25 Characters Meme
Rules: Had to have been a regular cast member (for at least one season
Also, alas, no reality shows. Otherwise Tim Gunn would be number one, because Tim Gunn is my god.
1. George Michael Bluth (Michael Cera), Arrested Development - There are not many young, male characters on television who have a good heart. George Michael, despite his fracked up family, is the glue that holds together Arrested Development, and his charming innocence and desire to be loved reminds me that there is goodness in the world. Yes, I am sentimental, but Michael Cera has to be, hands down, the best child actor around.
2. Sydney Anne Bristow (Jennifer Garner), Alias - A grad student who moonlights as a banker, who is really a spy? Who gave the green light for that show? Sydney has had some seasonal ups and downs, but overall she’s a real woman. Her vulnerability, drive, and desire to protect the ones she loves are characteristics that I admire. Plus she’s got a sweet Spy Barbie pad in Santa Monica. Sure, her character has had its low points, but Jennifer Garner sold JJ’s crazy concept to me.
3. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), Battlestar Galactica - I just heart Kara, it could be because she out boys the boys. Even though there are all the jokes that she isn’t educated, Starbuck always possesses more self assuredness and awareness then anyone else on that battlestar.
4. George Oscar “GOB” Bluth (Will Arnett), Arrested Development - He’s the prime rib of my favorite show. A character that is such a jack ass should not be so lovable, I can’t explain it, but I wish we could “sonsumate” our love.
5. Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), Scrubs - The best bastard covered bastard with bastard filling on television. His relationship with Jordan is also one of my favorites. He grounds what can be a very silly show and does it in a way that can bring me to tears in every episode.
6. Mae “Maeby” Funke (Alia Shawkat), Arrested Development - Cousin Lovin, need I say more? The composition of her character is just ingenious, so worldly and so ignorant all wrapped up in an actress who can deliver the lines perfectly. “I think I’m all grown up now.”
7. Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), Gilmore Girls - Before the Palladinos decided to kill her character in Season 6, Lorelai was my favorite Gilmore.
8. Jim Halpert (John Krazinski), The Office (US) - Puppy dog eyes and a wicked sense of humor. I wish Jim was in my office, if I were to have one. Picnics on the roof are mandatory, right?
9. Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), Strangers with Candy - A boozer, a user, and a loser. My type of gal. Have I mentioned that I am also a Sedaris family groupie?
10. Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Best mentor figure ever? Plus he has excellent taste in music.
11. Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClannahan), Golden Girls - She is how I imagined Scarlett O’Hara would be if she lived in the 21st century. She is unapologetic and comfortable with being the butt of jokes, not many septuagenarians can roll with the sex jokes.
12. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Friends - Ms. Chanandler Bong, the only member of the cast I think I could handle being friends with. His quips were perfection, and he was my original snarky boyfriend.
13. Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), Veronica Mars - Even though he was pushed to the outskirts of the show in S.2 (a big reason why I think it lacked the heart of S.1), Keith has the ability to make you care about what is going on. The season finale was gut wrenching for that reason.
14. Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), Veronica Mars - The girl can quote her Alexander Pope. She won me from that moment in the first episode.
15. Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Calais), Battlestar Galactica - I have a soft spot for his very conflicted character. It’s the romantic in me. Baltar is given so many facets that it is hard to determine where he lies in terms of good and bad, but it is always a joy to watch him self torment and puzzle through his psychosis.
16. Jack Bristow (Victor Garber), Alias - Spy! Daddy. He was always there to do right by his daughter. And he did it with such a satisfied vengeance, how I will miss that smirk.
17. Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), Alias - I wasn’t quite sure if Vaughn deserved a spot on this list, because we all know that Vartan’s hotness is the main reason why I love this character. But it would really be cruel of me to exclude him just because he is that pretty. Hmmm, stubble.
18. Janitor (Neil Flynn), Scrubs - Do I need to explain my janitor love?
19. Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Fawlty Towers - According to Lauren, I like Basil because “he is so awesome.” I do agree of course, even if it is only because he is a hysterically inept business man (much like Michael Scott) - his prejudices amuse me to no end. Poor Manuel. “You have to forgive him, he’s from Barcelona.”
20. Michael Scott (Steve Carell), The Office (US) - Yes, he is a terrible boss, but I love him. I have issues. When he said that he wanted to have hundreds of children so that he would always have friends, I cried a little. I just want to hug him and fix his bacon on the stove.
21. The “It’s” Man (Michael Palin), Monty Python’s Flying Circus - Eeeet’s Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Ah Michael Palin makes a very good hermit dressed in rags. The ludicrous situations that introduce the show set the tone, and it is a very silly tone. Contrast Palin with Cleese’s mock BBC commentator, genius.
22. Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert), Strangers with Candy - He loathes Jerri, he loves Geoffrey, and he is comfortable enough to pose nude. Colbert, before he was known for the Report, had chops before the Daily Show gave him an audience. Noblet is self centered, but confusedly romantic character that can groove.
23. Bill Adama (Edward James Olmos), Battlestar Galactica - He may not throw people out of air locks, but his brand of tough love can create more loyalty than brute force. He may be a better surrogate father than actual father, but he does what he knows best, and that is to trust his human instinct, even if that means harboring the enemy.
24. Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), Veronica Mars - “Annoy tiny blonde one, annoy like the wind!” How does a character go from being a psychotic jackass to a shiny example in snarky heroics? By getting beat by Harry Hamlin, that’s how. His screen time was wasted in S.2, although it gave many of us the chance to see him nekkid, but he managed to steal the scenes he was in. After the blandness of Duncan, it was nice to see Logan smarm his way around Neptune. Plus he tivoes Ellen.
25. Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walters), Arrested Development - “How am I supposed to find someone willing to go into that musty old claptrap?” The perfect villain in the Chanel suit. Her barbs are carefully aimed and when she is not busy lying, she is dispensing the hurtful truth to those who stand in her way. And she’s right, Tobias will never be an actor.
Also, alas, no reality shows. Otherwise Tim Gunn would be number one, because Tim Gunn is my god.
1. George Michael Bluth (Michael Cera), Arrested Development - There are not many young, male characters on television who have a good heart. George Michael, despite his fracked up family, is the glue that holds together Arrested Development, and his charming innocence and desire to be loved reminds me that there is goodness in the world. Yes, I am sentimental, but Michael Cera has to be, hands down, the best child actor around.
2. Sydney Anne Bristow (Jennifer Garner), Alias - A grad student who moonlights as a banker, who is really a spy? Who gave the green light for that show? Sydney has had some seasonal ups and downs, but overall she’s a real woman. Her vulnerability, drive, and desire to protect the ones she loves are characteristics that I admire. Plus she’s got a sweet Spy Barbie pad in Santa Monica. Sure, her character has had its low points, but Jennifer Garner sold JJ’s crazy concept to me.
3. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), Battlestar Galactica - I just heart Kara, it could be because she out boys the boys. Even though there are all the jokes that she isn’t educated, Starbuck always possesses more self assuredness and awareness then anyone else on that battlestar.
4. George Oscar “GOB” Bluth (Will Arnett), Arrested Development - He’s the prime rib of my favorite show. A character that is such a jack ass should not be so lovable, I can’t explain it, but I wish we could “sonsumate” our love.
5. Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), Scrubs - The best bastard covered bastard with bastard filling on television. His relationship with Jordan is also one of my favorites. He grounds what can be a very silly show and does it in a way that can bring me to tears in every episode.
6. Mae “Maeby” Funke (Alia Shawkat), Arrested Development - Cousin Lovin, need I say more? The composition of her character is just ingenious, so worldly and so ignorant all wrapped up in an actress who can deliver the lines perfectly. “I think I’m all grown up now.”
7. Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), Gilmore Girls - Before the Palladinos decided to kill her character in Season 6, Lorelai was my favorite Gilmore.
8. Jim Halpert (John Krazinski), The Office (US) - Puppy dog eyes and a wicked sense of humor. I wish Jim was in my office, if I were to have one. Picnics on the roof are mandatory, right?
9. Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), Strangers with Candy - A boozer, a user, and a loser. My type of gal. Have I mentioned that I am also a Sedaris family groupie?
10. Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Best mentor figure ever? Plus he has excellent taste in music.
11. Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClannahan), Golden Girls - She is how I imagined Scarlett O’Hara would be if she lived in the 21st century. She is unapologetic and comfortable with being the butt of jokes, not many septuagenarians can roll with the sex jokes.
12. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Friends - Ms. Chanandler Bong, the only member of the cast I think I could handle being friends with. His quips were perfection, and he was my original snarky boyfriend.
13. Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), Veronica Mars - Even though he was pushed to the outskirts of the show in S.2 (a big reason why I think it lacked the heart of S.1), Keith has the ability to make you care about what is going on. The season finale was gut wrenching for that reason.
14. Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), Veronica Mars - The girl can quote her Alexander Pope. She won me from that moment in the first episode.
15. Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Calais), Battlestar Galactica - I have a soft spot for his very conflicted character. It’s the romantic in me. Baltar is given so many facets that it is hard to determine where he lies in terms of good and bad, but it is always a joy to watch him self torment and puzzle through his psychosis.
16. Jack Bristow (Victor Garber), Alias - Spy! Daddy. He was always there to do right by his daughter. And he did it with such a satisfied vengeance, how I will miss that smirk.
17. Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), Alias - I wasn’t quite sure if Vaughn deserved a spot on this list, because we all know that Vartan’s hotness is the main reason why I love this character. But it would really be cruel of me to exclude him just because he is that pretty. Hmmm, stubble.
18. Janitor (Neil Flynn), Scrubs - Do I need to explain my janitor love?
19. Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), Fawlty Towers - According to Lauren, I like Basil because “he is so awesome.” I do agree of course, even if it is only because he is a hysterically inept business man (much like Michael Scott) - his prejudices amuse me to no end. Poor Manuel. “You have to forgive him, he’s from Barcelona.”
20. Michael Scott (Steve Carell), The Office (US) - Yes, he is a terrible boss, but I love him. I have issues. When he said that he wanted to have hundreds of children so that he would always have friends, I cried a little. I just want to hug him and fix his bacon on the stove.
21. The “It’s” Man (Michael Palin), Monty Python’s Flying Circus - Eeeet’s Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Ah Michael Palin makes a very good hermit dressed in rags. The ludicrous situations that introduce the show set the tone, and it is a very silly tone. Contrast Palin with Cleese’s mock BBC commentator, genius.
22. Chuck Noblet (Stephen Colbert), Strangers with Candy - He loathes Jerri, he loves Geoffrey, and he is comfortable enough to pose nude. Colbert, before he was known for the Report, had chops before the Daily Show gave him an audience. Noblet is self centered, but confusedly romantic character that can groove.
23. Bill Adama (Edward James Olmos), Battlestar Galactica - He may not throw people out of air locks, but his brand of tough love can create more loyalty than brute force. He may be a better surrogate father than actual father, but he does what he knows best, and that is to trust his human instinct, even if that means harboring the enemy.
24. Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), Veronica Mars - “Annoy tiny blonde one, annoy like the wind!” How does a character go from being a psychotic jackass to a shiny example in snarky heroics? By getting beat by Harry Hamlin, that’s how. His screen time was wasted in S.2, although it gave many of us the chance to see him nekkid, but he managed to steal the scenes he was in. After the blandness of Duncan, it was nice to see Logan smarm his way around Neptune. Plus he tivoes Ellen.
25. Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walters), Arrested Development - “How am I supposed to find someone willing to go into that musty old claptrap?” The perfect villain in the Chanel suit. Her barbs are carefully aimed and when she is not busy lying, she is dispensing the hurtful truth to those who stand in her way. And she’s right, Tobias will never be an actor.