Top 25 TV characters, from Steph
There are some rules to this.
* Does not have to be a show currently airing
* No puppets or cartoons
* No reality show people
* All characters must be regulars on the show
* No mini-series
And so, here they are, my top 25 television characters...not really in order except the top two...
25. Hot Lips Houlihan (MASH) - Invented the term HateFuck
24. Ed Norton (Honeymooners) - The most quoted dumbass of all time, pre-Homer.
23. Janice (Sopranos) - Finally an accurate portrayal of women?
22 Shane Vendrell (The Shield) - Great foil for Vic Mackey on the best 1HR show on TV.
21 Doug Ross (ER) - Training for millions of men on how women want to be treated by handsome doctors.
20 Winnie Cooper (Wonder Years) - not just cuz I know her (or want to hit it), a gasp for all teenage boys whenever she appeared
19 Ralphie (Sopranos) - A great, if short lived turn. Best season when he was on.
18 Scottie/Spock (Pick your fave) (Star Trek) - Someone from Star Trek had to make it.
17 Norm (Cheers) - One liners to live by, every episode.
16 Harvey Korman - Various Characters (Carol Burnett Show) - Watching him watching Dorf and trying not to laugh was comic genius.
15 Newman (Seinfeld) - NEWMAN
14. Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties) - Tough to be this annoying and charismatic at the same time, no?
13. Laverne (Laverne and Shirley) - Not just for pepsi and milk
12 Andy Sipowicz (NYPD Blue) - Ugly becomes hip
11 Sonny Crockett (Miami Vice) - the best character on the best show from the early eighties
10 Oscar Madison (Odd Couple) - Taught men how to live on their own
9,8 Chrissy and Jack, Threes Company - Cause you know they were getting it on
7 Mork from Ork (Mork and Mindy) - Robin Williams on TV
6 Vic Mackey (The Shield) - the best character on current TV, machiavellian, engaging, cant get enough.
5. Pauley Walnuts (Sopranos) - Fugghediboudit. Comic relief on monster hit.
4. Al Swearingen (Deadwood)) - Acting shouldnt be this good on TV
3 Donnie Most/Schneider (Happy Days/One Day At A Time) - Choose your own comic supporting character.
2. Archie Bunker (All in the Family) - How could a fat old bigot, from Queens, be this likeable.
1. Hawkeye Pierce (MASH) - The Standard Wiseass, by which all other wiseasses are measured, setting the stage for Seinfeld, Chandler Bing and so many others.
honorable mention- Woody Boyd (Cheers), Fish (Barney Miller), Chandler Bing (Friends), Vinnie Barbarino (Welcome Back Kotter, Fred Sanford (Sanford and Son), and of course, Niles Crane (Frasier)
11 comments:
Too pissed about the Janice remark to comment on anything else. Time to rewatch Doug from ER and start taking notes.
Really awesome list! I can't believe I forgot MASH and Cheers.
Well done, bro!
I preferred Ricardo Tubbs. :D
Mash and Cheers, classic, I remember watching them at night when I was already supposed to be in bed. Luckily we had both in Belgium.
Jill - why pissed?
Steph- I cant believe it either. For someone who controlled the TV growing up... to forget those shows.
Franky- Crockett vs Tubbs strictly a matter of taste.
What about:
1) JJ Evans - Kid "A Dyno-mite"
2) George Jefferson
3) Fred G. Sanford - that's S-A-N-F-O-R-D period (needs to be moved up); and
4) Re-run!!!!!!!
Gus
Northern - Never saw ER. You are one of very few. Anyway, that was Clooney's breakthrough.
Gus - On board with everyone except George Jeff. He's really just an archie bunker spinoff copy anyway.
Good list -- in addition to all the other good ones, would have to go with, in no particular order -
Frank Burns - M*A*S*H
Valerie Bertinelli - cuz she was so hot;
Roscoe P. Coltrane;
Lenny & Squiggy - I never did like Laverne or Shirley or Carmine "the Big Ragoo";
Lucille Ball - I Love Lucy;
Dee - the sarcastic sister from What's Happening (thanks Gus);
Catwoman (when played by Julie Newmar);
Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap;
Mr. Eko - Lost;
Mr. Kotter;
Coach Reeves - White Shadow;
Carrie Bradshaw - Sex & the City;
does Letterman or Johnny Carson count?;
Caine - Kung Fu;
Reverend Jim / Latka Gravas - Taxi;
The Fonz;
Nelly - Little House (how funny was she?);
Daniel Travanti - Hill Street Blues
Al Bundy;
Jaclyn Smith - Charley's Angels;
do you remember Herman's Head?;
Janice is whiny, a total pain in the ass and major high maintenance. So, to state that she may accurately portray women is a little disconcerting, that's all. But I'm not pissed...I just know that your theory must be disproved.
Hmm, happy, some interesting additions. And yes I remember herman's head. I dont think I'd add Coach Reeves, despite liking the white shadow. In some way its too close to Welcome Back Kotter, despite the different vibe. Catwoman was hot, but i think it was the suit. I think Jill would be equally hot in that suit, e.g. Rosco I def considered, and as I said before, woulda been my choice from the show. And I picked Laverne cause I need positive female characters, not just accurate ones like Janice (or window dressing like Danica).
I do agree that Latka was a total unacceptable omission.
Jill - We shall see.
So I had to update my list after reading yours Grumps. I didn't go whole hog, with another 25, but hit on the best of the 80's IMO.
We shall. :)
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