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Annie Murphy reflects on “Schitt’s Creek”
MAX JENKINS AND RYAN O’CONNELL ON “SPECIAL”
to embody the role of the party pooper; his frustration at the frivolity around him, while played for laughs, is also utterly believable.
William H. Macy
“Shameless”
Macy has been nominated, justifiably, for many awards over the years for his turn as Frank Gallagher on this Showtime dramedy. He was in rare form on the series’ final season, showing us new elements of his considerable abilities. Frank is still an erratic deadbeat dad, but the legendary actor has entered more and more calculated territory with the character, finding fresh ways to ground someone who’s often high as a kite.
Steve Martin
“Only Murders in the Building”
Martin’s charming return to the spotlight as co-creator and star of “Only Murders in the Building” proves that the comedy legend has not missed a step. His washed-up actor Charles is the glue that holds this series’ main trio together. His performance is so wholesome and energetic that it begs the question: Is a Steve Martin renaissance upon us?
Rob McElhenney
“Mythic Quest”
There are times when you won’t be able to stand McElhenney’s video game creative director Ian Grimm. But then he’ll do something that has you in stitches, and you’ll stop wishing he was a boss you could vanquish at the end of a level. The actor makes it clear, in surprisingly touching moments, that there’s more to this narcissist than meets the eye.
Nick Mohammed
“Ted Lasso”
Nathan Shelley’s evolution from team water boy to Ted’s assistant coach to cocky egomaniac is one of this hit comedy’s most fascinating arcs. Mohammed’s character comes into his own, with all the ups and downs that journey entails, expertly charted by an actor who doesn’t need to do much to steal a scene.
Ryan O’Connell
“Special”
Based on his own life as a gay man with mild cerebral palsy, O’Connell’s gem of a Netflix sitcom shone especially bright in its second season. As we follow fictional Ryan through a separation from his mother (Jessica Hecht) and a similarly fraught romance, we want to hug him and roll our eyes in equal measure. O’Connell is terrific at keeping the off-kilter laughs coming.
Paul Reiser
“The Kominsky Method”
Plenty of comedic material has been mined from the dynamic between a man and his girlfriend’s father; Reiser deserves credit for capitalizing on this trope and then some. As Martin Schneider, the man who’s dating Sandy’s (Douglas) daughter Mindy (Sarah Baker), the veteran actor takes prickly situations in unexpected directions, zigging when you think he’ll zag.
Martin Short
“Only Murders in the Building”
Short’s silly charisma as a downon-his-luck Broadway director obsessed with true crime on “Only Murders in the Building” demonstrates how dark comedy should be done, layering lightness on top of the show’s heavier subject matter. Throughout the first season, Short expands his character beyond goofy comic relief with well-acted heartache that keeps the audience rooting for him to succeed.
Jason Sudeikis
“Ted Lasso”
Sudeikis showcases the kind of charisma you can’t fake. His everyman vibe and whip-smart comedy chops have never found a better home than in the role of Ted Lasso, an upbeat American football coach hired to head up an English football team. The sophomore season of the Emmy winner’s Apple TV+ series went beyond fish-out-of-water comedy, allowing its leading man to set the bar high.
Drew Tarver
“The Other Two”
Poor Cary Dubek. Channeling the spirit of every actor who’s ever endured a humiliating audition or gotten oh-so-close to a dream gig, Tarver hits the high water mark of onscreen self-loathing. Season 2 of Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider’s satire of modern-day fame sees Tarver oscillating between fleeting hope and crushing, cringeworthy shame, making the audience both laugh harder and feel for him more deeply.
Kenan Thompson
“Kenan”
The long-gestating sitcom “Kenan” offers further proof that Thompson is one of his generation’s most gifted comedians. Flexing acting muscles he doesn’t often get to exhibit on “Saturday Night Live,” he gives widowed father and morning show host Kenan Williams a three-dimensional interiority. He makes private moments as clear as those opposite his co-stars, including Don Johnson, Chris Redd, and Kimrie Lewis.
