Most "Real" or "Unreal" TV Characters

[Mr. DS]

There’s many TV shows out there that have characters simply based in a fantasy world. Then there are shows that are set in real life. Many characters just seem false in a real lief setting.  Then there are the ones that you'd swear are based on real people. These are shows that have characters that either remind you of people you know or you’d swear you’d bump into in a real life setting.  

I think the top choice for me in realistic characters is the cast of Cheers.  Pretty much any bar you walk into have guys like Norm, Cliff, Sam, Fraiser, etc. Another one that comes to mind is the cast of Rosanne.   There’s nothing shiny about their family, rather simply your working class, somewhat low income family with every day problems.  I’ve known so many families that mirror what they have going on.  

In the sense of “unreal”,  I’d highly nominate Full House.   I recall one episode where Stephanie accidently drove Joey’s car through the kitchen.  Danny and her sat down and talked calmly about what happened.  Let me tell you, if that were my house I’d be running from my father.  

What are your choices for the most “real” or “unreal” characters in a TV show.  

[lester1/2jr]

really any teenagers. "hey have you guys... tried drugs"  "hey have any of you guys ...had sex"

Every single teenager on TV is like the most mediocre kid you ever met in high school

[Sleepyskull]

really any teenagers. "hey have you guys... tried drugs"  "hey have any of you guys ...had sex"

Every single teenager on TV is like the most mediocre kid you ever met in high school

Actually that describes about half of the high school students I know. 

[Ozzymandias]

Ozzymandias speaks: This isn't a slam but a little bit of trivia. Richard Boone took the role of the cultured, intellectual and eccentric gunfighter-for-hire Paladin, because his first TV series, Medic, was so realistic that people were sending letters to his character, Dr. Konrad Styner, asking for him to opperate on them or diagnose them. Supposedly the final straw came when a lady wanted him to remove a brain tumor from her child (or something like that).

Medic must have been pretty intense for the early 50s. I've heard that the network was worried about the amount of blood splattered on Styner's scrubs and gloves. I've also heard both Dennis Hopper and (I believe) Barbara Eden say that when they died on the show, their families received flowers and condolences from neighbors and friends.

Ozzymandias has spoken!!!

[the ghoul]

Most unreal: The Kardashians

Most real:  Al Bundy

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

Many a time have I used the Al Bundy strangle.

[Silverlady]

Except for a few of the storylines,  I always felt that the family represented in the ROSEANNE show is the closest thing to what a really average family is like and the show still holds up today.

  I also think that the BUNKERS in ALL IN THE FAMILY was pretty realistic too for it's time (1970's).

[ChaosTheory]

I'll third (or fourth) the cast of Roseanne, at least the first few seasons.  Also Tim and Daisy from SPACED. And although it's a cartoon, Hank Hill from King of the Hill is a pretty realistic character. 
Most unrealistic?  Any MTV show (aside from Daria, B&B and maybe Rob & Big.)

[AndyC]

I agree with the Bunkers, for sure.

I thought Red Foreman, on That 70s Show, was a pretty accurate picture of a Dad from that period.

[ulthar]

I'll put in a vote for Malcolm Reynolds for a vote for a realistic character... not that I have not voted for a few characters in the thread already.