My TV Characters

Throughout my lifetime, I have been able to witness many TV characters come and go. I love watching them develop on whatever show they happen to be on. I love seeing them grow and take on a life of their own. Some TV characters are pretty crappy (I'm talking to you Two And A Half Men cast) but some are simply awesome and make me make it a point to get to the TV every week to watch them.

6. Norm Peterson: In a bar where everybody knows your name, the sure knew his name. What bar doesn't have Norm sitting there? When I was growing up, my dad was Norm Peterson. Everybody at the Rusty Nail knew who he was, and by proxy, knew who I was. Norm didn't have a mean bone in his body unless it was time for last call. He was simply that overweight guy at the end of the bar that smiled, told stories you want to hear, and was friendly. I guess that was my dad at the Rusty Nail.

5. Hayden Fox: Let me first start by saying that I absolutely hate the Iowa Hawkeyes. I never have liked them and probably never will. But this character, who is based Iowa coaching legend Hayden Fry, is a classic. He was a mumbling, bumbling, mistake making head coach of the fictional Minnesota State Screaming Eagles. He certainly picked a lame-o for a wife but I guess he can't be perfect.

4. Zac Morris: This dude was the original pimp of Bayside. He made all the ladies tingly and made all the guys think that if they wore a yellow and blue striped shirt with the collar turned up and spiked hair, they could get the ladies just as easy. Not so fast. Zac made it look too easy and in turn made me look stupid. If not for that, he would be higher on the list.

3. Cliff Huxtable: Bill Cosby was incredible as this character that was loosely based on himself. He was the dad that everyone wish they had. Loving, caring, funny, and wore the ugliest sweaters imaginable. But he was hilarious in every episode and, in my opinion, seemed to improvise scenes in almost every show. Only Bill Cosby could do something that original and funny.

2. Jerry Seinfeld: Both the TV character and the person are legends. This is definitely my favorite show of all time. Sure the show had many legendary characters but without Jerry there holding them all together, they would be lost. Seinfeld brought the most obviously funny things to life. Only on his show could he talk about masturbation and not actually use the word. He and Larry David were geniuses together.

1. Barney Stinson: The newest character on this list is from one of my favorite shows, How I met Your Mother. I am slightly disappointed with the direction, or lack of, this season is going but Barney stands out as the greatest thing on this show. You know that you have created and incredible character when you make people forget about your last memorable character and Neil Patrick Harris has done that. When I watch it, I forget the fact he was the legendary Doogie Howser M.D. Barney is a legendary character himself and is pretty much the reason why I still watch the show. He proves himself week in and week out to be awesome. What cracks me up even more is that Barney is the sleaziest of all womanizing creatures and Neil Patrick Harris is gay. So you know when his is making out with all of those women on the show, the only thing going on in his mind is, "icky, yucky, gross!" While I cannot understand that at all, I think it's a testament to how good he plays that character because you would never know it. Awesome!