Our picks for the best supporting actresses in a comedy series from the 2009-2010 TV season.

#15 Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Wilhelmina Slater went out in style as only she could and Williams was every bit as vicious and scheming as ever.

 

#14 Alyson Hannigan, How I Met Your Mother

Marshall’s cute little Lily Pad was great this season whether as herself or her nasty stripper doppelganger.

 

#13 Pamela Adlon, Californication

This foul-mouthed little lady was great, if only for her raucous sex with Rick Springfield in a cameo as himself.

 

#12 Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds

In the latest season, Celia Hodes continued to add a nice quirky energy as she tried to mimic Nancy’s drug dealing ways to hilarious and disastrous results.

 

#11 Jenna Fischer, The Office

Pregnancy is usually good for some serious drama on TV, but Fischer turned it into brilliant comedy.

 

#10 Cobie Smulders, How I Met You’re Mother

Between her relationships with Barney and Don, Smulders’ Robin continued to be the best Canadian import on TV.

 

#9 Ellie Kemper, The Office

Coming into The Office isn’t easy, but Kemper’s understated performance as the new receptionist hit all the right notes and made her feel like she’s been there all along.

 

#8 Kaitlin Olson, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It’s not easy to go up against four hilarious men, but Olson kept up with their rude and crude behavior as the morally bankrupt Dee Reynolds.

 

#7 Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Over-the-top and wild, Vergara’s crazy Columbian energy added just the right flair to this show’s large and hilarious family.

 

#6 Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation

The cynical young intern at the Parks and Rec department, Plaza’s April Ludgate may have seemed like a downer, but she brightened every scene she was in with her dry wit.

 

#5 Portia de Rossi, Better Off Ted

The biggest hidden gem in recent memory was Better Off Ted, an ABC comedy few people watched, but those who did will understand why de Rossi’s performance as a severe boss deserves such high praise.

 

#4 Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie

As Zoey, the plucky young nurse at All Saints, Wever is a delightfully whimsical breath of fresh air adding comedy to this otherwise serious show.

 

#3 Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

The more narcissistic the show makes Krakowski’s Jenna, the funnier she becomes, so having her date a man who does a drag show as her was comedy gold.

 

#2 Julie Bowen, Modern Family

Playing the straight woman to Ty Burrell’s over-the-top Phil isn’t easy, but Bowen went toe-to-toe with his comedic chops and became one of TV’s funniest and strongest moms.

 

#1 Jane Lynch, Glee

The ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester became an instant classic character and Jane Lynch took this beloved freshman show by the horns and stole every minute she could.

 

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John Kubicek

Senior Writer, BuddyTV

John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.