Newman, Seinfeld: While Wayne Knight’s portrayal of Newman didn’t do much for the stereotypes attached to postal workers, it did make us laugh. As Jerry Seinfeld’s nemesis, Newman was the sugar on top of an incredible show. Whether he was cooking up hair brained schemes with Kramer or foiling one of Jerry’s endeavors, a scene with Newman was always great. Hello, Newman.
Archie Bunker, All in the Family: Before Archie Bunker came along, the term “lovable bigot” seemed impossibly oxymoronic. But Carroll O’Connor proved it could exist. A blue-collar man with outspoken views, Archie Bunker was portrayed as being biased, but he was also portrayed as a man whose views were formed by the era in which he was raised and not by an evil heart. Ultimately, as the series went on, Archie Bunker became a more decent person. Filled with audacity ahead of his time, this character changed television forever.
Dr. Tobias Funke, Arrested Development: Arrested Development was filled with oddball characters that all added flavor to the show, but Tobias Funke was particularly appealing. A psychiatrist turned actor who was both an overzealous braggart and swimming in oblivion, Tobias Funke was a man conflicted by a never nude syndrome and a homosexually-laden vernacular. All of this worked together to make his character ridiculously funny; when he mirrored the plot of Mrs. Doubtfire by dressing up as Mrs. Featherbottom, he went from ridiculously funny to tear-in-the-eyes hysterical.
Tony Soprano, The Sopranos: I didn’t put him on this list for fear that exclusion would leave me sleeping with the fishes; I simply did it because Tony Soprano was one of the greats. Played by James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano allowed us to see that everyone, even a mob boss, has problems. Forced to juggle his personal life, his family, and his penchant for whacking people, Tony Soprano made crime families human and, oddly enough, even likeable.
Lucy Ricardo, I Love Lucy: It’s hard to think of television without paying homage to Lucille Ball. A woman with an unrivaled talent for physical comedy, Ball gave Lucy Ricardo a permanent place in pop culture. A housewife with big ambitions and an ability to get into trouble, Lucy Ricardo was the meat of I Love Lucy; just watching her once led us all to agree with the show’s title.
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"
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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