The 411 Top 5 07.06.06: Week 16

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 07.06.2006

The Top 5 Best Television Characters

We here at 411 love to mercilessly tear things down, and then rebuild them with love. That's why after letting loose our annoyance with television's worst characters last week (and, yes, I'm still having Urkel nightmares), this week we decided to give the old idiot box some props. So, let us put those horrible, horrible characters in the past, and move forward, with our look at

THE TOP 5 ALL-TIME BEST TELEVISION CHARACTERS


Trevor Snyder

Honorable Mentions:

- Adrian Monk (Tony Shaloub) - Monk = On the surface, Monk seems like the most obvious of gimmick characters; a private investigator with a severe case of OCD. That definitely sounds like something funny enough for a one-off movie, but the fact that the character has remained interesting, not to mention incredibly sympathetic, this far into the show's run is a huge testament to the talents of Shaloub and the writers.

- Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) - House = In a few more years, House might find his way into my Top 5. He's already damn close. In real life, most people can't stand bastards like this; but give them to us for one hour a week, and we love them. And as far as lovable bastards go, House pretty much takes the cake right now.

- Det. Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) - Homicide: Life on the Street = There have been a lot of great police detectives on TV, but perhaps none as intense, and well-acted, as Frank Pembleton, from NBC's criminally underappreciated Homicide. Watching Pembleton work his magic, particularly breaking down a perp into giving a confession in the box, was a thing of beauty.

5) Gob Bluth (Will Arnett) - Arrested Development
4) Chris Keller (Christopher Meloni) - Oz
3) Angel (David Boreanaz) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer & Angel
2) George Costanza (Jason Alexander) - Seinfeld
1) Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) - The Simpsons

5 – Yeah, like the guy in the $5000 suit wasn't going to make this list? C'MON!! Gob Bluth was well on his way to working his way further up this list when Arrested Development was delivered one of the most depressing death sentences in TV history. Every character on the show was a winner, but you just can't top Gob, the egotistical, horrible magician constantly seeking his father's approval. If for no other reason than his "chicken dance," which practically earns him a spot on the list all by itself.

4 – I enjoy Meloni's work on Law & Order: SVU, (and I still say he could have been The Punisher we all desperately wanted to see…sorry, Tom Jane) but for my money, Meloni will never top his amazing performance as Keller on HBO's prison drama Oz. On a show full of complex, morally ambiguous characters, the bisexual sociopath Keller was by far the most memorable. Plus, his extremely dysfunctional romance with fellow inmate Tobias Beecher remains television's most intriguing gay couple, no matter how messed up and unhealthy it was.

3 - Last week, Ben Moser listed Angel as one of TV's worst characters, but (obviously), I couldn't disagree more. Most people may have loved Spike because he had the cool look and "don't give a damn" punk attitude, but as far as I'm concerned there was no more interesting character in the entire Buffy-verse than Angel. First of all, it's a great concept. A vampire cursed with a soul, constantly forced to feel remorse for his past evil deeds. And if he experiences a single moment of pure happiness, his evil side, always lurking within, is released. I do agree with Moser that the early puppy-dog romance with Buffy was a bit trite. But once the evil Angelus persona was revealed in season two (see, Angel was actually two great characters for the price of one), it was easy to forgive all that nonsense. And once Angel was put center stage in his own show, the character grew even more, giving Boreanaz opportunity to show off both dramatic and (great) comedic skills.

2 – Remember what I said earlier about lovable bastards? Well, House may be top dog right now, but as far as all time goes, you just don't top George (or as I like to think of him, Art Vanderlay, importer/exporter). I could get into detail with why George is so great, but instead I'll sum it up with one moment: while at a child's birthday party, a small fire breaks out, and George proceeds to push an elderly woman and several children out of the way as he runs screaming to the exit. It's one of my all time favorite TV moments, and pretty much cements my love for the character.

1 – Bart Simpson may have been the intended breakout star of The Simpsons, but it didn't take long for both the writers and the audience to realize the real star is Homer. His stupidity is legendary, and hilarious, but if that's all there was to Homer, he wouldn't be the great character he is. No, what makes Homer great is that instead of just being an incredible oaf (like, say, Peter Griffin), there is an incredibly sweet naiveté and optimism to Homer, who really does love his family and wants the best for them, even if his plans for accomplishing that always lead to disaster. He's been an astronaut, a boxer, a recording star, a bartender, a food critic, chief of police, and many more. Next year, he finally becomes a movie star. Nobody deserves it more.


Tim O'Sullivan

This was tough, hence the number of honourable mentions forthcoming......

Honourable Mentions: Alan Partridge, GOB Bluth, Brian Potter, Vic Mackay, Gil Grissom, Tim Canterbury, Gregory House, Peter Griffin, Tony Almeida, Cosmo Kramer, Teddy Hoffman, John Dorian (J.D), Doctor Perry Cox, Quagmire, Larry David, Derek (Del Boy) Trotter, Ari Gold.

5) Tobias Funke (Arrested Development)
4) Chandler Bing (Friends)
3) Jack Bauer (24)
2) George Costanza (Seinfeld)
1) David Brent (The Office)

5. This was soooooo tough to compile, and I will probably regret a couple of decisions when I see this on the site, but here's my list. It's all about mood I guess, because when I first saw Murder One I thought that Teddy Hoffman was the greatest television character ever, the same with Grissom when I first got into CSI and Mackay when I first saw The Shield. However, sneaking in at number five is the legend that is Tobias Funke. The sign of a truly great character, and actor in fact, is when, as a viewer, you are waiting for his/her arrival. That was the case with Tobias in Arrested Development, which is saying a lot considering how good the writing, direction, and remainder of the cast were. He was just an absolute tosser.....in a beautiful way.

4. This is the Chandler from the first four seasons that I'm talking about. He was a pivotal reason for Friends becoming my favourite show, and although the show's gradual demise went hand in hand with Chandler's post-Monica comedic downfall, his performances during the peak of the show were a joy to watch.

3. I know that JT and Ruther will slate me for this pick, but Jack Bauer is a television god. 24's success is obviously due to movie-like direction, big action pieces, great writing and shocking twists. However, I doubt that the show would still be going if it wasn't for Kiefer Sutherland's superb portrayal of Bauer. The other lead actors produce slick performances week in, week out, but Sutherland really owns this show. No wonder the writers haven't had the balls to kill him off yet. He chopped off the arm of his daughter's fella, for fuck's sake!

2. The gap between my top two picks is too close to call, but I've picked a lane, and I'm sticking by it. George Costanza is a sitcom legend. After the overdue release of the DVD's, my worship of Costanza has heightened and the use of Larry David's past experiences for a lot of the character's storylines pushes his credibility even further. Plus, his rant at the end of 'The Marine Biologist' is still one of the finest scenes of any television show EVER.

1. Here he is. In my opinion, The Office is the greatest television show of all-time. In my opinion, Ricky Gervais is the best comedy actor in the world. In my opinion, David Brent is the greatest comedy character ever. Every time he enters a shot in The Office it is money. I laugh before he says anything....in anticipation of what he'll inevitably say. Obviously, the comedic effect isn't quite as huge after seeing each episode fifty times, but the first time I watched a brand new episode I've never cried with laughter as much as those moments.
"There's been a rape up there"
"Sometimes the accusations may be false"
"Get the guitar"
"Chris..........fuck off"
"Dolly Parton.....and some people say she's just a big pair of tits"
"I'm basically a chilled out entertainer"
"You will never work in a place like this again. This is brilliant. Fact."

David Brent. The legend.


Matthew Craggs

5) Mary E (Our Hero)
4) George Costanza (Seinfeld)
3) Token (South Park)
2) Nate (Six Feet Under)
1) Kosmo Kramer (Seinfeld)

5. Mary E was great because she's a complex character, but so simple at the same time. Since few of you have seen the show I'll explain. Mary Elizabeth Penrose is the sidekick to high school senior Kale. Mary E is a devout catholic, but she stays out late, dances dirty, and her boyfriend and her are like "Siamese twins attached at the tongue." This desire to fulfill her role as catholic and party girl can be confusing to a young person but she handle's it with a simplicity that makes a hell of a lot of sense. She's into the guys and she's into the God. She isn't stuck in some notion that you have to be either one or the other. Plus, she's very funny.

4. George Costanza was great because he was so reluctant to care about anything relevant, but so eager to get riled up about the stuff that didn't matter. If George Costanza, with a little work, could cure cancer, he wouldn't do it. Some guy flips him off? Screw the PBS telethon, we're Yankee's, and no-one flips off a Yankee! He was delightfully cynical, unabashedly unapologetic, and always funny. Just tell me his roommate switching plan for Jerry doesn't make you laugh. Or pretending to be a bad boy. Or creating a fake charity so he doesn't have to give Christmas gifts. Or craving the nickname T-bone. George is one of a kind.

3. Token was great because the pure makeup of the character said so much. South Park was a redneck mountain town overpopulated with racist, foul mouthed white people. The third (and later fourth) grade class was no different, save for Token, the black kid. By just being there Token was a dig at all of those shows with white casts who add one character of a different race to appease the race watchdogs. I have a friend who called the character racist, but nothing could be further from the truth. By creating the character Trey Parker and Matt Stone are telling the world that visible ethnicities are underrepresented because more often than not they are included for public relations reasons. Plus, the Token centric "Here Comes The Neighbourhood" is one of the funniest episodes of the series.

2. Nate Fisher was great because he was the modern day Willy Loman. I forget where I heard him called that name, but it is so appropriate that I have to say it here. He is the quintessential every man because he represents everything we want to be. He is smart, insightful, and gets laid a lot, all the while going through a series of trying events. In season one he had to reconnect with his dysfunctional family and try on a whole new career for size. In season two he had to hide his life threatening disease from his future wife. In season three he had to put up with a wife he didn't want and in season four he had to deal with losing her. That always intrigued me. How do you deal with the emotions stirred up by losing someone you wanted to lose in the first place. It's enough to kill a guy, and season five isn't much better.

1. Kramer was great because he was just so Kramer. Half of the things he did weren't funny because the actions or dialogue were funny, but they played hilariously on screen because Michael Richards knew how to enhance the script. Take an early episode for example. Kramer decides he wants to build levels in his apartment. He is asked how he will be comfortable. He responds, "Oh, I'll be comfortable." The joke in itself isn't funny, but Richards had the intuition to play it with passive arrogance. He knew that "I'll be comfortable" isn't funny unless the character is thinking, "That's a foolish question, I'm Kramer, I know what I'm doing."


Bryan Kristopowitz

Honorable Mentions

- Homer Simpson- voice of Dan Castelleneta- The Simpson's- I don't think most people thought that the dumb Dad on this cartoon show would turn out to be the star. All of the early merchandise and, well, attention, was paid to the son, Bart. Now, 15 + seasons later, Homer is the star. Why? Because he's a stupid, loveable goof. And he likes donuts. And he has personality. Can he carry the show the rest of its run? Maybe.

-ADA Jack McCoy- Sam Waterston- Law & Order- He's been the assistant DA for Manhattan now for 12 seasons. He's lived through three different District Attorneys and had two Assistant DA's die on his watch. And he's now the face of the series. He sums up dang near every case and every show with a heartfelt, stern warning to the jury that they must find the accused guilty because… well, it's his job. Waterston is good in this role, now so iconic, that if the producers throw him out it could very well be the end of the show. The ratings may get worse this upcoming season, but still, the show needs it's McCoy. "Chambers!"

-Peter Griffin- voice of Seth McFarlane- Family Guy- He's not Homer Simpson in that he's not loveable or a "good" person. Peter is a jerk who never, ever learns anything. For some reason that's appealing. Sometimes it's fun to watch a total idiot be a total idiot. And, if you're the main character of a show that came back after being cancelled, well, there's gotta be something interesting about you.

- Michael Knight- David Hasselhoff- Knight Rider- The pilot of the Knight Industries Two Thousand super cool high tech T-Top Trans Am is the man you want on your side in a tough situation. He managed to make a show where a guy talks to a car and the car talks back interesting. Hasselhoff really hasn't been able to recreate a similar role (I'm ignoring his work on Baywatch because I feel that Pam Anderson was the real star of that show) and he will forever be known as "a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the powerless, the helpless in a world of criminals who operate above the law."

-Detective Robert Goren- Vincent D'Onofrio- Law & Order: Criminal Intent- TV Guide had him listed as the tenth best TV detective, which I suppose is a good honor to have. It's not great, certainly. I didn't think D'Onofrio would last very long on the show. He just didn't seem like the kind of actor who would want to do TV, having to play the same character over and over again. It's not that he couldn't do it, it's just he wouldn't want to do it. He's usually the highlight of the show, and the way he destroys the bad guy in the interrogation room every show is a thing of beauty.

-Al Bundy- Ed O'Neill- Married… With Children- Ed O'Neill is going to be known as Al Bundy for the rest of his life. He has no say in the matter. His perennial loser Bundy, seller of women's shoes, head of the National Organization of Men Against Amazonian Masterhood (NO MAAM), owner of a rickety Dodge and a crappy family, is still funny. His hapless life is still a riot to watch. And am I the only one who watched his turn as Joe Friday on LA Dragnet and wondered deep down why he wasn't being funny? Long Live NO MAAM… and Hondo, the John Wayne movie they only show once every 17 years.

5) Sgt. Chip Saunders- Vic Morrow- Combat!
4) Freddy "Rerun" Stubbs- Fred Berry- What's Happening!!
3) Florida Evans- Esther Rolle- Good Times
2) Archie Bunker- Carroll O'Connor- All in the Family
1) Ralph Kramden- Jackie Gleason- The Honeymooners

5. Sgt. Chip Saunders - Vic Morrow- Combat!- He is the antithesis of Rick Jason's "Lt. Gil Haney," who you'll all remember from the last Top 5 as one of my least favorite TV characters. Sgt. Saunders is a one man army, charging the hill with his machine gun wiping out Nazi punks that get in the way. He has that quiet authority that you want to see in a warrior, an aura that allows the man to be cautious and thoughtful one second and brutally efficient the next. Morrow's Sgt Saunders is the guy that made the show hum, that made it a can't miss. He's the soldier everyone would want to be. I often wonder how many Nazis he managed to kill in the course of the war. And what the heck would he have done if he had transferred over to the Pacific to fight the Japanese? Would he have alongside Cotton Hill?

4. Freddy "Rerun" Stubbs - Fred Berry- What's Happening!!- The fat guy with the red beret and suspenders, the break-dancifying fool who was always the butt of fat jokes but somehow managed to keep a quiet dignity about himself. Berry had genuine comic timing and was always able to hit the laugh mark, even when the joke was lame. He was definitely the star of the short lived sitcom, and he worked well with Ernest Thomas and Haywood Nelson. His best episode was the one in the third season where he had 15 credit cards and bought an aqualung for no reason.

3. Florida Evans- Esther Rolle - Good Times- Everyone remembers Jimmy Walker's "J.J Evans" as the star of the show, and to a lesser extent they remember John Amos' excellent turn as the Evans family patriarch James, but no one ever seems to remember Florida. Rolle's character was the straight man of the series, the cool and calm head that held everything together, especially after James died. Her emotional breakdown after the funeral get together is still extremely powerful (watch her throw that glass bowl to the ground and then notice the goosebumps on your arm) and her steadiness throughout is something that should be remembered. She was always there for her family. That's important.

2. Archie Bunker- Carroll O'Connor - All in the Family - The loveable bigot Archie Bunker. "Loveable bigot" seems like an oxymoron. But, in the case of All in the Family, Carroll O'Connor made it work. It helped that he had a great supporting cast in Jean Stapleton as Edith, Rob Reiner as Michael "Meathead" Stivic, and Sally Struthers as Gloria, bit O'Connor made the show go. People tuned in to see what stupid thing he would say next (or they agreed with his racist remarks. Not sure why, though. It seems like an odd thing to agree with a character who always lost in the end), and O'Connor's sense of comic timing and bizarre irony still make the character relevant and interesting.
"Mr. Davis, do you take cream and sugar in your eye?"

1. Ralph Kramden- Jackie Gleason - The Honeymooners- Ralph Kramden is the best example of the dumb male in sitcoms. With the help of his just as dumb buddy Ed Norton (the great Art Carney) , the bus driver for the Gotham Bus Company cooked up one crazy scheme after another to get rich. Nothing ever worked. And the world is better off for it. This is easily Gleason's best comedic work (testament to that is the fact that "The Honeymooners" sitcom only lasted 39 episodes but is still running somewhere on TV) and Kramden is a showcase for great timing, buffoonery, pathos, and amazing warmth. He's got a big mouth, he threatens to punch his wife in the face and send her to the moon, and he wants you to be careful with that H2O, what do you think it is, water? Core a apple? Hamina, hamina, hamina.


Ian Smart

5. Janitor (Scrubs)
4. GOB (Arrested Development)
3. Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers)
2. Archie Bunker (All in the Family)
1. Dr. Perry Cox (Scrubs)

5. Every episode of Scrubs is greatly elevated by the sharp verbal jabs and utter hilarity that Neil Flynn is able to create. The character of the Janitor begins as a shallow background character, solely devoted to antagonizing intern John Dorion (Zach Braff). Over the course of Scrubs' five seasons, Janitor has been revealed to the audience with careful precision, enabling Flynn's character to maintain the mystique and indifference that is necessary to deliver sharp verbal jabs and outlandish behaviour that audiences have come to expect. Much like his fellow cast-mate John C. McGinely, Flynn has an uncanny ability to turn his character on a dime, transitioning from hilarity to deep rooted sincerity, which makes his character all the more intriguing.

4. Amidst a plethora of outstanding characters and tremendous acting, Will Arnett and his character George "GOB" Bluth II rise above mere comedic performance, reaching an elite level. Arnett has mastered ‘deadpan' humour, and delivers his lines with such seriousness that he leaves that audience in stitches; one must wonder how he can deliver the lines without breaking out into hysterics.

3. I was unsure where to place John Cleese's Fawlty Towers character due to the short run of the show; Fawlty Towers consists of only 12 episodes, which means the depth of the character was never truly tested. Despite the short run, Cleese's Fawlty is uproarious and combines physical and verbal comedy masterfully, and therefore deserves a place on this list. For anyone who has not seen the show, I implore you to watch it if you ever get a chance; you can watch the whole series in one afternoon.

2. Forever known as America's most beloved bigot, Archie Bunker broke new ground by transforming ignorant views into side-splitting comedy. What makes that character so incredible is that despite his bigotry, and ignorance, audiences warmed to Bunker, played by Caroll O'Connor, and laughed despite his lack of political correctness. Bunker was a reflection of so many Americans at the time, and his popularity demonstrated America's willingness to laugh at itself, all the while, the show illustrated that those ignorant views were unfounded, leaving Bunker defeated and disappointed at the end of each episode.

1. I was unsure of this selection because as great as the character is, the actor playing the character is what really stands out in my mind. It is no overstatement to say that John C. McGinley is in a class all by himself when it comes to current comedic actors. Known primarily for his dramatic roles, McGinely captivates the audience every week, and delivers dynamic performances from bell to bell on Scrubs. While the writing on the show is witty and poignant, McGinley's delivery is what makes the Scrubs so entertaining. Dr. Perry Cox is a cliché character, hard and cerebral with a soft creamy centre, except in the case of Cox, the character works. No other actor or character can thrust the audience in polar opposite directions so seamlessly; one moment Cox has the audience laughing out loud, and the next he has the audience in stunned silence as he delivers a heart-wrenching dramatic monologue. This is a true testament to the architecture of the character; being believable at both ends of the performance spectrum, especially when those moments are adjacent.


Chad Webb

5) Angus MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) MacGyver 1985
4) Zach Morris (Mark Paul Gosselaar) Saved by the Bell 1989
3) Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) Full House 1987
2) Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) The Sopranos 1999
1) Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) The Wonder Years 1988

5 – This show seriously puts so many shows today, to shame. He was one of the most creative and ingenuous characters at the time. He was a man who never touched a gun. He used his brain as his most powerful weapon. Richard Dean Anderson's MacGyver was not only fascinating and interesting to watch, but he was also charismatic. He got the girls, was always polite, and had a bad ass mullet. The plots of the shows, while sometimes silly, were always intriguing because you never knew what type of invention MacGyver would concoct to get himself out of a bind. What was great about him was that he didn't use exaggerated martial arts, or whatever, to defeat his enemies. It was a breath of fresh air actually. Truth be told, I have attempted some of his quick fixes, and the ones I've tried do work.

4 - Saved by the Bell was an extremely cheesy show, but it was worth watching for one reason and one reason only. Zach Morris. Sure, Kelly, Jesse, and Lisa were hot and all for the guys, but viewers needed a character that would maintain their attention for an entire half-hour. This was, and always will be Mark Paul Gosselaar's best role. He has jumped around in many shows these days, and even tried to do some films, but he will always be Zach Morris. Guys liked to watch him I suppose because he was the biggest pimp on television. If you read between the lines on this show, Zach screwed just about every girl in school. What middle/high school kid didn't want to be like him?

3 – Looking back, Full House was a craptastic show, and there are only two characters that are even remotely worth watching. Rebecca is one (because she was hot), and of course Jesse is the other. It was a breath of fresh air to see that John Stamos' acting wasn't way over the top like everyone else. Most aspects of Full House make you roll your eyes, and then change the channel, but occasionally one of Jesse's storylines kept our eyes glued to the TV set. Come on, admit it. He was in a band called "Jesse and the Rippers", and watching him try to get a record deal throughout the show's run was about the only thing I still enjoy today. I even remember the song he covered by the Beach Boys called "Forever", which wasn't all that bad. I'm sure many people are thinking that I am an idiot for putting him on my list, but to be truthful, Jesse was pretty cool, and the gags about his hair were actually funny.

2 - The Sopranos is one of greatest shows ever, and even though James Gandolfini is magnificent as Tony Soprano, the most electric character on the show is Christopher Moltisanti. He brings more passion, heart, and energy to a character better than I have ever seen before. Watching him move up in the ranks of Tony's crew over the years was fantastic, and just plain tremendous television. On the show, he was described as "loose cannon", and I think that's the best way to describe him. At some points you hated him, and at other times you loved him. He was the most conflicted person on the show, and I will never get tired of watching him.

1 – This is still my favorite show of all time. The reason he is number 1 is because of how accurately Fred Savage portrayed a kid going through middle/high school. I don't know how many times the episode that I was watching somehow related to something going on in my own life. There has never been a character, past or present, the I have been able to connect so well with. If just watching his character wasn't enough, every episode had narration of what he was thinking inside of his head. He was so easy to relate to, and that is why the show had such a long run. We weren't just watching episode after episode. It was like watching a life unfold over the years. The creators did such a superb job at revealing his maturity gradually over time. I'll bet some people have forgotten about Kevin Arnold and this show, but for me, my number 1 choice was a tough decision at all.


Avery Chan

Honourable Mentions:

Lex Luthor (Smallville) – What do you think JT? Does he count? He's a character with decades of history before being on television but Michael Rosenbaum's done such a good job with his descent into evil that it's almost a new character.

GOB (Arrested Development) – Could've easily snuck in at #5 but lacked the pathos I'm looking for in great characters. Plus, I didn't' want the list to be a complete sausage fest.

Balki Bartokomous (Perfect Strangers) – characters with weird accents are funny.

5) Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
4) Zack Morris (Saved by the Bell)
3) Johnny Drama (Entourage)
2) Spike (Buffy/Angel)
1) Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)

5. In season one she was a special teen who just wanted to be normal. By season seven, she was a young adult who willingly carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Along the way she had her heart broken, killed the love of her life, her mother died, she died (twice) herself, worked at a burger joint, and basically grew up. In the beginning, she was a virginal high school girl and by the end, she was a woman who enjoyed freaky-deaky sex with dead people. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Buffy Summers.

4. Last week, Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: TNG topped my list of "Worst TV Characters. It's ironic that Zack Morris makes my list for "Best TV Character" for almost the same reasons Wes made the "Worst". Like Crusher, Zack was smarter than all the adults and students (1500 on the SAT's), gets the hottest chicks (he got with Kelly, Jesse, Tori, and Lisa) AND has the power to stop time (Time Out!). I guess the difference must be the clothing. I'd take Zack's tapered jeans, high-top sneakers, neon T-shirt and blazer with sleeves rolled up over Wesley's body stocking any day.

3. The appeal of Johnny Drama is unwavering optimism in the face of constant humiliation. In the real world, this is a person that would've blown his brains out years ago but is so sweetly deluded that he keeps on truckin'. Once he was a God among geeks as the star of Viking's Quest but now he's the personal chef to his superstar younger brother. In his younger days, he would party with the Karate Kid in the Playboy Mansion but now he's reduced to trying to sneak in by hiding in the trunk of a car. Still, he never gives up hope that an agent will eventually take him as a client and will no longer be known solely as Vince's older bro, just as Kevin Dillon is no longer just Matt Dillon's younger brother.

2. I can't think of another character that has undergone as wide a character arc as Spike. He went from villain to hero in eight seasons with his street cred intact. It's easy to see why he was a fan favorite. Spike was always given the best lines and like Johnny Drama, was frequently humbled in some humiliating fashion that kept him endearing to the audience. Spike was essentially neutered with a chip in his brain that prevented him from harming humans, forced to live in Xander's basement, believed he was Giles's son Randy for a while, and fell in love with his mortal enemy. Somehow, he always managed to redeem himself bit by bit until there was no question he was a hero.

1. I totally agreed with Cragg's opinion of Peter Griffin last week. Griffin is a "fat, annoying asshole with no redeeming value". I don't consider Griffin one of the worst characters but he definitely will never reach the level of Homer Simpson. Homer is also a fat, sometimes annoying asshole but he does have redeeming values. His first instinct is always wrong but he has just enough wisdom (for lack of better word) to recognize his failings and try to correct them. As bad a parent as he is, there's no doubt he loves his kids. He's a clueless husband but there's no one who loves his wife more than Homer loves Marge ("I know the one thing I can give you that no one else can! Complete and utter dependency!"). There's also no character on TV with the sense of adventure that Homer has. His willingness to leap into any situation only leads to more enjoyment for the audience. The Simpsons is a show full of incredible characters and Homer is the best of the best.

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First off, allow me to welcome Top 5 newcomer Ian Smart to the mix. Anyone who loves Scrubs that much is good people in my book.

Well, the last two weeks were fun, but you may have noticed that in tackling the best and worst single characters in TV history, we didn't really touch on many of the famous onscreen partnerships that have graced the small screen. Well, we can easily remedy that. And we shall, next week, when we take a look at The Top 5 Television Onscreen Duo's.