Before you get all... angry... that I didn't include your favorite character on this list, know that this is my list of favorite television characters. You can make your list in the comments.When I look back at the 2006 television landscape, a few key characters come to mind. This year, I discovered some new characters that have my adoration and I've stuck close to the ones I loved from 2005. Here's my list of the Best Characters of 2006:
5. Michael Scott, The Office While it's no secret that I adore a certain member of the supporting cast, the best character on The Office is definitely Michael. He sucks the fun out of any situation by making everybody uncomfortable, but at least you know what his true colors are. He tries, and does a poor job of covering up his non-P.C. thoughts such as, "How queer! (sees camera) Queer Eye for the Straight Guy-- that's a great show!" He just tries so hard to get people to like him and to be a buddy rather than a boss that you can't help but love/pity the guy. And Jim's right, Michael is the most loyal guy at Dunder Mifflin.
4. Stephen Colbert , The Colbert Report Yes, Stephen Colbert is a character. He uses his real name but on television, he plays a pompous, right-wing nut job. 2006 was really Colbert's year. Fans of The Daily Show all knew how awesome he was after watching his deadpan interviews with clueless subjects... but it took a little thing called the White House Correspondents' Association dinner for the rest of America to understand his awesome-ness. While I am often negligent in my duties to watch him every night, I still adore the Colbert and what he has done for sarcasm.
3. Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, The Closer The awful JC Penney wardrobe. The sweets. The drawling "Thank You" all make for a terrific character. Brenda doesn't exactly have her personal life together, but damn(!) she's good at getting confessions. This summer, season two for The Closer, showed us that Brenda strives to have traditional, Southern values. She went to great lengths to hide from her mother the fact that she is living with a man outside of wedlock (gasp!). I look forward to the personal challenges that lie ahead for Brenda during season three.
2. Tommy Gavin, Rescue Me How can I like a character who raped his wife?!? I keep asking myself that question. I realize that I don't necessarily like Tommy, so much as I appreciate him. He is one hell of a complex character. He's a bad dude with a gigantic chip on his shoulder and overblown sense of entitlement. He's seriously screwed up because of the job (firefighting) and because of September 11, 2001. He's an alcoholic with anger issues, who hallucinates, and treats women like dirt. Why do I like this guy? I guess it's because there's non-stop tragedy in his life and it's intriguing to watch him try to survive it all.
1. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, Battlestar Galactica This woman rocks. Starbuck is the best female character on television right now. She drinks. She smokes (not so much anymore). She has a terrible knack for self destruction. And she is tough as hell. She is so frakkin' flawed. A few episodes ago, she was an equal match to Apollo in the boxing ring and she laid some other loser flat in the first round. Her mouth runs unchecked and it gets her into a lot of trouble, but she has the respect of everyone on Galactica because they know she's not all talk. Her scenes with the Cylon on New Caprica were astounding. She just kept killing the guy- she wouldn't give up! And, of course, every so often we get a glimpse of her softer side just to remind us that Kara is human. I both fear her and admire her at the same time.
*Honorable mentions: Randy on My Name is Earl, Jordan on Scrubs, Marin Frist on Men in Trees, Barney on How I Met Your Mother.
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-12-2006 @ 12:18PM
MacGuffin said...
Great list. Not my choices but great list nonetheless.
1. Johnny "Drama" Chase (Entourage) Kevin Dillon plays this brilliantly. It could have been a dumb Joey-like character but Kevin makes him believable and real. His was the breakout character of the 3rd season
2. Denny Crane. (Boston Legal). This is the character that Bill Shatner will be remembered for. I love when he breaks the fourth wall. Denny Crane.
3. Dexter Morgan (Dexter) Michael C. Hall immediately transformed himself from one great character into another without skipping a beat. That is a hard thing to do, especially when SFU just concluded.
4. Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose) Obviously not a character. I missed him when he was out sick this year. He is the most intelligent host who is not afraid to ask the tough questions yet not come off as a jerk. He (almost) always has an interesting guest. I wish he would replace Larry King so we could see him at a more reasonable time, but then his format wouldn't probably work on cable--much better suited for PBS.
5. Lauren Shiohama (#8 Deal or No Deal). I don't know if she has ever peeped a single word, but Lauren is one beautiful girl. The only reason why I watch this overrought show.
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12-12-2006 @ 12:17PM
Erin said...
Starbuck rules! I would include Evil Marc from Ugly Betty on my list. His delivery is hilarious, and he steals every scene he's in. The second spot should go to Dexter Morgan of Dexter, the most entertaining murderer on TV (sorry, Sylar). I wish I had room to mention every character on the Wire, but Omar, Carver, and Prop Joe deserve special kudos. Honorable mention to the 4 schoolkids that this season of the Wire focused on: DuQuan, Michael, Namond, and Randy.
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12-12-2006 @ 12:20PM
Henry Casey said...
Chloe O'Brien. Always overlooked, but the solid core of the 5th season of 24.
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12-12-2006 @ 12:21PM
Blake said...
Good choices but in my opinion Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock needs to be on the list. He is clueless like Michael Scott but arrogant...and so damn funny. His character MAKES the show and 30 Rock should really be built around him, not Tina Fey.
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12-12-2006 @ 1:07PM
elf said...
Hiro!
Barney!
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12-12-2006 @ 12:50PM
jeff smith said...
Gavin should be #1. BSG is overrated in my opinion and really has declined. Enough with the social commentary is their going to be a space battle anytime soon??? Bring back Lorne Green!
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12-12-2006 @ 1:01PM
radwimp said...
Nice list, completely agree with Starbuck. She is one of the best characters on TV, male or female.
Some others for me are Ari Gold from Entourage, Dexter from Dexter (Michael C. Hall knocks this out of the freakin park), Farik from Sleeper Cell, and Omar from The Wire.
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12-12-2006 @ 1:48PM
sizzlemac said...
DUH, DR. GREGORY HOUSE!!
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12-12-2006 @ 1:03PM
Squishy said...
Great list Anna, especially your number one pick. ... I agree with MacGuffin in adding Dexter Morgan, Michael C. Halls interpretation of him is fantastic.
BSG is very much a social commentary, it has been since the mini-series, you'll never understand the show or appreciate it without accepting that. Or if I'm being perfectly blunt. Get over it.
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12-12-2006 @ 1:04PM
BillS said...
Tommy Gavin is awesome. Thinking about why he's likeable just kinda makes my head hurt, so I'd rather just enjoy him. My top 5 would be:
5. Stephen Colbert. (the Report)
4. Dwight Schrute (the Office)
3. Hiro Nakamura (Heroes)
2. Tommy Gavin (Rescue Me)
1. The Monarch (Venture Bros)
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12-12-2006 @ 1:11PM
Carl Winslow said...
Any of the kids from The Wire.
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12-12-2006 @ 1:18PM
Tt said...
1. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)
2. Michael (The Office)
3. Jordan (Studio 60)
4. Dean Winchester (SuperNatural)
5. Stephen Colbert (Colbert Report)
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12-12-2006 @ 1:44PM
Craig said...
Alec Baldwin from 30 Rock clearly deserves recognition if not the Emmy this year.
I love Michael, Jim, and Pam on The Office, but hands down - Alec Baldwin has the best character on TV this year. If you're not watching the show because you don't like Tina Fey, or you're tired of SNL-style shows, give it another chance. Baldwin steals every single scene, and does it without even trying.
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12-12-2006 @ 2:04PM
SJ said...
Great list...all of these characters are awesome.
Some others:
-Anyone from The Wire. What a freakin awesome cast.
-Dexter. Creepy, creepy character, but becoming more human.
-Saul Tigh. Just pure badass, and even managed to make me sad.
-Stanley from The Office. His expressions are priceless.
-Farik from Sleeper Cell. I'm a Muslim and this guy is my nightmare.
-Al Swearengen and George Hearst from Deadwood. Give Ian McShane the Emmy already!
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12-12-2006 @ 3:23PM
Chris said...
Leaving Dexter out of the top 2 much less the top 5 is a crime.
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12-12-2006 @ 2:35PM
MacGuffin said...
Alec Baldwin from 30 Rock needs to be added to my list. But Lauren Shiohama stays dammit.
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12-12-2006 @ 2:43PM
rvkey said...
Here goes (Had to make mine six though):
6. Jack Donaghy- Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock
5. Thoedore "T-Bag" Bagwell- Robert Knepper- Prison Break
4. Dr. Cristina Yang- Sandra Oh- Grey's Anatomy
3. Joy Turner- Jamie Pressly- My Name Is Earl
2. Dr. Gregory House- Hugh Laurie- House
1. Tommy Gavin- Dennis Leary- Rescue Me
Honorable Mentions:
* Charlie Kelly- Charlie Day- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
* Mickey Stone- Adrian Lester- Hustle
* Sheriff Jack Carter- Colin Ferguson- Eureka
* Tracy Jordan- Tracy Morgan- 30 Rock
Favorite Kid Show characters:
* Wilt- Phil Lamarr- Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
* Stanley (little neighbor kid)- Bobb'y J. Thompson- That's So Raven
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12-12-2006 @ 2:47PM
Gazpacho said...
The 5 best characters are:
5 Sean, Mike and Franco (Rescue Me)
4 Al Swearengen (Deadwood)
3 Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report)
2 John Hodgeman (The Daily Show)
1 Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
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12-12-2006 @ 3:09PM
nate said...
What about Cavanaugh from The Shield... it seems like everyone is forgetting Forest Whittaker... the Emmies did, people's end of the year lists did.
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12-13-2006 @ 10:50AM
Melissa said...
Agree with your choice of Starbuck for #1...BSG is an incredible show.
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