A lot of TV these days is perfectly forgettable. Same for most of the performances on said forgettable TV shows. That's to be expected when upwards of 400+ original scripted shows are made every year.

But just as some truly exceptional shows manage to cut through the noise and grab our attention (you can see our picks for the year's 15 best right here), there are also those performances that manage to make us sit up, set down our phones and simply watch. These performances transcend network, genre, gender, race and age. They're the performances that turn a complete unknown into an overnight sensation or finally give an industry vet their due. They're defined by one simple characteristic: They fantastic.

Without further ado, E! News' TV Scoop Team proudly presents the 21 Breakthough TV Performances of 2017...