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TV Character

Topanga Lawrence

Topanga Lawrence is a fictional character from the TV series Boy Meets World.

After spending so very many hours watching a TV show, we form strong attachments - and revulsions - to certain characters. Let's rank 'em.

TV Characters We Love & Hate

Female Characters

Who are the greatest female TV characters of all time?&nbsp;This list includes some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time">greatest television characters in history</a> from dramatic shows, sitcoms, and sci-fi series to&nbsp;procedurals and cartoons!&nbsp;For as long as TV has been a medium to reflect social constructs, programs have featured <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strong-female-characters/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">strong women characters</a> as protagonists, partners, and foils for their male counterparts. In comedy shows, characters like Lucy Ricardo, Mary Richards, and Maude Findlay paved the way for Elaine Benes, Roseanne Conner, and Liz Lemon.Female characters dominate modern genre series, with popular women like Daenerys Targaryen, Dana Scully, Buffy Summers, and Veronica Mars achieving cult-level idolization. You'll recognize these famous names as some of the strongest, funniest, and most relatable in television history.Vote up the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-movie-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest female characters</a> to move them up the list, and add please any that we're missing.

Morticia Addams

The Greatest Female TV Characters of All Time

Best Female TV Characters | Top Women Television Character List

Ranker Community

Every James Bond Movie, Ranked Best to Worst

What were you watching during TV's greatest era?

'90s TV We'll Never Forget

Best TV

Who were the best TV characters of the &#39;90s? From Frasier, Friends, and Married With Children all the way to kid favorites like Clarissa Explains it All, Doug, and Saved By the Bell, these shows greatly impacted 90s culture and made it the memorable decade it was. This list has the best television characters from all those classic 1990s TV shows.

It was the decade we met Bart Simpson, Cosmo Kramer, and Frasier Crane. The top TV show characters of the 90&#39;s included family-focused favorites like Tim &ldquo;The Tool Man&rdquo; Taylor, the obnoxious but lovable Steve Urkel, and Fresh Prince Will Smith. Nineties TV introduced many children&#39;s characters as well: Tommy Pickles, Batman, Doug.

This decade had an air of innocence and lightheartedness. The top characters of the &#39;90s were, for the most part family-friendly, uplifting, and hilarious. Who will ever forget the girl-next-door <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-danielle-fishel/crystal-brackett" target="_blank">Topanga Lawrence</a>, and the importance of having an older, wiser soul rooting for you, like Mr. Feeney? The innocence of Clarissa Explains It All, Family Ties, and Blossom, reinforced family values, and other top &#39;90s shows like Friends, Roseanne, and The Cosby Show, left us feeling like we were never alone in the world.

Vote up your favorite 1990s TV characters below and think back to when these guys came into your living room once a week. Then go find yourself a Seinfeld rerun. You know there&#39;s got to be one on.

Peggy Bundy

The Best TV Characters of the 1990s

Ranker TV

poll

List of the greatest female TV role models. Here are the rankings for the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-movie-characters/ranker-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best female characters</a> for your daughter to look up to. The TV shows with great <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/female-role-models/ericascheidt?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">female role models</a> span the decades, from black-and-white to digital film. They also span the style, from live action multi-camera sitcoms to cartoons. Who are some of the best female role models on TV? You could make a pretty good case for Leslie Knope's passion, Liz Lemon's wit, and Rachel Green's attitude. Or, if people really want to talk about strong independent women, we have listed ladies like Susie Greene from &quot;Curb Your Enthusiasm&quot; and Xena (the Warrior Princess). Some seem to think even Nancy Botwin from &quot;Weeds&quot; is a good female role model on television -- perhaps for her business sense. TV can make a difference in the culture, as shows can set standards and aspirations for young women, or men, with the remote control.

Carla Espinosa

The Greatest Female TV Role Models

Best Female TV Role Models | List of Strong Woman Characters on Television

A look at real and fictional wedding dresses worn by characters, cartoons, celebrities, and even royalty all around the world.

White Weddings

Entertainment

Television weddings rarely go off without a hitch. Sometimes the groom doesn&rsquo;t show up. Other times he gets poisoned at the reception. In rare occasions, the bride decides she doesn&rsquo;t want to go through with the whole event and bolts. But regardless of the particulars, weddings make for great TV. These special episodes celebrate relationships that viewers have been rooting for&nbsp;seasons &ndash; maybe even since the beginning of the series. They&rsquo;re <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-to-watch-while-drinking/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">fun to watch</a>, emotional, and&nbsp;memorable.

But, plot points aside, there&#39;s another factor that makes these episodes especially watchable: the wedding dresses. These are the best TV wedding dresses of all time, perfect for admiring, envying, and gasping over from the comfort of the couch. From Blair to Charlotte to CeCe to Penny, this list rounds up the very best wedding dresses on TV, even the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-goth-wedding-dresses/samantha-dillinger" target="_blank">goth wedding gowns</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nerdy-wedding-dresses/dani-porter" target="_blank">nerdy dresses</a>. Read on for some serious wedding inspiration, and get those remote-clicking, list-voting fingers ready. Vote up the TV character wedding dresses you&rsquo;re still swooning over, even if it&rsquo;s been years since the ceremony took place.&nbsp;

Rayna James

The 36 Best Wedding Dresses in the History of Television

The 36 Best TV Wedding Dresses of All Time

Alexandra Plesa

List of TV's most memorable characters, of all time, chosen by the Ranker community. What makes a character live on in the public's memory, even years after the original run of their respective TV programs? In some cases, it's the amount of depth that the show's writers, actors and other creators were able to bring to the character over the course of many years. For many of the greatest TV characters of all time, audiences feel like they get to know personalities like Dexter Morgan from &quot;Dexter.&quot; Even after the show leaves the air, they may not want that relationship to end. (Thankfully, they don't have to, as many shows live on for years after their cancellation on DVD and in syndication.) The best TV characters are ones that you feel like you know and that you'd want to be friends with.TV has brought many famous characters to life who have been extremely compelling, even if they are not entirely likeable. Viewers may not wish to know dangerous, shadowy figures like Tony Soprano, Vernon Schillinger, and Omar Little in reality, but following their exploits safely from the comfort of your living room can be appealing. Likewise, people who might be aloof or downright unpleasant in real life - think &quot;Mad Men's&quot; Don Draper or Al Swearengen of &quot;Deadwood&quot; - can prove charming, even admirable, when seen at a distance, with the subtext and intricacy that a top long-running TV show can provide.Who is the greatest TV character ever? This list contains the names of the greatest, most fascinating, and most enduring fictional characters from TV of all time. Be sure to vote for your favorites, and if some of your favorite popular characters aren't represented, go ahead and re-rank the list to contribute to the discussion.

Jerry Seinfeld

The Greatest TV Characters of All Time

Fictional Character

Favorite TV Characters | List of Television's Greatest Characters

Living

The current TV characters you'd hire are all ranked here on this list of employable fictional people. Ever watch a television show and think, &quot;Hey, that character is really good at their job!&quot; For instance, Phil Dunphy from Modern Family considers himself one of the best real estate agents around. That confidence goes a long way! TV characters who are good at their jobs range from tough police officers like Mike Biggs on&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-mike-and-molly-cast-list-for-the-show-mike-and-molly/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Mike and Molly</a> to inspiring teachers like the grown-up Cory Matthews on&nbsp;Girl Meets World.TV characters who are good employees also include detectives like David Duchovny's character on Aquarius and OB/GYNs like Mindy Kaling's character on The Mindy Project. Whether it's your favorite current sitcom or your favorite current drama, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-tv-characters/matthewcoleweiss?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">television characters</a> who are successful in their careers or have a passion for the gig are all listed here. Just think of Jared Dunn from HBO's Silicon Valley, played by Zach Woods, who is extremely loyal to his startup company and also has innovation of his own.From the Selina Meyers administration to the Frank Underwood administration, characters from both the VEEP White House and the House of Cards White House are listed here because of their devotion and talent in the workplace. And who wouldn't want Olivia Pope from Scandal cleaning up our messes?Which of these current TV show characters of 2016-2017 do you think is best at their job and would be able to hold their own in a real world work environment? Cast your votes below and be sure to add any other talented and skilled television characters, provided they are on a current show (network or streaming) and you think they'd make a great addition to just about any team of professionals.

Dana Scully

Current TV Characters You Would Hire

Current TV Characters You'd Definitely Hire For a Job

Given that so much work and planning goes into creating some of our favorite television series, it&#39;s always surprising to learn how many things, especially characters, we take for granted. So <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-characters-of-all-time" target="_blank">many iconic characters</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;the kind of characters that have lived on in memes, GIFs, and our hearts -&nbsp;actually came about as a result of chance or some offhand decision, even on intricately detailed shows <a href="https://blog.ranker.com/most-polarizing-tv-shows" target="_blank">like Breaking Bad or Lost</a>.&nbsp;

Whether it&#39;s a scheduling conflict&nbsp;or a marketing decision after getting feedback from viewers&nbsp;or just the creators falling in love with an actor&#39;s performance, there are so many TV characters who were never supposed to exist at all&nbsp;or were supposed to show up <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/one-off-tv-characters-promoted-to-series-regulars/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">for a guest appearance</a> and leave, who ended up becoming integral parts of the shows they&#39;re on. These are some of the most popular characters that you might be surprised to know weren&#39;t supposed to be in their shows at all.

14 Popular TV Characters Who Weren’t Even Supposed To Exist

Popular TV Characters Who Weren’t Even Supposed To Exist

Karen Fratti

Lists about nerdy hobbies, franchises, and topics—and the sweet, socially awkward geeks who obsess over them.

Nerd Alert

Geeky

List of the greatest geeks in TV history. The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nerd-characters-movies/jodi-smith" target="_blank">best nerd characters</a> ever to hit the tiny screens are ranked here in order of greatness. Sure some of the characters might have annoyed us, but we never changed that dial once they appeared onscreen. These men and women are absolutely hilarious and absolutely awesome -- oh, and absolutely nerdy. It usually happens on TV when the door knocks and the dad is really disappointed to see who is on the other side. Like the way Carl Winslow looks when it&#39;s revealed to be Steve Urkel on Family Matters. TV nerds of all genders are ranked, ranging from sexy geeks like Liz Lemon to neurotic nerds like Adrian Monk. Who studies dinosaurs better than Ross Geller? Who knows more Pawnee history than Leslie Knope? These geeks made us smarter and sillier, like Lisa Simpson and Willow Rosenberg. While Willow was always the best friend and Dwight Schrute is just one of the employees, people like Larry David and iCarly (yes, both geeks) got shows to their geeky selves.

Ross Geller

The Greatest Geeks in TV History

Best TV Geeks | List of Nerd & Geeky Characters on Television

List of the greatest female geeky TV characters. The best and nerdiest women on television are ranked on this page based on their level of geekdom. These female TV geeks are good at what they do - and they studied damn hard to make it happen. Who are the best and most famous female nerd characters? You know and love them, so why not vote up your favorite famous female geeks?As much as Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks tried to escape her geek label, it is impossible to fully un-nerd yourself. Even Screech found himself a match in Jessie Spano in the realm of Saved by the Bell. And one of the best geek girls on television is the character of Topanga Lawrence, of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/boy-meets-world-trivia/amylindorff?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Boy Meets World</a> fame. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey have also created television characters with such geeky qualities, it should inspire every young lady in America to follow suit. These women could outsmart their male counterparts any day of the week, even if sometimes they out-awkward them as well.

Willow Rosenberg

The Greatest Geeky Girls on TV

Geek Girls | Famous Female Nerds on TV

Lists about unforgettable child actors who nabbed the spotlight and how they have navigated life after fame at such vulnerable stages in their development.

Bright Young Stars

List of the greatest characters we watched grow up on TV. This list ranks the best TV characters who grew up before the audience's very eyes week to week, or more aptly, year to year. Going through puberty is not exactly easy. But going through puberty in front of an international audience is something on a whole other level. If one wishes to know what that is like, he or she may ask the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> behind the TV characters on this list. Some of the best characters who grew up from season to season belong in families like the Tanners in San Francisco, as we watched D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle literally go from children to human beings over the course of &quot;Full House.&quot; Remember when Corey and Topanga were bickering classmates in &quot;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/boy-meets-world-trivia/amylindorff?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Boy Meets World</a>?&quot; If so, you also probably remember when they started dating and when they got married.

Shawn Hunter

The Greatest Characters We Watched Grow Up on TV

Best Characters Who Grew Up on TV

This is a list of the most memorable middle children from TV families. The list includes middle children from <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-kids-live-action-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">live action TV shows</a> and animated TV families across all genres, ranging from family sitcom “Father Knows Best” to the Matt Groening animated series “The Simpsons” and the TNT SciFi series “Falling Skies.” Middle children, though often successful in real life, are often straight man foils for their TV siblings, and the middle child stereotype of being insecure and lacking identity is exaggerated to comic effect. Why do we find these characters so appealing? Maybe it’s because we identify with them, or possibly, it’s just the opposite: their middle child experience is so foreign to us that we are fascinated.Some of the middle kids in these big TV families are model children ,some are rebels, and some are dysfunctional wrecks. This list runs from the sweet long-suffering middle child, like Gabe from “Good Luck, Charlie,” to the sharp-tongued and sarcastic Randy Taylor, played by teen heart throb <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jonathan-taylor-thomas-facts/amandatullos?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Jonathan Taylor Thomas</a>, in the 1990s TV series “Home Improvement,” to the vapid and neurotic Mallory Keaton – and who wouldn’t be neurotic next to Michael J’s Fox’s character Alex P. Keaton? - from the 1980s hit series “Family Ties.” Which is your favorite TV middle child? Which ones stand out in your memory? This list of greatest middle children in TV history is sure to take you on a trip down memory lane!

Alex Russo

The Greatest Middle Children in TV History

Best TV Middle Children | Fictional Middle Child List

A look at some fresh cuts and risky styles.

Hair Dos, Don'ts, and IDKs

Hair

Television characters have brought us some truly memorable hairstyles. There was &quot;The Rachel&quot; and of course, Topanga Lawrence of &quot;Boy Meets World,&quot; or as Corey once described her, &quot;the hair with the girl attached.&quot; But in order to make this list, these TV characters can't just have great hair, they've got to have truly excellent and impressive bangs.Bangs are a life choice. Some people can pull them off and some people really, really can't. Every TV character on this list – from any era, and any gender – is seriously killing it in the bangs department. From Beaver Cleaver's boy bangs, to Peggy Bundy's full fringe, this list features the most famous bangs in television history.Upvote the best bangs below and be sure to see which of your favorite <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-bangs-in-movie-history/amylindorff">film characters</a> are making bangs work in their own special ways as well.

April Ludgate

The Best Bangs That Ever Existed on Television

TV Characters with Bangs | List of the Best Bangs on Television

Amy Boal

Lists about the most memorable fictional characters in film, TV, and literature that will stick in our minds forever.

Characters We'll Never Forget

Token females&nbsp;in <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-kid-friend-gangs-in-film-and-tv/tamar-altebarmakian" target="_blank">kid friend gangs</a>&nbsp;have been a popular trope in movies and TV for ages. These loner girls join&nbsp;the nerdy boy group and&nbsp;stir up budding testosterone while&nbsp;challenging&nbsp;the boys' childhood friendships and allegiances. It usually doesn't matter if the female character is a stunning princess or a tomboy with short hair.The chaos brought on by the feminine addition is either resolved or&nbsp;exacerbated when she becomes romantically involved with the&nbsp;young male hero. But in addition to pushing&nbsp;the boys toward manhood, the loner girls&nbsp;often possess&nbsp;a needed skill (like otherworldly power, extreme bravery, or expertise with a wand). Instead of just being the object of lust, these young women add incomparable value to the group of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-kid-characters-in-film/ranker-film" target="_blank">kid characters</a>.&nbsp;Most of the&nbsp;plucky young girls&nbsp;do&nbsp;cool stuff to help solve the mystery, win the game, or save the universe. Here's a list of some <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-child-actors/reference" target="_blank">famous token girls</a>. How do you think each one&nbsp;measures up?&nbsp;

The Toughest Token Girls In Pack-Of-Boys Movies And TV Shows

The Toughest Token Loner Girls In Pack-Of-Boys Movies And Shows

Shonna Wright

The best, worst, most interesting, questionable, and unforgettable clothes in pop culture history.

Fictional Fashion

90s TV

Haircuts and fashion styles come and go, but for those fortunate enough to be immortalized on screen by a long-running TV character, they can live on in perpetuity. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-90s-sitcoms/ranker-tv" target="_blank">Sitcoms in the 1990s</a> were a smorgasbord of influences, trends, and experiments in fashion - some memorable, others regrettable. Certain looks helped permanently define characters, further cementing the pop-culture legacy of some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest TV shows of all time</a>.

No doubt these stars and their signature looks inspired countless imitators - but how many of those styles&nbsp;could you still get away with today? Take a glance at these fashion blasts from the past and decide whose look you might still want to wear.

Topanga Lawrence

Topanga Lawrence is listed on