Favourite TV Show Character of All Time?

[Doug Gilmour]

Just a bit curious here on what your picks are for the greatest character from a TV show ever. I saw a list recently and thought I'd start up an iPodlounge discussion on it..

My favourite would have to be Arthur Fonzarelli from Happy Days He's gotta be the coolest person ever!

Next up though would have to be none other than Archie Bunker of All in the Family, which was quite an incredible show to be aired at the time and all of the barriers it broke in terms of the average television show.. No more "everyone in the family is happy" image like others released at the time.. Also the issues discussed such as sex, menopause, and the idea that the wife was not a beatiful woman that wore a dress and high heeled boots while doing house work were never shown before. Also Archie was not afraid to voice his opinions on certain ethnic groups and show his own bias, which showed how the show did not try to cover up certain incidents that went on during that time in the world. I'd say it was one of the very first realistic television shows on what family life is truly like.. Quite a few barriers broken indeed..

Any thoughts, and who is your choice?

-Dan

 

[MikeM]

Archie Bunker is definitely one of the best, if not the best. The supporting characters deserve a lot of credit as well for that show being what it is.

For pure entertainment value, Homer Simpson and George Costanza are high on my list.

 

[Blue_Dawg]

MacGyver would be my number 1 pick with the car KITT from Knight Rider second.

 

[swy32x]

Fry from Futurama, for entertainment value, and I'm with MikeM about George Costanza - the role is played so well, I'm almost in hysterics when George is on.

 

[HiRes]

Homer Simpson.

 

[Doug Gilmour]

Archie Bunker is definitely one of the best, if not the best. The supporting characters deserve a lot of credit as well for that show being what it is.

For pure entertainment value, Homer Simpson and George Costanza are high on my list.

Yes I would agree with that, the supporting cast complimented Archie very well and added to the controversial nature of it.

In terms of funniest character ever I'd probably go with George Costanza. The greatest one is where he gets his desk's underside built into a bed for him and all the hidden shelves it has..

-Dan

 

[jwc110869]

Arthur Fonzarelli was great untill he "jumped the shark"

Homer Simpson has evolved from the main "fill" character to the center of attention on that show, very entertaining.

I'm a big fan of "fill" characters, so I'll go with Cliff Claven, and Larry, Daryll and Daryll.

 

[jedk]

In terms of funniest character ever I'd probably go with George Costanza. The greatest one is where he gets his desk's underside built into a bed for him and all the hidden shelves it has..

-Dan

Yes I agree George Costanza is probably my favourite tv show character of all time... also remember the Frogger episode

 

[iPodHawk]

I think that what made the Archie Bunker character such a classic is the fact that they showed other sides to him, and would show him in a sympathetic light at times. If he was nothing more than a one-dimensional blustering ignorant bigot then the character wouldn't have been as rich - nor would it have been as effective in terms of changing peoples' attitudes.

My personal favorite character was Captain Frank Furillo from Hill Street Blues. HSB was another show that seems somewhat commonplace these days, but when it premiered its style was something new. Furillo was a great character - a strong leader, but one who had personal weaknesses, and who had to negotiate a minefield of political realities rather than just bulling his way through his career. His relationship with Joyce Davenport (who was often a professional nemesis) was marvelous.

 

[dgstinner]

Angus MacGyver

 

[baggss]

Ronald Reagan. He played the role of President of the US perfectly......

 

[Jesse Hollington]

Yeah, MacGyver rules, with Colonel Jack O'Neill being a close second... (sense a pattern here )

For dry humour value, however, mine would have to be the brothers Crane.

 

[Doug Gilmour]

I think that what made the Archie Bunker character such a classic is the fact that they showed other sides to him, and would show him in a sympathetic light at times. If he was nothing more than a one-dimensional blustering ignorant bigot then the character wouldn't have been as rich - nor would it have been as effective in terms of changing peoples' attitudes.

Yes, a perfect example of that would be the episode Edith died, and he became very emotional, broke down, and sobbed. He won an emmy for his performance in that epsode...

-Dan

 

[Galley]

Homer J. Simpson, Phillip J. Fry and Al Bundy!

 

[Doug Gilmour]

Do you guys like the new addition to my sig?

-Dan

 

[madonna]

Ronald Reagan. He played the role of President of the US perfectly......

played it soo well... that he actually did something for this country. Unlike the hack actor in office now.

but anyways, the topic is about TV SHOW character... so i chose Pee Wee Herman. I love the playhouse episodes... especially if youre high as a kite.

ohh... also like Zack Morris & Jessie Spano from Saved by the Bell.

 

[aquatika]

Homer Simpson, Blackadder (from a more UK perspective) or Jean Luc Picard.

 

[TheDoctor]

How can you top the Fonz

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!

Although I always had a soft spot for Lilly Munster.

 

[Doug Gilmour]

How can you top the Fonz

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!

Although I always had a soft spot for Lilly Munster.

Sit on it!!! Heeeyyy!!!

-Dan

 

[iPodHawk]

Yep. How can you not like Fonzie?

I always found it amusing how Mrs. C would always call him "Arthur", and how bashful he would be about it. As cool as he was with the kids, you could see how much her affection meant to him.