20 greatest TV sitcom characters of all time

[Bubba1]

Xfinity just published their list of greatest sitcom (as in situation comedy) characters of all time...

20.Gilligan - Gilligan's Island. I d would have taken Ginger or Mary Ann before him
19. Michael Scott - the office
18. Niles Crane - Frazier. I thought he was funny, but not top 20
17. Al Bundy - Married With Children- "yes ma'am!" Though Buck was a scene stealer.
16. Louie DePalma - Taxi - I think right show, wrong character. Louie was great but Reverend Jim was better..
15. Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld. I thought good, but not best character on that show.
14.Roseanne Conner - Roseanne. I guess so, though I didn't care for her character.
13. Cliff Huxtable - Cosby Show. I would have agreed until it came out what a slime he is in real life.
12. Cliff Clavin - cheers. I agree, but if Cliff's on the list, Nooooooooorm needs to be on the list too.
11. Barney Fife- Andy Griffith Show - I suppose, but I was never a fan.
10. George Jefferson - All in the Family, The Jeffersons. I agree.
9. Arthur Fonzarelli - Happy Days. Aaaaaay I agree until he jumped the shark.
8. Homer Simpson - the Simpsons. D'oh I agree, but I'm a bigger fan of Barney....(buuuuuuuurrrrrp)
7. Fred Mertz - I Love Lucy - I dunno about this one.
6. Mary Richards - Mary Tyler Moore Show. I thought she was better on the older d!ck Van Dyke show . But for the MTM show, I thought Ted Knight's anchorman character was better.
5. Ralph Kramden - The honeymooners. Bang Zoom to the Moon, Alice. A clear choice.
4. Fred Sanford - Sanford and Son. Though I thought he was better as a stand up comedian than the character in this show.
3. George Costanza - Seinfeld - Good choice, great character.
2. Archie Bunker - All in the Family. no question
1. Lucy Ricardo - I love lucy, deservedly top 5

Who I think should be on that list that was left off:

Norm from Cheers
Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielson) Police Squad. yes it was also a TV show.
Jeannie - I dream of Jeannie - every baby boomer male's fantasy girl.
Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) Night Court. better than Louie Depalma in Taxi

Thoughts?

[bundy26]

Roger from American Dad

[OriginalWheelman]

I get the feeling this list was written by someone over 50.

[Bubba1]

Perhaps, as sitcoms have been around for over 60 years. But keep in mind, most of the classic sitcoms mentioned the list (except for maybe the Cosby show due to recent revelations about Cosby himself) can be seen now on channels like TVLand or WE.

[OriginalWheelman]

And what are those channel's top demographics? It's less about what is there and more about what is not, like any show from the last 20 years except the Office and Simpsons.

And Martin was the funniest one on Frasier.

[darylzero]

alan alda from MASH should be in the top 10

[Bubba1]

And what are those channel's top demographics? It's less about what is there and more about what is not, like any show from the last 20 years except the Office and Simpsons.

And Martin was the funniest one on Frasier.

Have you considered that there have not been many great sitcom characters in the last several years? Sadly, good sitcoms have been on the decline for years, while cr@ppy reality shows have been on the rise. And FWIW, I think Eddie was funnier than Martin on Frasier.

[szh]

Robin Williams as Mork in "Mork and Mindy".

[Bubba1]

Wow ^ , can't believe he wasn't on the list.

[numbnuts240]

13. Cliff Huxtable - Cosby Show. I would have agreed until it came out what a slime he is in real life.

not fair to cliff the character. no need in ostracizing him because the actor who portrayed him is a total creeper.

[Bubba1]

True, but then again, the likeable dad character he portrayed on TV was ficticious and the many women who claim he raped them while that show was being taped are all real. Big difference. That's pretty much why his show is not currently being aired.

[BusyBadger]

alan alda from MASH should be in the top 10

Hawkeye was probably the least likable character for me in M*A*S*H in the later years. The show went downhill when Trap left and COL Potter was the only reason I watched many of the later episodes. Best Trapper John era M*A*S*H episode is Adam's Ribs, post-Trapper era it's either April Fools or The Joker is Wild.

I was surprised not to see Dwayne Schneider from One Day at a Time and either Mel or Flo from Alice make the list. CBS had a great comedy lineup from the 70's all the way to the early-mid 80's, thanks in part to All In the Family and its spinfoffs, The Jeffersons, Maude & Good Times. I guess you've got to expect good results with Norman Lear in your corner. Three of the twenty characters on the list came from one of his productions (Archie Bunker, George Jefferson & Fred Sanford).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkIZlk-QOZs[/youtube]

Cheers was a powerhouse from NBC (and so many characters could have made the list), and while ABC never really did much for me I did enjoy "Kotter" but it was too short a run to really have anyone make the list.

[OriginalWheelman]

Have you considered that there have not been many great sitcom characters in the last several years? Sadly, good sitcoms have been on the decline for years, while cr@ppy reality shows have been on the rise. And FWIW, I think Eddie was funnier than Martin on Frasier.

Not as many doesn't mean none.

[Bubba1]

Given how many channels there are now as compared to 20-30 years ago, you would think there should be MORE great sitcoms, or more transcendent characters on tv. Fact is the opposite has happened. There are far less great new sitcoms, with even fewer transcendent characters. I will agree with you there are a couple decent original sitcoms out there, with some entertaining characters, like Neil Patrick Harris on HIMYM, but none that rise to the level to be on this list. Nice try, though.

[OriginalWheelman]

I'm with you on the facts. Modern TV sucks. Most of the stuff is better on the internet. I think the best shows I've seen in years have been produced by Netflix. House of Cards most notably. I also don't think there are as many sitcoms as there used to be. There are a lot more dramas. There were some good sitcoms in the 90s that could have made the list.

You're opinions are just that and I can't disagree with them, but they go to illustrate how someone from your generation made this list.

[Bubba1]

FYI, glancing at the list, it actually contains sitcom characters that are recent. For example, the Office ran 2005-2013, The Simpsons is still cranking out new episodes. Frasier ran til 2004. Not exactly ancient history.

As far as the list being made by an older person. I'm sure it was. But ask yourself who is better qualified to compile a list like that? Someone older who's actually viewed ALL of those shows over the decades (both old and new), or someone young who hasn't?On a side note, I find it ironic that many young people dismiss the concept of "with age comes wisdom" until they get old themselves.

It's shame how sitcoms have become a dying breed. Perhaps it's me, but I just don't understand why so many young people prefer watching a talentless Kardashian preen herself in front of a camera rather than a well written sitcom. I do agree with you about House of Cards, great show. I'm currently binge watching Ray Donovan (Showtime), also good.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Frasier could have been from Frasier or Cheers!

I liked John Becker from the show Becker.

Or JD/Turk from Scrubs. Turk had some moves!!!
Hell, even the Janitor could be on there.

[LocAL_anarchy]

Some glaring omissions...

Charlie Kelly - Alway Sunny in Philadelphia
Sophia - Golden Girls
Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP Cincinnati
Jack Tripper - Three's Company

[Dattebayo]

Charlie Kelly - Alway Sunny in Philadelphia

Absolutely NOT. That show is a fart in the wind.

Everything else is solid.

[Bubba1]

Some glaring omissions...

Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP Cincinnati

[OriginalWheelman]

Pretty sure I was named after that guy... they claim it was my uncle but...

[nissangirl74]

Steve Urkel from Family Matters
Tim Taylor / Wilson / Al Borlon from Home Improvement
Any of the cast from Friends. Joey and Phoebe were the funniest just because they were stupid.

[Bubba1]

Tim Taylor from Home Improvement

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLnFdYt4yZw[/youtube]

[Jesda]

Pretty solid list. I would have ranked Huxtable and Jefferson higher.

I also love Charlie from Always Sunny.

[Mr1der]

Maybe some Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince.

Mostly for dropkicking Jazz out the door all the time. Or Carlton.

And totally agree at the lack of Hawkeye.