Nothing like a good ol’ power ranking to get the people fired up.
Every so often, a publication decides to put together some sort of accidentally controversial list. Almost every single time it happens, it causes an online revolt that puts all other forms of outrage to shame. Whether it be a “Top 10 Albums of 2010” list, or a “25 Best Movies Of 1993” collection, there’s rarely ever a ranking that people view and overwhelmingly agree with.
I’m starting to think that’s the main point of the listicles…
After all, I am directing attention to Variety’s newest entrant in the viral ranking space. This time, the organization decided to put together a list of the greatest TV performances of the 21st century. Just to be clear, that means any television show (and the characters within them) that’s aired since the year 2000 was eligible for this ranking.
What are the greatest TV performances of the 21st century?
See Variety's ranking here: https://t.co/sH6qHjgKoI pic.twitter.com/1VPRgayDll
— Variety (@Variety) February 13, 2025
Though they did do well including some actors and actresses in the list of 100 TV characters, there were some glaring omissions. That’s what has people up in arms. Variety made it clear that they only included shows that debuted on or after January 1, 2000… but that didn’t stop some people from getting upset that no one from The Sopranos (which ran from 1999 to 2007) made the list.
They also limited themselves to just one performance per show, so that’s why only one character from each appears in the ranking. That limitation seems a little silly to me, because I could rattle off a couple of shows right off the top of my head (Breaking Bad, Yellowstone, Mad Men, Succession) that had multiple performances worthy of recognition. And just to save you some time, here are just a few quick points of contention from the long list:
-Kelly Reilly’s “Beth Dutton” barely made it on the list, coming in at 99… and there was no Kevin Costner
–Ozark fans should be perturbed that Julia Garner’s “Ruth Langmore” was only at 88 in the rankings
-Susie Essman’s “Susie Greene” made the list for Curb Your Enthusiasm, but Larry David was nowhere to be found
-Syndey Sweeney’s breakout role as “Cassie Howard” in Euphoria earned a spot at 30, which is questionable at best
–Mad Men came in at number 3 in the ranking, but Elisabeth Moss’ “Peggy Olson” represented the standout performance over Jon Hamm’s “Don Draper”
-Cristin Milioti in How I Met Your Mother? Wasn’t she in like…. 5 episodes? Now, if you want to talk about her in The Penguin? Absolutely.
Those are just a few of the issues I – and many others – have with the list. Variety says that a multitude of people came together to make the ranking, and I just don’t see how some of the choices they made are defendable. Hell, Rhea Seehorn’s role as “Kim Wexler” in Better Call Saul was phenomenal, and definitely deserving of awards, but to put her in over Bob Odenkirk’s “Saul Goodman?” I’m just not sure about that.
To give them a little bit of credit though, they did get a couple of their selections right. Danny McBride’s “Kenny Powers” came in at number 40, Kyle Chander’s “Coach Taylor” was at 27, Arrested Development was represented by Jessica Walter’s “Lucille Bluth” at number 16, and they did include Bryan Cranston’s iconic “Walter White,” albeit a little low for my liking at number 5 (should’ve been number one or two if you ask me).
But like I said, this list currently has the internet up in arms, and they’re not holding back any criticism in the reply section below Variety’s list:
I wish publications actually tried when they made these lists
— your pretty site is going to hell (@ASMRxism) February 13, 2025
I am so baffled that in this top 100, Andrew Lincoln for his performance as Rick Grimes wasnt even mentioned.
it might be highly debated of the walking dead’s writing content these days, but one thing that has never been inconsistent or flawed in any capacity is his performance… pic.twitter.com/9yqnLVYxYj
— VIKTOR (@VIK19941) February 14, 2025
We all know that there are like 5 or 6 tv shows that have many of the top 100 performances in them. Only having one entrant per show is a joke
— BaxtersMovieReviews (@BaxtersReviews) February 14, 2025
I just realized Aaron Paul isn’t on this. You suck.
— Dustin Mason (@dustyrrrrrrr) February 13, 2025
This may be the worst list I’ve ever seen. Everyone involved in this should be embarrassed.
— J O H N (@johnholowach) February 13, 2025
our number one boy at number two. classic
(but yes julia louis-dreyfus the icon always)—
(@wiiissssss) February 14, 2025
(@wiiissssss) it feels as though you picked popular shows and just spun a wheel for picking an actor out of half of them
wheres gandolfini? bob odenkirk? matthew or woody for true detective? this list sucks.
— Florbo (@fl0rb0) February 14, 2025
This list is bullshit. No Hamm, No Odenkirk, no Neil Patrick Harris, no Aaron Paul, no Matthew Rhys. If casts are uniformly excellent, include them all. How Cranston is not 1st is criminal. No one is remembering numbers 1-4, but Walter White will never be forgotten
— Stephen Dugan (@sdugan48) February 13, 2025
— Haris Eldon (@BubbaSiemens) February 14, 2025
You lost me right from the start. Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton should have been in the top 30 at the very least.
— KJM (@KJM_withaview) February 14, 2025
The mother from How I met your Mother but no Amy Poehler??! No one from Walking Dead?
— Jessica Dunn (@opadunn1) February 14, 2025
Yeah this is a really bad list. I honestly came here to defend it…then I looked at it. Some of those choices are baffling.
— Seven Costanza (@SevenCstnza) February 14, 2025
I’m almost convinced they did this intentionally just to make people mad and drum up some clicks…. it worked.
The post Variety’s ‘Top 100 TV Performances Of The 21st Century’ Has The Internet Up In Arms: “May Be The Worst List Ever” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.