1. Daniel Desario - Freaks and Geeks
In the short-lived TV show that put Judd Apatow on the map, Freaks and Geeks introduced us to a young James Franco as Daniel Desario, a greasy-haired, leather jacket wearing slacker pothead who manages to woo the show's protagonist Lindsay Weir. This series was able to showcase Franco's versatility as an actor. Despite the ease with which he could have descended into a stereotypical role of the attractive bad boy with little going on inside his head, Franco manages to give Daniel a real sense of pathos. This is perhaps best seen in an episode entitled "Tests and Breasts" in which Desario is at risk of failing his math class. He enlists Lindsay to help him study for the test, but he demonstrates no attention span or drive to study, instead opting to steal the test. He convinces Lindsay through tears to help him, and she abides. His speech about being told as a child that he was stupid makes Daniel appear so vulnerable and sympathetic that we don't blame her when she gives in to him. But when they're caught and he later uses the exact same speech, now feeling rehearsed and patently false, Lindsay can't help but burst out in laughter. Moments like that and performances like that of James Franco throughout the series were the ingredients that makes Freaks and Geeks one of the most revered TV comedies ever, despite its short tenure on air. And now onto those performances that didn't fare as well...