I don’t know if anyone else out there is watching this thing on Bravo about the Top 100 Best TV characters of all time, which has been airing each installment at 9 PM EST. I haven’t the faintest idea who actually came up with this list, but it’s been a lot of fun to watch. Tomorrow they’ll be having the top 20. Here’s my top 10:
1) Lucy Ricardo
2) Archie Bunker
3) Ralph Kramden
4) Captain James T. Kirk
5) Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli
6) Homer Simpson
7) Lieutenant Columbo
8) Cosmo Kramer
9) J.R. Ewing
10) Captain Frank Furillo
• 
My runner ups, by the way, were Hawkeye Pierce, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ironside, and Jed Clampett.
PAD
Oh, and Gomez Addams, Superman and Batman, except I’m not sure they count since they’re pre-existing comic strip or cartoon characters. Then again, Hawkeye Pierce was in a book series.
Oh well.
PAD
Well, Gomez and Morticia were in the rank around 90…
I’m actually wondering whether Buffy or a Buffy nod is due in the top 10. Joss Whedon spoke about another character (Emma Peel), so they may have filmed him talking about his creation…
What, no Frank Pembleton?
Hey, how about that, Gomez and Morticia ARE there. As is Maxwell Smart and Bob Hartley. I realize now what happened: I called Bill Mumy right around that time in the show to tell him about Will Robinson being on the list (he didn’t know, even though they had clip footage from past interviews. Then again, it was obviously old interviews since Jonathan Harris, who passed away two years ago, was there.) And I must have been talking to him when that group of people was announced.
Frank Pembleton was already mentioned, ranked around 60.
PAD
I saw a preview of this in (I think) TV Guide and they listed Buffy the Vampire Slayer as #13. The Top 10 are still secret until tomorrow.
well cause nobody asked my top 10 (Which if I did this again 20 mins from now would probably be completly different)
1. Homer Simpson
2. Pinky Tuskadero (She was way cooler than the Fonz)
3. Mork from Ork
4. Granny Clampet
5. Mr Burns
6. Samantha Stevens
7. PC Reg Holis from the Bill
8. Tim from the office
9. Eric Cartman
10. Cordelia Chase
Samantha Stevens and Mork from Ork are already on it. For that matter, so people can stop saying “Hey, you know who should be there!” when they’re already made the list, here’s the past three days. For the fourth day just aired, go to Bravotv.com.
100. Xena
99. Monk
98. Steve Urkel
97. Dr. Smith and Will Robinson
96. Artie
95. Doug Ross
94. Vic Mackey
93. Maynard G Krebs
92. Agent Dale Cooper
91. Caine
90. Herman Munster
89. Lt. Castillo
88. Jamie Somers
87. Gomez & Morticia
86. Maxwell Smart
85. Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
84. Bob Hartley
83. Vinnie Barbarino
82. Gil Grissom & Catherine Willow
81. Cast of Will & Grace
80. Jack Tripper
79. Charles Ingalls
78. Rob & Laura Petrie
77. Dr. Craig
76. Eleanor Frutt
75. Ally McBeal
74. Beaver
(Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if they were combined into Ally McBeaver?)
73. Dr. Johnny Fever
(And if she then married Johnny Fever, she’d be Ally McBeaver Fever.)
72. Ðìçk Soloman
71. Dan Fielding
70. Niles Crane
69. David Addison/Maddie Hayes
68. Benson
67. Jim Ignatowski
66. Carla Tortelli
65. John Boy
64. Jessica Fletcher
63. Andy Taylor
62. Francis Xavier Pembleton
61. Crockett & Tubbs
60. Mork
59. Al & Peg Bundy
58. Barney Miller
57. Rhoda Morgenstern
56. Mick Belker
55. Capt. Picard
54. Rocky & Bullwinkle
53. Pres. Josiah Bartlett
52. Emma Peel
51. Murphy Brown
50. Sam & Diane
49. Maude Finley
48. Ted Baxter
47. Carmella Soprano
46. Cast of Friends
45. Marshall Matt Dillon
44. Cliff Huxtable
43. Thomas Magnum
42. Laverne & Shirley
41. The Barone Family
PAD
Well, there are a lot of characters I like but I don’t know who would be in a ranking, Bender from Futurama or Dan Conner from Rosseanne were a few of my favourites and I think they haven’t been mentioned
1) Simpsons
2) Lucy Ricardo
3) Mary Richards
4) Captain Kirk
5) Gilligan
6) Lt. Columbo
7) Ralph Kramden
8) J.R. Ewing
9) Arthur Fonzarelli
10 Tony Soprano
I think Jim Rockford will place around 17. And Number 6 will be number 12. (Again.)
10) Dave Lister and Arnold Rimmer
9) Ken Jennings
8) Big Bird
7) Fox Mulder and Dana Scully
6) Elim Garak
5) Robert Goren
4) Yakko, Wakko and Dot
3) Stewart Gilligan Griffin and Brian Griffin
2) Homer and Marge Simpson
1) Rod Serling as Himself
Gee… is it too late to nominate the entire cast of Veronica Mars?
MacGyver.
Barney Phife
I have been watching all week and they have not gotten to any of PAD’s list yet. However, several of the characters have been seen in clip art and teasers so I’m sure they will be in there — especially give the frequent interviews with some of the creative people involved.
#40-21, revealed last night, were:
40. Fred Sanford (“Sanford and Son”)
39. Lt. Theo Kojak (“Kojak”)
38. Sgt. Ernie Bilko (“The Phil Silvers Show”)
37. Dr. Marcus Welby (“Marcus Welby, M.D.”)
36. Barney Fife (“The Andy Griffith Show”)
35. Lou Grant (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Lou Grant”)
34. Kermit & Miss Piggy (“The Muppet Show”)
33. Bret Maverick (“Maverick”)
32. Dana Scully & Fox Mulder (“The X-Files”)
31. Samantha Stephens (“Bewitched”)
30. Det. Lenny Briscoe (“Law & Order”)
29. Alex P. Keaton (“Family Ties”)
28. Perry Mason (“Perry Mason”)
27. Ann Marie (“That Girl”)
26. Dr. Frasier Crane (“Cheers” and “Frasier”)
25. Sgt. Joe Friday (“Dragnet”)
24. Louis DePalma (“Taxi”)
23. Andy Sipowicz (“NYPD Blue”)
22. Richard Kimball (“The Fugitive”)
21. Mr. Spock (“Star Trek”)
#20 — #11 have also been revealed, though they will not air until tonight. They are:
20. Ed Norton (“The Honeymooners”)
19. Eric Cartman (“South Park”)
18. Roseanne Conner (“Roseanne”)
17. Jim Rockford (“The Rockford Files”)
16. George Jefferson (“The Jeffersons”)
15. J.R. Ewing (“Dallas”)
14. Hawkeye Pierce (“M”A”S”H”)
13. Buffy Summers (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”)
12. Edith Bunker (“All in the Family”)
11. Carrie Bradshaw (“Sex and the City”)
Of Peter’s list, the following are shoo-ins based on the actors being frequently interviewed, the characters appearing as clip art, or by teaser mentions:
Lucy Ricardo
Archie Bunker
Captain James T. Kirk
Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli
Homer Simpson
Cosmo Kramer
J.R. Ewing
Clip art has appeared of both Homer and the whole Simpson clan, and Matt Groening and Dan Catalanetta have been interviewed frequently. I suspect the entire Simpson family will appear as one entry.
Likewise, the clip art from Seinfeld has been of the whole cast and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss has been interviewed frequently. I’m betting the core Seinfeld foursome is one entry.
I’m not sure why some famous duos/groups only merit one entry while others merit separate entries. It seems a shame to recognize, say, Lucy and not Ethel, Fred and Ricky, but at the same time, she deserves her own entry.
I think a “best casts” show would be more interesting and allow for more diversity. I have trouble arguing that any character on this list doesn’t belong, but there are a lot of other icons missing — even some from shows that are otherwise being covered. Examples: Jeannie, GIlligan, the Brady family, the Incredible Hulk, the Flintstones, the Duke boys, Norm & Cliff, J.J. “Dynomite” Evans, Steve Austin, Superman, Latka, etc. etc. etc.
Is any actor besides James Garner on the list twice? We haven’t seen Mary Richards yet, and I have to believe she’ll be in the top 10, so that means Mary Tyler Moore will appear twice, too (and it means one of Peter’s choices won’t make it — probably Lt. Furillo, is my guess).
I’ve always thought that Spock was a more intriguing character than Kirk. Throw in the time that the series aired along with the emotional depth that began to run beneath the surface of the Vulcan as the series continue and Spock seems richer to me.
I just saw that he rated #21. Anyone know who is compiling and ranking this list?
fred
What about Jim Profit? He’s the closest that television has come to Iago, an absolute manipulator who insinuates himself into people’s lives while working to destroy them. (“Anyone who thinks controlling people is a science is dead wrong. It’s an art. “) And Adrian Pasdar played the character perfectly. Man, I would love for this series to be released on DVD…
No list is complete without Number 6 from “The Prisoner.” It’s just not.
I think Lucy at Number One is spot on, though I think Homer Simpson might place higher. I think Captain Furillo might get knocked out of the Top Ten by Captain Pierce, given the popularity of MASH.
We have these polls every so often in the UK – Channel 4 thinks it makes fro rivetting viewing on a Saturday night…
Or on Christmas day
New Years day
and so on – the point is they’re never off the box.
And Homer wins…every time
Best TV character, funniest cartoon character, sexiest man on TV for all I know…
So, put your money on the big, bald yellow guy, folks
warmest regards
dave
I’m just glad that Rocky and Bullwinkle and Kermit and Miss Piggy made the lists. Of course, the fact that they each share a slot is kind of annoying. Bullwinkle J. Moose should definitely get to stand on his own in the ranking, no offense to Rocky or anything.
Am I blind? Am I mad? Am I hallucinating?
Where on these lists is the name Basil Fawlty?
Except for Emma Peel (and didn’t The Avengers have a run on American prime time in the 60s?), there aren’t any non-American characters on the list, so I don’t expect to see Lister, Basil Fawlty, Number 6, or any other Brits.
Overall, I like the list. There were only two or three names I had to look up on Google to refresh my memory – other than that, every name or set of names was instantly recognizable. That means that either they’re all distinctive, memorable character, or I watch *way* too much TV.
The Robot. He had such depth, such philosophical meaning in his wonderfully Machiavellian dialogue. Ah, for the halcyon days of sci fi television…
Hmm… I’d want to see on that list somewhere…
Schneider, the super (One Day at a Time)
Belker (Hill Street Blues)
Munch (Homicide and L&O SVU)
Willow
For trivia fans, these will never make the list as the series didn’t last long, and that’s a pity.
Austin James (Anyone remember him? No fair doing a net search).
I’d also add …
Kimiko Fenucci … if only because I loved the character and was in lust with Maggie Han who played her. 😎
Mark Bernstein: Except for Emma Peel (and didn’t The Avengers have a run on American prime time in the 60s?), there aren’t any non-American characters on the list, so I don’t expect to see Lister, Basil Fawlty, Number 6, or any other Brits.
Sure looks to me like the list only includes shows which had first-run (prime time?) airings in the United States, so The Avengers qualifies while many other good foreign series don’t.
The most glaring omission on that score for my money is Doctor Who (the Tom Baker incarnation, of course). Then Number Six. And I’m not sure what ninny would rate Emma Peel above John Steed. Geez!
Sherlock Holmes – as played by Jeremy Brett – is also a notable absence.
It’s also cheating to list two characters in a single slot. It would be more honest to present them together as “#s 70 and 71”.
I look at the list and notice how many characters I’ve never even heard of (Jim Ignatowski? Carla Tortelli?). Of course, I don’t watch much television overall, and as a rule I loathe sitcoms. The two sitcoms I like are M*A*S*H and Sports Night, neither of which are typical sitcoms (Sports Night in particular is more of a GabCom).
I also look at several names on the list and think, “Wait, is that really a character or just a plot device on legs?” (Gil Grissom, for instance.)
Lots of great names on the list so far.
I think that President Josiah Bartlet should be higher, but then again, so should Andy Taylor and Rob and Laura Petrie, but that’s just me. Great to see that Ally McBeal and Ellenor Frutt made the list. Great to see Murphy Brown and Alex P. Keaton up on the list as well, but I’m saddened that yet again, Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable was overlooked, who was clearly one of the best television mothers ever. Also great to see Edith Bunker get a seperate listing, because she’s a great character.
I don’t see Sydney Bristow (or Jack Bristow) on the list thus far, and those are two of the best “recent” additions to the television stable. I don’t see anyone from Arrested Development on the list yet either, but that’s more of an ensemble. I guess those are too recent or not popular enough choices.
I’d also like to see Lorelei Gilmore on that list. I’m telling you, the last few months I’ve been watching Gilmore Girls reruns, and Lorelei is a fantastic character, really great, and the writing on that show is so sharp. I highly recommend that anyone watch the Gilmore Girls…I avoided it like the plague for its first four years because I thought it was a girly show, and while there are elements present, it’s also just a well-written show.
As for my top ten?
In no particular order, the list would include:
Rob and Laura Petrie
Archie Bunker (Stifle!)
Andy Taylor
Sydney Bristow/Jack Bristow
John Cage (from Ally McBeal…no, really)
Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli (Eeeeyyyyyyyy!)
Laverne and Shirley
Alex P. Keaton
President Josiah Bartlet
The Cast of Seinfeld
Again, there are tons, but those are my off-the-top favorite characters in television history. (Of course, I’m 24, so I haven’t see many of the classic dramas, i.e. Hill Street Blues.)
The list is compiled by Bravo and consists of characters that appeared on prime-time American television. THE AVNEGERS did so, not sure about THE PRISONER. And yes, this does mean we lose a lot of great stuff, not only from foreign programming (and along with those mentioned already, I’d add Simon Templar, Mr. Bean, the Young Ones, Blackadder, Patsy & Edina, Jeffrey Murdock, David Brent, Hyacinth Bucket, and the staff of Grace Brothers, for starters*) but also from daytime and late-night American television.
Not sure of Bravo’s criteria for the list or if there was a poll or what.
You’ve never heard of Christopher Lloyd’s Rev. Jim Ignatowski on TAXI or Rhea Pearlman’s Carla Tortelli on CHEERS, Michael? You’ve missed out. Two of the all-time great sitcoms, and I say that as someone who is also not much of a sitcom fan.
*For the British television deprived, the characters mentioned are from the shows THE SAINT, MR. BEAN, THE YOUNG ONES, BLACKADDER, ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, COUPLING, THE OFFICE, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES and ARE YOU BEING SERVED?, respectively. And I just realized that they probably could have included ABFAB, which has run in prime time in the U.S. on Comedy Central and Oxygen. Hey, if they can include THE SHIELD, MONK, SOUTH PARK, THE SOPRANOS and SEX AND THE CITY, then obviously cable is fair game.
Captain Frank Furillo – izzat from Sopranos? You know, “FURRRRILLO”, the dude who was hittin on Carmella all the time? Or izzit a sci-fi reference I don’t get (Babylon 5 and/or Space Cases and/or whathaveyou)
Instresting little series, but it seems like there is some serious shafting going on.
The Cast of Friends get only 1 slot to themselves, while Carla and “Sam & Diane” get separate entries. Hawkeye gets a slot to himself, but I don’t recall any other M*A*S*Her’s in the list…
Coupling (the BBC/BBC AMerica version, not that AMerican pieve of crap) deserves a slot too. Why didn’t Richard Croyle return as Juff Murdock for season 4? Tis a shame…
The Robot from Lost In Space. Such superb voice acting by Ðìçk Tufeld and such a poker face.
Doctor Smith: “You neanderthal ninny!” Such command of the English language.
Too bad they didn’t include the Control Voice from The Outer Limits. (Vic Perrin).
Rod Serling. “Submitted for your approval… a list without end, where several fictional characters vie for the top ten.”
Maxwell Smart: “Wouldja believe Number One?”
Number Six: “Who is Number One?”
Jed Clampett: “Welllldoggie!”
TallestFanEver,
If I’m not mistaken, Frank Furillo was one of the main characters on “Hill Street Blues”.
And on another subthread here — while I was never that fond of Carla Tortelli, Rev. Jim Ignatowski is absolutely one of the most memorable characters TV’s ever had. Depending on how much Trek-related comedy you’ve ever seen, Michael, you may have indirectly run into Rev. Jim — Kevin Pollak used to do a killer Rev. Jim impression while talking about Christopher Lloyd’s role in ST3.
TWL
I know this is an off topic question… But who owns the rights to the name “smallville” cause I want to name my company something along that.
Bladestar wrote…
The Cast of Friends get only 1 slot to themselves
Which, in my humble opinion, is one more than they deserve.
Lenny & Carl from the Simpsons-so often overlooked, (except to each other). Hawkeye Pierce definitely deserves top 10, IF it’s the early, funny, smart-ášš Hawkeye, and not the later, preachy one whose life got sucked out of him by the miserable, whiny, BJ Honeycutt.
Mr. David. I’m glad you remembered Ralph Kramden. I think as time goes by, fewer and fewer people know about the Honeymooners and I think it’s just still one of the greatest shows ever and easily right up there with All in the Family and I Love Lucy.
And any time they do these lists or great things, the lists seem to get more and more recent focused. At least that’s my view of them. Anyway, it was nice to see your top three.
[I]I know this is an off topic question… But who owns the rights to the name “smallville” cause I want to name my company something along that.[/I]
That would be DC Comics, and by extension, Time-Warner. A group of people with which I don’t think you’d like to get involved in a legal battle 😉
“I have trouble arguing that any character on this list doesn’t belong, but there are a lot of other icons missing — even some from shows that are otherwise being covered. Examples: Jeannie, GIlligan, the Brady family, the Incredible Hulk, the Flintstones, the Duke boys, Norm & Cliff, J.J. “Dynomite” Evans, Steve Austin, Superman, Latka, etc. etc. etc.”
I can’t believe all these guys are missing, but STEVE URKEL gets a slot.
Paul,
I too thought it out that they included Jamie Summers (the Bionic Woman) but left out Steve Austin (The $6 Million Man, not the wrestler 🙂 )
“That would be DC Comics, and by extension, Time-Warner. A group of people with which I don’t think you’d like to get involved in a legal battle ;)”
thanx for answerin! lol
That’s Fred G. Sanford and the G stands for gotta be listed at #1
The Prisoner had a primetime run as a summer replacement series on (I believe) ABC. Of course, the fact that that entire series only ran 17 episodes, not all of which aired over here, may be cause for denial.
Can’t help but noting that it’s mostly the top American TV characters of all time… which I guess is to be expected given the location of the poll and the domestic audience. But if you asked UK pollsters to come up with a List, I think we’d probably have some domestic high-rankers too. ( I doubt the I Love Lucy cast would rate a mention in the UK, the same way Dirty Den would have US vieweres/readers scratching their heads.)
Genuinely surprised Spike doesn’t rate higher. Despite a resurrection on Angel, I genuinely feel James Marster’s anti-hero is somethign of a classic.
john
My Personal top 10(in no particular order)
Homer Simpson
Al Bundy
Thomas Magnum
Kolchak(the night stalker)
Columbo
Twin peaks cast
Jack Bauer
Christian and Sean (NIP/Tuck)
Vic Mackey(the Shield)
Buffy
Honorable mentions:
XENA and Gabrielle
Dana Scully and Fox Mulder
Kelly bundy (just because )
Daisy duke(see Kelly Bundy )
Willow
David Palmer (first black President)
Cast of Taxi
Cast of Hill Street Blues
Cast of St Elsewhere
Angel
Vinnie Terranova(WISEGUY)
Yeah i know thats more than 10 so sue me:)
My Favorites (just like everyone else, no particular order):
Cast of Friends
Hawkeye Pierce (M*A*S*H)
Londo Mollari/G’Kar (Babylon 5)
Seth Cohen (O.C.)
Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
The Fonz (Happy Days)
Lenny & Squiggy (Laverne & Shirley)
Jack Tripper (Three’s Company)
John Cage (Ally McBeal)
Fred Flintstone (The Flintstones)
Spike (Buffy/Angel)
Dante Randell Jay & Silent Bob(There was a prime time Clerks cartoon once-unfortunatly short lived)
Butters/Timmmmy (South Park)
Batgirl (C’mon that costume was awesone)
Kevin Pollak used to do a killer Rev. Jim impression while talking about Christopher Lloyd’s role in ST3
————————————
[Rev. Jim voice]
“Admiral Kirk, you don’t want to give me the Genesis Device?…….. Okey-doke”
David, who also thinks Rev’s Jim’s driving written exam is one of the funniest moments in tv history
“What does the yellow light mean?”
“Slow down.”
“What… does…the…yellow…light…mean?””
“Slow Down!”
“Whaaatt…”
Best Lenny and Carl episode would have to be the “Stonecutter” episode.
Either that or the one where Burns fires the employee who is the last one to reach his cabin.
Smallville’s Lex Luthor- one of the most complex charachters you’ll ever see on TV
The Iron Chef’s Chairman Kaga- anyone who watches this guy will never forget him!
Futurama’s Bender, or maybe even Dr. Zoidburg!
ER’s Dr Rocket Romano- every jerk boss you’ve ever worked for, all rolled in to one package
Uncle Fester!
Number 6!
Spock! or for that matter, Seven of Nine, Odo,
Data, Worf, Q, Dax..
Londo Mollari, G’Kar, Kosh, Vir Cotto, Morden, Ivanova…
Bladestar wrote…
The Cast of Friends get only 1 slot to themselves
Which, in my humble opinion, is one more than they deserve.
Jeff – Agreed. All FRIENDS accomplished, in my opinion, is to show how far downhill television ‘comedy’ had gone since the halcyon days of truly clever writing as exemplified in GET SMART and other such series. I could onlt tolerate five, maybe ten minutes of the insipid FRIENDS before turning off the set.
As to my trivia query …
Austin James – Super genius in the Asimov co-created series PROBE dating back to the early 80s.