# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/81 "2009-02-09T23:31:22Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Well, someone upthread did mention Alf Garnett, Archie’s English predecessor, though I don’t know if he was either as good or as memorable a character as Archie, never having seen _Till Death Us Do Part_. Well check Alf out: [Jesus was English](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWKy4RHf5tQ) [Alf on The Empire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOhXpmozpbE) [Alf on Ireland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5iUoFeqHPM) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/82 "2009-02-09T23:40:15Z")
And I doubt stuff like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOLj-ZJsvVM&NR=1) made it to US network TV. Warning to those in work: Words like coon, wog and sambo are used. Good ol’ Derek Griffiths, good to see him again. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/83 "2009-02-09T23:49:04Z")
As to the OP. I have to go with Basil. Although I can’t see a thread about great sitcom characters go without mention of [Fathers Ted Crilly and Dougal McGuire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AB7IDw3PNI). Both works of genius. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/84 "2009-02-10T00:14:19Z")
Another amazingly awesome character from M_A_S\*H… Col. Flagg. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/85 "2009-02-10T00:33:55Z")
I’m going with Larry David/_Curb Your Enthusiasm_. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/86 "2009-02-10T00:51:34Z")
I came in to say Basil Fawlty. I would give the female nod to Sally from Third Rock From the Sun. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/87 "2009-02-10T03:47:04Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I was discussing this with my sister, and we think that the entire Bluth family needs a mention, but if I was forced to choose one, I’d go with **GOB**. How can you pick between Gob, Buster, Lucille, George, George Michael, and Maebe? And don’t get me started on Tobias P. Funke, Analrapist. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/88 "2009-02-10T03:58:25Z")
Not neccessarily the greatest of all time, but he did make me laugh my arse off would be this guy [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysCNXBbLC-U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysCNXBbLC-U) and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHiEhTaiaHQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHiEhTaiaHQ) . Not so remarkable in and of itself but when you consider that he also did this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZDcSrODALQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZDcSrODALQ) it just feels supernatural. (it’s Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer and then in Phantom) ---
**Author:** ![terrymiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@terrymiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrymiff)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/89 "2009-02-10T07:14:59Z")
**Ronnie Barker** as Arkwright in Open All Hours Fletcher in Porridge ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/90 "2009-02-10T12:01:15Z")
Although the show didn’t run that long (three seasons), I don’t think ANYONE was able to be as consistently funny, convincing in her performance, and varied in what she had to do as **Jessica Tate**. The whole darn sitcom was hilarious, but she was the one who left you in stitches more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/91 "2009-02-10T12:18:43Z")
If greatest=awesomest, I think I’ll have to go with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) from How I Met Your Mother. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/92 "2009-02-10T12:51:02Z")
Mr Gormsby. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/93 "2009-02-10T12:55:09Z")
I have to go with Barney Fife. As they found out when he left, the show was nothing without him. Ralph Kramden isn’t far behind. The show seems as fresh today as it did when we first saw it. Underappreciated: Felix and Oscar, Sergeant Carter, Ted Baxter. Honorable mention for an intermittent role: Ernest T Bass. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/94 "2009-02-10T14:04:18Z")
No love for Al Bundy? ETA: well, not a whole lot. but next time, read the entire thread before you post about Al Bundy, fool. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/95 "2009-02-10T14:08:33Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > No love for Al Bundy? > > ETA: well, not a whole lot. but next time, read the entire thread before you post about Al Bundy, fool. Naw, there are only two characters worthy of watching on that show- Kelly’s left leg and Kelly’s right leg. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/96 "2009-02-10T14:33:53Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > No love for Al Bundy? > > ETA: well, not a whole lot. but next time, read the entire thread before you post about Al Bundy, fool. Ed O’Neill ruled as Al Bundy. He made that show much better than it had any right to be. He had this expression which suggested disgust, defeat, and yet also the determination to just keep going no matter what his horrible life threw at him. Al reminded me of a much cruder (and way less successful) version of Updike’s Rabbit Angstrom, another man who peaked in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/97 "2009-02-10T15:22:59Z")
Archie Bunker tops the list for me. That character was completely flawed, and he still managed to make it relatable and human. The episode where he loses Edith crushes me, the Sammy Davis kiss is hysterical because you can see the dilemma written all over his face, and his treatment of his family and his views on society are alarming and saddening, yet you never lose hope that he might see the error of his ways. Now if we were to rate best ensemble, no one can top the cast of _Cheers_. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/98 "2009-02-10T15:44:50Z")
I think the ensemble cast of _Barney Miller_ beats _Cheers_. To me, _Barney Miller_ and _Taxi_ were the ultimate in ensemble shows. StG ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/99 "2009-02-10T15:49:02Z")
For ensemble casts, Wings is underrated. Roy was one of the greatest sitcom ensemble members ever. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821/100 "2009-02-10T16:00:47Z")
Ooh - Al Bundy’s a good one (even though I don’t really care for the show). Archie Bunker I can’t relate to - I didn’t watch the show (although my mother loved it) and when I have seen it, I can’t stand him. As in visceral loathing. I know that he’s a character that’s supposed to grow on you, but I can’t get past it. I’d give Hawkeye Pierce the nod, I think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greatest-character-in-sitcom-history/484821.md?page=6)