23 Best TV Performances of 2023
Despite the dual strikes of 2023, some truly great TV performances were bestowed upon us. If you’re looking for kickass shows to binge, here’s your starting list. If you’ve watched everything here, please email us. I want to meet you and we have so much to discuss.
Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone in Righteous Gemstones
I love Judy Leigh Gemstone so much, but she makes my heart hurt so much. Because she’s truly a plague on this world. I know that. I can understand that. But I am helpless to her charms. She had me at “Slap me too, Daddy.” This season sees Judy at her lowest point, as she attempts to claw her way back into BJ’s good graces. She’s part of the best scenes of the season (including one that made it into our Best Bits). And yet, like so many of the greatest TV performances of the last few years, Edi Patterson has repeatedly been snubbed at major award shows. Justice for Judy Leigh.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Sharon Horgan as Eva Garvey in Bad Sisters
I didn’t REALLY mind being an only child … until I saw the show Bad Sisters. I mean, the jokes, the bonding, the banding together to murrrrder your fifth sister’s abusive husband … uch, I’m so alone! But seriously, this cleverly plotted dark comedy/thriller—especially Sharon Horgan’s performance as sister Eva Garvey—had me hooked from scene one. From hilarious snark to real rage, she does it all…not to mention, she co-created (adapted) and wrote the show. Cannot wait for season 2.
– Lynn Harris, lynnharris.net
Vanessa in Queer Ultimatum
Idk, everyone. And please don’t cancel me for this, but Vanessa did FINE to me!! Even good!! In fact, I sort of thought Vanessa had the HEALTHIEST view of an incredibly problematic show premise. She entered Queer Ultimatum with love and respect, but an outlook of fun adventure. She was flirty and sexual and FUN! When did reality TV start hating the fun people and not the manupulative, mean ones? I wrote my final Gender Studies thesis on reality show villains, so allow me SOME credit when I say that Vanessa seemed straight forward, honest, and to genuinely have an open heart…these are things that true reality villains are UNABLE to claim. Plus, I think her apology statement at the table where they all debrief (I fully don’t remember the structure of this show because it was too bananas for my sanity) was GENUINE. Everyone else on the show was either petty or overly serious or straight up, as Tracy Jordan would say, mentally ill. (Who isn’t? But you must at least try therapy before Netflix dating shows. It’s 2023, people). Vaness tried. And since she got to hook up with the other two nicest sweeties on the show, I think that in the end…she won! At least she didn’t have to talk to Lexi’s parents.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Kristen Schall as The Guide in What We Do in the Shadows
Finally, The Guide made it into the opening credits! And finally she stood up for her(sad)self! This season was a standout for The Guide in so many ways (more screen time, more depth, more to work with) but most importantly, because Schall delivers a stellar performance. You CARE for The Guide and you CARE about her woes. Who amongst us hasn’t felt on the outside? Many! And yet, who amongst us has put on an elaborate Knives Out-style revenge play? Few!
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary
She’s someone who absolutely never phones it in, so it’s hard to pick out especially stellar moments of Sheryl Lee Ralph’s performance. I’m going to keep it short and sweet: Barbara, Bible, Blessings, Blueberries. Four words and one of the best TV performances of the year.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Ego Nwodim as Lisa from Temecula on Saturday Night Live
It’s been a while since SNL had a truly knock-out character. What used to be their bread and butter has fallen by the wayside in exchange for impressions and (often) half-baked situational randomness. But when Ego put on that pink blouse and those glasses, when that hard-ass steak came out, when her leg went up on the chair, when Pedro Pascal tried to get the butt, when Bowen tried to rush them through because he was laughing so hard…a star was born. That star? Burning bright. Great sketch. Can’t wait for more!
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Daisy May Cooper as Nic in Am I Being Unreasonable?
Nic (Daisy Mae Cooper) is the best kind of mess: a deeply devoted mother with a drinking problem, a foul mouth, an obsession with her neighbor, and a SECRET. Cooper co-wrote the show with her best friend and co-star Selin Hizli (the neighbor!) and it’s twisty and twisted and made ME obsessed with HER. Bonus: Every scene with her son (Lenny Rush) is chemistry perfection.
– Lynn Harris, lynnharris.net
Edy Modica as Jeannie in Jury Duty
Maybe I’m oversimplifying things, but “I’m gonna let him cum on my shoulder” may have been the single funniest line (improvised, too, mind you!!) of the year. Jury Duty was a smash hit, but IMO that’s thanks not to Ronald, but to Jeannie. What a horny little goof! Not only did the character of Jeannie feel whole and true and fun as hell, Edy was also able to raise the comedy bar of the whole series–she felt fresh and cool and filthy.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Natasha Leon as Charlie Cale in Poker Face
Best new show of the year? Pokerface rocked my apartment like a wagon wheel. I cannot compliment this show enough–episodic, but lightly serialized, incredibly written and directed, funny and high stakes. Leon does truly impeccable work as Charlie Cale–some of the best in her long and fabulous career. Am I lying?
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Sarah Goldberg as Sally in Barry
The final season of Barry held nothing back. In fact, for a show known for not holding back, it somehow held even MORE nothing back? Or even LESS than nothing? Whichever you think best exemplifies that it was not even held back a little bit. No one tracks the incredible progress (or at least the distance traveled) like Sally. A walking heartbreak from dawn to dusk, Sally takes hold of her power, finally and truly, in the final season. Tears are shed, as are screams of righteous anger, and sighs of compelling growth. This show held so much, and Sally held the show.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Tasya Teles, Keilani Elizabeth Rose, and Blair Lamora as Nat, Miigwan, and Ziigwan Shorsey
I’m giving you some homework, eh? First, watch Letterkenny, and behold the goddamn Shakespeare-level patter that magically creates an affecting portrait of the various cliques and communities in the Canadian town of the same name. Then you’ll be ready for Shoresy, the spinoff that delivers on SO MANY LEVELS, not the least of which is the trifecta of bad hockey manager bitches who manage the underdog team at the heart of the show. BEHOLD club owner Nat (Tasya Teles) and her sidekicks Miigwan (Keilani Elizabeth Rose) and Ziigwan (Blair Lamora). The bros are made of Canada chaos and these gals keep things in CHECK.
– Lynn Harris, lynnharris.net
Helene York as Brooke Dubek in The Other Two
Brooke’s final season arc has been built up over several seasons. And still, York makes her FRESH and NOW and BONKERS every step of the way. From her refusal to date billionaires and struggle with how to “do good” in the world to her final, heartbreaking sacrifice this season BELONGS to Brooke. All of the Dubeks are in dangerous, uncharted waters, but something about Helene York’s performance rings the truest and strikes the highest. I said it elsewhere this year, but I think I’ll miss York’s Brooke Dubek more than any other character from this year of final finales.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Dan Mintz as Tina Belcher in Bob’s Burgers
When Tina…trips…on the way out of the restaurant while trying to impress a group of punk teens…I don’t think I’ll ever recover, y’all. It is pure, unfiltered, undiluted, Tina Belcher. The last few seasons of Bob’s Burgers have felt so fresh and illuminated. Almost effortless if it weren’t for the apparent constant effort the Belchers put into keeping their lives afloat. Last year brought the season of Louise, big time. But this year, we saw so much of Tina–dreaming and changing and struggling and thriving as her own weird self. She needs those glasses to see, okay!! And maybe she does work at two restaurants!! You don’t know!!
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schementi in Abbott Elementary
The second season is good to Melissa. It seems she has softened up thanks (in part) to her deepened relationships with the newer teachers. We also watch Melissa grapple with and eventually succeed in rekindling a relationship with her sister! Big things for Ms. Schementi! But the episode that locks Lisa Ann Walter in with one of the best performances of the year is, undoubtedly, “Read-A-Thon.” Melissa reveals (in a stunning emotional turn of pure, though private, honesty) her own struggles with reading in order to help a student grow. It’s a moving and truly funny episode–like only Abbott can deliver, and for which I’m sure they’ll soon be known best.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Anetra and Marcia Marcia Marcia in Ru Paul’s Drag Race
If you’re a Drag Race nerd, you think I’m gonna talk about Jimbo as PSYCHOTIC Shirley Temple. And sure, props. But the best Drag Race moment of the year was for sure the lip sync between Anetra and Marcia Marcia Marcia to Doja Cat’s Boss Bitch. The internet has literally asked, “Where were you when that happened?” Just Google it.
– Lynn Harris, lynnharris.net
Cirie in Traitors
Woohoo!!!! Wowee. Let me start by saying that this show was not WELL developed; I don’t know why they bothered with the challenges at all. But it proved what we all know to be true–if you put a Survivor contestant up against any other reality show contestant, they’ll win BIG. Cirie is a long-time, kick-ass Survivor–a crowd favorite. But her turn in the last few episodes of this show makes her one of the best reality performances EVER, but definitely this year. Congrats, babe, get your bag, and don’t listen to the boys.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Vanessa Bayer as Evie Russell in What We Do in the Shadows
The triumphant return of Evie Russell! Vanessa Bayer’s performance as an emotional vampire (E. V. (Eevie)) is so magnificent. If you haven’t seen her say “the dickens” … well, I just feel sorry for you I guess. Are Evie and Collin endgame? Will she be back for the (recently announced) final season? Now that she’s Staten Island comptroller, what hell will she wreak on the good(ish) citizens of New York’s least favorite borough?
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Bridget Everett as Sam in Somebody Somewhere
Talk about RANGE. If you’ve been lucky enough to see Bridget Everett on stage, well, you’ve never seen anyone motorboat a man with more pizzazz. And if you’ve seen her on Somebody, Somewhere, you’ve seen her be tender and vulnerable. (And if you’re a GOLDie, you’ve seen the showstoppingly sweet live Q&A she did with us in her kitchen–yes, much more on the Somebody, Somewhere end of things. The best!) Also, speaking of range—OMG, that VOICE. Everyone, everywhere, should be a fan.
– Lynn Harris, lynnharris.net
K’Devry Jacobs as Elora Danan in Reservation Dogs
My God. Every season of this show has delivered a masterclass on acting, writing, and storytelling. Jacobs’s standout performances of the second season would’ve been impossible for a less committed and talented actor, but here she is topping herself again. Ah!!! I can’t think about this show without the voice in my head going “AAAAAAHHHHH!!!.” It is top to bottom, through and through, stand-out television. The best in years, and yet snubbed again and again at award shows. But, I’m not here to rant about other stuff, I’m here to wax poetic about Elora Danan. She’s the heart of the show and this season is no different. In a show that has seen Elora grieve friends, parents, aunties– and in a standout (heartbreaking!) episode last season–even the grandmother who raised her. An actor who can pull off triumph as well as she does grief is one for the books, people. This is that actor.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Annie Murphey as Petey in Praise Petey
If you’ve missed the not-so-dulcet tones of Annie Murphey ever since Schitt’s Creek ended, miss no further! She’s back (or at least her voice is) as the titular character in Anna Drezon’s new animated series Praise Petey! The show was recently cut short after its first season on Freeform, but not before Murphey put in an incredibly charming performance! This show was FUNNY! It centers around a cult, which was run by Petey’s dad and which, after a series of raucous mishaps, falls into the hands of Petey herself. It’s a totally fun show, with great performances all around and silly hijinks. I wish there could be more of it, but it’s certainly worth a quick binge! Don’t miss out on this goofy gem!
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com
Natasia Demetriou as Nadja (as Sally Rubharb) in What We Do in the Shadows
Wowee. If it isn’t my favorite character to write about! You’d think, based on the number of times I’ve put this incredible woman on my BEST lists, that I would’ve learned to spell her name. But I haven’t, so assume that every time you see it, I copy and pasted it. Demetriou has given us iconic gags like “Jedge” and “There was a girl in the village, she had one very small foot.” But this year she gave us one better–Sally Rubharb, who is blonde and lives on a large farm. She is a gift. If someone told me that Demetriou was grown in a lab specifically to improve my life and make me laugh, I’d believe them…but I’d have questions like “Then why don’t we get to hang out?” and “But she’s funny to everyone, right?” So, basically watch this show and focus on Nadja. Please. For me.
– Maggie Scudder, maggiescudder.com