The 50 "Greatest" TV Icons

Allhallowsday · November 13, 2007, 10:49:14 PM

Are they kidding? I'm sorry, but LUCILLE BALL at number 2 is just stupid. JOHNNY CARSON was great, but number one??? That's LUCY's spot.
I have no problem with most of the inclusions, though they are apparently contemporaneous and politically correct, but where's JERRY MATHERS or TONY DOW as BEAVER CLEAVER and WALLY CLEAVER from "Leave It To Beaver? " How about RICKY NELSON or OZZIE and HARRIET NELSON? No JAMES ARNESS from the longest running show on American TV? But included are JIMMY SMITS? CALISTA FLOCKHART? BILL COSBY is number 4?

We've forgotten SID CAESAR? CAROL BURNETT? EDWARD MURROW? GEORGE CLOONEY 'cause he's such a likeable movie star???

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20152957_20152958_20159773,00.html

Torgo · November 13, 2007, 10:55:00 PM

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20152957_20152958_20159773,00.html

I only agree with about half of this list but I thought that they were all interesting choices regardless.

Allhallowsday · November 13, 2007, 10:59:46 PM

Hey, TORGO, I posted this same item in the Television section... great minds think alike, or should I say, great MINES think alike?

Torgo · November 13, 2007, 11:04:05 PM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on November 13, 2007, 10:59:46 PM
Hey, TORGO, I posted this same item in the Television section... great minds think alike, or should I say, great MINES think alike?

Sorry, I meant to post this in the television section but messed up and posted it here.

If Andrew wants to combine them, than that's cool with me.

CheezeFlixz · November 14, 2007, 12:14:28 AM

SIMON COWELL????? but no Don Knotts?
CALISTA FLOCKHART????? but no Redd Foxx
George Loony??? but no Rowen and Martin

I agree some are rightfully there, but some are just BS PC.

Allhallowsday · November 14, 2007, 12:21:13 AM

RED FOXX, DON KNOTTS, ROWEN and MARTIN, more great exclusions, thanks CHEEZEFLIXZ, we are on the same page.

Rev. Powell · November 14, 2007, 01:00:36 AM

A slightly off topic pet peeve: I hate this new style of Internet "best of" list where they won't let you see the whole list at a glance, but make you click through every single entry. Clicking my mouse 50 times is too much effort to invest to see who Entertainment Weekly thinks is the top TV icon of all time.

CheezeFlixz · November 14, 2007, 01:05:13 AM

Quote from: Rev. Powell on November 14, 2007, 01:00:36 AM
A slightly off topic pet peeve: I hate this new style of Internet "best of" list where they won't let you see the whole list at a glance, but make you click through every single entry. Clicking my mouse 50 times is too much effort to invest to see who Entertainment Weekly thinks is the top TV icon of all time.

I agree, that and who picked the list. Just who's opinion is this?

Scott · November 14, 2007, 01:39:54 PM

The Fonz

RCMerchant · November 14, 2007, 05:12:51 PM

Where are the MUNSTERS,dammit?! Every red-blooded American knows the MUNSTERS!!! I don't see comic books, toys or model kits of Calista Blockfart!

Oldskool138 · November 14, 2007, 05:53:30 PM

I think the list is unfair as there are many kinds of TV Shows and each has it's icons.

For sitcoms: I'd say Art Carney...Without him, we'd never have the "goofy neighbor" archetype.

For news: Walter Cronkite. He reported some of the most important events to happen in TV's infancy

Talk shows: Johnny Carson. You don't host a show for 30 years unless you're the best.

Game Shows: Bob Barker. See Carson, Johnny.

Cartoons: The Flintstones. I'm not a huge fan but they were the first prime-time cartoon.

That's all I can think of right now.

HappyGilmore · November 14, 2007, 08:45:26 PM

I tried to look at this list, but for some reason, it didn't work. I heard Homer Simpson is on it. I'd agree with that.

Question though: Is Jerry Orbach on it?

I would put him up there. Something like, 273 straight appearances over 12 years on Law and Order. Dude's brilliant as Lennie Briscoe.

Others may disagree.

RCMerchant · November 14, 2007, 09:03:05 PM

Scooby Doo

How long has this cartoon been a part of crap culture? And still popular?

Allhallowsday · November 14, 2007, 09:47:09 PM

Quote from: Oldskool138 on November 14, 2007, 05:53:30 PM
I think the list is unfair as there are many kinds of TV Shows and each has it's icons.

For sitcoms: I'd say Art Carney...Without him, we'd never have the "goofy neighbor" archetype.

For news: Walter Cronkite. He reported some of the most important events to happen in TV's infancy

Talk shows: Johnny Carson. You don't host a show for 30 years unless you're the best.

WALTER CRONKITE is on the top 50 list along with JOHNNY CARSON. Who could argue that ART CARNEY wasn't great?

Oldskool138 · November 14, 2007, 09:55:17 PM

Quote from: Allhallowsday on November 14, 2007, 09:47:09 PM
Talk shows: Johnny Carson. You don't host a show for 30 years unless you're the best.

WALTER CRONKITE is on the top 50 list along with JOHNNY CARSON. Who could argue that ART CARNEY wasn't great?
[/quote]

Okay, you got me...I didn't read the whole list...

I was just naming my personal icons,