Television is constantly filled with memorable characters. Some of these characters are highly likable, such as Charles Ingalls, and some are characters you love to hate, such as Mr. Burns (excellent). Some leave you questioning the government, like Jack Bauer, and others leave you wondering who shot them, like JR Ewing. Then, there are some characters who are completely unparalleled. No matter how many times we change the channel, they won’t ever be forgotten.
The following is our list of the top ten television characters of all time.
Cliff Huxtable, The Cosby Show: Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable was the father we all wanted. Funny, smart, and filled with a youthful playfulness, Bill Cosby fitted this character to a tee. He helped set a new standard for prime time television, catapulted NBC’s Must See TV, and left every child in America wishing they too were one of the Cosby kids.
Al Bundy, Married With Children: On the opposite end of the spectrum sat Al Bundy, the bitter, defeated shoe salesman whose greatest accomplishment in life was his stint as a Polk High Football star. Played to absolute perfection by Ed O’Neill, Al Bundy wasn’t the same kind of father as Cliff Huxtable, but he was highly original, adorably pathetic, and incredibly funny. Whoaaaaaaaaaaa Bundy!
Phoebe Buffay, Friends: The quirkiest of the Friends' characters, Phoebe Buffay was drowning in obscurities: her real-mom-turned-fake-mom committed suicide, she had a twin sister whom she rarely talked to, she grew up on the streets, she sang a song about a smelly cat, and, of course, she gave birth to her brother’s triplets. In a show where the entire cast was strong, Lisa Kudrow made Phoebe Buffay stick out like a loveable, and eccentric, thumb.
Karen Walker, Will and Grace: Megan Mullally accomplished a feat similar to Lisa Kudrow’s: she set the bar on a sitcom where everyone was great. Playing Karen Walker, the drunk, sharp-tongued, condescending, hardly working assistant to Grace, Megan Mullally took this show to a new level. The duo of Jack and Karen was unforgettable as was the love/hate relationship between Karen and her maid Rosario.
Dr. Perry Cox, Scrubs: Take a dollop of ego, a dash of narcissism, a sprinkle of heart, sauté it in sarcasm and you have Dr. Cox. Played by John C. McGinley, Dr. Cox serves as the mentor of J.D., the main character on Scrubs. He’s cruel, he’s arrogant, and he has a penchant for calling his employees by demeaning names, but, in all fairness, Dr. Cox is hilarious. He also tends to shed his tough exterior and reveal humanity at the most appropriate, and poignant, moments.
Article comments
1 - peter
How in the hell can you forget the #1 TV character of all times? D'OH!!! Homer Simpson!
2 - A Concerned Citizen
Eric Cartman anyone?
3 - Baronius
Cliff Clavin?
4 - Victor Lana
Jack Bauer?
Ted Baxter?
Hawkeye Pierce?
Ralph Kramden?
Ed Norton?
Det. Columbo?
Arthur Fonzarelli (Fonzie, Hey!!!!!)
Maynard G. Krebs?
5 - Sean Paul Mahoney
Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern!
Carrie Bradshaw!
Bobbie & Whitney! Kidding...
6 - Josh Lasser "TV and Film Guy"
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States.
7 - Paul Roy
Captain James T. Kirk
8 - Victor Lana
Maxwell Smart?
Marshall Dillon?
Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood)?
Andy Sipowitz (sp?) ?
George Jefferson (and Weezie)?
Sam, Carla, and Diane (from Cheers)?
Ray Barone?
Larry "Bud" Melman?
Gumby (from SNL) Damn It!
9 - Heather Ames
What about Niles, who played second fiddle to Frazier but was never outclassed? His extended dance with Daphne was so well written, it has to be a classic.
10 - lover of everything Il Divo
You left out:
John Boy
Bozo the Clown
Hoss
Magnum P.I.
11 - Victor Lana
Vinny Barbarino & Mr. Kotter?
Ralph Malph?
Reverend Jim & Latka (Taxi)?
Wayne & Garth (SNL)?
The Beaver?
12 - Ray Ellis
And that, my friends, is why I don't believe in subjective lists!
13 - Tan The Man
Dare I say.... Alf?
14 - Tom
How about Davey from Davey and Goliath? Now there was one cool kid? And Goliath was pretty rockin' too, "Gee, I don't know Daaaaaavy."
15 - shukran
Samantha fron Sex And the City!!!!
16 - Braniff
Bob Hartley
Barney Miller
J. R. Ewing