Top-10 Greatest TV Characters of All Time

The 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air on CBS tomorrow night at 8/7 c. Accordingly, I have compiled a top-10 list of my picks for the greatest TV characters of all time. The following are my faves from various primetime shows, movies, and/or miniseries. I have, of course, included some personal commentary for each entry.
Top-10 Greatest TV Characters of All Time & Corresponding Commentary*:
10.) Dan Conner (John Goodman)-- Roseanne (ABC, 1988-97): To me, Dan always seemed like the perfect dad, compassionate yet manly and always trying to provide for his family despite some serious obstacles, getting through it all with humor.
9.) Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow)-- Friends (NBC, 1994-2004): As the most evolved, underrated, and, actually, smartest character on this 90s/early 2000's Must-See TV staple, Phebes became a role model for seemingly-ditzy-yet-cerebral gals everywhere. Kudrow also provided musical comedy in the form of coffeeshop classics such as "Smelly Cat."
8.) Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet)-- The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984-92): Denise was the undeniable rebel-with-a-cause in this close-knit, classic-sitcom family. I always loved watching the show to see Bonet's latest fashion statement or to find out what cause her character was embracing on a particular episode.
7.) The Soup Nazi (Larry Thomas)-- Seinfeld (NBC, 1990-98): Although he only appeared on two episodes of "the show about nothing," Thomas' infamous alter-ego more than likely invented one of the key catch-phrases of the 90s, as did most of the other actors on this series.
6.) Joy Turner (Jaime Pressly)-- My Name Is Earl (NBC, 2005-?): Bonafide Southern Belle Ms. Pressly (a North Carolina native) won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her hilarious, scene-stealing portrayal of the white-trash anti-heroine in 2007. Pressly helped introduce Southern-fried expressions like "Oh, snap!," "Hey, Dummy!," and "That's messed up, y'all." into the pop-culture vernacular. In her own weird way, Joy is somewhat culturally aware, which is what fascinates me most about this character.
5.) Kramer (Michael Richards)-- Seinfeld (NBC, 1990-98): Who couldn't laugh at Kramer? With his clumsiness, bizarro hairdon't, and crazy ideas (e.g. the smokers' lounge; Kramerica Industries; repainting lines on the highway; the Bro/Mansierre), Kramer is most definitely a memorable TV character.
4.) Lisa Simpson (Animated-- Voiced by Yeardley Smith)-- The Simpsons (FOX, 1990-Present): Sure, big brother Bart has all the catch-phrases and provides most of the laughs vis-a-vis his antics, but misunderstood Lisa is the heart, soul, and brain of the eponymous, long-suffering animated dysfunctional family.
3.) Earl Hickey (Jason Lee)-- My Name Is Earl (NBC, 2005-?): If Joy Turner is anti-heroine of the trailer park, then ex-husband Earl Hickey is its anti-hero. After being hit by a car, hospitalized redneck ne'er do good Earl learns a lesson about the principles of karma, courtesy of Carson Daly. The whole list concept is brilliant, and I don't understand why NBC yanked this show after only four seasons.
2.) Capts. Augustus "Gus" McCrae and Woodrow F. Call (Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, respectively)-- Lonesome Dove (CBS, 1989): A two-for-one deal, folks! In this epic miniseries that won seven Emmys, Duvall and Jones portray the two retired Texas Rangers to perfection. Hailed by one countdown I stumbled across as the "greatest Western bromance ever"-- the actors' lines and dialogue really make this movie. For instance, in one scene, Duvall tells a young Diane Lane, "If you want only one thing in life, that one thing is liable to disappoint ya." I've now adopted this bit of cowboy logic into my personal philosophy on life.
And the winner is...
1.) Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda)-- M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-83): Along with Larry Gelbart-- who passed away recently-- Alda produced many memorable TV moments. I think the reason I like Hawkeye so much is that he had the guts to say (in an often very sarcastically funny way) the things everyone else was too afraid to say about the most controversial subjects, especially war and peace-- and often paid the price for doing so. Also, even though he was drafted and didn't want to be in Korea, Hawkeye was arguably the best (and best-looking!) doctor in the 4077 and became an unlikely-- and occasionally reluctant-- hero for saving countless lives and boosting morale through his eccentric, irreverent ways and unorthodox methods.
*Source: The Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com)