The TV you should have been watching: Part I supporting comedy

The 2008-2009 television season Emmy eligibility period ended on May 30. The year was filled with creative resurgences (Rescue Me, How I Met Your Mother), surprise debuts (who's not singing over the gift of Glee?), and breakout performances (Chelsea Handler, Jim Parsons). Emmy award nominations will be announced on July 16, a shortlist of the season's best series and actors...allegedly. In actuality, the nominations are typically carbon copies year after year of the same tired, unexciting performances on the same middle-of-the-road, commercially appealing TV shows. Sometimes the Emmys suprise (last year's Mad Men win), but usually they disappoint (last year's 245th win for Jeremy Piven's enough-already work on Entourage).

So that the deserving get their due, I'm going to post a shortlist of what were truly the best of the year in TV. Those old fogeys at the Emmys would do well to listen! Beginning today with the supporting comedy categories and continuing throughout the month, look no further than the NY Entertainment Examiner's page to find out what you should have been watching, and what you should try like hell to find online to watch.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES

Keir Gilchrist United States of Tara: In the pilot, Gilchrist's Marshall says to his multiple personality disorder afflicted mother, "Because of you, we get to be interesting." Apropos, considering Gilchrist created a spellbinding character who conflictingly loves his mother but loathes her disease. Not to mention it's a refreshingly honest portrayal of a teenager who just happens to be out and proud.

Neil Patrick Harris How I Met Your Mother: Harris' Barney is unapologetically a womanizer, a scene chewer, and selfish. But when a one night stand turns into a secret love (oh yea, for his best female friend), Barney suddenly becomes vulnerable and endearing, traits Harris has exhibited since the Doogie days.

Justin Kirk Weeds: At once ridiculously irresponsible and astonishingly giving to his nephews, Kirk's Andy may be the most lovable pot dealer turned immigrant smuggler but always surrogate father on television. No one gives a stream of conciousness monologue like Kirk, and no marijuana manic is as lovable as his Andy.

John Krasinski The Office: Jim Halpert's pranks and casual 'tude has always made girls fall in love with and guy's want to be him. But when Jim finally proposed to Pam and became a grownup, it only upped the character's cool quotient. Plus, can anyone smirk into a camera quite like Krasinski?

Tracy Morgan 30 Rock: Tracy Morgan is crazy. Crazy. His character on 30 Rock is named Tracy Jordan, which is almost like Tracy Morgan. Tracy Jordan is almost like Tracy Morgan, except, yes, crazier. One season highlight: watching Jordan's panic when he thinks his children are trying to kill him. It's a comedy folks.

Michael Urie Ugly Betty: Urie's Marc picks up where Sean Hayes' Jack MacFarlane left off, but goes further. His outfits are more outlandish. His one-liners are even quippier. But more importantly, he characterizes the caricature, infusing what could be a stereotype with humanity as he struggles through love, career disappoints, and being judged for he is.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES

Kristin Chenoweth Pushing Daisies: There are many reasons to mourn Daisies' premature cancellation, but chief among them is the loss of Chenoweth's winningly charming, sweetly quirky, and understatedly complex pie waitress turned crimesolver, Olive Snook.

Sarah Chalke Scrubs: Scrubs' greatest strength was that it was able to toe the line between slapstick stupid and sad and sentimental, and no cast member was better at that than Chalke. Her idosyncratic Dr. Elliot Reid was neurotic and self-depricating, but Chalke infused her with so much range that you were willing to look past that and love her anyway.

Melissa McCarthy Samantha Who?: Who can forget McCarthy's unusual yet adorable, borderline delusional, always scene stealing Dena? You must try not to. The sitcom also got the early boot. When you get sad about its cancellation, remember McCarthy's infectious giggle. It will brighten you right back up.

Elizabeth Perkins Weeds: As a pill popper whose life crashed down around her, Perkins was hysterical. As a scheming adversary to Mary-Louise Parker's Nancy Botwin, she was delicious. As Botwin's new business partner who gets further entrenched and entangled in the character's illegal drug doings, Perkins was high on her game.

Kristen Schaal Flight of the Conchords: Schaal's Mel is a creepy, frightening stalker. She is disturbingly obsessed with fandom, yet her deranged lunacy delights week after week. She may be Jermaine and Bret's only fan, but boy is she memorable. She almost makes you want your own crazy-eyed stalker.

Kristen Wiig Saturday Night Live: She's a comedic chameleon destined to go down as one of SNL's most versatile and geniuously talented funny females, right up there with Gilda Radner, Molly Shannon, and Amy Poehler. Her Kathie Lee Gifford? Spot on ridiculous. Target lady? Never gets old. You haven't laughed til you've seen her sing and dance with tiny hands.

Obviously it's impossible to include all the deserving actors.  It's painful to leave off The Office's Jenna Fischer, 30 Rock's Jane Krakowski, and Ugly Betty's Vanessa Williams.  It's almost criminal to exclude The Office's Rainn Wilson, Chuck's Adam Baldwin, and Pushing Daisies' Chi McBride.  Who would you include in your best lists?