Mount Rushmore - Sitcom characters

[Buzzbee]

We haven't had one in a while, and while I think we might have done TV shows, or comedies, I don't think we've done sitcom characters.

For those who may not be familiar with the excercise, the idea is to take four (no more, no less) of the particular subject at hand that you would want to have forever remembered on the face of Mount Rushmore.

For example, a Mount Rushmore of black comedians MIGHT look something like:

Richard Pryor
Bill Cosby
Eddie Murphy
Chris Rock

Obviously this is a matter of opinion, which is what makes it fun. That, and the "Oh yeah! I forgot about..." factor.

So, that being said here goes my Mount Rushmore:


Hawkeye Pierce - M.A.S.H
Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy
Frasier Crane - Cheers/Frasier
Archie Bunker - All in the Family

Honorable mention = Fonzie, except that he jumped the shark.

[Fritz]

Les Nessman - WKRP
Jackie Gleeson - Honeymooners
JJ Walker - Good Times
Don Knotts - Andy Griffith Show

[VPI97]

Maynard G Krebs - Dobie Gillis
Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld
Bill McNeal - NewsRadio
Latka Gravas - Taxi

[heybrad]

Jack Tripper - Threes Company
Alex P Keaton - Family Ties
Kramer - Seinfeld

and I feel compelled to use him...

Norm - Cheers

[Radii]

Screech - Saved by the Bell
Urkel - uhh... whatever that show was
Boner - Growing Pains
Cockroach - Cosby Show

(I dunno... i will post a serious list later, dunno why the crappy sidekicks jumped into my head)

[Kevin]

I would second on Archie Bunker and Kosmo Kramer
plus nominate Ted Baxter from the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cliff Claven from Cheers.

Honourable mention to Larry, Darryl and Darryl from Newhart

[QuikSand]

Wow... so soon, and my list is already completely duplicative.

Archie Bunker - All in the Family
Ralph Kramden - The Honeymooners
Jack Tripper - Three's Company
Hawkeye Pierce - M*A*S*H

[Franklinnoble]

Michael Knight - Knight Rider
Stringfellow Hawk - Airwolf
B.A. Baracus - The A-Team
Starbuck - Battlestar Galactica

[QuikSand]

We've had three characters from Cheers named already (all of whom were, essentially, ancillary to the show). I think that's a high praise for the impact that show has had, at least on this general demographic.

[MJ4H]

Kramer - Seinfeld
Elaine - Seinfeld
George - Seinfeld
Jerry - Seinfeld

NOTE: this is only partly in jest.

More realistic

Kramer - Seinfeld
Dan Connor - Roseanne
Balki - Perfect Strangers
Cliff Huxtable - The Cosby Show

[3ric]

Niles Crane - "Frasier"
Basil Fawlty - "Fawlty Towers"
Edmund Blackadder - "Blackadder"
Chief Wiggins - "Simpsons"

[Buzzbee]

Kramer - Seinfeld
Elaine - Seinfeld
George - Seinfeld
Jerry - Seinfeld

NOTE: this is only partly in jest.

More realistic

Kramer - Seinfeld
Dan Connor - Roseanne
Balki - Perfect Strangers
Cliff Huxtable - The Cosby Show
What is very strange is that I would never consider Balki a contender to supplant such characters as Archie Bunker, Hawkeye Pierce, or some of the others listed here, as I was trying to recall various sitcoms over the years, Perfect Strangers is one that came to mind.

Not trying to slam your choice of Balki, merely a difference of opinion, which is what this is all about anyway.

[Fonzie]

So, that being said here goes my Mount Rushmore:


Hawkeye Pierce - M.A.S.H
Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy
Frasier Crane - Cheers/Frasier
Archie Bunker - All in the Family

Honorable mention = Fonzie, except that he jumped the shark.

:sigh:

[lcjjdnh]

Kevin Arnold- Wonder Years
Kramer-Seinfeld
Cliff Huxtable-Cosby Show
Alex P. Keaton-Family Ties

[Fritz]

Michael Knight - Knight Rider
Stringfellow Hawk - Airwolf
B.A. Baracus - The A-Team
Starbuck - Battlestar Galactica

do you and TRO double date?

[cuervo72]

do you and TRO double date?

lol

This was my first thought too.

[Kodos]

No Homer J. Simpson? :confused:

[Fonzie]

Fonzie - Happy Days (of course)
Archie Bunker - All in the Family
Lucy - I Love Lucy
Homer Simpson - The Simpsons

[DeToxRox]

Al Bundy - Married With Children (OBVIOUS CHOICE PEOPLE!)
Frank Costanza - Seinfeld
Peter Griffin - Family Guy
Archie Bunker - All in the Family

[DeToxRox]

how was i the first person to mention Al Bundy?

this is unjust!

[MikeVic]

What is very strange is that I would never consider Balki a contender to supplant such characters as Archie Bunker, Hawkeye Pierce, or some of the others listed here, as I was trying to recall various sitcoms over the years, Perfect Strangers is one that came to mind.

Not trying to slam your choice of Balki, merely a difference of opinion, which is what this is all about anyway.

Balki was pretty funny. I just HATE Archie, that's all. He has some of the bad qualities of someone close I know, and it makes me sick to even hear Archie talk...

[DeToxRox]

Balki was pretty funny. I just HATE Archie, that's all. He has some of the bad qualities of someone close I know, and it makes me sick to even hear Archie talk...

My question is... Can Balki be considered for Mount Rushmore? He was a Sheep Herder from like Luxumburg wasn't he?

[DeToxRox]

but to dola. i did think balki was a clutch choice. country dispute or not.

[heybrad]

My question is... Can Balki be considered for Mount Rushmore?

Of course he can, dont be ridiculous!

[bbor]

Kramer...
Hawkeye
Basil......Fawlty Towers(John Cleese)
Laura Prepon....70's show(hot and funny)

[DeToxRox]

Of course he can, dont be ridiculous!

but he technichally couldn't run for president! this is why i ask! politics in hypothetical threads about sitcom characters on mount rushmore are needed to be fair and balanced (waiting for the suit)

[atatange1]

Goeorge Costanza - Seinfeld
Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld
Frasier Crane - Frasier
Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm

And a most honorable mention to Al Bundy. EDIT[fix spelling]

[DeToxRox]

still no al bundy. i am shocked, really, i am.

[sabotai]

George Costanza - Seinfeld
Dan Rydell - Sports Night
Stewie - Family Guy
Al Bundy - Married With Children

[Bad-example]

Lister - Red Dwarf
Rimmer - Red Dwarf
Louie - Taxi
Jim - Taxi

[DeToxRox]

George Costanza - Seinfeld
Dan Rydell - Sports Night
Stewie - Family Guy
Al Bundy - Married With Children

Thank GOD for Sab.

[Ben E Lou]

Grady Wilson--Sanford & Son
Fred Sanford--Sanford & Son
Alex P. Keaton--Family Ties
Archie Bunker--All In The Family

[Samdari]

George Costanza - Seinfeld
Archie Bunker - All in the Family
Lou Grant - Mary Tyler Moore (I actually found Ted Baxter annoying and would have enjoyed the show more without him).
Hawkeye Pierce - M.A.S.H.

[MJ4H]

I was not aware there were nationality limitations.

[digamma]

Kramer
Joey Tribiani
Homer Simpson
Cliff Claven

[Pyser]

in 5 years, this list will be dominated by Arrested Development characters (assuming fox doesnt cancel it)

[vtbub]

Lucy
Homer
Coach (from Cheers)
Murphy Brown

[pooryorick]

Homer J. Simpson-The Simpson
Hawkeye Pierce-M*A*S*H
George Costanza-Seinfield
Master Shake-Aqua Teen Hunger Force

[Raiders Army]

1. Michael J. Fox (Family Ties)
2. Michael J. Fox (Spin City)
3. Michael J. Fox (Scrubs (cameo))
4. Michael J. Fox (just in general for good movies like Back to the Future and the Frighteners)

[Dawgfan1980]

Jackie Gleason - Honeymooners
Lucille Ball - I Love Lucy
Ed O'Neill - Married With Children
John Larroquette - Night Court

Each defines an era in TV and in society

[Kodos]

Hawkeye
Homer Simpson
George Costanza
Cliff Clavin

[DeToxRox]

Hawkeye
Homer Simpson
George Costanza
Cliff Clavin

Cliff Clavin was a beautiful pull. I am upset with myself I didn't even think of that one.

Touche.

[Honolulu_Blue]

A sitcom is only 1/2 hour. There were quite a few "hour long" entries up there...

Homer Simpson - Simpsons (the legend)
George Constanza - Sienfeld (amazing)
Bill McNeal - Newsradio (one of the least appreciated sitcoms of its time)
David Brent - The Office (simply genius. You folks who haven't had the pleasure, rent or buy the DVDs!)

[Fonzie]

David Brent - The Office (simply genius. You folks who haven't had the pleasure, rent or buy the DVDs!)

Good choice.

[MJ4H]

Jackie Gleason - Honeymooners
Lucille Ball - I Love Lucy
Ed O'Neill - Married With Children
John Larroquette - Night Court

Each defines an era in TV and in society

A well-thought out group. Nice job.

[timmynausea]

George Costanza - Seinfeld
Larry David - Curb your enthusiasm
Bill - Freaks and Geeks (sort of not a sit-com but whatever)
Dan Conner - Roseanne

Honorable Mention - Tobias and Job from Arrested Development. Either would've made the list, but it's only been on a year so it's hard to put anyone from AD above the others.

[Suicane75]

My question is... Can Balki be considered for Mount Rushmore? He was a Sheep Herder from like Luxumburg wasn't he?

Meepos, Balki was from Meepos.

[Suicane75]

Archie Bunker
Dan Fielding
Sam Malone
George Jefferson

[Ben E Lou]

Archie Bunker
Dan Fielding
Sam Malone
George JeffersonI had a hard time deciding between George and Archie.

[Suicane75]

I had a hard time deciding between George and Archie.

The pollsters splitting between the 3 main Seinfeld characters allowed Goerge to slip in the backdoor. :D

[Buzzbee]

I was wondering if anyone would slip in a Jeffersons reference.

Other sit-coms I thought might garner representatives:

Mork and Mindy
Laverne and Shirley
Friends
Leave it to Beaver (just for the Beaver reference)
3rd Rock
Soap

[cody8200]

Goeorge Costanza - Seinfeld (fantastic character)
Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld (greatness)
Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec-Cheers (Hilarious one liners)
Redd Fox-Sanford and Son

Honorable Mentions: Archie Bunker-All in the Family, Al Bundy-Married with Children

[Kodos]

I'd say Chandler Bing in the first couple seasons of Friends, but then the show and his character became much more of a standard sitcom.

[Glengoyne]

Meepos, Balki was from Meepos.
I have been banging my head, trying to remember that ever since Balki reared his head here.

As for my Mt Rushmore Selection

George Constanza - Just an outrageous character, Kramer was more original, but I'll give the nod to greatness to Georgie.
"Hawkeye" Pierce - probably the most completely developed Character on my list and probably amongst most sitcoms.
Lucille Ball - How could there be a Rushmore without Lucy.
Lou (Taxi) - This was a close call for me, There are so many good possibitlities.

[Abe Sargent]

I dispute whether or not a few of the mentioned shows ( like The Wonder Years) are actually sitcoms. I think that you have to seperate MASH into its comedy and drama years, and I think Alan Alda only nailed the character to the Nth degree after it left sitcom behind.

I love characters like Bill Huxtable, Jerry Seinfeld and Bob Hartley, but much of this was based on the actual actor's life and comedy, and less on an actual character.

I have a hard time nominating British characters for this role because there were so few shows. David Brent, for example, from The Office (and I own both seasons and have the Christmas specials on pre-order) is just 12 episodes in two seasons. Unless a show was around for a long time (Like Mrs. Slocum from Are You Being Served?), it's hard for me to nominate a Brit.

I also prefer a strong character to a one dimensional character. Characters like George Jefferson, Barney Fife and actors like Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleeson had very one dimesional roles where the talent of the actor is what is important, not the character. Since this is an award to the character, and not the actor, here are my nominees:

Archie Bunker (I think any self-respecting list MUST begin with Archie)
Alex P Keaton (Who simply made the show and also created an entire dynamic within sitcoms that was used over and again for years)
Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke nailed the character, toned down his normal comedy, and established a quality of sitcom that still shines today when most other contemporary sitcoms are virtually unwatchable)
Mary Richards (A completely different character than Mary's earlier foray with Laura Petrie. Great depth of emotion and character and maybe one of the most fully fleshed-out charatcers ever to see the light of situational comedy.)

-Anxiety

[cuervo72]

Hear hear on the DVD mention.

(hear hear to Laura Petrie! Wooooboy!)

[ntndeacon]

For my Mount Rushmore of Sit com Characters

1. Mary Richards--The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
2. Dr. Bob Hartley-- The Bob Newhart Show
3. Kermit The Frog--The Muppets
4. Ralph Kramden- The Honeymooners

Honorable mentions: Rob Petrie,The Reverend Jim Ignatowski, and Andy Taylor

[duckman]

Oscar Madison - The Odd Couple
Frank Burns - M*A*S*H
Cartman - South Park
Archie Bunker - All In The Family

[oykib]

Ed Norton - The Honeymooners
Homer Simpson - The Simpsons
George Costanza - Seinfeld
"Young" Mr. Grace - Are You Being Served?

[Solecismic]

Going solely on the success of their shows...

Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H/AfterMASH
Frasier Crane, Cheers/Frasier
Rachel Greene, Friends
Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show (launched by the Danny Thomas Show, cameos in Mayberry RFD).

My own would include Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Carroll O'Connor and Lucille Ball. More of a tribute to early television. I'd include Andy Griffith, but I don't think his shows had as much staying power, as incredibly popular as they were when they ran.