# 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:** 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 10, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/41 "2026-03-10T02:06:11Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > > [@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? I have never seen Veep, but Wikipedia says the episodes run 26-30 minutes. So the run time is ok, is it not a sitcom otherwise? mmm ETA: Unless you were just considering my 22-minute statement. If that is the only question then Veep is in. The Fabulous Mrs. Maisel, the one I vetoed, runs 43-76 minutes per episode according to Wiki. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/42 "2026-03-10T02:10:35Z")
I can only think of three. In order… #1 by a mile: **Zelda Gilroy** - The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and #2: Laura Petrie - The Dick Van Dyke Show #3: Rebecca Howe - 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 10, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/43 "2026-03-10T02:11:15Z")
> [@digs](#): > > 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)_ You already have your 5, digs - unless you want to replace your previous entries with these? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/44 "2026-03-10T02:15:36Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Barbara Good (The Good Life) Oh, good one, I wasn’t even thinking about Britcoms. So let’s add: Margo Leadbetter (Penelope Keith – The Good Life) Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith – To The Manor Born) and back to US sitcoms: Sandra Clark (Jackee Harry – 227); after all these years she still sticks in my mind. Detective Janice Wentworth (Linda Lavin – Barney Miller); the best US sitcom ever made. p.s. for those who posted in single lines, how do you do that (without the extra “paragraph” spacing)? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/45 "2026-03-10T02:16:41Z")
never mind ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/46 "2026-03-10T02:57:48Z")
Flo _Alice_ Shirley Partridge _The Partridge Family_ Rachel _Friends_ Mrs Cunningham _Happy Days_ Ann Romano _One day at a Time_ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/47 "2026-03-10T03:30:43Z")
Margaret Houlihan Lucy Ricardo Corinne Tate 99 Lily Munster ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/48 "2026-03-10T03:39:59Z")
Mrs.Garrett- Diff’rent Strokes and Facts of Life Florence- The Hendersons (with favorite supporting female character award to Mother Jefferson) Ginger Grant- Gilligan’s Island. Her funny lines are under appreciated Aunt Esther- Sanford and Son. Not an every show character, but legendary lines Topanga- because her name is Topanga ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/49 "2026-03-10T04:02:01Z")
**In terms of actually making me laugh:** Morticia “Do you mind if I smoke?” Addams Sue Ann “Dear, sweet, bald Murray” Nivens **In terms of sheer lovability:** Mary Ann Summers Bailey Quarters Barbara Good **Wild Cards:** Any of the characters Teri Garr played opposite Marlo Thomas on _ **That Girl.** _ Shelley Fabares on _ **The Donna Reed Show** _. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/50 "2026-03-10T04:16:35Z")
Jeri Blank (strangers with candy) Allison McRoberts (kevin can fuck himself) Rebecca Bunch (crazy ex-girlfriend) Kim (Lucky Louie) For my 5th, pretty much anything with Judy Greer (she has done several good TV shows) ---
**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 10, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/51 "2026-03-10T13:54:49Z")
Jessica Tate Diane Chambers Amy Farrah Fowler Still thinking about the last two. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/52 "2026-03-10T14:03:43Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Given that this is limited to sit-coms, I went with the wittiest, and not based on looks. You’re clearly not shallow-minded like I can be. The first name that came to mind is _Modern Family_’s Julie Bowen. I think she’s pretty hot. [![](https://i.imgur.com/3UZp22b.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/3UZp22b.jpg) • As for my numbers 2-5, lemme think on that a bit… ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/53 "2026-03-10T14:55:01Z")
Eddie Patsy Saffy Mother Bubble Reassure me - Absolutely Fabulous was shown in the US, wasn’t it? j ---
**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, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/54 "2026-03-10T14:57:37Z")
Sadly, yes it was. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/55 "2026-03-10T14:59:34Z")
Odd. Maybe it doesn’t translate. j ---
**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, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/56 "2026-03-10T15:00:55Z")
It translates just fine - but Jennifer Saunders annoys the living crap out of me. I did have a crush on Bubble though. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/57 "2026-03-10T15:05:00Z")
Thanks for the clarifcation. Fun fact, while we’re at it. Adrian Edmondson (Mr Jennifer Saunders) went by the nickname Eddie Monsoon (Edmondson - geddit?) at school - hence the character name Edina Monsoon. j ---
**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, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/58 "2026-03-10T15:07:15Z")
I did know that. I am a big fan of Ade Edmondson. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/59 "2026-03-10T15:11:21Z")
Betty White (Rose on Golden Girls) Mary Tyler Moore (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) Valerie Harper (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) Katey Sagel (Peg Bundy) And a TwoFer: Allison Janney/Jaime Pressly (Bonnie Plunkett/Jill Kendall on ‘Mom’) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321/60 "2026-03-10T15:22:55Z")
1. Deandra Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson) from _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_. 2. Jaime Stemple-Buchman (Helen Hunt) from _Mad About You_. 3. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from _Parks & Recreation_. 4. Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnston) from _3rd Rock from the Sun_. 5. Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) from _Seinfeld_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-5-favorite-female-sitcom-characters-of-all-time/1028321.md?page=4)