The 100 Greatest TV Characters

Bravo TV ^ | November 2004

[ConservativeStatement]

This comprehensive five-part series will focus its critical eye on famous television characters that have become a part of the fabric of American pop culture. Blending classic moments, rare photos and interview with both stars and show creators, the series will spotlight how our favorite TV characters broke out of the pack to emerge as pop icons.

[ConservativeStatement]

Adam West's Batman should have been top ten.

[cmsgop]

Al Bundy

[Lockbar]

I vote Al Bundy number One!

[BibChr]

Lou Grant probably is in my top ten or so. Pity about the actor's politics but, both on the MTM show and in Lou Grant, loved the Grant character.

G'kar from B5 might have to be there for me as well. And Spike from BtVS.

(Eclectic, you say? Yeppers.)

Dan

[Lockbar]

LOL, great minds think alike!

[Mr. Mojo]

Archie Bunker @ #1 is right on the money.

And I'd put All in the Family as the best sitcom of all time. ......or at least tied with I Love Lucy.

[sonsofliberty2000]

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Day 1

100. Xena 99. Monk 98. Steve Urkel 97. Dr. Smith 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

Day 2

80. Jack Tripper 79. Charles Ingalls 78. Rob & Laura Petrie 77. Dr. Craig 76. Eleanor Frutt 75. Ally McBeal 74. Beaver 73. Dr. Johnny Fever 72. Dick 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

Day 3

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

Day 4

40. Fred Sanford 39. Kojak 38. Sgt. Ernie Bilko 37. Marcus Welby 36. Barney Fife 35. Lou Grant 34. Kermit & Miss Piggy 33. Maverick 32. Scully & Mulder 31. Samantha Stephens

30. Det. Lenny Briscoe 29. Alex Keaton 28. Perry Mason 27. Ann Marie 26. Frasier Crane 25. Joe Friday 24. Louis DePalma 23. Andy Sipowicz 22. Richard Kimball 21. Mr. Spock

Day 5

20. Ed Norton 19. Eric Cartman 18. Roseanne 17. Jim Rockford 16. George Jefferson 15. J.R. Ewing 14. Hawkeye Pierce 13. Buffy 12. Edith Bunker 11. Carrie Bradshaw

10. Tony Soprano 9. Capt. James T. Kirk 8. Mary Richards 7. Lt. Columbo 6. Seinfeld Cast 5. Homer Simpson 4. The Fonz 3. Lucy Ricardo 2. Ralph Kramden 1. Archie Bunker

Patriot Paradox

[Slump Tester]

Archie Bunker. In fact, his chair should be in the Smithsonian.

(Oh, that's right - it already is!)

[JustaCowgirl]

The only one from the Andy Griffith show is Barney Fife?

And where is Niles Crane? One of the greatest characters ever.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Bart Simpson.

[motife]

How could anyone forget Guther Toody of "Car 54 Where Are You?"

"Oooo--Oooo!"

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/csmiths/

[ConservativeStatement]

My 1-2-3 list may be: Archie, Al Bundy, Batman. Very underrated character: Nancy Walker as Rhoda's mom.

[dakine]

63. Andy Taylor

[dakine]

70. Niles Crane

[saminfl]

Toody and Muldoon aren't on there.

[RedWhiteBlue]

Columbo, Frazier, Lucy, several of the Soprano characters, JR Ewing, and, even though he is new, I'm starting to get a kick out of "Denny Crane."

[the_Watchman]

This is a sham! They missed Captain Kangaroo!!

[Freebird Forever]

Ben Cartwright should have made the list.

[Preech1]

Archie Bunker definitely #1, as far as Rhoda is concerned, Carlton the Doorman should be in the running...and Reverend Jim from Taxi.

[vetvetdoug]

James Arness in Gunsmoke should have been in the top ten.

[Mr. Mojo]

This list places the cast of Will and Grace above Maxwell Smart?

Outrageous.

[correctthought]

#21 Eric Cartman Bump!

[Nick Danger]

No Paladin? No Rifleman? No Lt. Buntz? Bah.

[Roccus]

Jill Hennesy on L&O when she played Clair what'sername. Brains and looks. Every time I think of her..........I gotta go now

[geege]

"Ralph Kramden" A classic:-]

[ReadyNow]

1. John Kerry - "I'm not a competent leader, but I play one on TV."

[flying Elvis]

Along with Barney Fife. Andy, Opie, and the Beaver should have been much higher. And Officer's Frank Poncherello and Jon Baker are no where on the list.

[Glenn]

Who is Buffy? Am I that aged?

[mad_as_he$$]

G'kar and Londo both they played well against and for each other. People need to watch B5 start to finish in the shortest time frame possible. The story holds together so well and the character development is superb.

On another note Magnum 43? needs top 10 imho.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Archie Bunker is a nobody outside of the US.

This doesn't mean unimportant.

My guess for America 'worldwide' would be

1) The A team

2) The Simpsons

3) Knight Rider

4) Spongebob Square Pants

5) Friends

[oldbrowser]

Where is the cast of wagon train?

[Tealc]

90. Herman Munster

What's Kerry doing on this list? And why am I not on it? This is insanity! :)

[SamAdams76]

My favorite TV character of alltime was Marlene from "James At 15." I was 15 myself when that show was on and I wanted Marlene in the worst way. I used to skip school and take the subway to Boston, looking for her, because the show was being filmed there. I never found her but things worked out for the best.

[Preech1]

I cast my vote for "The Rifleman" to be on the list as well...

[dakine]

Were is Jed Clampett and the rest of his crew....?

[pipecorp]

Shouldn't the perky Katic Couric be there for her ever consistant portayal of a lying, left wing @sshole on "the today show"? Oh, she's not acting? the today show is supposed to be news? No way!

[DrewsDad]

Where's Gomer Pyle and Gilligan?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

The Sweathogs!

[BibChr]

I totally agree with you. Peter Jurasik was tremendous. The only reason I only singled out G'kar was that Andreas Katsulas could bring across so much feeling and, well, humanity, from under so much makeup. (Contrast Lt. Worf — which I blame partly on the writing.)

Dan

[Abundy]

Why thank you...

(he get's my vote too)

[Preech1]

And Clayton Moore's Lone Ranger...don't forget Jay Silverheels as well..."Um Kemosabi...you have-um plan?"

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Funny, I pick Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker 2 and 1 respectively, and I'm not usually that in tune with popular culture. (Don't even recognize at least 1/3 of the names, never watched Star Trek or Friends, for instance.)

[DrewsDad]

Reverend Jim from Taxi.

Isn't that 67. Jim Ignatowski?

[MoralSense]

Eddie Haskell? Uncle Tonoose? Baretta? Note that James Garner plays two of the characters on the list, Maverick and James Rockford.

[ScottFromSpokane]

Joe Friday's only number 25?

What a joke.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Agree about Lou Grant ... just a fantastic, well developed, multi-faceted character ... "There's a word I wanna use Mary and I can't cause that kid's here. You know what that word is Mary? BALDERDASH! That's not the word I had in mind, Mary!"

[verifythentrust]

67. Jim Ignatowski

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

What a joke! No, Greatest American Hero;)

[Finalapproach29er]

Buffy? Number 13?

What a PC joke.