Not sure why but I was expecting Danson and Selleck

Kermit made me think of 3 others that should have been on the list: Mister Rogers (absolutely), Big Bird (probably), and Barney (maybe, maybe not). Two of those are big-time influences that span multiple generations and are instantly recognizable for their work in television.

Betty White should also be on there in my opinion.

One big omission: Eric Cartman.

These "greatest Icon" lists are beginning to bore me. blah, blah, blah, blah, Lucille Ball, blah, blah, blah, Milton Berle, blah, blah, Johnny Carson.

Considering no "icons" have been created on TV in at LEAST the last 10 years, what's the point of continually doing these lists?

I don't know, I never watched the Sopranos but the show was big enough and got enough press that I recognize Gandolfini.

I'm biased since it's my favorite show, but Dr. House should be an icon if the show continues for a few more years :)

Plus....didn't Desilu Productions green light "Star Trek"?

I never thought I would see Archie Bunker on the same list with Buffy the Vampire Slayer?????

I don't think Jennifer Aniston belongs either.

I don't now how you cannot believe that. She is pretty much the definition of a TV icon. It's not like she has a 1/2 hour show at 6 in the morning on Oxygen.

50. Larry Hagman - Should be higher. As has been stated, J.R. Ewing is definitely an icon.

49. Calista Flockhart - No way.

48. Jimmy Smits - Successful on LA Law and NYPD Blue, but an icon? Not really.

47. Simon Cowell - The juggernaut. I agree.

46. Lassie - Okay, I can see this.

45. Sarah Michelle Gellar - Not a fan of her or the show, but Buffy is indeed an icon.

44. Susan Lucci - Good choice.

43. Flip Wilson - Iffy here. Yes, a groundbreaker, but is the show that revered?

42. James Gandolfini - Maybe too low.

41. Jon Stewart - A third rate comedian becomes a political pundit, I'm still not sure how.

40. Sally Field - Maybe. She did have success on TV.

39. Jennifer Aniston - Why her over the other Friends? Because her hairstyle was copied?

38. Bea Arthur - I can see it.

37. George Clooney - TV actor becomes A List movie star. Doug Ross is not an icon.

36. Diahann Carroll - The first black woman to headline a sitcom, blah blah blah. Most people don't know the show.

35. Michael J. Fox - Can't argue.

34. Bob Barker - Of course. Should be higher.

33. Ellen DeGeneres - No.

32. Henry Winkler - Ayyyy!

31. Sarah Jessica Parker - Feh. I'll give you this one, although maybe too high.

30. Alan Alda - Too low!

29. John Ritter - Definitely worthy of the list.

28. Howard Cosell - Even as a kid I hated him, but he belongs here.

27. Regis Philbin - 87 consecutive years on TV.

26. Farrah Fawcett - Another iffy. Too high in any case.

25. Heather Locklear - No.

24. Michael Landon - Three HUGE series.

23. Barbara Walters - Ugh, I can't argue with this though.

22. Milton Berle - Of course.

21. Kermit - C'mon. Really? He should be a lot lower.

20. Carroll O'Connor - 20? Are you serious? He should be 2 or 3.

19. Andy Griffith - Too high.

18. William Shatner - Of. Course. The. Captain.....Belongs. Here.

17. Bob Newhart - He seems like a nice guy, but he's never done anything that was even remotely funny to me. I can see his place on the list though.

16. David Letterman - Used to be hilarious.

15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players" - Good choice.

14. Ed Sullivan - If only for The Beatles.

13. Jackie Gleason - Definitely. Should be in the top 10.

12. Dick Van Dyke - Another good choice.

11. Roseanne - I loved the show, minus the last season, but I think she's way too high.

10. Dick Clark - See Regis' career, add another 20 years.

9. Homer Simpson - Woohoo!

8. Jerry Seinfeld - Yes.

7. Mary Tyler Moore - Yes.

6. Carol Burnett - Yes!

5. Walter Cronkite - Yes.

4. Bill Cosby - Too high.

3. Oprah Winfrey - I suppose.

2. Lucille Ball - Yes.

1. Johnny Carson - Yes.

Not a bad list, as far as they go. Only a few choices don't belong. I can think of a few others.
Dennis Franz
Lucy Lawless
The Agony of Defeat Guy :)
James Arness
Adam West
Don Adams
Bob Denver
The Brady Bunch
That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure I could think of many more.

rotfl HAHA, I had to look this up on google, but once I figured out who this was, I laughed for about a minute straight. Must be added to the list!

50. Larry Hagman - I guess

49. Calista Flockhart - Horrible

48. Jimmy Smits - Horrible

47. Simon Cowell - Yes, Good pick for the Decade

46. Lassie - Was on TV forever

45. Sarah Michelle Gellar - Not really, its a reach

44. Susan Lucci - I guess for the Soap crowd

43. Flip Wilson - Not sure on this one

42. James Gandolfini - Sure why not

41. Jon Stewart - THis seems like a media pick

40. Sally Field - I think so, a proven face, bubt she had more success in Film

39. Jennifer Aniston - No Way

38. Bea Arthur - Two hit shows, ok.

37. George Clooney - He was in 1000 shows, one hit show and then becmae a Movie Star, not a TV Icon

36. Diahann Carroll - Not sure on this one

35. Michael J. Fox - Too Low, he is a TV superstar.

34. Bob Barker - Yes!

33. Ellen DeGeneres - No Way.

32. Henry Winkler - Yes, most defintely!

31. Sarah Jessica Parker - I guess, so, but I don't get her success. Square Pegs was only a moderate hit though :)

30. Alan Alda - Should be top 5!

29. John Ritter - Yes, I would say he fits the bill

28. Howard Cosell - No doubt an Icon

27. Regis Philbin - Yes for sure!

26. Farrah Fawcett - Seems like a match with Aniston, same fluff hair pick

25. Heather Locklear - No way, and ahead of Alan Alda????

24. Michael Landon - No Doubt, TV superstar, probably too low.

23. Barbara Walters - Yes

22. Milton Berle - Yes

21. Kermit - I guess, this is a kitchy pick

20. Carroll O'Connor - Top 10 not doubt

19. Andy Griffith - Most defintely

18. William Shatner - No Doubt

17. Bob Newhart - Top 10

16. David Letterman - Yes

15. "Not Ready for Primetime Players" - Yes

14. Ed Sullivan - Yes

13. Jackie Gleason - Top 10

12. Dick Van Dyke - YES!!

11. Roseanne - I guess, but way too high

10. Dick Clark - Yes, but I don't think top 10

9. Homer Simpson - Yes

8. Jerry Seinfeld - Yes.

7. Mary Tyler Moore - Yes.

6. Carol Burnett - Yes

5. Walter Cronkite - Yes.

4. Bill Cosby - Yes.

3. Oprah Winfrey - Yes.

2. Lucille Ball - Should be #1.

1. Johnny Carson - I miss Johnny.

Top 10:
1 Lucy
2 Johnny
3 Alan Alda
4 Carol OConnnor
5 Walter Cronkite
6 Carol Burnett
7 MaryTylerMoore
8 Seinfeld
9 Bill Cosby
10 Jackie Gleeson

Missing:
Larry King
Bill Bixby
James Garner
Bob Hope
Charlie Brown
John Cleese
Edward R. Murrow

no Jay Leno = good list

You see, I’m the exact opposite.

I used to hate Seinfeld, thought it was an overrated, unfunny, mindless piece of television trash. Than something happened one hot summer day of 2007, I turn on an episode of the show I despised and gave it one last chance. Something clicked in my little tiny television loving brain… I laughed and couldn’t stop.

Next thing you know I’m at the stores where DVDs are sold and slowly in the summer I caught up, bought and watched all eight currently released seasons of Seinfeld on the format known as, the DVD.

Now I only have 3 episodes of Seinfeld left to watch from the ninth season DVD and I think as a whole, the series is in my opinion one of the greatest situational comedies of all time.

I know I’m in the minority, but I think Seinfeld, Jerry, is a very funny man. No, indeed, he’s not the funniest on the show (that title would go to Michael Richards) but I found him funnier than Julia.

Ok, I'll give you Gandolfini (House, not so much ;) ).

No Ted McGinley? :sad:

No list is complete without:

01. Huge Gelatinous Blob
02. Hypnotic Toad
03. Guy Who Lives Under The Stairs [on Letterman - Chris Elliot]
04. ALF
05. Dabney Coleman [Buffalo Bill]
06. Norman Lloyd [St. Elsewhere, Hitchcock]
07. Alfred Hitchcock [Presents]
08. Norman Lear [All in the Family]
09. Larry Gelbart [MASH]
10. Hugh Wilson [WKRP]

I don't care if some of these aren't 'on camera' folks. They're still icons.

All these lists are in the eye...

I absolutely agree with Rogers and Big Bird. Barney was a phenomenon for awhile there, and still is pretty popular with the kiddies, but that show didn't have the same relevance or impact of Mr. Rogers or Sesame Street. I would put Charlie Brown on (just for A Charlie Brown Christmas alone) the list before Barney.

And there's your Fall 1973 CBS Saturday night lineup.

I pity the fool that doesn't put Mr. T on this list.

rotfl

Retired Johnny Carson makes rare (last) TV appearance
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He didn't have to say a word...

Great clip.

seriously? Smits is the only one with two successful shows and I still wouldn't say he was iconic even though I loved him in both.

Over (previously mentioned)

Charlie Brown
Mr. Rogers
Big Bird
Jerry Seinfeld
Ted Danson
Bob Hope
Tom Selleck
Cartman
Bob Denver