# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/21 "2026-03-09T21:09:48Z")
I’ll add another Edith Bunker. I’ve got two so far. I’m still thinking for others. Angie Tribeca Lisa Miller - NewsRadio (and considering Beth (no last name) from NewsRadio) | | | --- | | | ---
**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 9, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/22 "2026-03-09T21:23:14Z")
Aunt Esther (Sanford and Son) – far and away #1. Ellie Walker (Andy Griffith Show) Rhoda Morgenstern (Mary Tyler Moore Show) Georgette (Mary Tyler Moore Show) Lisa Douglas (Green Acres). Nobody asked, but the three absolutely worst female sitcom characters of all time are the two women on Everybody Loves Raymond, and Helen Crump on the Andy Griffith Show. ---
**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, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/23 "2026-03-09T21:37:41Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Some great choices listed already, but I think I’ll be the first to say: > > Midge Maisel Sorry, should have said this in the OP. Let’s limit this to standard, 30-minute (ok, 22-minute) situation comedies. mmm ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/24 "2026-03-09T21:48:18Z")
The only one I don’t have to think about: Jim Ignatowski I’d have to think about it to populate the rest of the list, maybe I’ll be back. ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/25 "2026-03-09T21:58:08Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Jim Ignatowski Not a woman. But a tremendous character. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/26 "2026-03-09T21:58:59Z")
Sheesh, I completely missed the “female” in the thread title! Doh! ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/27 "2026-03-09T21:59:48Z")
To finish my top 5… Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons Maxine on Living Single ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/28 "2026-03-09T22:03:46Z")
Nobody’s mentioned Mary Ann Summers yet? ---
**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, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/29 "2026-03-09T22:03:58Z")
Granny Moses - The Beverly Hillbillies Agent 99 - Get Smart Laura Petrie - The Dick Van Dyke Show Edith Bunker - All in the Family Holly Shumpert - The King of Queens ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/30 "2026-03-09T22:27:46Z")
Lucille Bluth - Arrested Development Elaine Benes - Seinfeld Elliot Reed - Scrubs Margaret Houlihan - MASH Sister Michael - Derry Girls ---
**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 9, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/31 "2026-03-09T22:40:18Z")
Barbara Good (The Good Life) Helen Fisk (Fisk) Leslie Knope (Parks and Rec) Liz Lemon (30 Rock) Roz Doyle (Frasier orginal run) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/32 "2026-03-09T22:49:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Nobody’s mentioned Mary Ann Summers yet? Or “Sweet Dee” Reynolds? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/33 "2026-03-09T23:08:42Z")
Peggy Bundy (M w Ch) Diane Chambers (Cheers) Liz Lemon (30 Rock) Annie Edison (Community) Daphne Moon (Frazier) Honorable mention for voice, Yeardley Smith (Simpsons) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/34 "2026-03-09T23:52:39Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Honorable mention for voice, Yeardley Smith (Simpsons) No animation, per the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/35 "2026-03-09T23:52:48Z")
Ignoring all my childhood crushes (Mary Ann, Jeanie, 99, Catwoman, Laurie Partridge…) I’ll go with: Kimmie Schmidt (Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt) Maw Maw (Raising Hope) April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation) Jenna Maroney (30 Rock) Lucy Ricardo (I Love Lucy) ---
**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 10, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/36 "2026-03-10T00:09:56Z")
Mary Richards Diane Chambers Liz Lemon Lucy Ricardo Bailey Quarters (because who didn’t love Bailey Quarters!) ---
**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 10, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/37 "2026-03-10T00:35:58Z")
Let’s not forget the next door neighbors! Millie Helper _(Dick Van Dyke)_ Gladys Kravitz (the “real” Mrs. Kravitz) _(Bewitched)_ Ethel Mertz _(I Love Lucy)_ Phyllis Lindstrom _(Mary Tyler Moore Show)_ Penny (Penny. Penny. Penny.)_(Big Bang Theory)_ ---
**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 10, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/38 "2026-03-10T00:57:55Z")
Murphy Brown _(Murphy Brown)_ Elaine Benes _(Seinfeld)_ Phoebe Buffay _(Friends)_ Monica Geller _(Friends)_ Carla Tortelli _(Cheers)_ ---
**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 10, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/39 "2026-03-10T01:43:35Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Sorry, should have said this in the OP. Let’s limit this to standard, 30-minute (ok, 22-minute) situation comedies So does that include or exclude Veep? ---
**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 10, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/40 "2026-03-10T01:53:26Z")
Edith Bunker - All In the Family Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy Betty Slocombe - Are You Being Served Polly Sherman - Fawlty Towers Hot Lips Houlihan - MASH (Actually, this is a toss-up with Lovey Howell, but Hot Lips won) (I was going to preface it with No Particular Order, but as it turns out, it’s in order) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321.md?page=3)