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These characters keep us coming back COMMENTARY
Television does two things better than any other entertainment medium.
First, a series can glue you to your couch with a long-running mystery, as fans of "Lost" and "Veronica Mars" know. Second, and most important, a show allows us to follow characters as they evolve and grow. Films only do that in sketchy fashion and comic books, usually for marketing purposes, tend to keep their characters at the same age.
In compiling my top 10 favorite current TV characters, I imposed a rule: Only one character per show (unless I cheated and used multiple characters as one listing). Otherwise, I'd never get past the casts of "Arrested Development" and "Gilmore Girls."
1. Chloe O'Brian (Mary
Lynn Rajskub), "24"
Last season, the perpetually grumpy Counter-Terrorist Unit computer wiz inspired a colleague to comment, "Chloe, I'm really getting tired of your personality." But viewers weren't, which is no doubt why Rajskub was the only actor other than Kiefer Sutherland to return from last season. Amidst a cast of government agency types who communicate in Officialese, Chloe comes off like a normal person. After being fired for secretly helping Jack, she used a line that could just as easily be spouted by a disgruntled grocery stocker or video-store clerk: "Whatever, I was going to quit anyway."
2. Claire (Emilie de
Ravin), "Lost"
"Lost" is a prime reason why TV is pretty darn good right now. But five years ago, it was better. Back then, de Ravin played Tess, who would become the mother of Max's alien baby on "Roswell." In perhaps the most bizarre case of typecasting ever, Claire is also the mother of a mysterious, plot-pivotal baby. The writers must realize viewers dig Claire's Australian accent and relationship with Charlie; her disappearance via kidnapping lasted only two episodes. It seemed longer.
3. Adrian Monk (Tony
Shalhoub), "Monk"
I suppose the neurotic Monk is relegated to cable because networks don't want a gumshoe who would faint if he stepped in gum; they'd rather have a prototype like "CSI's" Gil Grissom head up their crime-solving shows. But no TV detective has better comic timing than Shalhoub, who can respond to "Human sexuality is a natural thing" with "Well, we disagree on that" and make it a funnier punch line than most sitcoms can muster.
4. Mac (Tina Majorino),
"Veronica Mars"
Along with sleuthy Veronica and witty Wallace, computer-savvy Mac rounds out the best teen trio since Buffy, Xander and Willow. The only problem is that Mac has only appeared in two episodes so far. I hope the writers remedy that and make her a fixture. Majorino, who broke through in "Napoleon Dynamite" last summer, has sweetness and smarts not seen since upcoming "Veronica" guest-star Alyson Hannigan's turn as Willow during "Buffy's" high-school years.
5. Doyle (Danny Strong),
"Gilmore Girls"
Strong is one of those actors who is so distinct he can't help but bring a bit of himself to every role he plays. But that's not a bad thing here, since Yale student newspaper editor Doyle is almost like a continuation of the "Superstar" Jonathan character seen in an alternate-universe "Buffy" episode. Now that Doyle is paired with Paris, the laughs will keep coming.
6. George-Michael Bluth (Michael
Cera), "Arrested Development"
"Arrested" is the most bizarre live-action comedy on the tube, yet George-Michael is perhaps the most true-to-life teenage character since the days of "Freaks and Geeks." That's partly because Cera really is 16 years old. It's also because, while George-Michael's constant attempts to remind his dad that his plain-Jane girlfriend is named "Anne" and not "Egg" are absurdly funny, Cera brings all the frustration and awkwardness of being a big-hearted 16-year-old to the screen as well.
7. Nikki (Kay Panabaker),
"Summerland"
Every time I mention "Summerland," I feel like I have to start with, "I don't actually like 'Summerland,' but ..." Dour, Kansas-raised teen Nikki -- who would warrant a "very special episode" if she ever cracked a smile -- stands out from the beach-bumming, life's-a-party characters. When Nikki was given the run-around and dumped by Cameron in last summer's debut season (season two starts Feb. 28), it was TV's truest portrayal of the cruelties of first love in recent memory. But I don't actually like "Summerland."
8. The Three Guys (Sean Faris,
Jon Foster and Chris Lowell),
"life as we know it"
"life as we know it" gets its plots from "Dawson's Creek," but it gets its best-friend trio from the yearbook pages of Any High School, USA. Dino's the hockey stud, Ben's the inexplicable chick magnet and Jonathan is the awkward late bloomer. If you are a guy and you only remember two of these archetypes from high school, you were the third.
9. Maxine Gray (Tyne Daly),
"Judging Amy"
Maxine is unique in that there aren't many older women characters on TV, but she's actually a fascinating character for any generation of TV fan. Daly, who is 58 but plays her character a bit older, has taken her intense children's services worker to dark places this season, leading to a heart-attack episode that probably scared more than a few viewers off their bacon, egg and sausage breakfasts.
10. Kevin Girardi (Jason Ritter),
"Joan of Arcadia"
John Ritter's son brings a nice blend of sadness and resilience to his role as a star athlete adjusting to life in a wheelchair. "Joan of Arcadia" is the most overrated drama this side of Wisteria Lane, but moments like Kevin breaking down in the garage after being dumped by his pre-wheelchair girlfriend keep me tuning in.
Honorable mention:
Lindsay (Shannon Lucio), "The O.C." -- If she could become a regular, maybe we could finally get rid of Marissa.
Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), "Law & Order" -- The plot-driven "L&O" transcends characters. However, like the late, great Jerry Orbach, Waterston's no-holds-barred prosecutor transcends "L&O."
Patty (Sarah Ramos), "American Dreams," and Bobby (Logan Lerman), "Jack & Bobby" -- Two more teen characters who seem like real teens.
Joe Dubois (Jake Weber), "Medium" -- Patricia Arquette is the star, but Weber quietly steals scenes as her husband in this understated murder-mystery anthology.
Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), "Joey" -- Due to a tight time slot, I had to bump the best "Friend" from my taping schedule, but I look forward to seeing him during summer reruns.
Stewie and Brian, "Family Guy" -- Generally, it's not a good sign when the baby and dog are the two best characters. But most shows don't give the funniest lines to the baby and dog.
Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons" -- The soul of TV's best animated family comedy, especially since Bart sold his to Milhouse.
JOHN HANSEN, staff writer, can be reached at john.hansen@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5863.
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