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Top Ten TV Characters - Part Two
In Part One I listed my choices of all-time favorite television characters from number 10 to number 6. Those choices were:
#10 - tie - Granny and Elly May on "The Beverly Hillbillies"
#9 - Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"
#8 - Warren Ferguson on "The Andy Griffith Show"
#7 - Lucy Ricardo on "I Love Lucy"
#6 - Norm Peterson on "Cheers"
Many bloggers followed with their picks and the selections were quite varied. Here are my Top Five choices:
#5 - Ralph Kramden on "The Honeymooners" - Oh, Jackie Gleason was a master at losing his temper and showing his soft side in the same show. One minute he'd be sending Alice "to the moon" and minutes later he'd be saying, "Baby, you're the greatest!" He and his buddy Ed Norton may be the funniest duet ever.
#4 - Floyd Lawson on "The Andy Griffith Show" - Nobody mentioned this character, but his mannerisms made me laugh. Gomer and Goober and Otis and Howard Sprague got more time in front of the camera, but I loved the scenes with Floyd, the town's barber. Played by Howard McNear, the character Floyd fumbled with his long black comb and spoke in a way that kept me laughing.
#3 - George Costanza on "Seinfeld" - Do you know somebody like George? I just can't picture Jason Alexander playing anyone else. And maybe that's the problem with his career. His other ventures after "Seinfeld" just haven't panned out. He will always be George to us. George, the character whose description defies words. A liar, a cheater, an unsuccessful lover, he reminds us of the worst in all of us, but in a laughable way.
#2 - Kramer on "Seinfeld" - Kramer often stole the show on "Seinfeld," but I'm sure Jerry never cared. He just laughed all the way to the bank. Michael Richard's character, Cosmo Kramer, became larger than life. Whether it was coming into Jerry's apartment or raiding Jerry's refrigerator, Kramer did it with a flair. Sometimes while teaching eighth graders, I'd catch myself doing a "Kramerism" because I'd seen an episode the night before. You seldom saw the inside of Kramer's apartment, but you did in one of my favorite episodes, when Kramer set up his living room like the set of a TV talk-show host. Now there's an idea for "Fox on the Run."
And, Foxy's Number One choice for his all-time favorite televsion character:
Barney Fife on "The Andy Griffith Show" - I guess you can figure out that "The Andy Griffith Show" is my all-time favorite TV show. Andy played the straight man to Don Knott's Barney character and it was a winning recipe. Barney was the toughest, best-looking, coolest, bravest lawman going ... in his own mind. Everyone else, including the viewers, knew better. Juanita at the diner, Thelma Lou and visiting starlets were putty in his hands -- my kind of hero. My all-time favorite Barney achievement was when he rescued Andy and Helen from the cave, even though they had already rescued themselves. But, meanwhile, Barney had organized the entire town in a rescue effort. So, Andy and Helen had to return to the cave, and Barney ends up the town's hero, a deserving fate for my all-time favorite character.
Comments
well in my opinion i really love all of the shows mentioned, but my favorite character was Angel played by David Boreanaz in both "Angel" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Posted by: lizzy | November 8, 2006 2:15 PM
In the last 10 years, there has not been a better TV character than Kramer from "Seinfeld".
He constantly makes us laugh. His physical nature and actions are humorous, wit amazing, and appearance quirky. I find myself laughing constantly when I watch the show.
(Foxy's note: My son Erik is a huge Seinfeld fan and for a birthday present several years ago, I brought him to New York City for the "Kramer Reality Tour," hosted by Kenny Kramer, the character that Kramer is modeled after. It was great fun!)
Posted by: Donny Kasprzak | October 29, 2006 8:33 PM
Hey Foxy, how about best TV parents? For me, it's a tough choice between Homer and Marge Simpson, and Herman and Lilly Munster. Eddie always seemed like he was turning out to be nicer kid than Bart. Maybe Herman and Lilly benefitted from having Grandpa Munster's calming influence around the house.
(Foxy's note: Good topic idea! Lots of TV parents to choose from!)
Posted by: Andrew Pulrang | October 28, 2006 10:05 PM
if you really like "mayberry" then you need to visit mt airy NC... it is where andy griffith grew up and alot of the show was from things that happened there... they have the barber shop.. the diner with the pork chop sandwich.. pilot mtn.. which is mt pilot.. they actually have "mayberry days" the 3rd weekend in october
(Foxy's note: Sounds like fun! Thanks for the info.)
Posted by: bill glasscock | October 28, 2006 2:14 PM
Foxy:
I am extremely surprised that Red Skelton and many of his charters did not make your Top-10, especially Clen Kadiddlehopper. I expected to see Flip Wilson and his "the devil made me do it" character. Tim Conway and Harvey Corman on the Carol Burnett Show especially the night Conway played the Dentist (Classic) and don't forget Red Foxx.
The Carver has contributed extensively to this blog but I am surprised he left off Dusty Boyd and his Channel Five shows. The Old Timer has been absent on this one, maybe because there was no TV during his youth.
Go Giants!!!
Posted by: Mike Mannix | October 26, 2006 1:59 PM
"Dirty pool" you kinda tricked us into thinking you didn't pick characters from the same shows you had already mentioned!... excellent choices though... who you didn't mention from "The Andy Griffith Show" of all people was "Otis"...home town????... Massena NY !! I think "old timer" played against him in high school football, before facemasks were invented.
(Foxy's note: No, the carver, Otis was actually one of my least favorite on the show, along with Helen Crump. I didn't know he was from Massena, though.)
Posted by: the carver | October 25, 2006 3:59 PM
A side note to your selection of Floyd the barber (Howard McNear) In the latter years of the show you always saw Floyd sitting in the barbers chair. McNear had a severe stroke that nearly took his life, Andy Griffith insisted that producers keep "Floyd" a part of the show.
Despite his illness and thanks to the loyalty of Andy, the Floyd the barber character remained a part of the show until his death in 1969.
Posted by: Rick K | October 25, 2006 1:12 PM
Enjoy your blogs and agree on this one completely. I played football at PHS (1959-63) and remember playing OLVA, MAI and St Johns there locally. I enjoyed my 40th class reunion there in P'burgh in 2003 and I was surprised and glad that the city hadn't changed much. Paul - Go Hornets
(Foxy's note: Paul, nice to hear from you. I remember you. I was an OLVA, class of '66, but had lots of friends at PHS. The Hornets had a pretty good football season this year, won some big games, and just lost out by one point to dreaded Peru. They still have a chance in the playoffs.)
Posted by: Paul Shirley (Class of 1963 - PHS) | October 25, 2006 10:44 AM