# Who are your 5 favorite female sitcom characters of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 9, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321 "2026-03-09T18:35:43Z")\ **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:** [March 9, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/1 "2026-03-09T18:35:43Z")
Please limit your input to just **five** **female** sitcom characters. If it may be considered semi-obscure, please include the name of the show. Live action only, no animated characters (sorry, Wilma). Still working on my five. Possible poll in the future. mmm ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/2 "2026-03-09T18:54:55Z")
- Laura Petrie - Gracie Allen - Eleanor Shelstrop (_The Good Place)_ - Agent 99 - Nugie _(The Gale Storm Show)_ ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/3 "2026-03-09T19:02:54Z")
Alice Kramden Lucy Ricardo Gracie Allen Laura Petrie Elaine Bennis ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/4 "2026-03-09T19:16:14Z")
Admitting that I find it pretty hard to summon up strong feelings about or even remember characters from shows I haven’t watched in decades, so my response suffers from recency bias. Moira Rose (Schitt’s Creek) Alexis Rose (Schitt’s Creek) Liz Lemon (30 Rock) Dorothy Zbornak (Golden Girls) Blanche Devereaux (Golden Girls) ---
**Author:** ![GenerationJones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@GenerationJones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GenerationJones)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/5 "2026-03-09T19:27:09Z")
Edith Bunker Endora (Bewitched) Margaret Houlihan Lovey Howell Daphne Moon ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/6 "2026-03-09T19:29:23Z")
1. Liz Lemon 2. Leslie Knope 3. Edith Bunker 4. Darlene Conner (Roseanne) 5. Selena Meyer (Veep) Honorable mention to Claire Huxtable ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/7 "2026-03-09T19:32:58Z")
In random order: Maude - All in the Family & Maude Irene Lorenzo – All in the Family Edith Bunker - All in the family Estelle Costanza - Seinfeld Lucy Ricardo - I love Lucy/the Lucy show ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/8 "2026-03-09T19:37:03Z")
Christy Plunkett (_Mom_) Lisa Douglas (_Green Acres_) Kitty Forman (_That '70s Show_) Morticia Addams (_The Addams Family_) Louise Belcher (_Bob’s Burgers_) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/9 "2026-03-09T19:44:51Z")
Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales, _Fawlty Towers_) Liz Lemon (Tina Fey, _30 Rock)_ Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, _Seinfeld_) Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman, _Cheers_) Lois (Jane Kaczmarek, _Malcolm in the Middle_) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/10 "2026-03-09T19:46:16Z")
Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty)-- _Golden Girls_ Christine Sullivan (Markie Post)- _Night Court_ Samantha Micelli (Alyssa Milano)-- _Who’s The Boss?_ Punky Brewster (Soleil Moon Frye) – _Punky Brewster_ I haven’t watched that many live action sitcoms since I was a kid in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/11 "2026-03-09T19:47:41Z")
Queenie (Blackadder II) Sophie Chapman (Peep Show) - not a likeable character but very well done Pauline (The League of Gentlemen) Margaret Meldrew (One Foot in the Grave) - deserves it just for putting up with Victor for so long Mary Cooper (Young Sheldon) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/12 "2026-03-09T19:49:21Z")
Given that this is limited to sit-coms, I went with the wittiest, and not based on looks. **Peg Bundy** **Karen Walker – Will and Grace** **Selina Meyer – Veep** **Laura Petrie** **Lucille Bluth** > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Live action only, no animated characters (sorry, Wilma). Wilma, I’m pretty sure you meant Louise Belcher. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/13 "2026-03-09T19:53:09Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Wilma, I’m pretty sure you meant Louise Belcher. Oops. That part of it whooshed right past me. Sorry. Amended list, replacing Louise: Christy Plunkett (_Mom_) Lisa Douglas (_Green Acres_) Kitty Forman (_That '70s Show_) Morticia Addams (_The Addams Family_) Lois (_Malcolm in the Middle_) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/14 "2026-03-09T19:55:15Z")
Selina Meyer (Veep) Liz Lemon (30 Rock) Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99) Edith Bunker (All in the Family) Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/15 "2026-03-09T20:03:51Z")
Rosa Diaz (_Brooklyn 99_) Eleanor Shellstrop (_The Good Place_) Tahani Al-Jamil (_The Good Place_) Robin Scherbatsky (_How I Met Your Mother_) Daisy Steiner (_Spaced_) ---
**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:** [March 9, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/16 "2026-03-09T20:10:39Z")
Some based on performance, some on appearance Edith Bunker Samantha Stevens (Bewitched) Marcia Brady Maya Gallo (Just Shoot Me) Kelly Bundy ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/17 "2026-03-09T20:12:36Z")
Some great choices listed already, but I think I’ll be the first to say: Midge Maisel ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/18 "2026-03-09T20:13:23Z")
In no order… - Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter, Arrested Development) - Karen Walker (Megan Mullally, Will & Grace) - Sybil Fawlty (Prunella Scales, Fawlty Towers) - Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman, Cheers) - Rose Nylund (Betty White, The Golden Girls but really pretty much everything White ever did) ETA: Amazed Betty wasn’t mentioned already. For fun here is Betty White being awesome: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fbI1eJ_zAB8/maxresdefault.jpg "Census Taker vs. Old Lady - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbI1eJ_zAB8) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/19 "2026-03-09T20:46:29Z")
- Laura Petrie _(DVD)_ (and the next four together equal the comedic chops of MTM) - Elaine Benes (sp?) _(Seinfeld)_ - Eleanor Shelstrop (_The Good Place)_ - April Ludgate _(Parks & Rec)_ And an obscure one: - Annie Spadaro _(Caroline in the City)_ ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/20 "2026-03-09T20:47:41Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Eleanor Shelstrop (_The Good Place)_ Oooh…good pick! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321.md?page=2)