I thought it would be interesting for everyone to post their thoughts on their favorite individual performances. In many cases storylines come secondary to the performances of an individual actor. Here are my top picks:

Jess Walton - Jill Crashes Katherine's Party. Walton, likely my favorite daytime performer, just knocked it out of the park in this memorable 1998 series of episodes in which Jill revealed that she, not Katherine, owned the Chancellor mansion and that she was evicting Kay. For me, everything about Walton's performance worked. Jill ran the gamut of emotions and eventually erupted into rage at Katherine's denials. It's on Youtube if anyone cares to relive it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cti7wj48adI...B3&index=35

Alex Donnelly - Diane Confronts Nikki About the Sperm. My favorite catfight ever. It's actually not really noteworthy for Donnelly's acting, although she was always very good, but more for her line delivery: the way she screams "Go Bitch!" to Nikki is both riveting and hilarious, pure camp. Also on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98de6devaO8...B3&index=73

Linda Dano - Felicia's Intervention and Jenna's Miscarriage. These performances are what earned Dano her much deserved Emmy. She was absolutely spellbinding as 'Drunk Felicia', constantly on the defensive about her life falling apart. Jenna's Miscarriage is exceptionally poignant as it wasn't a storyline really about Felicia and yet, thanks to Dano, it became all about Felicia. Dano, in my view displayed a range as an alcoholic which is often imitated but never successfully duplicated. On Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_YI8vGyHZw...B3&index=41

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDslHIMbN-k...B3&index=43

Lauren Koslow - The Kiriakis Mansion Burns. Like Donnelly, Koslow's signature screaming is what makes this performance stand out. Having nearly killed Victor, Kate takes comfort in knowing that at long last her problems are over and she is now the Kiriakis widow. This triumph, however, is very short lived as Kate realizes that Lucas, arguably the most important person in her life, is inside the burning mansion. Youtube once more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx2BCSjN4ac...B3&index=76

Jeanne Cooper - As Katherine Chancellor. The only actress who rivals Dano in the drunk department is Jeanne Cooper who has perfected her signature role as Katherine Chancellor since 1973. During Katherine's alcoholism Cooper demonstrated her range to be downright spiteful and wicked as Kay tore through Genoa City fueled by vodka. Katherine's pathetic attempt to hold onto Phillip Chancellor were also pitch perfect. Katherine realizing that Jill was her daughter (a horrible twist but a glorious performance) was something to watch. Katherine's 2004 Intervention was simple and perfectly executed. Youtbe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoYDh0fA-Mg...B3&index=67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt3QQ0tKr2E...B3&index=77

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pAqzoJ-ulk...B3&index=86

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlEHoLfnfmY...B3&index=83 (2 more parts come after)

AMC Julia Barr Brooke learns that Laura has died. Sends chills. JB is so missed and she totally deserved the emmy.

I forgot about that one...yes indeed! Great scenes. My mom cried for five days straight during that storyline

Nancy Lee Grahn, Alexis Davis-(then Lansing). For her scenes during the Train Wreck/Molly's birth. I was ready to box the Emmy up for her after those scenes. Just...damn.

Susan Lucci's best were:

Erica addicted to pain killers

Bianca anorexia intervention

Bianca coming out

Erica intervention (especially loved the toast to Kendall, chilling. though the pacing was a bit slow during the whole episode.)