The entertainers who blew us away in 2020

It was quite the year for Cohen. From verbally sparring with outgoing President Donald Trump to having a little "untucked" fun with former beloved New York City mayor-turned unhinged presidential lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. However, the underrated highlight of Cohen's year was his portrayal of famed "Yippie" Abbie Hoffman in Aaron Sorkin's Netflix hit The Trial of the Chicago 7.

The rather surprising passing of the talented 43-year-old Boseman on Aug. 28 from colon cancer, which he never publicly addressed upon diagnosis in 2016, rocked the entertainment world and film fans. The result thrust Boseman's brilliant movie career back into the spotlight. Following his death, Boseman classics like Black Panther, Marshall, and 42 were aired seemingly on marathon-status throughout basic cable. His death was one of the many tragedies of 2020 but allowed us to relive his amazing film work.

Not necessarily a household name (who also goes by Stewart Reynolds), yet, but this versatile Canadian comedian, musician, and author enjoyed a strong 2020 internet presence. His often COVID-19 related videos (available on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube) are funny and heartwarming at the same time. These are uneasy times, but Brittlestar, known as "The Internet's Favourite Dad (*unproven)," offers a witty take on being "Canadian nice" to his U.S. friends and fans.

The K-pop giants enjoyed another huge 2020, even though their live, vocal assault on the world was cut short early in the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still, the South Korean boy band managed to put out two Korean-language albums in 2020 -- Map of the Soul: 7 and Be. The band also continued to gain massive popularity through live stream events and internet hits. TIME named the group Entertainer of the Year.

The versatile Coel made a name for herself when she created, wrote, produced, and starred in the highly acclaimed British sitcom Chewing Gum last decade. However, she shined again, and even brighter, perhaps, with the creation of 2020's comedy-drama I May Destroy You. Airing on HBO, Coel, who also wrote, directed, and starred in the project, was thrust into the spotlight when plenty of Americans turned to their television, devices, and favorite platforms for comfort and entertainment. 

There might not be a bigger breakout star in 2020 than Cooper. Before COVID-19 consumed the world in 2020, the Jamaican-American comedian and writer was not on the radar of many. Then came her lip-synched internet videos of Donald Trump's ramblings. None more hilarious than her take on Trump's suggestion to inject disinfectant into the body to fight COVID. Cooper became an overnight sensation and before year's end had her own Netflix special, Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine.

The Black-ish star has not stopped building herself into one of Hollywood's most successful and likable performers. In 2020, Ellis-Ross showcased her voice in the musical comedy-drama The High Note. In addition to making her signing debut, Ellis-Ross showed off her fashion sense (mask included) and hosted the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention in August.

Thanks to the internet (and various streaming options), comedians who have achieved various levels of fame and success had their moments in 2020. Erskine definitely belongs on that list. The Atlanta-based funny girl caught America's attention for her skit portraying a Donald Trump supporter stuck in the cold waiting for a bus back to a parking lot following his rally in Omaha, Neb. More than 3 million folks viewed her video, making Erskine someone to watch in 2021.

The Brooklyn musician earned plenty of acclaim in 2020. His second full-length record, Will This Make Me Good, showcased, more than ever, just how talented Hakim is -- even if casual music fans have not always noticed. While Hakim's trippy, R&B-infused sound might not be for everybody, this album did bring more mainstream appeal to his cause. Hakim's "Tiny Desk" home concerts (courtesy of NPR and YouTube) also remained popular in 2020.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, when people were confused and scared, Krasinski proved to be a calming presence via his Some Good News web series . Running from March 29-May 17, Krasinski's news magazine-style format highlighted positive happenings and moments that were intended to make people feel good during these uncertain times. It was even better when stars like Brad Pitt, Steve Carell, and Chance The Rapper showed up for a cameo.

Let's be honest, when word came down that a streaming version of the classic novel and 2000 John Cusack-hit film High Fidelity was coming out, eyebrows were raised. However, Kravitz, as mildly-depressed and relationship-challenged record-store-owner Rob, has been stellar. The Hulu series has drawn a steady fan base and allowed, not just fans of the film, but streamers of all ages, to appreciate her talent. Not to mention, it's extremely cool considering her mom, Lisa Bonet starred in the film version.

During the early stages of the U.S. pandemic, Legend eased some tension and fears with his music, via some home internet min-concerts. His wife Chrissy was often close by. Their closeness, talent, and humor made a difficult time a little easier to deal with on occasion. Legend also delivered a stirring rendition of "Glory" during the virtual Democratic National Convention. We then saw more of the couple's human side when they addressed Teigen losing their baby 20 weeks into her pregnancy.

As we said goodbye to Schitt's Creek after six hilarious seasons, we celebrate the work of this exceptional father-son comedy team. Johnny and David Rose delivered countless hours of comedic incompetence while trying to make it in a small town that they desperately loathe. The Levys, along with co-stars Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy, enjoyed a banner day, along with the show as a whole, during the 2020 Primetime Emmys. Dan Levy won acting, writing, and directing Emmys for the show in 2020.

While Majors rightfully earned some buzz in June, while starring along with the late Chadwick Boseman and Delroy Lindo in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods (Netflix), it's his role as Atticus "Tic" Freeman in the widely-praised series Lovecraft Country (HBO), released in August, that has truly made him a star. Majors earned rave reviews as a Korean War veteran trying to find purpose and peace amid the Jim Crow-era of the 1950s, with a little otherworld mechanics thrown in. 

"Escapism" was a term used quite a bit in 2020. People were looking for ways to escape the reality of a global pandemic, social injustice issues, and a divisive political landscape. Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman provided that opportunity during a sensational Season 5 of the acclaimed series Better Call Saul. Once again, Odenkirk shined in the starring role as a former scammer-turned-lawyer and was rewarded with another Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

This ultra-talented comedian and singer has long been a popular internet entertainer, especially on YouTube. However, Randy took his talent to new heights in 2020 while hilarious mocking Donald Trump and his various minions through song parodies. Such Randy work, including "Rudolph the Leaky Lawyer" and "A Spoonful of Clorox," is must-see comedy.

When Sen. Kamala Harris was chosen as Joe Biden's running mate this year, it was only a matter of time before Rudolph reprised her cameos on Saturday Night Live. With Harris soon to be vice president, we look forward to more Rudolph on SNL. She also made an appearance in Sarah Cooper's aforementioned Netflix special. During a time of uncertainty and struggle for many, Rudolph's talent for making us laugh was much needed.  

American soccer fans, especially those of the English Premier League, should be thrilled that we got some extensive Ted Lasso time in 2020. The Sudeikis' character, who we were originally introduced to a while back as part of NBC's promotion for EPL, is this rube of an American-born football coach-turned English soccer coach who got his own comedy series (courtesy of Apple TV+). We can't get enough Ted Lasso, and it's shown.

Even though her likely-to-be-massively-successful world tour was halted due to the global pandemic, Swift had a busy year. And we're not just talking about going after the government and Donald Trump (a re-occurring theme in 2020 as we've seen). In July she delighted fans with the release of Folklore. Then in mid-December, the workaholic Swift did it again by releasing her ninth studio album, Evermore. Judging by the reception to both, pop music fans can never get enough of Ms. Swift.

With Ye, it's all about attention. So, when he announced on July 4 that he would embark on what ultimately was a fruitless 2020 presidential run, it was rightfully passed off as a publicity stunt (perhaps in cahoots with various factions of the Republican party). West, who continues to deal with personal and mental issues, has yet to release his anticipated Donda record, though the single "Wash Us in the Blood" did drop in late June.