Ranking your Favorite Male Performances on Television for 2020

Greetings TV Fans!  As we wrap up 2020 and move on to 2021, let’s take a look at some of our favorite male performances on television from this past year.  Whether it was a moment of heroism, a sacrifice, or even a breaking point, these male actors went above and beyond to fully embrace their characters.

It was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite male performances for 2020 because there were honestly so many and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!    

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes so that we can all decide who our favorite male performances are for the year.  Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

Round One featured the following Male Performances on TV from 2020:

  • Misha Collins as Castiel from Supernatural
  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan from The Walking Dead
  • Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar from Lucifer
  • Tom Pelphrey as Ben from Ozark
  • Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones from Riverdale
  • Hugh Grant as Jonathan Fraser from The Undoing
  • Jonathan Majors as Atticus Freeman from Lovecraft Country
  • Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester from Supernatural
  • Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester from Supernatural
  • Richard Harmon as John Murphy from The 100
  • Lennie James as Morgan Jones from Fear the Walking Dead
  • Bob Morley as Bellamy Blake from The 100

After your votes, the following male actors moved on to Round Two:

  • Cole Sprouse
  • Misha Collins
  • Jeffrey Dean Morgan
  • Jared Padalecki
  • Jensen Ackles
  • Tom Ellis

After your votes in Round Two, the following male actors moved on to the FINALS:

  • Misha Collins
  • Jared Padalecki
  • Jensen Ackles

Honorable Mention:  Tom Ellis just came up short as Lucifer and I think it’s only a matter of time before we witness another showstopping number from him in season 5, part 2!

Lucifer

Image courtesy of Netflix

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3rd place: Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester in Supernatural

Sam Winchester

Image courtesy of The CW

After winning the crown the past two years in a row, Jared Padalecki came in third place this year. I had a feeling the end results would be very Supernatural-centric and well deserving. Jared’s performance has always been so emotional and I am looking forward to seeing him explore a new role in 2021! Thanks for all the memories Sammy!

2nd place: Misha Collins as Castiel in Supernatural

Misha Collins

Image courtesy of The CW

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Castiel has had one of the most brilliant character transformations I have ever witnessed on any show. Misha Collins has been amazing and his final performance still has me in tears. Castiel forever!

Drum roll please…

1st place:  Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester from Supernatural

Dean Winchester

Image courtesy of The CW

We have a new winner for your favorite male performance on TV for 2020 and I couldn’t be more proud. Dean Winchester has always been my favorite character on SPN. While Sam usually carried the emotional weight of the show, I was so beyond impressed by Jensen’s incredibly heartbreaking performance in the final episode of SPN. He was so believable and I think he really showed a lot of range in his performance.

This year has given us so many incredible performances, but I am so beyond thrilled that Supernatural took the crown this year. Thank you for 15 amazing years of television. You will be missed, but never forgotten! SPN FAMILY FOREVER!

Thanks to all the fans who voted!  I wish you all the best for 2021!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite male performances on TV from 2020.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My performance of the week ending 11/16/19 on TV goes to…

Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester on The CW’s Supernatural. 

Usually, Sam is the one who brings me to tears, but I have to say that I was beyond impressed with Jensen Ackles’s performance in season 15 episode 5.  It really made me think about how far Dean has come as a character, as I started to come to terms with the fact that we are nearing the end of his journey.

For me, Dean has always been the charming one to bring us some much needed comic relief to break up some of the angst and tension we often see throughout the seasons.  Dean has certainly had some truly epic and emotional moments as well, but there was something so real and moving about his conversation with Ashley in season 15 episode 5.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not up-to-date on the series.

During Dean’s talk with Ashley, he takes a moment to self reflect, especially after Ashley wonders if they might be better off with a set route for their lives.  We have previously seen Dean struggle with this, wondering if they are all just Chuck’s puppets, but in this moment, he actually finally realizes that his life is so much more than that.

Dean talks about how much he loves his job and says that he enjoys helping people and that’s the point.  It’s about all the small moments and it’s not supposed to be easy.  It may not be possible for Dean to save everyone, but every action counts and he recognizes that here.

Even though we later find out that Ashley is actually Lilith, it still doesn’t erase the honest and reflective moment here for Dean.  I’ve been watching his character grow for 15 seasons and this was the first time I truly stopped to both smile and cry at his words.  Maybe it’s because I know we are approaching the end or maybe it is because I was so proud of Dean for finally realizing that his actions do matter.

What’s next for Dean?  We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like he is ready to find some impossible way to stop Chuck/God.  I can’t ignore Sam’s dreams or visions and I’m wondering if one brother will truly have to take down the other?  This isn’t the first time we have seen a plot like this on SPN, but since we are in the last season, all bets are off.

I don’t want us to lose Dean, but he is no stranger to sacrifice and he would do anything to protect Sam.

Either way, I’m excited to see some more adventures for the Winchester brothers and I’m hoping that there is some way for Dean to make it out of this OK.  I sort of just want him to be able to take on the open road at the end of the series, riding off into the sunset, but nothing is ever that easy on SPN.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight! 

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!