TV’s Most Dynamic Duos: What Do You Think of the List?
September 3, 2012 by Marisa Roffman
Last night, ABC aired a Paley Center special on the best TV duos of all time (based on fan votes) and I have SUCH mixed feelings on the list.
On one hand, my favorite duo ever is on here, but on the other, I so strongly disagree with who is number one that it’s been bothering me for 11 hours.
First, here’s the list…
1. George Costanza and Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld)
2. Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz (I Love Lucy)
3. Cliff and Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
4. Homer and Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)
5. Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani (Friends)
6. James T. Kirk “Captain Kirk” and Mr. Spock (Star Trek)
7. Dana Scully and Fox Mulder (X-Files)
8. Dwight Schrute and Michael Scott (The Office)
9. Richie Cunningham and Arthur Fonzarelli (Happy Days)
10. Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy (The Muppet Show)
11. Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)
12. Archie Bunker and Michael “Meathead” Stivic (All in the Family)
13. Meredith Grey and Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Grey’s Anatomy)
14. Dan and Roseanne Conner (Roseanne)
15. Beavis and Butthead (Beavis and Butthead)
16. John Locke and Jack Shephard (Lost)
17. Bert and Ernie (Sesame Street)
18. Jack McFarland and Karen Walker (Will & Grace)
19. Tony and Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos)
20. Pat Sajak and Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune)
21. Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson (Cheers)
22. Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper (Wonder Years)
23. Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon (The Tonight Show)
24. Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon (30 Rock)
25. George and Weezy Jefferson (The Jeffersons)
26. Ralph and Alice Kramden (The Honeymooners)
27. Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar (Saturday Night Live)
28. Laverne De Fazio and Shirley Feeney (Laverne & Shirley)
29. Sam Malone and Diane Chambers (Cheers)
30. David Addison and Maddie Hayes (Moonlighting)
–
Personally? I feel like almost any of the top 10 (minus Michael and Dwight from THE OFFICE, who I think are good, but not the best) would be better suited for number one over George and Jerry from SEINFELD. Before I started watching the special, I actually thought Lucy and Ricky (from I LOVE LUCY) might nab the top spot, but I can’t argue with Ethel being included with Lucy instead. Am I wrong about being annoyed that George and Jerry were voted number one? Clearly a whole lot of you must disagree, but…
Aside from that, I’m pretty OK with the list. There were some notable classic duos that were left off (and I almost wish all current pairs were left off this list), but I guess when you only have 30 slots, that’s understandable.
What did you think of the list? Was your favorite duo included?
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Filed under Paley Center
I suppose some though it was “couples” rather than “duos”. Completely different animals. Have no big issues with the list but #20 is a bit of a WTF for me. However if I don’t have an issue with Carson and McMahon who am I to object. Would really liked to have seen Buffy and Willow on the list.
@SueK, HA, Pat and Vanna were the first duo on the list that I liked/watched. They are a pairing where it is really hard to imagine one without the other. (Which is kind of sad since they’re real people ;))
I will say, I was a little surprised there was nothing from Buffy…
OR Bones!!
What about Tami and Coach Taylor? Pretty much the greatest duo of ALL TIME.
Barney Fife and Andy Taylor? Number One. Period.
My top five would be Laverne and Shirley, Lucy and Ethel, Bert and Ernie, Andy and Barney, Kirk and Spock. The list is good, but the order is wrong.
House and Wilson should be on this list (Think Booth and Bones should merit an honorable mention)
Really subjective and not well thought out, in my opinion. Joey and Chandler could just as easily have been Ross and Rachel (or maybe even left off), Ralph Kramden and Alice SHOULD have been Ralph and Ed Norton, obviously, so not sure what these people were going for – romance or comedy, pick one and then make a list.
And, seriously, Cheers gets two mentions, but you totally ignore Andy and Barney from The Andy Griffith Show (probably the best of all time) and Hawkeye and Trapper from M.A.S.H.. Heck, you could even have gotten away with Frank and Hot Lips, but include SOMETHING from these quality shows rather than 30 Rock, which is a great show, but I don’t think Lemon and Donaghy are characters who will necessarily hold up as ‘greatest of all time’ in the entire TV Lexicon.
p.s. So they’re including McDreamy and whoever, so that they can leave off Gilligan and The Skipper, Jeannie and Major Nelson, Hogan and Klink… okay, I think I’ve got it out of my system now.
One can only surmise that the Paley center is inhabited by . . . . ., well, who knows? Aliens?
The Cramdens, the Ricardos, the Huxtables, the Bunkers – TOP 4, pick an order. I can’t imagine how or where they came up with most of the rest of this list. If those are supported any sort of ratings or meaningful surveys of America, it’s no wonder our society is falling apart. Sheesh.