Funniest characters ever on TV

[LennG]

I was thinking about this last night so I took to the internet to see what others think. To my surprise, most of the characters listed were from the sort of 'modern day' shows, which, to me, most aren't near as funny as some characters from years ago.
As with any list, it is so subjective, especially as to your age, what you deem as funny, and types of humor (slapstick, racy, dark, etc). Myself, I feel I am a fan of all humor, except humor that is done by just saying dirty words. I find ensemble casts funny mostly because of the writing and shows like MASH which I loved, the characters were serious as much as really funny.

So, this is my own list and it is only from TV characters, not from stand-up comediennes.

To me, maybe the funniest TV character EVER was Jim Ignatowski from Taxi. I was a huge fan of this show and really everyone on it was funny.
I would also add Louie DePalma as another I would put in my top ten.  And I would put Taxi in my list of top 5 comedy shows ever on TV.

After that my list would be

Lucy
Archie Bunker
Larry David
Tim Conway
Laverne and Shirley
Niles Crane
Norm and Cliff (Cheers) (Just another great cast and would also be in my top 5  comedies ever)
Barney Fife
AND, believe it or not--Kermit the Frog (I was and still am, a HUGE fan of the old The Muppett Show and just loved the Swedish Chef and Sam the Eagle)

Give me more time and I will think of others

[Bob In PA]

You forgot Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton.  LOL

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Agree with all of them. I can add one. I never got through an episode without laughing if Bob Newhart was in the show. Never has there been a better "straight guy" either surrounded by idiots or dealing with an awkward situation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yyB06HvAjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5_Phzx4Ok

[Jolly Blue Giant]

The old show "Becker" with Ted Danson as Dr. Becker used to be hilarious. Unlike Newhart, he was an angry straight man surrounded by idiots except that he was crotchety and short of patience with anyone he had to deal with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHna3gReBw

[Jolly Blue Giant]

SNL had the funniest guy IMO in Chris Farley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

[Bob In PA]

One more -  Detective/Sergeant Philip K. Fish, NYPD - Abe Vigoda's character on "Barney Miller."  Bob

[LennG]

You forgot Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton.  LOL

Without a doubt Bob. How could I have omitted those two?

Ten lashes with a wet noodle.

[LennG]

The old show "Becker" with Ted Danson as Dr. Becker used to be hilarious. Unlike Newhart, he was an angry straight man surrounded by idiots except that he was crotchety and short of patience with anyone he had to deal with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHna3gReBw

I loved Danson from Cheers and I watched some of this show, but it never really made me want to watch after a year or so.

[LennG]

Agree with all of them. I can add one. I never got through an episode without laughing if Bob Newhart was in the show. Never has there been a better "straight guy" either surrounded by idiots or dealing with an awkward situation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yyB06HvAjI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5_Phzx4Ok

Yes. Bob was great.

I never really watched the original Bob Newhart Show, but loved the second one with Daryl, Daryl, and Larry. Funny as hell, which made me start watching the original and it was just as good. Definately belongs on any list.

[LennG]

SNL had the funniest guy IMO in Chris Farley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

Me, myself, and I, just was never a real fan of SNL. I watched a lot, but mostly from the original cast. Funny guys and gals, but again, some just weren't my cup of tea, and that includes Farley, Belushi, Murray, etc. My favorite used to be Gilda Ragner and sadly she passed away way too soon.

[T200]

Martin Lawrence was simply hilarious, especially with all the different characters he did. His show was definitely underrated.

https://youtu.be/aWRwocvbYTs

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[Bob In PA]

SNL had the funniest guy IMO in Chris Farley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

Jolly: The thing to notice about this clip is that AT LEAST TWO professional actors could not hold it together.  They tried looking away, looking down, hiding their faces under their hair, then in their hands, all to no avail. Bob

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Jolly: The thing to notice about this clip is that AT LEAST TWO professional actors could not hold it together.  They tried looking away, looking down, hiding their faces under their hair, then in their hands, all to no avail. Bob

Yeah, sometimes even professional comics can't keep it together. I remember Harvey Korman breaking up many times while Tim Conway kept a straight face. Sometimes the other actors just can't keep in character because one of them is too funny

Another SNL skit where the actors couldn't keep it together when Kate McKinnon goes into detail about her alien abduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPdYYsEfAE

[Ed Vette]

Cosmo Kramer
Curly Howard
Stan Laurel
W. C. Fields
John Candy
Robin Williams

Btw, Don Knotts was a comedic genius. How convincingly he played Barney Fife with simple face expressions and the timing of each interaction went unappreciated by the audience.


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[Bob In PA]

Cosmo Kramer
Curly Howard
Stan Laurel
W. C. Fields
John Candy
Robin Williams

Btw, Don Knotts was a comedic genius. How convincingly he played Barney Fife with simple face expressions and the timing of each interaction went unappreciated by the audience.

Ed: It's not underappreciated by me.  I have DVD's of every one of his goofy movies, even the one where he turns into a cartoon fish ("The Incredible Mr. Limpet").  My favorite is "The Reluctant Astronaut."   LOL