# The Greatest Character in Sitcom History **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821 "2009-02-07T18:41:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/1 "2009-02-07T18:41:56Z")
Someone in the current “Office” thread nominates Dwight Shrute. I think that’s a pretty strong contender. Define “greatest” any way you like. Who’s the greatest sitcom character ever? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/2 "2009-02-07T18:46:20Z")
Archie Bunker. It was the first name that popped into my head when I read the thread title and after thinking about it I can’t come up with someone better. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/3 "2009-02-07T18:50:00Z")
I think Frazier Crane should be a pretty strong contender. He livened up an already great sitcom and then carried his own for years. Also, Homer Simpson, arguably the best main character of a long running sitcom ever. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/4 "2009-02-07T18:55:55Z")
I’d go with Archie Bunker, Lucille Ball, Homer Simpson, Bob Newhart, and Hawkeye Pierce. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/5 "2009-02-07T19:06:21Z")
I like Frazier but for me Cosmo Kramer was the greatest character I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/6 "2009-02-07T19:14:30Z")
Archie Bunker. His chair is in the _Smithsonian_, fer cryin’ out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/7 "2009-02-07T19:22:02Z")
I’ll agree with those who have said Archie Bunker. O’Connor made him both repellant and sympathetic at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/8 "2009-02-07T19:34:47Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ll agree with those who have said Archie Bunker. **O’Connor made him both repellant and sympathetic at the same time.** Couldn’t have said it better. It’s why I would put O’Conner at the top of sitcom actors. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/9 "2009-02-07T19:36:32Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Couldn’t have said it better. > > It’s why I would put O’Conner at the top of sitcom actors. My only objection is to the qualifer “sitcom.” It always vexes me that comic actors (and authors) get less credit or acclaim that dramatic ones. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/10 "2009-02-07T20:07:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > My only objection is to the qualifer “sitcom.” It always vexes me that comic actors (and authors) get less credit or acclaim that dramatic ones. For that category, he’s at the top by a long way. I haven’t seen anywhere enough TV over the years to judge how he would rank among all actors. I would venture to say he’s certainly near the top at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/11 "2009-02-07T20:17:39Z")
It depends on whether or not you encompass animation. If not, then I’ll have to nominate [Louie De Palma](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJKGRmhCSg&feature=related). If you include animation, then it’s a tossup between Homer and Cartman. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/12 "2009-02-07T20:20:06Z")
My vote is Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock, with Harold & Albert Steptoe a close (joint) second. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/13 "2009-02-07T20:30:40Z")
Basil Fawlty is the real legend over here - people born years after Fawlty Towers aired have heard the name and know what the character means. David Brent is probably on the way to Fawlty status. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/14 "2009-02-07T20:45:54Z")
Archie Bunker, no question about it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/15 "2009-02-07T21:22:36Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I’d go with Archie Bunker, Lucille Ball, Homer Simpson, Bob Newhart, and Hawkeye Pierce. Lucy Ricardo, you mean. And Bob Newhart played two famous characters: Bob Hartley and Dick Loudon. I prefer the supporting charaters: Les Nessman Jim Ignatowski Dr. Zoidberg Glenn Quagmire Dr. Perry Cox ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/16 "2009-02-07T21:24:35Z")
Deputy Barney P. Fife deserves to at least be mentioned in any discussion of the greatest sitcom characters. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/17 "2009-02-07T21:25:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > It depends on whether or not you encompass animation. If not, then I’ll have to nominate [Louie De Palma](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJKGRmhCSg&feature=related). I came in here to vote for Louie De Palma, with Frasier Crane as a close second, and Liz Lemon as the dark horse contender. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/18 "2009-02-07T21:31:00Z")
I’m going with Barney Fife. Honorable mention to Basil Fawlty. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/19 "2009-02-07T21:31:33Z")
Maynard G. Krebs and Eddie Haskell, to name two that haven’t been mentioned so far. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/20 "2009-02-07T21:56:07Z")
From a British point of view, it has to be Hancock. The country virtually closed down while ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ was on the TV. Honourable mentions also to Alf Garnett, Basil Fawlty and David Brent. Sam Stone listed the five US greats that I would have listed, but surely Mary Tyler Moore or one of her characters should be in there somewhere? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821.md?page=2)