# Who are you 3 favorite sitcom characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2015, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445 "2015-10-22T10:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/1 "2015-10-22T10:49:20Z")
Please limit your list to three, ranked in order. Defend your choices. For me: 1. **Archie Bunker** - All in the Family. Even if you set aside the groundbreaking nature of this character, no one else can convey so much with just a glance or a well-placed wince. 2. **Arthur Dietrich** - Barney Miller. A good part of my own personality has evolved (unconsciously) based on Dee-Dee. 3. **Barney Fife** - The Andy Griffith Show. Even with the awards and accolades he has received over the years, I still believe Don Knotts is very underrated as a comedic actor. This may become a poll down the road. mmm ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/2 "2015-10-22T11:27:04Z")
I’d probably go with George Costanza (Seinfeld), Dr. Perry Cox (Scrubs) and Artie (Larry’s producer on The Larry Sander Show.) _puts on a hat and fake moustache_ As a totally different person, my top three is Red Forman (That 70s Show), Jimmy James (NewsRadio) and Jack Donaghy (30 Rock.) In all cases, my choices are based on which characters I most looked forward to seeing and rarely (if ever) disappointed. EDIT: For a refresher if you can’t think of sitcoms off the top of your head, here’s a [list of 50 good ones](http://underscoopfire.com/the-50-best-sitcoms-of-all-time/). ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/3 "2015-10-22T11:59:33Z")
In no particular order: Dr Johnny Fever - great person to party with and a nice guy. Willie Gilligan - I already speak Gilligan speak. We’d drive everyone crazy but I can’t think of a sitcom character I’d feel more comfortable hanging with. Reverand Jim Ignatowski - I already have someone to party with but Christopher LLoyd, come on. I guess I like quirky, well meaning oddballs. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/4 "2015-10-22T12:54:12Z")
I mostly came in to mention Arthur Dietrich. When I saw Rip Torn (Artie) mentioned I had #2. As for #3, let’s double up on the Larry Sander’s Show with Hank Kingsley. (Honorable mentions: Eddie Haskell, Phoebe, Darlene and Dan from Roseanne, Kramer, Woody from Cheers, a bunch more.) ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/5 "2015-10-22T13:19:56Z")
Cosmo Kramer Frasier Crane Barney Fife ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/6 "2015-10-22T13:42:22Z")
I’m a combination of Arthur Dietrich, Frasier Crane, and Sheldon Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/7 "2015-10-22T14:07:05Z")
Hmm, that’s a toughie. Frasier Crane, _Frasier_ - By turns foolish and wise, pompous and meek, hard-nosed and soft-hearted, manic and deadly calm. George Costanza, _Seinfeld_ - Could always be depended upon to do the wrong thing in the funniest way. Chandler Bing, _Friends_ - Witty, insecure and smart; almost unfailingly funny. Brilliant performances, each in their own way. Of course, my answers may be different next week… or this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/8 "2015-10-22T14:13:56Z")
Dick Van Dyke, Lucille Ball, Barbara Eden. ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/9 "2015-10-22T14:38:34Z")
Gracie Allen, worth getting up at 4 in the morning to watch an old TV channels Cosmo Kramer, am I the only one who wants to see what his apartment looks like Barney from How I Met Your Mother, the only actor in the show who made it worth watching Plus I love NPH ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/10 "2015-10-22T14:46:22Z")
> [@alted315](#): > > …Cosmo Kramer, am I the only one who wants to see what his apartment looks like… We do see it now and then - in the Kenny Rogers Roasters episode, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/11 "2015-10-22T14:47:35Z")
Tough call. I’ll start with Al Bundy while I think of the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/12 "2015-10-22T15:05:22Z")
1. Arthur Dietrich - Barney Miller 2. Dr. Michael Stratford - Doctor Doctor 3. Harry Stone - Night Court ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/13 "2015-10-22T16:46:09Z")
1. GOB 2. George Costanza 3. Sam Malone ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/14 "2015-10-22T16:49:46Z")
1. (Lord) Flashheart, from Blackadder. 2. Dave Lister, from Red Dwarf. 3. Basil Fawlty, of Fawlty Towers. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/15 "2015-10-22T18:14:47Z")
1. Cosmo Kramer 2. Ida Morgenstern 3. Niles Crane ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/16 "2015-10-22T18:16:14Z")
1. Niles Crane, Frasier - I loved his whole prissy schtick, and his chemistry with Frasier. 2. Uncle Arthur, Bewitched - he made me laugh every time he a guest star. 3. Doogie Howser - I thought NPH did a great job walking the thin line between genius and teenager. Damn, it’s hard not to include a whole list of honorable mentions, but I do have to mention Fr. Dougal McGuire from Father Ted. He’d be #4. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/17 "2015-10-22T18:28:29Z")
1. Bull Shannon, Night Court 2. Charles Winchester, M_A_S\*H 3. Ed Norton, the Honeymooners ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/18 "2015-10-22T18:45:48Z")
1. Nostradamus “Bull” Shannon. Why Nostradamus? That was his mother’s favorite hunchback. 🙂 2. Nigel Wick (Craig Ferguson) - _The Drew Carey Show_. 3. Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) - _Coach_. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/19 "2015-10-22T18:48:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Tough call. I’ll start with Al Bundy while I think of the other two. Tied for first place - Bill McNeal from News Radio ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445/20 "2015-10-22T18:56:33Z")
1. Mr. Haney on “Green Acres”. 2. George Costanza on “Seinfeld” 3. Matthew Brock on “NewsRadio”. (Make no mistake - I can’t stand Andy Dick, I think he is a total asshole. But damn could he pull off acting like the quintessential spaz. I find myself laughing in spite of myself!) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-you-3-favorite-sitcom-characters/735445.md?page=2)