Some of the world’s most hilarious and beloved comedy series aired during the 2000s. The decade produced multiple seasons of Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Sex and the City, 30 Rock, Will and Grace and so many other iconic television shows. Comedies are so special because they allow the audience to connect with characters in a way that is different compared to other genres. While we can see pieces of ourselves in any character in any genre and relate to things happening to them, in a comedy series, the characters are often everyday people like us who we connect to on a deeper level. They aren’t super talented or wealthy; they are usually average people dealing with day-to-day issues just like us.

The characters in the hit sitcom Friendsfor example is made up of six best friends living in Manhattan struggling to get jobs, manage relationships, and do other everyday things adults deal with. Still, somehow this show turned into a phenomenon and has become one of the publics’ favorite television series of all time. The characters are so relatable, when you watch a show like Friends, you feel like you are actually living these events with them, and the characters are really your friends. This is due to the incredible performances given by all the cast members on the show. Which is true for so many other comedy series from the 2000s. Here are eight of the best Primetime Emmy Award-winning performances in a comedy series of the 2000s, ranked.

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8 Cynthia Nixon — Sex and the City

     HBO

Miranda Hobbes is without a doubt one of the most celebrated characters in the HBO television series Sex and the City. She is brutally honest, successful, and magnetic on-screen. Fans relate to Miranda and look to her throughout the show, waiting to see what her reaction will be to the drama going on in her and her friends’ lives. Cynthia Nixon portrays the lawyer perfectly and stars in the show alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, and Kristin Davis. The actress won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2004. What’s more, she, Parker, and Davis have since returned to their beloved characters in the sequel-series And Just Like That, which is available to stream on HBO Max.

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7 Alec Baldwin — 30 Rock

     NBCUniversal Distribution

Throughout his career, Alec Baldwin has acted in dozens and movies and made appearances in popular television series from Will & Grace to Friends, but his performance in 30 Rock is exceptionally memorable. The hit sitcom, which was inspired by events that occurred behind the scenes on Saturday Night Live, starred Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski, Katrina Bowden, Tracy Morgan, and Jack McBrayer in addition to Baldwin. Baldwin portrayed Jack Donaghy the role that won him his Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2008 and 2009.

6 Jean Smart — Samantha Who?

     ABC

Jean Smart is somewhat of a television and comedy legend, who has acted in Designing Women, Frasier, Dirty John, Fargo, and the series that won her an Emmy Samantha Who?, and most recently Mare of Easttown, and Hacks. The sitcom Samantha Who? ran for two seasons and earned a total of three nominations during that time, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2008 and 2009 for Christina Appelgate and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2008 for Smart, which she won. Smart is continuing her Emmys streak this year with Hacks, playing the brilliantly funny Deborah Vance.

5 Tony Shalhoub — Monk

     USA Network

Tony Shalhoub is best known for his starring role as Adrian Monk in the highly acclaimed series Monk. The show was first released in 2002, and since then, has gone on to be praised by audiences and critics from all around, earning a 91% critics score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Monk is a story about a man suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition he developed after the tragic murder of his wife, and his ability to continue solving crimes despite his OCD. Shalhoub won the Emmy for Oustanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Monk three times: in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

4 Ricky Gervais — Extras

     BBC TwoHBO

Any time Ricky Gervais is going to be on the screen, you already know he is going to be hilarious. Whether that be in a scripted comedy like The Office (UK) and Extras or his hosting of the Golden Globes. Despite how popular Gervais’ Emmy award-winning sitcom Extras was, he and his co-stars decided to end the series after just two seasons. The show highlights the story of a man striving for fame and success by attempting to make it in the movie industry. Although he isn’t as good of an actor as he believes he is, Andy is still able to meet very interesting and high-profile people.

3 Tina Fey — 30 Rock

     NBC

Tina Fey is the heart and soul behind the sitcom 30 Rock, serving as an actor, writer, creator, and executive producer of the show. She managed to keep the show alive even at its lowest point, and is the reason why it became such a huge success. In 2008, Fey won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, which is one of five Primetime Emmys she received for her work on 30 Rock, with the other four awards being in the category of Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing.

2 Sarah Jessica Parker — Sex and the City

Sarah Jessica Parker’s portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw has become a phenomenon, and one whom people all around the world emulate to be when they visit the big apple. She is smart, confident, fun, free, and has some of the best style on television. Carrie is the writer of a column called Sex and the City, where she discusses the relationship situations she and her three best friends, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda find themselves in, all while managing full-time careers and not only surviving but thriving in Manhattan. This character is by far one of the most memorable of the late-90s, which is why HBO Max released a reboot called And Just Like That…

1 Jennifer Aniston — Friends

Coming in at number one on our list is the most iconic television character from the 90s, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Greene in Friends. It’s hard to think of a show that has stood the test of time as well as Friends has. The sitcom is just as popular now as it was from 1994-2004 when it was on air. The story of six best friends, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe, and Ross, living in New York City and relying on each other is so relatable and hilarious. Their dynamic together is magic, and something about this period in adulthood where your friends become your family is so special and clearly resonates with a lot of people. Aniston’s portrayal of Rachel Greene has not only influenced pop culture, from her clothes to her hairstyles, but is easily the best performance of the actress’ career. She won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2002.