2013 Best Performances in Television (in no Order)

Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black 

This woman was a force to be reckoned with in Orphan Black.  Maslany played a tech geek, a suburban mom, a police officer on the ropes, a young woman fighting to be in her daughters life while pretending to be one of her look a likes, and a crazy Russian woman to name a few.  There are actresses who have played twins before, but Maslany took the concept of playing different characters who look a like to a whole new level.  This girl just earned a Golden Globe nomination today, and won two critics award for this role; she is great.

Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra

Hard to pick just one man in this duo, if I had to pick I would honestly pick Damon because he does so much with a much less showy role.  Yet you can't help not think that Douglas is beyond amazing as the genius musical talent Liberace from the voice, to the mannerisms.  These two men took on one of the most challenging films about a complicated relationship in the spotlight, enraptured with youth.  Liberace was a complicated man, and Douglas played him perfectly.  Damon played the flaws in Scotty better than existed in the book the film was based.  Damon got the innocence, the selfishness, the love, every emotion spot on, something hard to embellish. 

Orange is the New Black Ensemble 

Like with Damon and Douglas, how do you pick just one of these women?  Here are a few to highlight.

Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman

At first glance Piper is the least interesting character, and she is the lead, but as you watch you see this once privileged women become part of a much more complicated world.  As Piper spends more time in prison you feel her pain, anguish, and also see her grow.

Taryn Manning as Tiffany 'Pensatucky' Doggett

Nuts, is as easy way to describe this former meth head turned fundamentalist.  Manning is brilliant, and frightening within this role, you have to hate her, but you almost admire that you hate her.

Kate Mulgrew as Galina 'Red' Reznikov

Red runs the prison, but in her personal life she was a nobody.  As you watch Mulgrew run the show, and lose control you see vulnerability in a woman who does not want to be able to give up power; she is fantastic.

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes Warren

When you first meet 'Crazy Eyes' as she falls for Piper, you assume, well crazy, but as you get to know and understand the complexity to her character you see another deeper more meaningful understanding of a misunderstood person.

Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset 

This is the best representation of transgender identity in popular culture to date.  Cox is a brilliant actress; she knows who she is, and dealing with her trans identity in a prison world is complex  Cox does a great job with this role.

These are just five of the numerous great performances that make up the Orange is the Black Ensemble.

Corey Stoll in House of Cards

Stoll played Representative Peter Russo, a man caught in Francis Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) cross hairs in his master plan to manipulate.  Peter not only navigates the tricky political world but a relationship with a staffer and an addiction to drugs and and alcohol. It's hard to outshine Kevin Spacey, the man is force in everything he does, but Corey Stoll goes toe to toe with him, and while he may not win;  he puts up a good fight.

Allison Janney in Mom/Masters of Sex 

What can't Allison Janney do? Janney is stealing the show Mom on a weekly basis as Bonnie a grandmother, mother, and recovering alcohol and drug addict.  Janney's timing is perfect, and she makes this show better week after week.  Janney is not just about the laughs her recurring guest role on Masters of Sex has provided a richer context to show, and the development of a woman's sexual awakening in the 1960s.  This woman is a chameleon, and its hard to ignore her greatness.

Dean Norris in Breaking Bad 

While Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are the obvious choices, the standout of the the last season of Breaking Bad was Hank.  From the moment Hank sees the abbreviated intitals on the toilet, to the intense confrontation in the garage with Walt, and tries to make things right for his family you sit of the edge of your seat.  Norris was great as Hank, and while the character had moments of being one note throughout most of the earlier seasons, this season added to his depth, and a lot of credit goes to Norris' acting.

Josh Charles in The Good Wife 

Wow, just wow! Josh Charles grabbed a Golden Globe nominee today, he also has an Emmy nomination for this role from a couple of seasons ago, man has he knocked his emotional journey out of the park this year.  Will was "betrayed" by Alicia the woman he loved at one point leaving their firm as he now refers to as LG, and he is on a tear sleeping with the anti-Alicia trying to be there for clients to way Alicia was, this guy just knocks every moment of of the park, if you aren't watching this show, start. 

Emmy Dream Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2012-2013)

This is the best line-up I have seen in this category in a long time, and everyone of the 6 actors could be named a winner.  These six men come from a variety of worlds, some as royalty in King's Landing, others attempting to be kings of DC.  There are of course those who restraint tries to help keep calm within their world whether they be killers helping sell meth, or protectors of the news.  This year is filled with some incredibly complex men who may be the support, but within their shows, but they were some of my favorite performances of the year.

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad

In previous seasons Mike was merely the hired gun, but once Gus went goodbye, and Walt started to run the show we got a deeper look into Mike.  Banks quiet desperation as he tried to be a grandfather while avoiding being hauled into jail was incredibly well played.  Yet in this very season this love able grandfather was terrorizing Laura Fraser's character, threatening her life and attempting to take her away from her daughter.  Gilligan knew how to add layers to Mike, but it was Banks performance which sealed the deal.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones

Tyrion aka Peter Dinklage always gets most of the credit for the acting chops in this show, and he he was close  to making this list, but Nikolaj has knocked it out of the park as Jaime this season.  Jaime went from being this monster who pushed a child out a window to someone giving a beautiful soliloquy while held captive, to Brienne.  This shows Jaime's vulnerability more than ever.  Jaime's connection with Brienne has not only brought the best in Jaime, but with Nikolaj's acting; he is cocky, but has shed that one note level creating a depth to his character that will jump into a bear pit.  Nikolaj has had a great season.

Walton Goggins as Boyd Cowder in Justified

Boyd and Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) have one of the best dynamics on television, you want to route for the them both, but you just can't, the same way you can't route for Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas in Sweet Home Alabama.  Boyd's battle to get Drew Thompson lead him and Ava down the rabbit hole and forced him to lose something so valuable to him.  Watching boyd beaten down at the end of the season to the point of no return, the way he was as a child was some of the best acting.  Goggins is a pro, and one hell of a scene stealer; he is one of the most under appreciated actors working in television.

Corey Stoll as Representative Peter Russo in House of Cards

One of the most complex roles of the 2012-2013 television season, while make talk about Francis Underwood, watching Corey Stoll tackle Peter Russo's decline is one of the most brilliant supporting performances ever.  Peter is just a like able guy trying to right by his family, his constituents, while doing blow and succumbing to DC's political games.  Watching the yo-yo effect of Petter Russo was brilliant, and thanks to Corey Stoll handled with great aplomb.  Stoll hits the high and low notes with little effort; he makes you want Peter to succeed, you route for him because of Stoll's performance, and yet in the end you can't help but realize you knew outcome.

Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson in Homeland

How can you not love Saul; he is the rock of this show.  Saul is there for Carrie when he needs her most, a surrogate father at work always look after her.  Saul is an incredible character, and while some may miss the great acting, it's because Mandy Patinkin is that good.  Patinkin's effortless style helps you to get lose in triumph of the creation of this character.  Saul is a truly supporting character; he watches as things happen, but often is the one who provides that insightful wisdom.  Watching Saul try bargain with the woman who was going to attempt a terrorist attack, was such a gut wrenching moment, realizing he was never going to succeed, and seeing the sorrow within his face, was all the proof Patinkin is the most under rated character in this show.

Sam Waterston as Charlie Skinner in The Newsroom

Charlie Skinner is the heart of this new Sorkin show, and was always my favorite part week after week.  Charlie is a tough talking, whiskey drinking, old school television guy.  Charlie believes the news has meaning, and he fights for Will (Jeff Daniels) and his team to put together the news the way it should be done, as actual news.  Charlie reminds of me of the Leo McGarry type character, the wise friend to the central character.  While he may be reminiscent of an old Sorkin archtype Charlie is brilliantly formed by Waterston's give em hell performance.  Watching him fight Fiona (head of the network), or dealing with the change in the news cycle this man has been around for years, and Waterston plays him pitch perfect.

Runner Ups: Noah Emmerich-The Americans, Kevin Rahm-Mad Men, and Peter Dinklage-Game of Thrones 

Performer to Watch: Corey Stoll

While Corey Stoll may not be a household name yet, he sure may become one soon.  The first time I became aware of Mr. Stoll was when he portrayed Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.  While Woody's films tend to have stronger female performances, ranging from his ladies Diane Keaton to Penelope Cruz, Stoll stole the film as the larger than life Hemingway.  While no one managed an acting nomination from Midnight in Paris Stoll was clearly an under appreciated performer in the film, and should have gotten more attention.

Stoll recently hit my radar once again in the new original series from Netflix entitled House of Cards.  In House of Cards Stoll plays Representative Peter Russo, a man caught in Francis Underwood's (Kevin Spacey) cross hairs in his master plan to manipulate.  Peter not only navigates the tricky political world but a relationship with a staffer and an addiction to drugs and and alcohol.  As Peter's story evolves I imagine his character will continue to prove Stoll's strong acting abilities.

While Stoll has had numerous small roles/guest starring roles over the years television series like ER, CSI, Without a Trace, The Nine, Law & Order: LA and many more.  Stoll has also landed roles in major action films like Salt, Lucky Number Slevin, and The Bourne Legacy.

Stoll has a few films coming down the line with lots of potential including Decoding Annie Park, Non-Stop, and Glass Chin.  Look for Stoll now in the Netflix original series if you have not started yet!