The Underrated of 2006

Kenneth Johnson
"The Shield," FX

You know him as: The late, lamented Strike Team member Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemansky

Why we like him: Though he wasn't exactly a model citizen, it was always clear that Lem had a more well-developed conscience than his fellow Strike Team members. And that's why watching Johnson this past season was such a pleasure -- Lem's emotions when he was being pressured by Internal Affairs to give up Mackey and the team were almost palpable, and Johnson completely held his own opposite Forest Whitaker (who, by the way, was utterly robbed of an Emmy nomination). And Lem's death was as big a gut shot to viewers as any on TV this year.

Where else you've seen him: He's had a recurring part this season as Lilly's love interest on "Cold Case."