having a different opinion? Are there any adults left on this site that can just politely disagree and offer a counterargument? Anyone?
If calling someone’s opinion “silly” (which is the worst thing I’ve said here) is something you consider to be an “attack,” perhaps a comment board … ANY comment board … isn’t the right place for you?
Nah, just this comment board which seems to be filled with pathetic adults like you who log in to play internet tough guy/edgelordy teenager to fulfill their Walter Mitty syndrome.
“attack” – really? you are whining so much lol
Yeah, this dude has been going to multiple articles on this site, making nasty comments to people, and then decrying the lack of earnest debate when he gets exactly the type of response he was angling for.It’s weird.
You mean what’s wrong with his opinion, other than the icky implicit accusation that all the people who liked Squid Game were just weirdo sheep jumping on the ‘we like Korean stuff now’ bandwagon?
Nah, people also liked the acting. Pretending that it was anywhere near “atrocious” is fucking bullshit, and borderline xenophobic.
Oh, so critiquing the bad acting on a foreign show is xenophobic now?!? That is such a bad reach and slippery slope, that doesn’t even merit any more discussion. PS: Nice try with trolling me and proving me correct in the Succession article. I swear Redditors have better decorum than you guys on this site lately.
Yes, when the original poster made a point to compare it to “an American production”. As if it could be compared.PS: You literally criticized people for throwing temper tantrums, and then happened to support exactly the one person throwing a temper tantrum. You got self-owned. It happens. No need to be toxic about it.
Keep replying, keep reaching with that specious “racism” argument. Keep trolling and being a hypocrite yourself about being a toxic jerk on the internet to people who had the gall to disagree with you. You only keep proving me correct. Its just a stupid blog and a stupid article. There really is no reason for you to be such an angry dick about this other than to fill the empty hole in your life.
There really is no reason for you to be such an angry dickIrony, irony. How wonderful is thee.
“Irony, irony. How wonderful is thee.”You’re speaking for yourself right? That’s why you keep replying and have been for the last tweve hours?
Be easy on him. You hurt him in his favourite show, it’s natural to lash out.
Are you really that lacking in self-awareness, man. So disappointing to see. You used to be fun and level-headed, and we starred each other posts’ every so often—we used to agree on most things. But you really have to be a dick nowadays, huh.
Still going at 15 hours eh? Impressive. Keep going. I wanna see you make it to 24.
it’s not going to get nominated for any acting awards or anything
The performers have been nominated for multiple acting awards, including Golden Globes, as announced today. We won’t know about the bigger awards until next year.
Oof. This hasn’t been a good day for Robot_Jox.
He was wrong! On the internet! I mean, this is just unprecedented.
Functioning delusional people are always so funny to watch implode.
Was it stellar acting, or stellar for Koreans acting?
Well then translate this article into Korean and publish it on avclub.kr
Did you watch in Korean? Or with the shitty dubbing?
The dubbing made it so bad! (My wife refused to read the subtitles…)
You can tell how narrow-minded the dude is from that one post alone. No way someone like that would consider watching something not dubbed in their “American production” language.
This is a solid list in my opinion based on my viewing this year. I’ve seen most of these (sorry, Squid Game, I just can’t), and the performances highlighted here have been among my favorites this year. Matthew MacFadyen should sweep the supporting categories. He might get some competition from Kieran Culkin, who was also extraordinary this season, but MacFadyen was on a whole other level. I feel like every week, when the episode ended, I had to go back and watch so many of Tom’s scenes again just to marvel at what MacFadyen was able to do. I loved Charlotte Nicdao in Mythic Quest. The character is written well, and Nicdao manages to play the character’s insecurities and ambitions and better instincts without making any of them seem contradictory. Nobody watches For All Mankind but it seriously punches above it’s weight, and Sonya Walger is a big reason for that. Paulina Alexis was great in Reservation Dogs. I was disappointed in Ted Lasso’s second season, but Nick Mohammed played Nate exactly how he needed to be played to affect that character’s transformation. I was maybe less taken with Jennifer Coolidge, but I’ll admit she’s never been my cup of tea. At least White Lotus matched her skillset to an appropriate part—she is well cast as the clueless rich white lady. But for me the standouts in that show were Natasha Rothwell and Murray Bartlett, both of whom I hope use White Lotus as a springboard to greater parts. And my god, Jean Smart. Hacks was tremendous, and she provided it’s energy and dynamism. I can’t wait for season 2.
Bartlett was my favorite this year for sure. I’m with you on Coolidgle – she’s just often so far out there in some performances that she comes off as somewhat brain damaged, and Lotus was no exception.And let’s not leave out Steve Zahn, whose offbeat energy was deployed perfectly in this show.
I had a hard time when White Lotus came out because everyone was fawning over Coolidge, and I just thought she was OK bordering on not very watchable at times. But again, that’s kind of always how I’ve felt about her, so I know I’m bringing some baggage into my viewing of her work. Something about how she moves her face when she acts always looks pained to me, and not very real. But anyway, watching Bartlett was a goddamn delight. He played Armond’s descent into utter insanity to perfection. I still watch the last dinner service scene sometimes just to watch his face as he swirls around the dining room. Every single note of his performance was pitch perfect.And yes, Steve Zahn surprised me. He had the exact right energy for the part.
You nailed my favorite Armond moment – in the last episode when he comes blasting back through the door into his office, high as a kite, exclaiming “BEST SEATING EVER!” with that deranged/elated expression on his face.
Has the BBC’s much lauded It’s a Sin not been shown in the USA yet? It’s by far the best ensemble cast for me and Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Callum Scott Howells and Neil Patrick Harris are all contenders on the individual level.
And on a completely different note, my favourite over the top villain award goes to Abdul Salis for Eamon Valda in The Wheel of Time. The moustache does half the work.
It’s A Sin was on HBO Max.
It’s a Sin broke me. Loved it.
I don’t think American reviewers spend a lot of time watching five-episode British miniseries tbh. shame, It’s a Sin was an absolute masterwork. Lydia West was definitely the heart of it, but honestly I’d give the award to Keeley Hawes for her absolutely magnetic performance in the last episode
I liked It’s a Sin fine, but its sensibilities definitely trended towards the profoundly British. Especially with Keeley Hawes’ character, which was a great performance of a laughably one note character.It doesn’t help that the US produced plenty of its own AIDS melodramas several decades earlier.
Channel 4 I think, not the BBC.
Selena Gómez over people like Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in Scenes from a Marriage makes this list kind of worthless?
Great picks (especially Matthew Macfadyen). I would add Phil Dunster. Some might argue Ted Lasso rushed Jamie Tartt’s redemption arc, or made a bit of a mess of it at times, but Phil effortlessly played the pain and trauma of Jamie alongside a genuinely loveable goofiness, in everything from perfect boy band choreography to his moving bond with ex-rival Roy Kent. You had to open your heart to Jamie, just as Ted and most of the team did, because if you didn’t, then Nate’s slow decline (brought on in part by the man who bullied him now being seen as a brother and a friend by everyone around him) would not work as well narratively.
Trumps gone, twd lasso will be canceled next season because there is less and less want for it
I tend to believe the producers when they say they were mostly planning for 3 seasons anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple TV is desperate enough for programming to try a spinoff of Roy Kent (if Apple TV is still around by that point).
I feel like it needs 4. A year of them winning the FA Cup, since they got close, and then a year of them winning the League. That would make a nice arc for the team from relegation to promotion to winners.
Uh. You can’t “cancel” a show that’s already been granted its full three season arc before season 1 finished airing.
I know it’s not “prestige television,” but Fiona Dourif on “Chucky” is one of the best performances of the year.
“guaranteed’s”Verbs don’t normally get possessive.I have seen a grand total of two of the above (which would have been one but for someone putting on Ted Lasso during Thanksgiving). I seem to be unusual in watching less TV during the pandemic.
The cast of Only Murders in the Building was fantastic. Steve Martin and Martin Short both tend to pick their projects these days and have occasionally looked like they were phoning it in when they have acted over the last 20 years, but this show was a reminder of how effortlessly funny they can be when they’re really on.
Short has rubbed me the wrong way more often than not over that period of time, but damn they grabbed his typical on-camera persona and turned it into a an act of self-preservation. Martin could have been a continuation of his LA Story character from 30 years ago.
Pretty bland picks.
My favorite thing about Jennifer Coolidge is her black face rap “bitch you stink” in nip tuck. Glad I could see that but not lethal weapon 6
Clicked on this article hoping to see Matthew Macfadyen and Hamish Linklater mentioned, was not disappointed. Those two performances really struck me this year.
I would like to champion the work of O’Shea Jackson Jr and Quvenzhané Wallis for Swagger Apple TV+. He’s really good, she’s brilliant.I really hope they get some award love, whenever they’re eligible.
I feel like the entire main cast of What We Do in the Shadows should be on this list before Cree Summer. Especially Kayvan Novak who was great showcasing a depressed Nandor last season.Cree was OK. I think more than half of the gag was seeing goofy Nandor in an 80s-themed cult.Maybe just a case of a very good cast being taken for granted because its their third season now.
Kayvan for his voice acting alone!!! Cannot understand why they can’t get any love.
I typically feel like Harvey Guillen as Guillermo has the best role & gives the best performance on the show, but they all had really strong material this season. Natasia Demetrious as both Nadja and Nadja doll did probably her best work
I’m so happy that you included all three principals from Only Murders. I would have also said the same thing about Gomez … what a revelation. She brought this old-timey Hollywood charm to the show, and she was the perfect balance to Martin’s and Short’s comedic performances. BUT, as you recognize, she’s a cog within a precisely balanced machine. All three deserve equal recognition. Great show. Great cast.
In the first couple of episodes I was thinking “why would this young woman want to spend a minute of her time with Martin and Short??” and the show did a great job of building how the experiences and current life situation resulted in a surprisingly introverted and insecure person. All three characters were just so fully developed.
Selena should really do more acting projects because she is magnetic on screen and definitely got the chops.
i have the complete opposite of an opinion on gomez. she acts like shes reading off a queue card. i found her boring and monotone…even moreso than what her character is meant to be. she struggles to get words out of her mouth and i understand that may be a product of her illness, but its still distracting when youre watching it onscreen.
I agree. I think she is the obvious weak link in the show, only made more painfully obvious when showing her next to Martin and Short. I find myself yelling at the screen, “Emote, dammit! Emote!” There’s just nothing there. It’s like watching a cardboard cutout.
THANK YOU! I’d like to think people found her performance good because she was opposite two of the greats, so nobody could ever expect her to be on the same level anyway and “barely acceptable” would pass for incredible, but OH MY GOD, was she awful. The show was amazing, but watching her emotionless, monotone performance week after week definitely took it down a notch. I honestly have no ill will towards her and hope she works on her acting and comes back strong in season 2 and any other projects she happens to be involved in. If that’s not in her, though, maybe just stick to music.
I didn’t read this; I’m just scanning the comments about hating slideshows.
Just Like That has some struggles these first two episodes, but a reminder that Sarah Jessica Parker is one of the greats.
My wife watched Maid but I only caught it in bits and pieces. Margaret Qualley always seemed semi-catatonic to me.
I’ve been a fan of Sarah Sherman for a while, but she gets on the list because she did a funny 3 minute Weekend Update bit? Huh?
A short performance can still be a great performance!
I would argue that Jean Smart has been on a bit of a tear for a while now, not just this past year!Great choices in there from all the programmes I’ve seen, but Matthew Macfayden has to be the absolute top dog for me. I really think Wambsgans is one of the great TV characters and so much of that is down the Macfayden’s performance.
I hadn’t seen her in anything after Designing Women until Watchmen came along, but whoa – she was amazing in that. I really need to check out Mare and Hacks.
Glad to see Hamish Linklater make the list. I loved him in Legion and Fargo so it was nice to see him get a meatier role. He has one of those soothing voices that can monologue (his mother was a diction coach, which explains a lot), so even when Midnight Mass’ theological chats went on too long I didn’t mind at all.
I’m glad he was included as well. He was just unbelievably charming in Midnight Mass and you’re right, his impeccable voice is a part of it. I’m going to seek out more of his work.
Everyone on Legends of Tomorrow is killing it, I can’t pick between Caity Lotz as the captain having a very up and down season, Tala Ashe a force as both Zaris, Lisseth Chavez as newbie Spooner who carves a role on the team right away, and Amy Louise Pemberton an utter delight as live-action Gideon figuring out this whole being a person deal
Jennifer Coolidge gets the majority of the accolades for White Lotus, but Alexandra Daddario made every one of her scenes become electric in that show.
I loved what a statement role it was by an actress who has definitely been cast for her physical assets as much as acting ability, playing a woman concerned she may have just married into being a trophy wife. She killed it.
Only Murders In The Building was my favorite this year! They were all so great together. I watched it on a whim and was instantly hooked.
Hamish Linklater was so damn good he almost convinced me “midnight mass” was just a bunch of ridiculous, indulgent nonsense.
would be cool to read these articles if not for the slideshow format
Paulina Alexis was so good in her audition that they gender swapped the character of Willie Jack because they wanted her in the show.
I haven’t seen it yet, but assume this is a riff on Billy Jack?
I’m not sure if they ever explain her name but knowing how well written this show is it very well maybe. I know for the character it’s short for Wilhelmina Jacqueline, which was a cool way to keep the character’s name and explain her nickname. You should watch it though, it’s really good.
It’s on the list for sure. A couple of Native American vigilantes with only a minor spelling change between them is an unlikely coincidence.
Where did you hear this? I’m obsessed with Willy Jack and Paulina. Love to hear audition stories!
I don’t remember exactly where I read it and I might’ve slightly mis-remembered the details but it might’ve been here and a combination of another site or two…?
Paulina Alexis, an Indigenous Canadian Actress, Is Breaking Barriers – The New York Times (nytimes.com)Latest Project: For “Reservation Dogs,” Ms. Alexis originally auditioned for the part of Elora Danan, the female lead. But Mr. Harjo asked her to also read for a different part, one originally written for a boy. “He wanted me to read for Willie Jack. He thought I’d be funny for it,” she said. The character is a tough kid with a funny bone and a heart of gold. “Everyone knows a Willie Jack, you’ll find her on every rez.”
EDIT: fucking Kinja. I don’t know if the link posted or if the formatting is still fucked up. Sorry either way.
Ugh.I knew Stan Stevens from “Breaking the Bank” would be forgotten. Ditto for Elaine Jeskowicz from “Shadow Monger.” Both excellent, although very different, performances.
Surprised that Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown wasn’t included. She’s easily one of the most talented actors working today and her performance was astonishingly powerful, moving, and nuanced. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that scene with her therapist where she recounts coming home to find her son had killed himself.Actually the whole cast should probably have been included since Jean Smart, Evan Peters, and Julianne Nicholson all also gave remarkable performances.
Yes. Kate was going for that Emmy/Golden Globes in Mare of Easttown. What a fantastic and moving performance!
yes, I thought that show was kind of terrible, but phenomenal cast.
Selena Gomez? She felt like she was in a different show half the time.
If Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan are not nominated for their turns on Only Murders in the Building, then the Emmys are dead to me.
You left out Alan Tudyk on Resident Alien.
Elizabeth Olson is great. But Kathryn Hahn is the one that really deserves kudos for WandaVision.
Hahn has become one of the most remarkably versatile actresses working today. She’s effortlessly at the center of every single thing she does.
If you think Reservation Dogz show the Rez as a “contented small town” you missed the entire fucking point of the show. Typical fucking AV Club straining so hard to be perfectly woke it come off as offensively patronising.
Isn’t showing ignorance of the true tone of the town the opposite of wokeness?
Selena Gomez makes it on and not James Spader? The guy is awesome in Blacklist.
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Alan Tudyk in the role he was born to play wasn’t in this list. Where is the Resident Alien love?
I tried but man, I just couldn’t get into it. A weird combo of too slow yet also too low concept.
I completely agree with Matthew Macfadyen, Succession. The prison bit and his duo with Greg (Nicholas Braun) are always my favorite pair. Poor Greg.
All this list has really shown me is that I’ve watched an absolute shit-ton of TV this year.
you cant include selena gomez in that ensemble – shes brutal and distracting in her performance.
WandaVision doesn’t get enough credit from the industry. The writing is stellar!
Being an American with American sensibilities I couldn’t watch Squid Game in the original language. It didn’t resonant with me. It was hard to relate to the characters on a more emotional level because it’s not a familiar language that is full of nuances for me. There’s nothing like being raised under a certain language your whole life that gives you the ability to understand the little subtle tones of expression of your familiar language. If you’re American and did enjoy it in Korean. Good for you, but it’s not for me. I also find reading subtitles a distraction.
I’d like to add Tyler Hoelchin, Bitsie Tulloch, Jordan Elsass, and Alexander Garfin from Superman and Lois and every scene that has at least two of them in it.
Cutting and pasting my comment on the “best shows of the year” post because OH MY GOD WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FORK: I mean, look…Only murders in the building was indeed one of the very best shows of the year, and I can’t wait for next season, when it will, afterall, be Tina Fey’s show. But saying Selena Gomez “held her own” against Steve Martin and Martin Short is like we’re in opposite worlds. It was like she was barely even there in the way she never EVER changed her same catatonic tone of voice, and it almost pained me every time Mabel was supposed to show any kind of emotion because she never did. I don’t know whose idea was it to cast her opposite two veteran comedic geniuses, but that was the ONE mistake this show made. I don’t have any other actress in mind who I think would do a better job, she just…NO. Man, we were rooting for you, Selena, we were all rooting for you! Alas…