# Who are your 10 favorite male TV sitcom characters of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 27, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821 "2026-03-27T20:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/41 "2026-03-28T00:31:01Z")
Frank Luger - Barney Miller Barney Miller - Barney Miller Martin Crane - Frasier Gomer Pyle - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/42 "2026-03-28T01:07:21Z")
Dick Loudin - Newhart Daryl - Newhart Larry - Newhart Woody Boyd – Cheers Eldin Bernicke(sp?) - Murphy Brown Chandler Bing - Friends Ted Mosby - How I Met Your Mother Michael Bluth – Arrested Development Hawkeye - MASH GOB - Arrested Development ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/43 "2026-03-28T01:17:50Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > Daryl - Newhart Trying to be clever, are we? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/44 "2026-03-28T01:23:44Z")
**David Hyde Pierce** (Niles Crane) **Don Knotts** (Barney Fife) **Carroll O’Connor** (Archie Bunker) **Kelsey Grammer** (Frasier Crane) **Desi Arnaz** (Ricky Ricardo) **Bryan Cranston** (Hal) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/45 "2026-03-28T01:28:07Z")
Shows would be helpful (though obvious in most of these cases), as requested by the OP. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/46 "2026-03-28T01:28:20Z")
I would like to watch the show “Niles Crane” with the character called “David Hyde-Pierce” Where can I watch it? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/47 "2026-03-28T01:37:13Z")
I mentioned in the female characters thread that I didn’t like voting for lead characters vs. supporting characters. But now that we have ten characters to nominate, I’m going to nominate five leads and five supporting, and suggest @Mean_Mr.Mustard set up a lead bracket and supporting bracket, so the two only meet in the final round. **Lead Characters** Andy Taylor - Andy Griffith Show Barney Miller - Barney Miller Rob Petrie - Dick Van Dyke Show Sam Malone - Cheers Bob Hartley - Bob Newhart Show **Supporting Characters** Ed Norton - The Honeymooners Barney Fife - Andy Griffith Show Lou Grant - Mary Tyler Moore Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP in Cincinnati Niles Crane - Frasier ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/48 "2026-03-28T01:38:30Z")
Ok, Mister Smarty-pants, how about this: **Niles Crane** (David Hyde Pierce) **Barney Fife** (Don Knotts) **Archie Bunker** (Carroll O’Connor) **Frasier Crane** (Kelsey Grammer) **Ricky Ricardo** (Desi Arnaz) **Hal** (Bryan Cranston) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/49 "2026-03-28T01:39:51Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > **Niles Crane** (David Hyde Pierce) > > **Barney Fife** (Don Knotts) > > **Archie Bunker** (Carroll O’Connor) > > **Frasier Crane** (Kelsey Grammer) > > **Ricky Ricardo** (Desi Arnaz) > > **Hal** (Bryan Cranston) Still needs the names of the **shows**. From the OP: > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Please limit your input to **just 6** male TV sitcom characters. > > Also include the names of the shows. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/50 "2026-03-28T01:43:05Z")
- **Niles Crane** (_Frasier_) — **David Hyde Pierce** - **Barney Fife** (_The Andy Griffith Show_) — **Don Knotts** - **Archie Bunker** (_All in the Family_) — **Carroll O’Connor** - **Frasier Crane** (_Frasier_) — **Kelsey Grammer** - **Ricky Ricardo** (_I Love Lucy_) — **Desi Arnaz** - **Hal** (_Malcolm in the Middle_) — **Bryan Cranston** ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/51 "2026-03-28T10:46:42Z")
**NOTE:** The initial OP limited your nominations to 6. I have since increased that number to 10. It is possible that some of you missed that info. These folks have more nominations available to them if they want them: @cieskokid (4 more available) @dorvann (3) @GenerationJones (4) @Jaycat.again (7) @Locrian (5) @Tibby (4) @WOOKINPANUBv.2 (4) ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/52 "2026-03-28T11:55:50Z")
Bert Monker, the delivery guy on the Dick Van Dyke Show who has a crush on Sally. Grady Wilson, Sanford and Son. That’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/53 "2026-03-28T12:22:57Z")
Col. Potter- MASH Barney Fife- Andy Griffith Show Captain Binghamton- McHale’s Navy Bull Shannon- Night Court Larry- Newhart George Jefferson- The Jeffersons Grady Wilson- Sanford and Son Grampa Munster- The Munsters Lurch- The Addams Family Cliff Clavin- Cheers ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/54 "2026-03-28T12:23:51Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Bert Monker, the delivery guy on the Dick Van Dyke Show who has a crush on Sally. Nice. He also played Alf Monroe on Green Acres. Another DVD Show delivery guy: Jamie Farr. mmm ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/55 "2026-03-28T12:32:16Z")
Three more? Hal (Bryan Cranston) – _Malcolm in the Middle_ Wilson (Earl Hindeman) – _Home Improvement_ Charley Dietz (David Leisure) – _Empty Nest_ I was tempted to add ALF from _ALF_ and Mr. Ed from_Mr. Ed_ but I did NOT think nonhuman characters would qualify… ---
**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:** [March 28, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/56 "2026-03-28T12:38:59Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I was tempted to add ALF from _ALF_ and Mr. Ed from_Mr. Ed_ but I did NOT think nonhuman characters would qualify… I like both of them, but yeah, let’s do humans only. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/57 "2026-03-28T12:52:33Z")
Larry Sanders - The Larry Sanders Show Arthur - The Larry Sanders Show Hank Kingsley - The Larry Sanders Show Murray Hewitt - Flight of The Conchords Basil Fawlty - Fawlty Towers Jim Ignatowski - Taxi Rob Petrie - Dick Van Dyke Show Ed Norton - The Honeymooners Les Nessman - WKRP Newman - Seinfeld ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/58 "2026-03-28T12:57:48Z")
Basil Fawlty - Fawlty Towers Captain Edmund Blackadder - Blackadder Goes Forth\* Lionel Jefferson - All in the Family (NOT the watered down version on The Jeffersons) George Utley - Newhart Harry Bentley - The Jeffersons Mr. E. Blackadder, Esq. - Blackadder the Third\* Manuel - Fawlty Towers Norm Peterson - Cheers Rev. Jim Ignatowski - Taxi Ed Norton - The Honeymooners \*Blackadder is 4 different characters played by the same actor, I chose the 2 I like most. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/59 "2026-03-28T13:05:38Z")
Ron Swanson - Parks and Rec Dennis Reynolds - IASIP Larry David - Curb Baby Billy Freeman - Righteous Gemstones Kenny Powers - Eastbound and Down ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821/60 "2026-03-28T15:21:20Z")
Drew Carey, The Drew Carey Show Colonel Potter, MASH Corporal Klinger, MASH Gomez Addams, The Addams Family Dan Fielding, Night Court Earl Hickey, My Name is Earl Howard Wolowitz, Big Bang Theory Eric Forman, That 70s Show Brent Leroy, Corner Gas Christopher Titus, Titus [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-10-favorite-male-tv-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028821.md?page=4)