Ten T.V. Characters We’ll Never Forget

The other day my husband made a comment about a certain television character being top five of all time. That made me start thinking about my own list of top characters. I had to do a top ten. Then I forgot someone and added a bonus. So here we go, in no particular order.

Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) – I love the progression of her character from the first episodes of Seinfeld to the last. The downward spiral that takes her from almost normal to completely wrecked. She’s funny with the perfect amount of smartass sprinkled in. Many times, her storylines or offhand remarks made the episode for me. Two favorites: the one where a guy tells her she has a big head, and when she pushes Kramer off the porch to steal his babysitting job.

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) – Physical comedy at its best. It’s not highbrow, it’s not particularly deep or meaningful, but that lady can make you laugh. I also admire her for taking a role that pigeonholed women and bringing an independent minded wife out of the part. Two favorites: her and Ethel working at the chocolate factory and Lucy getting drunk filming the television commercial.

Felicity (Keri Russell) – I’m probably showing my age sticking her in this category. For one thing, Keri Russell is a fabulous and underrated actress. Waitress is also a favorite movie. Felicity was so complex, so thoughtful, and always over-thinking every situation. We were the same “age” and I watched her go through similar college experiences. Alas, minus the Scott Speedman – Scott Foley love triangle. She was a character we watched grow up, and the writers kept her real. It was bumpy, and it wasn’t always pretty, but when she got to the other side, Felicity learned from her failures. If you haven’t watched this show, I recommend the DVD set. Two favorites: when Felicity sleeps with an art student, and the finale. The finale bears a poignant (and typical for JJ Abrams) message. Even if you could go back and make different choices, your life still ends up where it’s meant to be.

Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) – The guy every high school girl wanted to date and every boy wanted to be. Popular, mouthy, handsome, and smart as a whip, we watched Zack learn his lesson and take his knocks at Bayside High. Despite his girl crazy, anti-school talk, Zack was nothing but a teddy bear underneath. Television programming for kids is missing characters like these. Maybe because they aren’t believable, or kids like him no longer exist. I don’t want to believe that. Zack always did the right thing, in the end. He turned out to be a good role model, after all. Two favorites: When he and Kelly break up, and any of the summer, beach club episodes featuring Leah Remini (from King of Queens fame).

Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) – Classic blend of physical and situational comedy, no one did either of those things better than Dick Van Dyke. The situations Rob gets into, both at home and at the office, make me laugh out loud forty years later. He held down a successful job, was a great father, and made everyone laugh. What more can we ask for from a television character? Two favorites: Rob punching the neighbor and Rob going to jail.

Monk (Tony Shalhoub) – So many times the best characters are the unexpected ones. Currently, both Castle and Jane (from The Mentalist) also fall into this category. Monk should not have been a likable guy. He’s weird, he rubs everyone the wrong way, and it takes him twice as long as it should to complete a simple task. We do like him, though. His idiosyncrasies charm instead of annoy, overshadowed by his charm, detective work, and tragic past. Monk reminds us not to judge a book by its cover. Two favorites: Monk gets amnesia, and when he goes undercover in the cult.

Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) – I think I added Chandler for two reasons. First, because someone from Friends had to make the list. Second, I realized Chandler was always my favorite. Chandler dealt laughs in every episode, but remained a sympathetic character throughout the series. He had one of the more volatile upbringings (remember cross-dressing dad), yet remained a lovable, self-effacing friend. I rooted for him in his love affair with Monica. He turned out to be quite a catch, for a nerdy guy. Two favorites: Trying to avoid touching Phoebe’s boob and keep his and Monica’s secret, and the Halloween party when he dresses as the pink “velveteen” rabbit.

Eric Cartman (Trey Parker) – He’s irreverent, an awful friend, and a little punk but I love him. I love Eric Cartman. He’s also not afraid to be himself, even when others make fun of him. Of course, in real life his commentary would get his butt kicked every other day. Also, so often he has the guts to say out loud what I only think. Hilarious. You can be offended by him, but it’s so much more fun to just laugh. Two favorites: Cartman gives Stan AIDS, and Cartman leading the fight to run the hippies out of town.

Spike (James Marsters) – I know. When there is oh-so-much to love about Buffy and Angel, why Spike? First, Spike is funny and not so constantly self-involved like Buffy and Angel. Second, his core personality changes little throughout both series. And he’s a hot vamp, who are we kidding? Spike plays the character you love to hate, an essential element of the successful television drama. Two favorites: Spike forcing Willow to conjure a love potion to make Drusilla fall in love with him again, and him trying to commit suicide after the implantation of a chip renders him ‘impotent’ (unable to bite humans).

Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) – Rarely is such a complete vision for a character realized on the television screen. From the way he opens a door, to his facial expressions, to the words that come out of his mouth, Kramer is a study in consistency. Not to mention he’s hilarious, moves plots with little trouble, and makes the kooky and out there an every day occurrence. Life is easy to understand for him, black and white. It’s nice to watch a character who doesn’t over analyze every bit of life. Sometimes. A whole show centered around Kramer would never have worked. As the goofy neighbor, though, he is brilliant. Two favorites: Kramer rescuing a pinky toe, beating up a mugger, and commandeering a bus, and when he kisses Jerry on the mouth.

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) – Like Monk, Sheldon is a complete original. He should be a turn-off: a socially inept know it all refuses to make any concessions in the way he lives his life. Instead, since his friends are merely bemused and take it all in stride, so does the audience. If you aren’t watching this show, you are missing out on a lot of quality laughs. His interactions with the ‘dumb’ blonde neighbor are especially hilarious. Two favorites: Sheldon going to the grocery store with Penny to be a ‘normal’ person, and Sheldon helping Penny when she hurts herself in the bathtub.

Agree? Disagree? Have I missed a glaringly obvious AMAZING television character? Let me know…

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Photographs courtesy of CBS, The WB, 20th Century Fox, and IMDbPro.