Power Rankings Triathlon - Male TV Characters (Comedy)

I've had a TV character ranking in the works for a Power Rankings Thursday for awhile now. But found myself with a Top 20 list and over 30 honorable mentions just for the male characters -- So I decided to divvy it up, and thus, the Power Rankings Triathlon was born.

Today (Wed) will kick things off with the Best Male TV Characters in a Comedy Category.

Tomorrow (or Friday) we will hit the Best Male TV Characters in a Drama Category.

And Friday (or tomorrow) will be the Best Female TV Characters of all time.

(reasons for this split: unsurprisingly, the majority of shows I've watched in my life center around male lead characters, and I naturally gravitate toward the male supporting characters on TV. So rather than letting my bias fully show and ranking female characters lower than my favorites, I wanted to give everyone their full shine).

So all in all, a very different format to Power Rankings Thursday, but hopefully one you all will enjoy. And if not, we'll be returning to the typical format in the coming weeks, so no need to worry.

One note: as far as comedies go, I'm like the Emmy's -- 30 minute scripted series that have comedic elements, even if the show isn't a full-blown sitcom, are considered (The Bear and Barry Rule).

Without further ado, let's dive into the Best TV Characters of all Time -- Males in Comedy.

Honorable Mentions

Category 1 - Different Character from Same Show in Top 10

Dwight Schrute - The Office

Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld

Dennis Reynolds - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Gob Bluth - Arrested Development

Nick Miller - New Girl

A lot of difficult cuts on this list, but wanted to ensure I was only picking 1 character per show in the Top 10. Dwight is one of the best supporting characters ever. Kramer is hilarious but not my #1 from the show, same with Dennis and Gob Bluth. Nick Miller damn near made me change the rules of the list, because he's an all timer.

Category 2 - Haven't Seen the Entire Show, but Great from what I've Seen

Ted Lasso - Ted Lasso

Roy Kent - Ted Lasso

Uncle Baby Billy - Righteous Gemstones

Kenny Powers - Eastbound & Down

Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm

Barney Stinson - How I Met Your Mother

Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock

I skipped the last season of Ted Lasso (woke) but Roy Kent is incredible, and can't leave Ted off HM's. I'm not the biggest Danny McBride guy clearly -- but Baby Billy and Kenny Powers probably make most people's Top 10. Haven't seen all of Curb, but Larry David's a genius. Not a HIMYM guy but Barney is electric. And Alec Baldwin (better actor than person) is great in 30 Rock.

Category 3 - Miscellaneous Honorable Mentions

Phil Dunphy - Modern Family

Cam Tucker - Modern Family

Adam DeMamp - Workaholics

Rodney Ruxin - The League

Chandler Bing - Friends

Jacob Hill - Abbott Elementary

Red Foreman - That 70's Show

The Modern Family men were incredibly tough omissions because they're both hysterical. DeMamp and Ruxin are my favorites from my top niche comedies. Chandler is my fave of the Friends, but none cracked the Top 10. Abbot Elementary needs more respect, and Jacob is the best on it. Red is my elder statesmen of the group.

The Top 10

#10 Frank Reynolds - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Kicking things off with a bang with a character from one of the funniest shows still churning out episodes, It's Always Sunny. 4 legit contenders out of just the main male characters, and while I love the dumb humor of Charlie, the closeted-homosexual humor of Mac, and the sociopathic humor of Dennis, I had to go with Frank Reynolds here.

Frank is a fucking riot. He isn't winning any Father of the Year awards for certain, but what he lacks in paternal instincts, he makes up for in Rum Ham and Urinal Waterboarding. When Frank and Charlie are off doing side quests is when the show is at it's funniest to me, but Frank can be hilarious around any and all characters. Unfiltered, a bit unhinged, and outrageous at all times -- Frank more than deserves Top 10 honors.

#9 Ron Swanson - Parks and Recreation

When I ask people around my age what their favorite sitcom is, Parks and Rec almost always comes up. Similar to The Office, I think this is a show our generation grew up with and is a big part of TV culture in the 2000s. And while I think the ladies (Leslie and April specifically) carry it at times, Ron Swanson is one of the best TV characters you'll ever find.

The prototypical man's man, Ron is a man who despises government while working for them. Every few episodes you'd get a nugget about his upbringing -- like working in a sheet metal factory at 11 years old and running the floor 2 weeks later. His Pyramid of Greatness (proudly displayed on my college roommate Bircher's wall) is everything you need to know about his values -- Honor, living in the woods, facial hair, old wooden sailing ships. He's a caricature of the man's man and he's downright hilarious.

#8 Tobias Funke - Arrested Development

Similar to #10, there was no shortage of options to go with for Arrested Development -- Gob, Buster, George Sr., George Michael even. But when I think about which character made me laugh the most while watching this show, I keep coming back to Tobias Funke MD.

Tobias is a man of many interests -- not many talents. They set the tone early when Tobias lets us know that he was the world's first "analrapist" -- you know, a cross between a psychoanalyst and a psychotherapist, obviously. From painting himself blue ("I'm afraid I just blue myself") to try and join the Blue Man Group, to being a "never-nude," to being completely oblivious to his sexual inuendo in conversations -- there's never a dull moment with Tobias.

#7 Cousin Richie - The Bear

The show The Bear is probably the least comedic show on this Top 10. But Richie is the funniest part of this show -- and a damn good character. So even if Richie doesn't make me laugh like Phil Dunphy does, he's one of my favorite characters of the 2020s.

Hard around the edges, confrontational, and out of his depths are all ways I'd describe Richie. When we're introduced to him, he's the loud and obnoxious coworker making life hell for everyone at the restaurant. But as we get to know him, you learn he's a guy who's had to fight through hardships, and doesn't really know his place in the world. One of my all-time favorite TV episodes (a potential future blog) is the "Forks" episode in Season 2 where he stages at a 3-star restaurant. This is the episode it finally clicks for Richie, he realizes his purpose in life and at The Bear, and it's genuinely beautiful to watch. Cousin will always be one of my TV GOATs.

#6 Schmidt - New Girl

I don't know the general consensus on the show New Girl, but this is a hill I will die on: Schmidt is one of the funniest characters in all of TV. It was a slow burn at times, but as I've rewatched over the years, it's clear Schmidt is the star of this show.

First and foremost, New Girl is a great and hilarious show -- but Schmidt runs circles around everyone else to me. Has by far the funniest collection of quotes -- "You know what happens? Schmidt Happens," "You are a gynecologist and a lesbian. This makes you a vagenius," "ALL DAY." From his voice, to his personality, to his affinity for Kimonos -- Schmidt genuinely makes me laugh as much as any character on this list. An Easy Top 10 for me.

#5 Jonah Ryan - Veep

My #1 comedy show. My #1 recommendation if anyone ever asks me for a show they should watch. Veep is not only one of the most underrated shows -- very few people I talk to have seen it -- but one of the best shows you'll watch. (it's on HBO for those curious).

There are many incredible side characters in Veep, But to me, Jonah Ryan stands out among the rest -- and not just because he's 7 feet tall. Jonad, Tinker Balls, The 60-Foot-Virgin, Jolly Green Jizz Face, The Pointless Giant, Supercalifragilisticexpialidickcheese: whatever you know him as, he's the punching-bag White House Correspondent to the Vice President's office in Veep. And he doesn't just have funny nicknames, he gets in the mix more than his fair share and has some all-time one-liners (Eating so much pussy I'm shittin' clit, Son). Jonad Forever.

#4 George Costanza - Seinfeld

If you've read to this point, it's clear the focus of my TV watching career has been focused on Post-2000's shows. It's not a knock on the sitcoms like Cheers, I just haven't watched many old shows. But I also have a dad, therefore I was going to watch some Seinfeld, whether I wanted to or not.

And while Jerry may be the star of his own show, George Costanza is the master of his domain. The show doesn't work without George. He's hilarious of course, but it's the situations he finds himself in + his reactions to being there that make it. Whether he's pretending to be a marine biologist and winds up saving a beached whale, or he's installing a bed under his desk to avoid work -- George's convoluted schemes never fail to make me laugh.

#3 Michael Scott - The Office

The last character from what I'd consider a true sitcom. A standout in mockumentary-style: cameras following people around in their workplace. It's one of the most popular styles of sitcom going, but none of it's counterparts have done a main character like Michael Scott.

If you've seen The Office, I don't need to hard-sell you on Michael Scott. The outrageous boss that wants everyone to love him -- to the point of making an absolute fool of himself. The fact that the show had such a steep drop-off in quality after Steve Carrell left the role is a testament to how incredible he was in the role. He's awkward, cringey, delusional. But he's also arguably the most endearing character in any sitcom. From "That's what She Said," to grilling his foot, to writing and filming his own movie with his employees, he's one of the GOATs for a reason. Threat Level Midnight.

#2 Noho Hank - Barry

I'd bet less than 10% of people reading this blog have watched Barry on HBO Max. But I guarantee the 10% that has would agree with me that Noho Hank is one of the best EVER. Barry is one of the most creatively-shot, darkly funny shows you'll ever watch -- created by and starring Bill Hader.

Noho Hank is played by Anthony Carrigan, an actor I didn't know coming in. Hank is a Chechan mobster -- but instead of being a menacing thug, he's an awkwardly enthusiastic, optimistic guy who seems more interested in being Barry's friend than strong-arming him. He starts as more of a henchmen for the mob, but as the show goes on, he winds up being a main character by it's end. And his character arc is by far the best in the show. Add in the fact that he's hysterical, lovable and endearing, ruthless when he needs to be, and loyal to a fault. The most pleasantly surprising, fully-developed characters you'll see in a 30-minute (dark) comedy.

#1 Ari Gold - Entourage

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Tom (of Tom's 2 Cents) were brain-storming, and he mentioned Ari Gold as one of the best TV characters, and I felt like an idiot for not having jotted him down. So I dove deep into research -- aka watched a YouTube video of Ari's best insults in Entourage. And it reminded me that, without a doubt, Ari Gold is my favorite Comedy TV character of all time.

If you somehow haven't heard of Ari or Entourage, he's a Super Agent in LA who represents Vinny Chase -- up-and-coming Movie Mega Star. This show debuted in 2004, and let's just say isn't the most politically-correct show in the world, but that's why Ari Gold was elevated to an even greater level. His manic energy, emotional volatility, hot temper, ruthless ambition -- all qualities that make up an insanely memorable character. Quips, insults, one-liners, monologues, are all elite -- but it's his delivery that makes it so good. Some may say his character (and the show as a whole) hasn't aged well -- but he is wildly entertaining and funny, and I'll never apologize for loving Ari Gold. Going to put a couple of my favorite quotes of his to close this blog out:

"You know another class I took at Harvard? Business Ethics. I don't steal other people's motherfucking clients, but in your case I'm going to make an exception. I'm going to take everyone: your B-level sitcom stars, your reality-TV writers, when I'm done with you, you're gonna be repping sideshow freaks. You need Jo-Jo the Dog-Face-Bitch-Boy? Call Josh Weinfuck, the lightweight pen-stealing fuckface."

"Fuck the phones, Lloyd. Unless Carmen Electra calls for an emergency tittyfuck, do not answer!"

"Tell Drama he's at the top of my to-do list, along with inserting needles in my cock"

“Tell Drama I just got off the phone with Disney. They’re remaking Old Yeller—and he’s playing the dog.”