What makes a great sitcom character? Well, they have to be funny, and they should probably leave a lasting impression. Beyond that, anything goes! Here are 12 characters that just might be the best sitcom character ever.
Since this question is so broad, we took to crowdsourcing and rounded up the most popular answers – and let me say, this is a pretty diverse mix. How many of these popular answers do you recognize?
Art Vandelay (Seinfeld)
I’m not joking, I swear this was the most popular answer. If you don’t already know, Art Vandelay isn’t even a real character. He’s just someone George made up during a job interview. But he is iconic!
Lucille Bluth (Arrested Development)
The mother of some of the most hilarious sitcom quotes of all time, Lucille Bluth is the super rich, out-of-touch matriarch of the Bluth family. You can’t help but love how unlikeable she is.
Frank Reynolds (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
It’s pretty hard not to adore any character Danny DeVito plays. He just has a way with comedy – especially when it comes to playing anti-heroes like Frank Reynolds.
Captain Raymond Holt (Brooklyn 99)
Are you enjoying Captain Raymond Holt as the best TV character ever? I specifically requested it. Joking aide, what makes Captain Holt so funny and iconic is that he constantly subverts the characters’, and by extension the viewers’, expectations.
Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)
Everyone in Parks and Rec is great but there aren’t too many characters as iconic as Ron Swanson. Rugged and blunt, he’s the perfect contrast to Leslie’s bubbly personality.
George Costanza (Seinfeld)
We kind of already covered George given that he invented Art Vandelay, but fans still regard him as the best sitcom character so he makes the list on his own too. It’s easy to see why: George’s silly, borderline stupid, antics are a huge part of what makes Seinfeld such a good show.
Niles Crane (Frasier)
The younger brother of Frasier Crane, Niles is fussy and pretentious just like his older brother. Despite having so much in common, he still managed to steal the show whenever he was on screen.
Dwight Schrute (The Office)
Without Dwight The Office wouldn’t be nearly as funny as it was. After all, you need someone to be on the other end of all those pranks! The best part about Dwight is that he isn’t the victim – and it’s fun to watch how he wises up (and fights back) as the series goes on.
Abed Nadir (Community)
Every character in Community feels iconic on their own right, but Abed stands out not just in this show but across the genre. Community’s creator has also suggested that Abed is autistic; another reason fans cherish his character.
Dr. Perry Cox (Scrubs)
I’ve only seen a few episodes of Scrubs and Dr. Cox is one of the few characters that stood out to me so I can totally see why he makes this list for so many people. Another one of those characters we love to hate, the way Dr. Cox’s coarse personality is just the right amount of chaos to keep the show interesting.
Charlie Kelly (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Another It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia character, Charlie is Frank’s friend and roommate. Many would argue Charlie isn’t quite as despicable as the other members of the Always Sunny gang so maybe that’s why folks love him.
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Scott is an icon! It’s pretty easy to see why his name came up as the best sitcom character ever. Funny and often idiotic, Office fans are endeared to Michael Scott’s outlandish personality.
12 Movies Everyone Should See at Least Once in Their Lifetime
I love lists like this! As a big-time movie fan, I’m always looking for new flicks to add to my “must-watch” list. We wanted to know what people thought were movies everyone should see at least once in their lifetime, and there were so many great responses. We narrowed it down to 12 of the best.
How many of these fan and critically acclaimed movies have you seen?
12 Movies Everyone Should See at Least Once in Their Lifetime
These 12 TV Shows Were Described as “10/10 Would Recommend” by Fans
We all love a good TV show recommendation, but when it comes to reviews, it’s sometimes hard to figure out who to trust. With issues like review bombing and plain old difference of opinion, you can’t always trust critics. To help with your next TV show-watching pick, we grabbed the 12 most commonly listed TV shows rated “10/10 would recommend” by average folks.
These 12 TV Shows Were Described as “10/10 Would Recommend” by Fans
12 TV Shows That Started Off Amazing but Became Unwatchable
Sometimes shows start off great but then, for whatever reason, change their format. We wanted to know what people felt were the worst culprits for TV shows that started off amazing but became unwatchable later on. As always, the internet’s answers didn’t disappoint.
12 TV Shows That Started off Amazing but Became Unwatchable
12 TV Shows That Are Often Called “The Best TV Show Ever”
This is such a subjective topic. While I’d love to share my thoughts on the best TV show ever, I thought it would be better to scour the internet to find out what, in your opinion, is the best show ever from a variety of fans.
12 Shows Often Called “The Best TV Show Ever”
Binge-Worthy Bonanza: The 13 Best Netflix Shows With At Least 3 Seasons
Ever started watching a show on Netflix only to be disappointed because there were so few seasons or it was canceled? Here are some great shows that have at least three seasons so you can really get your binge on!
Binge-worthy bonanza: The 10 best Netflix shows with 3+ seasons
Everett
Everett has been writing about media, technology, and parenting since 2014. His work has been featured on MIT Technology Review, HuffPost, and various blogs. When not writing or binge watching TV shows, you'll find him playing video games or spending with with his kids.