Greatest TV actors

Michael Chiklis.
The Commish and Vic Mackey (The Shield) are two extremes


David Duchovny
I think Fox Mulder (X-Files) and Hank Moody (Californication) are very different characters


John Larroquette (Night Court, the John Larroquette Show, guest spots on The Practice, Boston Legal)
Bea Arthur (Maude, Golden Girls)
Caroll O' Connor (All in the Family, In the Heat of the Night)

 

Kelsey Grammer.

 

Good call, 3bags.

 

James Gandolfini

 

Here's a vote for William Daniels. His Mark Craig character was House before House and he even made Mr. Feeney the most watchable character on Boy Meets World.

 

Ted Danson (Cheers and that doctor show)

Harry Morgan (MASH and Dragnet)

 

Talk about losing yourself in your role. This guy always convinced me that he was Jerry Seinfeld.

 

You're not Ted Danson.

 

Did Ted Danson get $13,000?

 

That's debatable. Throughout the entire run of the series, it's a three-way battle between Betsy Randal (Amy), William Russ (Alan) and William Daniels (George). The adults were the rocks. It's just too bad there weren't more episodes centered around them.

 

He's good. You're not.

 

I think there are fewer now, b/c the best ones can easily switch to movies, and there are fewer top-notch shows, while the best shows (maybe) last longer, making it harder to have multiple great roles.
That said, a few unmentioned nominations...
Jimmy Smits
Tina Fey (if you count SNL)
Neil Patrick Harris
The guy who played Leo on The West Wing, and was also on LA Law