Now that the 2011-2012 TV season is over, we’re looking back at the best in comedy. Here are my 15 favorite supporting actresses. And check out our other comedy honors: Comedy Series | Lead Actor | Lead Actress | Supporting Actor
#15 Yvette Nicole Brown, Community
The sweet and sometimes overlooked member of the cast, her ability to switch from nice and gentle to ferocious and mean is magnificent.
#14 Christa Miller, Cougar Town
I could watch Miller be mean to people as the harsh Ellie for hours.
#13 Cheryl Hines, Suburgatory
Perfectly made-up to represent the rich, out-of-touch suburban wife, Hines’ performance is even more amazing when you put it next to her work as Larry David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
#12 Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
It takes a special kind of woman to outsmart Sheldon Cooper and convince him to engage in an actual relationship, and Bialik makes it work.
#11 Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation
By working for Leslie’s campaign, Plaza revealed that there’s a big heart buried beneath April’s layers and layers of cynicism.
#10 Busy Philipps, Cougar Town
It takes her skill to make a character look so remarkably stupid, and Phillipps’ boisterous, fearless attitude does just that.
#9 Kristen Bell, House of Lies
After Veronica Mars there’s nothing Bell can do that I won’t enjoy, but she does a great job scoring points as a shrewd woman who knows how to use her sexuality to her advantage.
#8 Casey Wilson, Happy Endings
“A-mah-zing” may be retired, but it still describes Casey Wilson’s endless enthusiasm as a hopeless romantic.
#7 Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
I’m pretty sure she’s making her accent thicker every year, but even when I can hardly understand her words, she makes me laugh with her zany facial expressions and hand gestures.
#6 Melissa Rauch, The Big Bang Theory
As the bride-to-be, Rauch spent all season getting some really strong material and her journey from mousy little lady to blushing bride was fantastic.
#5 Alison Brie, Community
From her sexy, stupid Christmas song to her trippy trek into Abed’s Dreamatorium, Annie was just the right amount of crazy this season.
By John Kubicek