# Your favorite TV characters of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641 "2012-03-03T15:07:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/61 "2012-03-04T03:30:38Z")
Bugs Bunny. Ambassador Kosh. James Kirk. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper. Everyone else on Twin Peaks too. Especially Albert. Captain Mal. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/62 "2012-03-04T04:21:01Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > No way to argue that point, but it’s fun looking over the [Full cast and crew for “Cheyenne” (1955)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047720/fullcredits#cast) to try to find such an individual. I was quite surprised to see that I must have missed the episode(s) where James Garner appeared as Bret! I remember one where he was a cavalry officer, and another where he was the bad guy while Cheyenne was making moves on Angie Dickinson! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/63 "2012-03-04T04:35:19Z")
Many of my favorites have been listed. here is a couple that I haven’t seen yet: JR Ewing Jackie Harris (Roseanne) Eddie Haskell Anita Van Buren Church Lady (does she count?) Ed Norton (The Honeymooners) ---
**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:** [March 4, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/64 "2012-03-04T05:51:19Z")
Data Gregory House Niles Crane Cosmo Kramer Carleton the Doorman Adrian Monk The Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager) Ida Morgenstern Sherman Potter Lou Grant Edith Bunker Benjamin Linus Marie Barone ---
**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 4, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/65 "2012-03-04T06:44:10Z")
Zelda Gilroy Stephen Colbert Zorro Edit: Just read everybody else’s. HOW did I forget Eddie Haskell ? ---
**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 4, 2012, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/66 "2012-03-04T10:21:22Z")
The Stig ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/67 "2012-03-04T12:37:25Z")
Kirk Spock McCoy Scotty Rob Petrie Laura Petrie Radar O’Reilly Kim Possible ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/68 "2012-03-04T12:37:48Z")
It was 50 years ago and I was a kid but I can remember some episodes like I saw them last night. Sergeant Ernie Bilko and Ralph Kramden were the first TV characters I can remember as whole living people. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/69 "2012-03-04T13:55:38Z")
If you’re at all like I am, it’s difficult to come up with a definitive list of shows that featured “favorite characters” over the span of my TV viewing years. In my case that’s something like the period since 1952 or so – roughly 60 years! For me the biggest problem comes from the “middle years” in that I have no real trouble picking out my favorites from the “early years” (back when I was a teenager and TV was new to me) nor from the “recent years” (let’s say the last 10 or so). It’s that big gap of at least 20 years ('70’s through '90’s, let’s say) when for whatever reason I’m just drawing a big blank on what TV was impressive to me in those days. To try to jog my own memory I have started to look back at some older threads on SDMB where TV shows were the main issue to see if “favorite characters” will become obvious that way. Here are a few of those threads: ================================================ > **[Who are your FIVE (5) favorite characters from "THE WIRE"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=576759)** > > This is the Final Poll that Bob Ducca and I have come up with to find the SDMB’s Favorite Characters from the TV Series “The Wire.” The choices have come from the top votes from the preliminary polls conducted recently. Others who received less than... Who are your FIVE (5) favorite characters from “THE WIRE”? > **[...and the best TV show in the history of the universe is:](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=614733)** > > I was watching an episode of a show the other day and this notion hit me: this is the best show in the history of television. I didn’t pose it to myself as a question, a possibility, or even a probability. I knew it in my bones, I knew (know) it as... …and the best TV show in the history of the universe is: > **[The Best All-Time TV Show \[vote for up to 10\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=562451)** > > After seven weeks Your Favorite All-Time TV Shows has provided the “favorite” Top 51 TV Shows of All Time. This poll is to try to determine the BEST of those shows. Since there’s no way to control the number of votes in a multiple choice poll, you... The Best All-Time TV Show [vote for up to 10] # [Your Favorite All-Time TV Shows - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556753) Your Favorite All-Time TV Shows If you know of other such threads (that I must have missed) please provide links to them. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/70 "2012-03-04T15:43:30Z")
Xena Buffy Captain Tightpants Jayne Cobb (well his big gun, really) Meredith McKay 😉 Mr Spock Samantha Carter Uhura Roger ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/71 "2012-03-04T15:45:31Z")
Here are a few to add to the list: Jesse Pinkman Hank Schrader Mike Ehrmantraut Peggy Olson Joan Harris Titus Pullo Atia of the Julii Chloe O’Brian ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/72 "2012-03-04T17:22:48Z")
Lt. Columbo (Columbo) Rory Gilmore (The Gilmore Girls) Jarod (The Pretender) Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars) Gaius Baltar (Battlestar Galactica) Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl) Arvin Sloane (Alias) ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/73 "2012-03-04T17:34:49Z")
Many of mine are already listed, but I will add: Gomez Addams (as played by John Astin) Dr. Tony Hill (from Wire in the Blood) Nero Wolfe (as played by Maury Chaykin) QE I (as played by Miranda Richardson - Blackadder II) ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/74 "2012-03-04T18:51:58Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Artie from _The Larry Sanders Show_ > Fox Mulder > X, Mulder’s contact after Deep Throat Good ones Ron Swanson - \*Parks and Recreation \* Hank Kingsley - _The Larry Sanders Show_ Dan Fielding - _Night Court_ Dan Conner - _Roseanne_ Barney Fife - _The Andy Griffith Show_ Claire Fisher - _Six Feet Under_ Federico ‘Rico’ Diaz - _Six Feet Under_ John Fitzgerald Byers - _The X-Files/ The Lone Gunmen_ ---
**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:** [March 4, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/75 "2012-03-04T19:34:21Z")
A few more (can’t believe I forgot a couple of these): Q, from _Star Trek: TNG_ Darlene Conner, from _Roseanne_ Doogie Howser, from _Doogie Howser, MD_ Methos, from _Highlander_ ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/76 "2012-03-04T20:01:49Z")
Detective Brisco, from _Law and Order_ Major Casey, from _Chuck_ The Doctor, from _Doctor Who_ Prof. Charlie Eppes, from _Numb3rs_ “Mr. Finch” and “Mr. Reese”, from _Person of Interest_ Agent Bill Maxwell, from _The Greatest American Hero_ Dr. Zoidberg, from _Futurama_ ---
**Author:** ![CALIBURN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@CALIBURN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CALIBURN)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/77 "2012-03-05T00:49:35Z")
i’ll second ralph kramden and add: -Spike (from the buffy/angel tv series) ---
**Author:** ![Pandoranoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Pandoranoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandoranoid)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/78 "2012-03-05T03:58:34Z")
Bill McNeal (Newsradio) Ron Swanson (Parks&Rec) Lillith Crane (Cheers) Abed (Community) ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/79 "2012-03-05T09:26:50Z")
Kay Howard (Homicide) Frank Pembleton (Homicide) Tim Bayliss (Homicide) Willie Caine (Sandbaggers) Neil Burnside (Sandbaggers) Mike Wallace (Sandbaggers) Titus Pullo (Rome) Lucius Verinus (Rome) Lennier (Babylon 5) Elim Garak (Star Trek: DS9) Simon Tam (Firefly) Julian Bashir (Star Trek: DS9) Mr. Spock (Star Trek) Aeyrun Sun (Farscape) Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan (Farscape) Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Toph (Avatar: The Last Airbender) Albert Rosenfeld (Twin Peaks) ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641/80 "2012-03-05T10:05:03Z")
Eddie Haskell Chief O’Hara Mr. Spock Mr. (Elliot) Carlin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-tv-characters-of-all-time/614641.md?page=5)