A friend of mine talked me into watching a television show
this summer that I had been ignoring for years.
She swore it was something I would love and that it was right in line
with my sense of humor and interests.
Little did she know that she would be introducing me to my next
obsession. Yes, I was six years late in
my discovery, but Pysch has become one of my favorite shows on television. I love the humor, I love the 80’s and 90’s
has-been guest stars, I love the obscure pop culture references, I love the
mocking genre shifts, but most of all I love Shawn Spencer. With that in mind, as we get ready for season
7 of Psych this February, I am going to list my top 5 favorite characters on TV
right now. Obviously this list is
confined to shows I watch, so there will be no Raylan from Justified or Brody
from Homeland. Also, you’ll notice that
all the characters are male. I could
make a list of my favorite female characters, but none of them would be in my
top 5. It’s not a slight to all the well
written, well acted female characters out there. Maybe being a male, I just relate to the
males more. I’m not sure. Feel free to psycho analyze me, but in the
mean time, here’s my Top Five…
5) Rafi (The League)
This is the
only character on the list who isn’t a regular and I can’t put into words how
much of a travesty that is. There is no
character that makes me laugh harder then Rafi.
He comes into his scenes like a hurricane, leaving huge amounts of
laughter and destruction in his wake. I
watch the show each week praying for a Rafi appearance. I’ve said it a few times before and I’ll
probably say it a hundred more, if The League wants to make the jump from
consistently funny to the funniest show of TV, they will make Rafi a regular
character.
4) Tyrion (Game of Thrones)
What
happens when you cast one of my favorite actors as one of my favorite literary
characters? The number four television
character on this list. Tyrion is really
the only likable character in a world filled with grossly detestable people. He has honor when most don’t. He has intelligence that most ignore. And most of all he has a biting sarcasm that
is a must in any of my favorite characters.
He is obviously over compensating for the short straw he has been given
in life, but that just makes him that much more a compelling character. I’ve
only seen season one of the series and I’ve only read the first three books, so
I have my fingers crossed that George Martin keeps him around because he has
quickly become the reason I watch and read.
3) Nick (New Girl)
Nick has
taken the crown from Chandler Bing from Friends and Hyde from that 70’s show as
the snarky, grumpy, sit-com guy who wins my heart. Easily the most quotable character on TV,
Nick’s attitude and demeanor has quickly launched him to the top of my list of
people I can’t wait to see each week. I
may have started watching New Girl just because of Zooey Deschanel, but it’s
Nick’s one-liners that have me eager to see each new episode. I really hope they find a way to avoid the almost
inevitable Nick/Jess hook up because I really think it will take away from the
bitterness that makes Nick so appealing.
2) Abed/Troy (Community)
OK, this is
kind of a cheat, but they really have become one character. And it’s the way they work together that
makes them so entertaining. Maybe I
should have dropped them a little on this list because I have to put them
together, but I can’t deny the amount of entertainment these guys give me
episode to episode. They are the heart
of what is the best ensemble comedy on TV.
For them to stand out so much from a show filled with stellar characters
is a testament to the work they are doing.
In a genre that seems to feel the only characters worth writing are ones
with sexual tension, these two have found a way to be both funny and compelling
without a “will they or won’t they” story line.
I fear what is going to happen now that Dan Harmon is no longer involved
with the show, but for now, these two are great TV.
1) Shawn Spencer
This has to
be the most anti-climatic list I have done with me pretty much announcing who
my favorite character was in the opening paragraph and all, but there it
is. Shawn holds all the traits of every
character on this list and turns them up to 11.
He’s silly, sarcastic, intelligent, charming. He always has a pop culture reference at the
ready. He’s blind to how uncool he
actually is and that just makes him that much more cool. Shawn makes a solid show a great show. He makes he overlook a lot of aspects of
Psych that would normally have me not watching with his awesomeness. If you don’t watch Psych, you really should
because television characters don’t get any better then Shawn Spencer.
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