I was recently asked what my favorite Prime Time TV characters were. Having grown up on television (it was my first real babysitter), I have developed quite an extensive list over the yers. I tried as hard as I could to narrow it down to only 10. Here’s my list…
What’s yours?
(These are in no particular order)…
Joey Tribiani (played by Matt LeBlanc) Friends
Joey Tribiani- Joey was by far the funniest of the friends cast. His colorful view of the world as he tried to gain fame as a working actor still cracks me up to this day. Who could forget the ugly friendship bracelet he gave to Chandler? Or the time he was on Celebrity Password? Joey is definitely a character to remember.
Fred and Lamont Sanford (Red Fox, Demond Wilson) Sanford and Son
FRED SANFORD- Fred Savage was crazy. He had this view of the world that was so wrong and so funny at the same time. Every episode he’d has “The Big One” where he was sure that some stressful and big shock would send him to heaven with his beloved wife Elizabeth. “This is it, this is the big one. Look out, Elizabeth! I’m coming to join you honey!”
I laughed until I cried at his first air plane ride. He was looking all over for the beautiful flight attendant in the airline ad and was a little disappointed at the woman who was actually guiding his flight.
BART SIMPSON—This perpetual 10 year old always has some smart-ass thing to say. After over 20 years on the air and a solid figure in pop culture history, he’s sure to make anyone’s list.
Sophia Petrillo( Estelle Getty) and Dorothy Smirnack(Bea Arthur) The Golden Girls
SOPHIA PETRILLO – The recent passing of the wonderfully talented Estelle Getty has brought her brilliant work as the sharp-tongued mother and roommate to a bunch of Florida retirees, front and center all over again.
Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell and the first season cast of Veronica Mars)
VERONICA MARS– No doubt the smartest teenage female character since Buffy, Veronica had the street smarts from her private investigator dad. She’d solve many a crime in her high school in a suburb of San Diego. The “Who killed Lily Kane” storyline of the first season provided a smart thinking teenage show. The show was cancelled well before it’s time.
Bree Hodge (Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives)
BREE MASON VAN DE KAMP HODGE– Bree Hodge has it all. Mary Alice Young said it best: ” Everyone on Wisteria Lane thought of Bree as the perfect wife and mother. Everyone that is, except her own family.” Besides being a dedicated homemaker, she also is well-versed in regards to firearm training: she owns four guns and is a card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association. Her latest escapade is raising her daughter’s son as her own.
Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) Fraiser
FRASIER CRANE– his turbulent relationship with this father and brother always led to some very funny episodes on the show. A self-proclaimed snob, Frasier and his brother Niles would often strive to appreciate the finer things in life, much to the chagrin of their blue collar, retired police officer father. “The Dinner Party” is the best and possibly the funniest episode highlighting it.
Frasier: (on phone) Hello? Yes, yes. Oh Lord, I’m so sorry you can’t make it. That’s all right. Yes, some other time. Goodbye. )hangs up)Niles: Please not the Ashbys. Frasier: Family emergency. Apparently it’s so urgent they didn’t have time to think up a plausible excuse! Niles: So where does that leave us?Frasier: Well, let’s see… we have a third-rate caterer with a record, a couple of lushes, a couple who think we’re both nutcases, an Argentine wild child and Roz! (throws down list( Dinner is served!)
Ralph and Alice Kramden (Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows) The Honeymooners
RALPH KRAMDEN- Ralph Kramden was the worlds biggest dreamer. He was always coming up with the latest get rich quick scheme in order to finally move out of Brooklyn and over to Park Avenue. He never made it, but there were plenty of laughs, often at his expense, along the way.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) I Love Lucy
LUCY ESMERALDA McGILLICUDDY RICARDO– The name of the show “I Love Lucy” pretty much said it all. There was nothing that Lucy would not do in order to be in show business. Funniest of all was the commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Lucy unknowingly became intoxicated from all of the alcohol in the drink, and practiced a lot. By the time the commercial aired, she was “gone” and so were we from laughter.
Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) 24
JACK BAUER- Part CIA, FBI, SWAT, Military Intelligence and Special Ops, Jack Bauer is the guy in direct contact with the president. Jack saves the world from a highly threatened terrorist attack in one day. He’s good at his job and takes you on a thrill ride every hour of the 24 hours, told in real time.
It’s hard to narrow it down to just ten, but I gave to a try….
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Bart Simpson, Bree Van De Kamp Hodge, Frasier, Fred Sanford, Jack Bauer, Joey Tribiani, Lucy Ricardo, Matt LeBlanc, Ralph Kramden, Sophia Petrillo, Veronica Mars | Comments Off on Favorite TV Characters of All Time
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