Twenty most memorable and iconic TV characters of all time.

[Hanley!]

Homer Simpson or Spock would be the only potential answers there.

I'd say Homer, but barely.

[The Legend]

The three most recognizable to the mass public just because of longevity and mass watching appeal are probably Bill Cosby, Frasier and Homer Simpson. Simpsons is a little difficult to track just because it's the only animated show on the list, except Pokemon. Also, I would argue, Bart Simpson is probably more recognizable than Homer, actually all the Simpsons may be more recognizable than Homer.

[Hanley!]

Bart is a less popular character, but was more of a pop culture phenomenon in terms of merchandise, etc. So I'd agree that he is more recognizable than Homer. But he isn't on the list.

[UTK]

6. Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)

Yeah, okay, whatever you say.

[ShaneOfan]

The three most recognizable to the mass public just because of longevity and mass watching appeal are probably Bill Cosby, Frasier and Homer Simpson. Simpsons is a little difficult to track just because it's the only animated show on the list, except Pokemon. Also, I would argue, Bart Simpson is probably more recognizable than Homer, actually all the Simpsons may be more recognizable than Homer.

Cosby and Fraiser? Are you serious?

Easily the top three are Homer Simpson, Elmo, and Spock. You can show a picture of them to almost anyone of any age, walk of life, country, etc and they could identify those three. Try asking a 15 year old girl from Cleveland who Fraiser Crane is.

[The Legend]

The three most recognizable to the mass public just because of longevity and mass watching appeal are probably Bill Cosby, Frasier and Homer Simpson. Simpsons is a little difficult to track just because it's the only animated show on the list, except Pokemon. Also, I would argue, Bart Simpson is probably more recognizable than Homer, actually all the Simpsons may be more recognizable than Homer.

Cosby and Fraiser? Are you serious?

Easily the top three are Homer Simpson, Elmo, and Spock. You can show a picture of them to almost anyone of any age, walk of life, country, etc and they could identify those three. Try asking a 15 year old girl from Cleveland who Fraiser Crane is.

Try asking a 15 year old from anywhere who Spock is and to identify him in a picture and it's less likely than Bill Cosby. Star Trek is so old at this point and removed from pop culture that I would be willing to bet they'd know who Bill Cosby is before Spock. I would agree with you in regards to Elmo over Frasier, I missed him when reading the list honestly, which is the only reason I skipped him.

[AkydefGoldberg]

^Regarding that debate, I think I can throw in my comment as a non-watcher of most of the shows mentioned. The only three that I would recognise if you showed me a picture would be Homer Simpson (sorry, never watched Simpsons), Bill Cosby (again, never watched it but heard of the guy), and probably Tony Soprano (again, not watched but heard of it and aware of Gandolfini). Michael Scott would be in third place joint with Soprano only for the reason he's the US version of the awesome David Brent.

[ShaneOfan]

The three most recognizable to the mass public just because of longevity and mass watching appeal are probably Bill Cosby, Frasier and Homer Simpson. Simpsons is a little difficult to track just because it's the only animated show on the list, except Pokemon. Also, I would argue, Bart Simpson is probably more recognizable than Homer, actually all the Simpsons may be more recognizable than Homer.

Cosby and Fraiser? Are you serious?

Easily the top three are Homer Simpson, Elmo, and Spock. You can show a picture of them to almost anyone of any age, walk of life, country, etc and they could identify those three. Try asking a 15 year old girl from Cleveland who Fraiser Crane is.

Try asking a 15 year old from anywhere who Spock is and to identify him in a picture and it's less likely than Bill Cosby. Star Trek is so old at this point and removed from pop culture that I would be willing to bet they'd know who Bill Cosby is before Spock. I would agree with you in regards to Elmo over Frasier, I missed him when reading the list honestly, which is the only reason I skipped him.

Now way dude. There is even new Star Trek movies. He was in them. As popular as it used to be or not, there are still plenty of t-shirts with his image on it. I am willing to bet that if you go to your local mall and go into Hot Topic and Spencers (two stores very popular with the 13-20 crowd) you will find at least one shirt with an image of Spock on it. The Cosby show ended 13 years ago. And never had the following that Star Trek now has. It was never as big across the markets as Star trek is. Go to a book store. There will be a Star Trek section. No Cosby Section. How many Spinoffs did Cosby have? 0. Star Trek? 4. Cosby movies? 0. Star Trek movies? 12. I am not saying everyone in the world knows who Spock is but I would bet every cent I have or ever will have that he is WAY more popular than Bill Cosby.

[DanielsonTHAGOAT]

Wow, take out Maxwell Smart, Richard Castle, and President Jed Bartlet. No one even knows who any of these guys are.

Put in Peter Griffin (Family Guy), Eric Cartman (South Park), and Omar (The Wire).

EDIT: OMG how do you LEAVE OUT JERRY SEINFIELD? His show was literally the most watched show in the history of Television.

[Hanley!]

Wow, take out Maxwell Smart, Richard Castle, and President Jed Bartlet. No one even knows who any of these guys are.

Put in Peter Griffin (Family Guy), Eric Cartman (South Park), and Omar (The Wire).

EDIT: OMG how do you LEAVE OUT JERRY SEINFIELD? His show was literally the most watched show in the history of Television.

I'm pretty doubtful that Omar from the Wire is more well known than Jed Bartlet.

[ShaneOfan]

Wow, take out Maxwell Smart, Richard Castle, and President Jed Bartlet. No one even knows who any of these guys are.

Put in Peter Griffin (Family Guy), Eric Cartman (South Park), and Omar (The Wire).

EDIT: OMG how do you LEAVE OUT JERRY SEINFIELD? His show was literally the most watched show in the history of Television.

I'm pretty doubtful that Omar from the Wire is more well known than Jed Bartlet.

Yeah I'm sorry. I can understand not thinking Bartlet belongs. I may even concede to replacing him with Jerry Seinield but to try to replace him with Omar a guy from a show that was only on HBO as opposed to a character who was on a nationally syndicated tv show for 7 years, who furthermore was only supposed to be a back ground character if not a one shot guy but was so popular they signed him full time. That is just ludicrous.

And let's be honest if we are talking "off ALL time" there are others on this list who should not be included. Dexter Morgan, Maxwell Smart, Fraiser Crane and Michael Scott are all arguable but likely don't actually belong. As much as I like the characters of Malcom Reynolds and Jesse Pinkerman neither belongs on this list. Mal is great but the show was pretty much unknown and Jesse is amazing but not nearly as popular as Walt (who DOES belong) and Yeah Dr. Cox is funny but come on man.

[Hanley!]

Frasier Crane does belong in my mind. He's not the most known of them by any means, but he is the longest running sitcom character ever between Cheers & Frasier and both were very popular shows. Jessie and Mal Reynolds realistically wouldn't be up there in the most known or iconic characters of all time list, though both have large cult followings. Dr Cox doesn't belong there either - there's a lot of sitcom characters more deserving. Jerry Seinfeld is one, anybody from Friends would be another.

But you know, it's just a fun internet list so it doesn't really matter.

[Headlesspete]

Homer Simpson is the most recognisable. Room of 100 random peeps from all walks of life and you them them each picture, Homer will be the most identifiable with ease.

[rawisjericho]

How could you leave out Ralph Kramden (Honeymooners)?