Roberta wrote:You've named a bunch of characters I'd include on my list. But I haven't seen one that IMO is somewhere at the top--Columbo.
No first name. Smart, and sneaky about it. Messy. With a funny dog. Never let the bad guys, who were usually smart, rich, and convinced they had him snowed, get away.
Loved the raincoat. Loved his, "And just one more thing." Loved the character.
I saw the title of this thread and the first actor that popped into my head was Columbo. I scrolled all the way through this thread to see if anyone had mentioned him and I come the last post .....
Roberta! Right on!
Even though there were only about a dozen episodes made many years ago, it has to be Basil Fawlty.
I think that in the best shows the actor creates the character. The lines are there, of course, but who else could have played Colombo, Barney Fife, Balki, Rockford?
You're right, Coluber, that casting is crucial. Could anyone else have played Barney Fife, Columbo, Archie Bunker? Don't think so. The great characters are the result of the perfect marriage of actor to part. Good writing doesn't hurt, either.
Was mentioned a few pages back, WKRP and the Turkey episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZByndN_ffyw
Prolly depends a great deal on who you grew up with. Ones that pop into my head...
Coach, Carla, Cliff and Norm (Cheers)
Jim, Louie, Latke and wife (Taxi)
Columbo (seen him mentioned already)
Most of the WKRP cast (no Travis, no Jennifer)
Klinger, Radar, Burns (MASH)
Do Jane Curtin and Dan Akroyd doing the SNL fake news count?
more recently...
Cartman (an homage to Bunker, of course)
Okay, I'm thinking I go more for ensembles...
Oh yeah! FISH! How in the hell could I forget Fish! Abe Vigoda is a damn genius.
Monk is a good character on current TV that hasn't been mentioned yet.
I agree with many of the appraisals voice so far.
So many casts of characters that have worked so well with and off each other. The work of brilliant writers and wonderful actors.
I have to admit that Homer was my first thought before reading through the thread. The WKRP thanksgiving episode made me laugh thinking about Fever's running commentary... it just made me laugh again.
NYPD, Hill Street Blues, Barney Miller, all great shows with wonderful characters. I like cop shows.
My favorite TV characters of all time are Jack Arnold from Wonder Years and Vic from The Shield.
By the way, I noticed that trisch, the black cop from the decoy squad on The Shield, has a new on ABC Family called LIncoln Heights. This looks good also:
http://abcfamily.go.com/lincolnheights/
The best TV character ever, is without a doubt Janet Wood from Three's Company. This spunky florist was famous for her sharp wit and wisdom! Janet could always be found in the long-sleeve oversized football jersey, which seemed to match her comfortable, easygoing demeanor. Janet is someone the roommates could depend on!
We need more Janet Woods in the world.
My own favorites:
The entire cast of Barney Miller (Netflix members, you can order it and see some great episodes, it's still just as funny)
Gilda Radner as Rosanne Rosannadanna
Homer Simpson
Archie and Edith Bunker
Maurice Minnefield in Northern Exposure
Niles Crane and Daphne Moon, also that snobby restaurant critic in Frasier
Rumpole
Inspector Morse
Hiro in Heroes
My own favorites:
The entire cast of Barney Miller (Netflix members, you can order it and see some great episodes, it's still just as funny)
Gilda Radner as Rosanne Rosannadanna
Homer Simpson
Archie and Edith Bunker
Maurice Minnefield in Northern Exposure
Niles Crane and Daphne Moon, also that snobby restaurant critic in Frasier
Rumpole
Inspector Morse
Hiro in Heroes
Maude
Um, how do I delete the duplicates?
Once you have responded you cannot delete it. You should have deleted it before you replied. Too late!
Im really beginning to like the Tony Shaloub character as "Monk". I say that this will be a classic series. Im watching a Monk Marathon on USA Network and its favorite episodes from the shows past , selected by viewers. I only started watching it last year and got hooked by Shaloubs OCD ness. Hes brilliant at being a nutcase.
I loved the first season of Monk. After that, it quit showing in Houston.
There may be an outside chance that Monk will "Jump the Shark" this season because hes got a lot of guest stars planned. That can be dangerous when it becomes a gimmick to attract audiences.
Archie Bunker was not only great, but he held a mirror up to all Rednecks.
noinipo wrote:Archie Bunker was not only great, but he held a mirror up to all Rednecks.
Huh? Archie wasn't a redneck. Not even close.
This is true. Archie Bunker, being north of the Mason-Dixon line, could not be considered a redneck. He was just your everyday, garden-variety bigot.
