Retta as Donna Meagle, Parks and Recreation
Retta is the MVP of Parks and Recreation. Her sassy Donna Meagle, who has been given more to do this year, can easily steal a scene with a look or a line about tweeting. Don't tell Leslie Knope, but Donna might be the glue of the Pawnee Parks Department.
Steven Krueger as Josh, The Originals
Steven Krueger's Josh is the comedy relief The Originals needs. His club kid-turned-vampire quickly became one of our favorites in such a short time. Seriously, remember this gem: "I'm not, like, medieval torture expert guy!" More Josh, please!
Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, Scandal
Bellamy Young is often the best part of Scandal. Easily the breakout star of the series, Young plays Mellie Grant, the first lady of the United States who will do anything to secure her and her husband's place in history. Seriously, anything. And who can forget the drunk Mellie scene from earlier in season three? We certainly can't.
Danielle Brooks as Taystee & Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes, Orange is the New Black
Orange is the New Black is really an ensemble show, but two actresses really stood out amongst the sea of many fine performances. Uzo "Crazy Eyes" Aduba and Danielle "Taystee" Brooks captured our attention—and hearts—almost immediately. There's a reason people call blondes Dandelion now and do the Taystee Twist.
Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro, Girls
Zosia Mamet has quickly become our favorite thing about HBO's Girls. Her character, Shoshanna, wasn't even supposed to be one of the main characters. How quickly that has changed! Shosh now eats up every scene she's in with her frantic energy and oh-so quotable lines. "I may be deflowered but I am not devalued."
Xosha Roquemore as Nurse Tamra, The Mindy Project
Xosha Roquemore had us at "glob." When The Mindy Project gives Roquemore's Tamra some screen time, it's not without a laugh. We love her, just don't tell Ray Ron.
Tony Hale as Buster Bluth, Arrested Development
Tony Hale, TV's favorite bagman, was honored with an Emmy for his performance on Veep, but we can't help but feel it was sort of for Arrested Development too. As Gary, the vice president's assistant, he's the butt of many jokes. As Buster, the youngest Bluth, he's the butt of many jokes. Hale takes it all in stride and we love him for it.
Niecy Nash as Nurse Didi Ortley, Getting On
Niecy Nash has ditched her giant flowers and loud persona to play Nurse Didi Ortley, a new nurse at the fictional Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit of Mt. Palms Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. She's the straight man to Alex Borstein's well-meaning Nurse Dawn Forchette and Laurie Metcalf's high-strung Dr. Jenna James. It's often her reactions and commentary that steal the show.
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, The Good Wife
Carrie Preston calls herself the cayenne pepper of The Good Wife and for good reason. Her comedic Elsbeth Tascioni is used sparingly, but when she's there you really know it because she owns every scene. A treadmill desk? Done with ease. Running down a track with your arms full of clothes? Done with ease. Being obsessed with Kalinda? Done with ease.
Frances Conroy as Myrtle Snow, American Horror Story: Coven
It's not easy to steal scenes from Jessica Lange, but Frances Conroy has almost made a sport of it on American Horror Story: Coven. Her delightfully kooky (and now murderous) Myrtle Snow regularly captivates our attention—sometimes by just walking into the room! Coven is a season full of standouts, but Conroy's Myrtle Snow takes the cake.