My Favorite Television Marriages

[Gideon58]

http://www.law.msu.edu/assets/img/portals/marriage.p.jpg
Marriage is a long-honored institution on television, but the degree of entertainment value in TV marriages definitely varies and just because a television marriage is happy, doesn't necessarily make it entertaining. I will be rating these marriages in terms of entertainment value and as we all know, some of the most entertaining marriages on television aren't steeped in true love and romance...the following are my favorite television marriages:

[Gideon58]

60.

Frank and Estelle Costanza, Seinfeld

https://michaelstvtray.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/costanzas1.jpg

In addition to always bringing the funny, Jerry Stiller and Estelle Harris created one of prime time television's most unpredictable marriages...you never knew exactly where these two stood, whether it was with each other or whether it was regarding their son, George (Jason Alexander). Sometimes they seemed absolutely devoted to each other and there was even a brief separation during which they were both clearly miserable. The funniest thing about the Costanzas was the fact that they never spoke in normal tones, they were always yelling, whether it was to George or each other, these two were completely clueless about the term "inside voices".

[Camo]

Love Frank and Estelle :up:. Hoping my #1 features high because i know you've seen and liked the show.

[Gideon58]

59.

Gomez and Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5300000/Morticia-and-Gomez-addams-family-5313395-445-592.jpg

Creepy and sexy were never so perfectly married...this was the sexiest television couple who we rarely even saw in bed, let alone have sex...I loved that Gomez (John Astin) couldn't keep his hands off Morticia(Carolyn Jones) and Morticia feigned complete disinterest even though we knew it was the furthest from the truth.

[Citizen Rules]

Love it, great idea. I'm looking forward to this one!

[Gideon58]

58.

Andy and Sylvia Costas Sipowicz, NYPD Blue

http://www.seduction.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nat041.jpg

Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) was a hard-boiled NYC police detective and recovering alcoholic who spent his entire life keeping people at arm's length, male and female and despite an immediate attraction to Assistant DA Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence), Sipowicz fought what was happening tooth and nail but Sylvia never gave up and, for the time they were together, they were a joy to watch together because Sylvia brought out a side to Andy we never saw before.

[Citizen Rules]

I never seen NYPD or Seinfeld, but loved your choice of the Adams family couple.

[Gideon58]

I never seen NYPD or Seinfeld, but loved your choice of the Adams family couple.
OK, Citizen, you REALLY have to watch Seinfeld...I will confess that I didn't watch it in prime time and discovered it in syndication but when I did I was thrilled...this sitcom broke all the rules of making a sitcom and it worked for the most part. I don't think it was the be all and end all of sitcoms like a lot of people do and it has a very devoutly obsessed following who will crucify you for saying anything bad about the show, but it is a serious part of television history and anyone who appreciates The Mary Tyler Moore Show can certainly appreciate the often brilliant Seinfeld.

[Miss Vicky]

Hoping to see Dan and Roseanne Conner top the list.

[Gideon58]

57.

Carlos and Gabrielle Solis, Desperate Housewives

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/27300000/Gaby-and-Carlos-Season-1-gabrielle-and-carlos-27335018-773-1160.jpg

I loved this couple for a lot of reasons...first, it was great to see a Latino couple who were wealthy and upwardly mobile, but these two were definitely a new millenium marriage. Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) was a former runway model who gave it up to marry Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), a wealthy businessman. Gabrielle married Carlos for his money and Carlos has always been aware of this and was not above dangling a little bling in front of Gabrielle to keep her in line. When he was arrested for insider trading, it was no surprise that he had hidden a lot of his assets in offshore accounts unbeknownst to Gabrielle who refused to get him a lawyer until she could get her hands on said assets. Their only impasse came regarding children, he wanted them but she didn't, but they even worked that out eventually.

[Gideon58]

Hoping to see Dan and Roseanne Conner top the list.
You know Dan and Roseanne are going to be near the top.

[Camo]

OK, Citizen, you REALLY have to watch Seinfeld

I'll second this. Easily one of my favourite shows of all time, like Gideon i don't think it is the be all end all, it has it's fair share of dull or just bad episodes but during its peak it was pretty much unbeatable, not just in laughs but as an examination of human nature. All four main characters are awful human beings who aren't really going anywhere, so don't expect much character development or to like or properly identify with any of them. Give it a chance though, i'm curious what you'd think.

As i've said to you before i think Gideon, i watched the first season of Desperate Housewives when it was airing over here and enjoyed it but never watched it again. I liked Gabrielle and Carlos but Bree and the psycho pharmacist or whatever he was, was what interested me the most back then.

[Citizen Rules]

I'd probably like Seinfeld, seems like my type of sitcom. It'll be awhile before I watch that, I still have a number of other TV series to watch. I basically stopped watching TV shows in the early 80s. So I haven't seen a lot of shows.

[Gideon58]

All four main characters are awful human beings who aren't really going anywhere


OMG, Camo, I think you're the first person who watched this show to actually admit this...I thought I was the only one...Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer are four of the most selfish, self-absorbed TV characters ever created, but the show was still more funny than not...that's one of the reasons I loved the final episode so much, it addresses this issue directly, we actually get to see these four suffer some consequences of their behavior.

[Citizen Rules]

I think? GBG said she hated Seinfeld for the same reason, they were selfish and self-absorbed.

[Camo]

Thanks, but i'm really not Gideon honestly. Ask any Seinfeld fans here what they think of the main four and i'm sure they'd agree they are awful people, i know Sean C maybe the biggest fan here would agree with me. I'm actually really shocked that anyone disagreed. What did they try to say they were nice or what? I'm genuinely interested?

[Camo]

I think? GBG said she hated Seinfeld for the same reason, they were selfish and self-absorbed.

Yup, would never have suggested this to gbg. Couldn't see her not hating it.

[Gideon58]

What did they try to say they were nice or what? I'm genuinely interested?

I remember when I first went to the IMDB page for Seinfeld, I distinctly remember that anyone who posted ANYTHING negative about the show got totally blasted.

[honeykid]

Yeah, but that's IMDB.

Seinfeld is crap, BTW. :p

[gbgoodies]

59.

Gomez and Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5300000/Morticia-and-Gomez-addams-family-5313395-445-592.jpg

Creepy and sexy were never so perfectly married...this was the sexiest television couple who we rarely even saw in bed, let alone have sex...I loved that Gomez (John Astin) couldn't keep his hands off Morticia(Carolyn Jones) and Morticia feigned complete disinterest even though we knew it was the furthest from the truth.


I'm glad to see that Gomez and Morticia Addams made your list, but they would have been much higher on my list. They're such a fun couple. :)

[gbgoodies]

OK, Citizen, you REALLY have to watch Seinfeld...I will confess that I didn't watch it in prime time and discovered it in syndication but when I did I was thrilled...this sitcom broke all the rules of making a sitcom and it worked for the most part. I don't think it was the be all and end all of sitcoms like a lot of people do and it has a very devoutly obsessed following who will crucify you for saying anything bad about the show, but it is a serious part of television history and anyone who appreciates The Mary Tyler Moore Show can certainly appreciate the often brilliant Seinfeld.


I love "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", but I hated "Seinfeld". The characters are so self-centered that I can't stand them.

[Camo]

I remember when I first went to the IMDB page for Seinfeld, I distinctly remember that anyone who posted ANYTHING negative about the show got totally blasted.

I don't think that is a negative thing at all. It was pretty much the point of the show, you weren't supposed to see these characters grow or improve, they weren't very loyal to each other and they weren't very nice to the outside world. At the time this was something completely different you were so used to seeing a sitcom ending with the family or friends or whatever making up, Seinfeld was the first big sitcom at least to keep the characters awful throughout without any meaningful relationships or many positive changes to them.

Never been on the IMDB page for Seinfeld, but the show is one of those untouchable things on the internet so i wouldn't be surprised if it was just people saying it was bad that was causing mayhem. If you read what the people who were praising the show were saying i imagine they mentioned how horrible George, Jerry, Elaine and Kramer were.

[Gideon58]

56.

Arnie and Nancy Thomas, Roseanne

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktkqathpMo1qzpq8b.jpg

Arnie (Tom Arnold) was Dan's best friend and Nancy was one of Roseanne's who were actually one of TV's funniest couples, right up there with Al and Peg Bundy...this marriage was not about romance, it was about passion and kinky sex. They loved to call each other nasty names and then jump each other. They got married in Las Vegas in a special two-part episode with Dan (John Goodman) and Roseanne standing up for them. The marriage was short-lived; however, when Arnie couldn't control his wandering eye and told Nancy that he had been abducted by aliens and not long after that, Nancy decided she was gay. But when they were together, these two brought the funny.

[Gideon58]

55.

Mac and Sally McMillan, McMillan and Wife

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QizkaARVN54/hqdefault.jpg

Stuart "Mac" McMillan (the late Rock Hudson) was a San Francisco police commissioner who spent more time than he cared to keeping his wife Sally (Susan St. James) out of his work and out of danger.

[Gideon58]

54.

Elvin and Sondra Huxtable Thibodeaux, The Cosby Show

https://content2.promiflash.de/article-images/landscape1024/geoffrey-owens-und-sabrina-le-beauf.jpg

Sondra (Sabrina LeBeuf) was the eldest daughter of Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) who met Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) in college and after a very rocky courtship, due primarily to Elvin's somewhat sexist views about love and marriage which irritated Claire (Phylicia Rachad) more than Sondra. Despite the fact that their families were well off, Elvin and Sondra refused help and lived like paupers when they first got married but then Sondra became pregnant and gave birth to twins and realized they could not raise children the way they were living. Elvin and Sondra fought a lot and had a lot of interference from busybody in-laws, but their love for each other was never in question.

[Gideon58]

53.

Jessie and Rebecca Katsopolis, Full House

http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2015/news/150504/full-house-768.jpg

Jessie was already living with his widowed brother-in-law, Danny (Bob Saget) and his BFF Joey (Dave Coulier), helping Danny raise his three daughters when TV reporter Rebecca (Lori Loughlin) walked into his life and the full house became fuller. Jessie and Rebecca fought a lot about their respective careers but their love was documented in the form of the twin sons they conceived.

[Camo]

Not seen any of these. Well i've seen the first episode of Roseanne but that couple wasn't in it.

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen any of these either. Well, I did see Rock Hudson in a movie last night.

[Gideon58]

52.

Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, Hart to Hart

http://www.meredy.com/hart2hart/wallpapers/wph2hmeredy007.jpg

Jonathan (Robert Wagner) and Jennifer (Stefanie Powers) were a contemporary re-thinking of Nick and Nora Charles, wealthy jet setters who accidentally stumbled onto a murder or other crime every week and ended up solving it. This show wasn't exactly steeped in reality, but it was a lot of fun and the chemistry between Wagner and Powers was off the charts.

[Gideon58]

51.

Steven and Elyse Keaton, Family Ties

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/13600000/Mom-Dad-Steven-Elyse-Keaton-family-ties-13644540-288-360.jpg

Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter Birney) were aging hippies who grew up in the 60's as liberal democrats, but found themselves scratching their heads on a weekly basis as to how they raised a son named Alex (Michael J. Fox) who was a conservative and republican, not to mention two other daughters, Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers). The political bent of the show faded during the later seasons but I used to love to watch Steven and Elyse recall and sometimes try to relive their hippie days. The final season Steven and Elyse gave birth to another son named Andrew (Brian Bonsall) who worshipped big brother Alex.

[Gideon58]

50.

Dr. Richard and Adele Webber, Grey's Anatomy

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e7/70/5b/e7705b01ad3cdb6d258263804182ba79.jpg

This marriage weathered a lot though we were only brought into it about halfway. We learned mostly through flashback that Richard (James Pickens Jr.) was married to his work, which led to an affair with a brilliant surgeon named Ellis Grey (Kate Burton), who was Meredith's mother. We then watched Richard deal with his own alcoholism as well as the revelation that Adele (Loretta Devine) was suffering from Alzheimers. Loretta Divine won an Emmy for her work on her final season on the show.

[Gideon58]

49.

Fred and Jackie, Roseanne

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/roseanne4.jpg

Fred (Michael O'Keefe) was a co-worker of Dan's who had been quietly flirting with Roseanne's sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) until she finally got the nerve to ask him out. They went out, had sex, and Jackie became pregnant, but decided she wanted nothing more to do with Fred. Fred wouldn't give up, including threatening to sue Jackie for custody, but they eventually fell in love and got married with Jackie breastfeeding during the ceremony.

[Gideon58]

48.

Burt and Mary Campbell, Soap

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/96ea00c4c3d748518fa756c171c88bbe/soap-tv-richard-mulligan-cathryn-damon-ssop-009-bkh0pp.jpg

Burt (Richard Mulligan) was a contractor who was married to Mary (Cathryn Damon). already the mother of two sons, Danny (Ted Wass) and Jodie (Billy Crystal), whose patience was constantly challenged by Burt's "issues"...there was actually a storyline where Burt thought he could snap his fingers and make himself invisible...poor Mary just went with it and continued to love her Burt. Mulligan and Damon both won Emmys for their work on this show.

[Sexy Celebrity]

49.

Fred and Jackie, Roseanne

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/roseanne4.jpg

Fred comes up a lot with you. You love Fred from Roseanne.

[Gideon58]

47.

Jock and Ellie Ewing, Dallas

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c9/40/d6/c940d63bc580109e847023db1386ff0e.jpg

Their children were a mess and kept them on their toes, but while they were around Jock (The late Jim Davis) and Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) were one of televison's strongest marriages.

[Sexy Celebrity]

56.

Arnie and Nancy Thomas, Roseanne

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktkqathpMo1qzpq8b.jpg

Arnie (Tom Arnold) was Dan's best friend and Nancy was one of Roseanne's who were actually one of TV's funniest couples, right up there with Al and Peg Bundy...this marriage was not about romance, it was about passion and kinky sex. They loved to call each other nasty names and then jump each other. They got married in Las Vegas in a special two-part episode with Dan (John Goodman) and Roseanne standing up for them. The marriage was short-lived; however, when Arnie couldn't control his wandering eye and told Nancy that he had been abducted by aliens and not long after that, Nancy decided she was gay. But when they were together, these two brought the funny.
Roseanne once - on her blog or Twitter or something - described what would be happening in the Roseanne universe if the show came back to television.

She said she would have Arnie and Nancy get remarried.

[gbgoodies]

55.

Mac and Sally McMillan, McMillan and Wife

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QizkaARVN54/hqdefault.jpg

Stuart "Mac" McMillan (the late Rock Hudson) was a San Francisco police commissioner who spent more time than he cared to keeping his wife Sally (Susan St. James) out of his work and out of danger.


I loved Mac and Sally McMillan on "McMillan and Wife". I haven't watched the show in years, but it would be interesting to see if it holds up on rewatches now.

[gbgoodies]

49.

Fred and Jackie, Roseanne

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/roseanne4.jpg

Fred (Michael O'Keefe) was a co-worker of Dan's who had been quietly flirting with Roseanne's sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) until she finally got the nerve to ask him out. They went out, had sex, and Jackie became pregnant, but decided she wanted nothing more to do with Fred. Fred wouldn't give up, including threatening to sue Jackie for custody, but they eventually fell in love and got married with Jackie breastfeeding during the ceremony.


I always thought that Jackie should have stayed with Gary (Brian Kerwin). He seemed like such a nice guy, and they broke up for the stupidest reason.

[gbgoodies]

48.

Burt and Mary Campbell, Soap

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/96ea00c4c3d748518fa756c171c88bbe/soap-tv-richard-mulligan-cathryn-damon-ssop-009-bkh0pp.jpg

Burt (Richard Mulligan) was a contractor who was married to Mary (Cathryn Damon). already the mother of two sons, Danny (Ted Wass) and Jodie (Billy Crystal), whose patience was constantly challenged by Burt's "issues"...there was actually a storyline where Burt thought he could snap his fingers and make himself invisible...poor Mary just went with it and continued to love her Burt. Mulligan and Damon both won Emmys for their work on this show.


Burt was my favorite character on "Soap", and the Campbell family was one of the funniest families ever. Burt's invisible phase was one of my favorite storylines on that show. With everything that they went through, you have to give Mary a lot of credit for staying with Burt. They were a great couple.

[Gideon58]

Fred comes up a lot with you. You love Fred from Roseanne.
I did love me some Fred...Michael O'Keefe was totally hot on that show.

[Gideon58]

46.

Hayden and Christine Fox, Coach

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-22-1442890299-4367334-CoachReboot3-thumb.jpg

They were television's answer to Tracy and Hepburn...Hayden (Craig T. Nelson) was a college football coach whose views about love and marriage bordered on caveman...Christine (Shelley Fabares) was a TV journalist who loved Hayden but wasn't willing to give up her career for him either and once Hayden stopped fighting that and Christine stopped trying to turn Hayden into Cary Grant, they were very happy.

[Gideon58]

45.

Martin and Ida Morganstern, Rhoda

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YwMmQbzUU5s/TKVXKiYgpbI/AAAAAAAABOM/WDurvpBpqjs/s1600/gould3.jpg

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/goldengirls/images/f/f8/EMMY-NON-NANCY-WALKER.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140402233346

Martin and Ida were the parents of Mary Richards' BFF Rhoda Morganstern (Valerie Harper) who were introduced on Mary's show but were regulars when Rhoda was spun off into her own show. I loved Martin and Ida primarily because of the way Martin let Ida think she wore the pants in the house. On the other hand, Ida flew all the way to Minneapolis and drove Rhoda crazy when she thought Martin was cheating on her, but these two were completely dependent on each other even if they would never admit it.

[Gideon58]

44.

Mr. & Mrs. Thurston Howel III, Gilligan's Island

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/57/f6/3b/57f63b76bb9e508baa35f55d6e3d7984.jpg

How could I do this list without including these two?

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43.

James and Florida Evans, Good Times

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b8/54/4d/b8544dafbf5c2c7c0d4ba645a573e6dc.jpg

The show was no classic, but this was one of the most solid television marriages ever...hard working, serious-minded people who cared about each other and struggled on a daily basis, never sugar-coating it to their three children and were almost always a united front when it came with dealing with them.

[Citizen Rules]

I loved the Rhoda show and Nancy Walker was a big reason why. But I found Martin to be a bore. I think the producers did too, that's why they had the couple divorced with Martin off the show. Though he did come back and they did make up. The most boring TV marriage had to be Rhoda and Joe. It was a bad idea and ruined the dynamic of an stressed out, wound up single Rhoda looking for a date.

:)Mr and Mrs Thurston Howell III...awesome, funny couple.

[Gideon58]

42.

Karen and Stanley Walker, Will & Grace

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1559108/thumbs/o-KAREN-WALKER-570.jpg?1

I am stretching the limits of this thread a little bit, but I just had to include this couple on my list...Stanley Walker was an extremely wealthy and extremely large businessman and Karen (Megan Mullally) was his trophy wife. The thing is, we never actually met Stanley, the character never appeared onscreen, but Mullally's talent as an actress made Stanley real and we believed every moment she spent onscreen with Stanley, whether she was visiting him in jail after he was arrested for inside trading or confronting him after learning he was cheating on her or that he faked his death to avoid going back to jail, Stanley Walker was a viable television character brought to fruition by some really sharp writing and the undeniable talent of Megan Mullally.

[Camo]

I've seen some of Will and Grace and Karen was always my favourite thing about it, don't think i saw anything to do with Stanley though. So i've still not really seen anything since my last post. On the bright side at least my #1 is still hanging in there assuming you have included them.

[Gideon58]

I loved the Rhoda show and Nancy Walker was a big reason why. But I found Martin to be a bore. I think the producers did too, that's why they had the couple divorced with Martin off the show. Though he did come back and they did make up. The most boring TV marriage had to be Rhoda and Joe. It was a bad idea and ruined the dynamic of an stressed out, wound up single Rhoda looking for a date.

:)Mr and Mrs Thurston Howell III...awesome, funny couple.
Citizen, I 've been thinking about your feelings about Rhoda and Joe for a while now and I understand how you feel. I guess I spent all those seasons on The Mary Tyler Moore Show watching Rhoda fail at one relationship after another I was just thrilled when she finally found a man and honestly, her marriage might not have had a positive effect on her show, but I think there might be some merit in your feelings here.

[Gideon58]

I've seen some of Will and Grace and Karen was always my favourite thing about it, don't think i saw anything to do with Stanley though. So i've still not really seen anything since my last post. On the bright side at least my #1 is still hanging in there assuming you have included them.
If you go back and look at some reruns of Will & Grace, especially during the earlier seasons, there was rarely a scene with Karen where she didn't at least mention Stanley.

[Gideon58]

41.

Jay and Gloria Pritchett, Modern Family

http://cdn.postgradproblems.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/fb3735b61262aff87a517c3866718257.png

This marriage was definitely virgin territory for sitcoms, though it was practically a staple on prime time soaps. On the surface, it appeared that Gloria (Sofia Vergara) married Jay (Ed O'Neill) for his money but over the seasons, it has become clear that Gloria really loves Jay and that Jay is too smart to let a woman take advantage of him for his money. The Pritchetts love each other and Jay works very hard at keeping Gloria happy and being a good stepdad to her son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). I would love to know how it happened though...I continue to secretly hope for a special two-part flashback episode that details Jay and Gloria's courtship.

[Gideon58]

40.

Elliott and Kathleen Stabler, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Elliot_Stabler_-_SVU.png

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/cb/bf/c5/cbbfc57455ff4ac9dd9b182b29d93cea.jpg

This was a rarity for crime shows...a police detective who actually had a wife and family. Elliott (Christopher Meloni) but he loved his wife Kathleen (Isabel Gillies) and they had a great deal of passion for each other (they did manage to conceive four children). But Elliott also loved his work and was very close to his partner Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), a little too close for Kathleen's comfort and her suspicions actually found her and Elliott separating for awhile, though even then, when Elliott got off work, he came straight to the house to kiss his kids goodnight whether they were asleep or not. Though Kathleen's suspicions were unfounded, it was clear Elliott and Olivia would die for each other, but in 12 years working together they never crossed that line and Kathleen was finally able to reconcile herself to that and forgive Elliott.

[tatmmw2]

I'm waiting for Lily and Marshall u know

[Gideon58]

I'm waiting for Lily and Marshall u know
Sorry, was never a big fan of How I Met Your Mother

[Gideon58]

39.

Tom and Lynette Scavo, Desperate Housewives

http://img.wennermedia.com/620-width/desperate-houseweives-2-article.jpg

Tom (Doug Savant) and Lynette(Felicity Huffman) were definitely a new millenium couple where the roles of husband and wife often blurred...Lynette had a successful advertising career but gave it up when she married Tom. They had four children whom Lynette adores, but worked her last nerve. When she expressed a desire to return to work, Tom gladly volunteered to be Mr. Mom and let Lynette be the breadwinner. Fidelity wasn't really an issue with them, though Tom's past introduced a woman named Nora (Kiersten Warren) who brought an illegitimate daughter named Kayla into their lives and Lynette was flattered once by the attention of a hunky gourmet chef (Jason Gedrick), but this was a rare prime time soap marriage where the couple NEVER cheated on each other.

[gbgoodies]

40.

Elliott and Kathleen Stabler, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Elliot_Stabler_-_SVU.png

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/cb/bf/c5/cbbfc57455ff4ac9dd9b182b29d93cea.jpg

This was a rarity for crime shows...a police detective who actually had a wife and family. Elliott (Christopher Meloni) but he loved his wife Kathleen (Isabel Gillies) and they had a great deal of passion for each other (they did manage to conceive four children). But Elliott also loved his work and was very close to his partner Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), a little too close for Kathleen's comfort and her suspicions actually found her and Elliott separating for awhile, though even then, when Elliott got off work, he came straight to the house to kiss his kids goodnight whether they were asleep or not. Though Kathleen's suspicions were unfounded, it was clear Elliott and Olivia would die for each other, but in 12 years working together they never crossed that line and Kathleen was finally able to reconcile herself to that and forgive Elliott.


I miss Elliott. The show just isn't the same without him. :(

[Gideon58]

38.

Frank and Carol Lambert, Step by Step

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/623/suzannesomers.jpg

One of television comedies' sexiest couples...in this 90's reboot of The Brady Bunch, Frank (Patrick Duffy) was a widower and contractor with two sons and a daughter; Carol (Suzanne Somers) was a beautician and widow with two daughters and a son. Frank and Carol worked very hard at making this blended family work but worked even harder on finding time for themselves...this was a family-oriented couple who definitely still had the hots for each other.

[Gideon58]

37.

Gary and Valene Ewing, Knots Landing

http://www.cinetelerevue.be/imf/c/eyJtYXNrIjoiNjE4eDM5NyIsIm0iOjE0fQ/images/actus_series/ted-schackelford-dr.jpg

Sometimes I think I'm the only person on this website who watched this show but it is my list...Gary (Ted Shackelford) was the weak-willed alcoholic youngest son of Jock Ewing who married Valene (Joan Van Ark) and had a daughter with her named Lucy (Charlene Tilton)...this all happened on Dallas but then the couple was spun off into their own show...Gary and Val left Lucy at Southfork to be raised by her grandparents and moved to Knots Landing California. Unfortunately, Gary was still drinking and did a lot of his thinking from below the waist resulting in affairs with Abby Ewing (see favorite prime time soap characters) and the psychotic Jill Bennett (see favorite recurring characters), but Gary and Valene were star-crossed lovers who did eventually find their way back to each other, conceiving twins Bobby and Betsy along the way.

[Gideon58]

36.

Stanley and Helen Roper, Three's Company

https://bittergertrude.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/mrsroper.jpg

Stanley and Helen were a two-joke marriage but the writers got a lot of mileage out of those two jokes...one was Stanley (Norman Fell) trying to prove that Jack (John Ritter) wasn't really gay so that he couldn't live with Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) and Janet (Joyce DeWitt); the other joke was Helen (Audra Lindley) trying to get Stanley to have sex with her.

[Gideon58]

I always thought that Jackie should have stayed with Gary (Brian Kerwin). He seemed like such a nice guy, and they broke up for the stupidest reason.
I can't believe someone even brought this up, but I absolutely agree with you...I loved Jackie and Gary together and their breakup was dumb.

[Gideon58]

35.

Christopher and Adriana Molisanti, The Sopranos

http://rodolfogrimaldi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Sopranos-Drea-de-Matteo-Michael-Imperioli.jpg

Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and Adriana (Drea De Matteo) were doomed from the start, but while they were together, they burned a hole through my TV screen...these two had mad, stupid chemistry.

[Gideon58]

34.

Ben and Leslie Knope Wyatt, Parks and Recreation

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5biikse9zUw/maxresdefault.jpg

I can't recall a TV couple where the writers forced our patience in getting a couple together, but once they did, it was definitely worth it...these two brought the funny and the sexy.

[Gideon58]

33.

Phil and Claire Pritchett Dunphy, Modern Family

http://jimhalterman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/MFBurrellJulie.jpg

I don't think I've ever seen a TV couple who worked harder at making a marriage work than these two...there was no question regarding their physical attraction to each other...we just learned a season or so ago that daughter Haley (Sara Hyland) was conceived out of wedlock. The kids even walked in on them having sex during one episode. These two know each other intimately and also know how to push each other's buttons...there are things about each other that drive Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire (Julie Bowen) nuts but they work as hard as they can to avoid them. They even attempt to keep their marriage fresh by doing an annual role play fantasy where they meet at a hotel bar and pretend to be strangers in town for a convention. Burrell and Bowen have both won two Emmys for their work on this show.

[Gideon58]

32.

Frasier and Lilith Sternin Crane, Cheers

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/1024/Cheers413BebeNeuwirth.jpg

Fraser (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) were both psychiatrists who met shortly after Frasier had been left at the alter by Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). He never really noticed Lilith until one day at the bar he persuaded her to take off her glasses and take her hair out of its bun and it was all over...these two had mad sexual heat that they always saved until they got home. Neuwirth won two Emmys for her work on this show. Grammer was not shown Emmy love until Fraser was spun off into his own show. It was a little disappointing to learn when the spinoff began that Fraser and Lilith had divorced (I think Neuwirth was on Broadway and unavailable), though Neuwirth did find time to make a couple of guest appearances.

[Gideon58]

31.

Jack Donaghy and Avery Jessup, 30 Rock

http://screencrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/30-Rock-Alec-Baldwin-Elizabeth-Banks-At-Dinner-2-2-10-kc.jpg

The sexual heat between Jack (Alec Baldwin) and Avery (Elizabeth Banks) was undeniable but these two definitely had trust issues and I always felt their marriage was more of a business merger, but God, they were funny. Baldwin won two Emmys and 3 Golden Globes for his work on this show.

[Camo]

Plenty of great choices since i last posted.

Not sure which marriage is my favourite on Modern Family, Jay and Gloria are great though. Just saw you included Phil and Claire too, Phil is my favourite character on the show so :up:

While i love the addition of Chris and Adriana, they were never married only engaged. Chris did marry Kelli later on but that obviously wasn't too interesting.

Kinda have mixed feelings on Leslie and Ben. Love Leslie but i personally think Ben was the weakest character on the show. Hoping another Parks and Rec marriage makes it higher up.

Frasier and Lillith :up:

Not a fan of Jack and Avery because i never liked the latter much.

[Gideon58]

Plenty of great choices since i last posted.

Not sure which marriage is my favourite on Modern Family, Jay and Gloria are great though. Just saw you included Phil and Claire too, Phil is my favourite character on the show so :up:

While i love the addition of Chris and Adriana, they were never married only engaged. Chris did marry Kelli later on but that obviously wasn't too interesting.

Kinda have mixed feelings on Leslie and Ben. Love Leslie but i personally think Ben was the weakest character on the show. Hoping another Parks and Rec marriage makes it higher up.

Frasier and Lillith :up:

Not a fan of Jack and Avery because i never liked the latter much.
Phil is my favorite character on Modern Family as well...as for Ben, he really didn't work for me on that show until they officially hooked him up with Leslie...being with Leslie made him a lot more interesting...there was a point where it looked like there were going to pair him with April and that was freaking me out, but he and Leslie worked. Forgot that Chris and Adriana never married, but I can't take them off the list...I loved them as a couple. If I can include Karen and Stanley, I can include Chris and Adriana.

[Gideon58]

30.

George and Louise Jefferson, The Jeffersons

http://images.vogue.it/imgs/galleries/peole-are-talking-about/ossessione-del-giorno/015085/t8djeff-ec003-h-766096_0x440.jpg

George (Sherman Hemsley) was kind of a jerk sometimes but Louise (Isabel Sanford) and Florence (Marla Gibbs) kept him in check but you have to give credit to a TV marriage that started on one show and were spun off into their own show that ran three seasons longer than the original show.

[Gideon58]

29.

Tim and Jill Taylor, Home Improvement

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FMZJLP2OfFk/hqdefault.jpg

Tim (Tim Allen) was somewhat sexist where marriage is concerned and he didn't deserve Jill (Patricia Richardson) who had the patience of a saint...loved when anything in the house would break and the first thing Jill would do is warn Tim to stay away from it.

[Gideon58]

28.

Derek and Meredith Grey Shepherd, Grey's Anatomy

https://pcavote.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/blog-greys-derek-meredith.jpg?w=945

They went from one night stand to co-workers to husband and wife to parents in the decade they were together...probably the only marriage where the proposal was done via post-it. Fertility issues led them to adopting an adorable little African American baby named Zola and of course had their own baby later. Sadly, Derek (Patrick Dempsey) died last year leaving Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) trying to start over...she had her first date this season since Derek died and totally freaked out.

[TONGO]

35.

Christopher and Adriana Molisanti, The Sopranos

http://rodolfogrimaldi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Sopranos-Drea-de-Matteo-Michael-Imperioli.jpg

Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and Adriana (Drea De Matteo) were doomed from the start, but while they were together, they burned a hole through my TV screen...these two had mad, stupid chemistry.

Yeah, damn I loved that show. I know Tony & Carmela will be making an appearance now. :)

[Camo]

there was a point where it looked like there were going to pair him with Apri

When did this happen? Either i'm completely forgetting something or i missed this entirely. When Ben comes into the show, Aprils main story is her trying to make Andy jealous with her boyfriend from Venezuela; they get together shortly after that then get married like an episode or two later. I honestly can't think of a single instance of this ever being hinted at even, April pretty much always treated Ben with contempt.

Can you elaborate because this will drive me nuts? haha.

[Camo]

Tony and Carmela would be my #1 easily.

[Gideon58]

When did this happen? Either i'm completely forgetting something or i missed this entirely. When Ben comes into the show, Aprils main story is her trying to make Andy jealous with her boyfriend from Venezuela; they get together shortly after that then get married like an episode or two later. I honestly can't think of a single instance of this ever being hinted at even, April pretty much always treated Ben with contempt.

Can you elaborate because this will drive me nuts? haha.
It wasn't a direct thing, but during the second to last season, there were work situations where Ben and April kept being assigned to projects together and were in close proximity to each other more than either were comfortable with and it looked like something was going to happen between them personally, even Andy noticed it.

[Gideon58]

Tony and Carmela would be my #1 easily.
OK, I'm going to get this out of the way right now, Tony and Carmela are not going to be my #1.

[Gideon58]

27.

Dex and Alexis Carrington Dexter, Dynasty

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/1165/15585gp038.jpg

Dex (Michael Nader) was a charismatic power player who was not intimated by Alexis (Joan Collins) and was not threatened by her obsession with ex-husband Blake (John Forsythe). It should also be mentioned that the chemistry between Nader and Collins was off the charts.

[Camo]

Yeah i didn't expect Tony and Carmela to be #1, surprised they haven't shown up yet. Think i know what your #1 will be.

[TONGO]

My prediction for #1 is Archie & Edith Bunker. I think the only couple that might top them are Ralph & Alice Kramden, but Im an Archie Bunker fan so thats my guess.

[Gideon58]

26.

Jim and Pam Beesley Halpert, The Office

http://akamommagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/jimandpam.jpg

There's only one word for these two...adorable.

[Camo]

Yeah i always liked Pam and Jim. Think i liked them better before they were married, the wedding episode was great though.

[Gideon58]

25.

Dr. Callie Torres and Dr. Arizona Robbins, Grey's Anatomy

http://d2.christiantoday.com/en/full/45747/greys-anatomy-season-12-callie-and-arizona.jpg

These two had a very complicated path to the altar...Callie (Sara Ramirez) was having an affair with Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan (Eric Dane) when Dr. Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) joined the staff and brought out Callie's inner bisexual. Shortly after her relationship with Arizona began, Callie found out she was pregnant with Mark's baby, but Arizona wasn't going anywhere. Mark and Arizona were in a plane crash that resulted in Mark's death and Callie and Arizona worked through Arizona losing a leg in the accident and raised Callie and Mark's daughter, Sophia, as their own. The thing I loved about this couple was that their story was written as if they were a heterosexual couple...they dealt with the same things that straight couples dealt with and the fact that they were two women eventually became a non-issue.

[Gideon58]

24.

Elliott and Nancy Weston, Thirtysomething

http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqnhcoGRoK1qf2ne4o1_500.jpg

One of prime time's more turbulent marriages these two went through a lot, most notebly, Nancy's battle with cancer...these two were more miserable than they were happy but they were never boring. Timothy Busfield and Patricia Wettig were absolutely magical together, despite the fact that Wettig was married to co-star Ken Olin IRL. Busfield won an Emmy and Wettig won three for their work on this show.

[Gideon58]

23.

Steve and Marcy Rhodes, Married...with Children

http://theredlist.com/media/database/films/tv-series/sitcom-and-soap/1980/married-with-children/007-married-with-children-theredlist.jpg

Yeah, Al and Peggy were great but these two definitely garnered their share of laughs as well...Steve (David Garrison) and Marcy (Amanda Bearse) were initially embarrassed by their neighbors, the Bundys, but Marcy and Peg (Katey Sagal) eventually became friends. Steve felt Al (Ed O'Neill) stood for everything he hated and he resisted everytime Al tried to get him to do something that Marcy would hate or involve himself in one of Al's get rich quick schemes. If the truth be known, Steve was a little scared of Marcy, which just got worse when Steve lost his job and Marcy became the breadwinner.

[Gideon58]

22.

Bob and Emily Hartley, The Bob Newhart Show

https://travsd.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/bob-newhart-show-suzanne-pleshette.jpg

The psychologist (Bob Newhart) and the substitute teacher (the late Suzanne Pleshette) who lived in a Chicago high rise...these two were so magical together that when Newhart's second sitcom came to an end, Pleshette made a cameo in the series finale that implied the second series was all a dream of Bob Hartley's.

[Gideon58]

21.

Fred and Wilma Flintstone, The Flintstones

http://couplescalifornia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Fred_Wilma_love.jpeg

Probably the most famous animated marriage inspired, as most know, by Ralph and Alice Kramden.

[Camo]

Steve and Marcy :up:. I like Fred and Wilma too but i'd say Homer and Marge were a lot more famous than them.

[Gideon58]

20.

Steve Brady and Miranda Hobbes Brady, Sex and the City

http://theredlist.com/media/database/films/tv-series/comedy-drama/1990/sex-and-the-city/008-sex-and-the-city-theredlist.jpg

This was another TV marriage where baby came first...Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) was a workaholic lawyer and motherhood was the last thing on her radar, but when it happened Steve (David Eigenberg) stepped up and did whatever necessary to get the lady to the altar.

[Gideon58]

19.

Rob and Laura Petrie, The Dick Van Dyke Show

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/d5/ac/e1d5ac323b24fed69098eb0cc495928a.jpg

This classic 60's TV couple revolutionized the way sitcoms looked at marriage in so many ways...despite the fact that they actually slept in twin beds, this was a couple that brought a sexy sophistication to television comedy...Laura was one of the first TV wives to actually wear capri pants. The chemistry between Van Dyke and Moore was so strong that people were confused when Van Dyke and Moore would go out in public with their real spouses.

[Gideon58]

18.

Paul and Jamie Buchman, Mad About You

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/04/26/article-1380483-0BC5A9E700000578-960_468x417.jpg

They were smart, sexy, funny, the ultimate in 90's upwardly mobile, almost too smart for their audience...definitely too smart for the other people in their universe. Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt were a well-oiled machine onscreen. Hunt won four Emmys and 3 Golden Globes for her work on this show.

[Gideon58]

17.

Ted and Georgette Baxter, The Mary Tyler Moore Show

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Georgia_Engel_Ted_Knight_Mary_Tyler_Moore_Show_Wedding_1975.JPG

Ted Baxter (the late Ted Knight) met Georgette Franklin (Georgia Engel) at one of Mary's infamous parties and Georgette was immediately smitten, feeding Ted's already enormous ego. They were married at Mary's apartment during season 6. Like a lot of TV couples, the couple had fertility issues that resulted in them adopting a 12 year old boy named David (Robbie Rist). Of course, right after that, Georgette magically became pregnant, gave birth in Mary's apartment, and named the baby Mary Lou.

[Gideon58]

I like Fred and Wilma too but i'd say Homer and Marge were a lot more famous than them.

Homer and Marge more famous than Fred and Wilma? I don't think so.

[Camo]

Without a doubt..

[Gideon58]

16.

Mike and Gloria Stivic, All in the Family

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/703/AllFam2013.jpg

Mike (Rob Reiner) was a loud mouthed liberal college student who met Gloria (Sally Struthers) on a blind date (documented in a flashback episode in later seasons) and fell in love after a dance where they pretended to be Fred and Ginger. Since Mike was in school, he couldn't afford a place for them to live so they lived with Gloria's parents, Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton) and the rest is history...Mike and Archie's opposing political views were cause of a lot of yelling as well as Archie sneaking his grandson out of the house to be baptized against Mike's wishes. Mike and Gloria went through the usual suspected infidelity, though while this show was on they remained faithful, they worked through a miscarriage and an attempted rape. Though Mike's political views were liberal, some of his views on love and marriage weren't...one of my favorite episodes was where Mike and Gloria had the house to themselves for an evening and Mike couldn't handle Gloria initiating sex (the above photo is from that episode).

[gbgoodies]

22.

Bob and Emily Hartley, The Bob Newhart Show

https://travsd.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/bob-newhart-show-suzanne-pleshette.jpg

The psychologist (Bob Newhart) and the substitute teacher (the late Suzanne Pleshette) who lived in a Chicago high rise...these two were so magical together that when Newhart's second sitcom came to end, Pleashette made a cameo in the series finale that implied the second series was all a dream of Bob Hartley's.


That moment in the "Newhart" series finale was probably the best series finale moment ever.

[gbgoodies]

19.

Rob and Laura Petrie, The Dick Van Dyke Show

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/d5/ac/e1d5ac323b24fed69098eb0cc495928a.jpg

This classic 60's TV couple revolutionized the way sitcoms looked at marriage in so many ways...despite the fact that they actually slept in twin beds, this was a couple that brought a sexy sophistication to television comedy...Laura was one of the first TV wives to actually wear capri pants. The chemistry between Van Dyke and Moore was so strong that people were confused when Van Dyke and Moore would go out in public with their real spouses.


I'm glad to see Rob and Laura Petrie on your list, but they would have been much higher on my list.

[Gideon58]

Think i know what your #1 will be.


Camo, you know you say this every time I do a list, right? Have you gone back and checked to see how many times you were correct? I'm just curious.

[Gideon58]

I'm glad to see Rob and Laura Petrie on your list, but they would have been much higher on my list.

I was expecting this reaction from this placement, what can I say? Different strokes.

[Gideon58]

15.

Fitzgerald and Mellie Grant, Scandal

http://cdn3.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale_crop_768_433/2013/01/scandal_bellamy_young_tony_goldwyn_a_l.jpg

One of the ugliest and most complex TV marriages...Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) is the POTUS, a position he obtained through a rigged election that only a select group of DC insiders know about. Mellie (Bellamy Young) got into this marriage to fuel her own political agendas that reach beyond her husband. There has been infidelity on both sides of this marriage...Fitz, of course, has had a long standing affair with former campaign manager and DC fixer Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and Mellie, after surviving being raped by her late father-in-law (Barry Bostwick), had an affair with the former Vice President (Jon Tenney). The bonded over the death of their son, but that bond has practically disappeared since Mellie recently won the Republican nomination to replace her husband. These two have provided some appointment television. Bellamy Young is LONG overdue for some Emmy love...brilliant actress.

[Camo]

Camo, you know you say this every time I do a list, right? Have you gone back and checked to see how many times you were correct? I'm just curious.

When else have i said it? I can only remember saying it one other time. And no of course i don't go back to check it is not important to me.

[Gideon58]

When else have i said it? I can only remember saying it one other time. And no of course i don't go back to check it is not important to me.

You say it every time I do a list, Camo...it's not an issue, I'm not trying to start a fight I just thought it was kind of funny, that's all, just forget I brought it up, OK?

[Gideon58]

14.

Mark and Becky Conner Healy, Roseanne

http://www.loony-archivist.com/doyle/images/mark2.jpg

From the moment Mark (the late Glenn Quinn) picked up Becky (Lecy Goranson, Sarah Chalke) for their first date, Roseanne and Dan (John Goodman) hated him. They fought to keep Becky and Mark apart which just resulted in Becky losing her virginity to him. Eventually, Dan hired Mark to work in his bike shop but when the shop closed and he had to let Mark go, he left town with Becky and they eloped. They returned and struggled, but remained together. Mark and Becky fought hard and loved hard...the couple was so strong they even survived the recasting of Becky, which got a little confusing when original Becky returned for a time, but the show did humorously address the situation. The above photo is from Mark's first appearance on the show.

[Camo]

You say it every time I do a list, Camo...it's not an issue, I'm not trying to start a fight I just thought it was kind of funny, that's all, just forget I brought it up, OK?

I'm not fighting either, but that is honestly not true. You must be mixing me up with someone else, i've noticed Captain Steel saying it before. The only other time i remember saying it was during your Animated Voice list and i turned out to be right with Robin Williams as The Genie.

[Gideon58]

13.

Frank and Marie Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond

http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2016_16/1054006/doris-roberts-inline-2-today-160419_e8f1d18746cf2eb8b3a123e853cad4ab.today-inline-large.jpg

I was not a huge fan of this show, primarily because I couldn't stand the character of Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton), but I LOVED these two...Frank and Marie spent a lot of time pretending they couldn't stand each other, but these two would have been lost without each other. Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts won five Emmys between them for their work on this show. RIP, Frank and Marie, you earned it.

[Camo]

Love Frank and Marie :up:. Those were my two favourite characters on the show actually.

[honeykid]

Homer and Marge more famous than Fred and Wilma? I don't think so.

Without a doubt..
I can't see how Camo is wrong about this. I'd be surprised if it was even close.

Nice to see Frank and Marie there. Like Camo, they were my two favourite characters on the show.

BTW, Mellie wins the Republican nomination? Thanks for the spoiler. :(

[Gideon58]

The only other time i remember saying it was during your Animated Voice list and i turned out to be right with Robin Williams as The Genie.

OK, like I said, no big deal, sorry I even brought it up.

[Gideon58]

BTW, Mellie wins the Republican nomination? Thanks for the spoiler. :(

She won it two episodes ago.

[Gideon58]

12.

JR and Sue Ellen Ewing, Dallas

https://dallasredoneblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/jr-and-sue-ellen.jpg

A turbulent marriage that was mostly about infidelity and alcoholism...when he wasn't fighting for control of Ewing Oil, JR (the late Larry Hagman) was cheating on poor Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), who had her share of affairs but her biggest affair was with the bottle. Their only common ground was their son, John Ross, who often became their pawn.

[honeykid]

She won it two episodes ago.

Well not here she didn't. It's OK, though. It's not as if she wasn't going to win. :D

[Gideon58]

11.

Howard and Marian Cunningham, Happy Days

http://static.pourfemme.it/pfgossip/fotogallery/625X0/59087/howard-cunningham-con-la-moglie.jpg

Howard owned a hardware store and Marian was his devoted wife who seemed perfectly happy being at home and being the primary caregiver for Richie (Ron Howard), Joanie (Erin Moran) and even the little seen Chuck (Gavin O'Herlihy, Randolph Roberts). Sometimes Howard took Marian for granted, but Marian also made sure he knew that he was. Howard and Marian cared deeply for their kids, but I also loved the separate relationships they had with the Fonz (Henry Winkler).

[Gideon58]

10.

Doug and Kate Lawrence, Family

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/cast-gallery-season-one-3976-sada-thompson-james-broderick-picture-id93744769

They weren't flashy or melodramatic, but James Broderick and Sada Thompson created one of television's loveliest marriages.

[TONGO]

12.

JR and Sue Ellen Ewing, Dallas

https://dallasredoneblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/jr-and-sue-ellen.jpg

A turbulent marriage that was mostly about infidelity and alcoholism...when he wasn't fighting for control of Ewing Oil, JR (the late Larry Hagman) was cheating on poor Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), who had her share of affairs but her biggest affair was with the bottle. Their only common ground was their son, John Ross, who often became their pawn.

Turbulent?! Oh my, this wasnt a marriage but a perfect example of why there should be divorces :laugh:

[Gideon58]

9.

Al and Peggy Bundy, Married...with Children

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/09/03/01/2BEBBF1C00000578-0-image-a-31_1441238953044.jpg

In the sitcom that pretty much launched the Fox network, Al (Ed O'Neill) was a shoe salesman who hated his life and wife Peggy (Katey Sagal) liked to sit on the sofa all day eating bon bons and watching Oprah. The main running joke with this couple was Peggy nagging Al for sex and Al putting her off, though we know they did it at least twice, hence daughter Kelly (Christina Applegate) and son Bud (David Faustino). Even though it appeared otherwise, I think Al and Peggy had an insane sex life. As a matter of fact, there was an episode filmed where Al and Peggy checked into a cheap hotel and had sex all weekend but the episode never aired.

[Camo]

Al and Peg would more than likely make my top 10 :up:

[gbgoodies]

11.

Howard and Marian Cunningham, Happy Days

http://static.pourfemme.it/pfgossip/fotogallery/625X0/59087/howard-cunningham-con-la-moglie.jpg

Howard owned a hardware store and Marian was his devoted wife who seemed perfectly happy being at home and being the primary caregiver for Richie (Ron Howard), Joanie (Erin Moran) and even the little seen Chuck (Gavin O'Herlihy, Randolph Roberts). Sometimes Howard took Marian for granted, but Marian also made sure he knew that he was. Howard and Marian cared deeply for their kids, but I also loved the separate relationships they had with the Fonz (Henry Winkler).


I love Mr. and Mrs. C on "Happy Days". They're too low on the list.

[TONGO]

Im gonna make a list so Gideon can chop it down pick by pick :laugh: May be a necessary catharsis.

[Gideon58]

8.

Mack and Karen Fairgate Mackenzie, Knots Landing

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/aa/32/f9/aa32f9196b6fcc4bff286959f65065fd.jpg

His work brought Marion Patrick Mackenzie (Kevin Dobson) to Knots Landing where he met and fell in love with the recently widowed Karen Fairgate (Michele Lee) and it wasn't long before they became the king and queen of the cul-de-sac...they were the go-to marriage and would walk through fire for anyone they cared about. When Karen's friend Laura (Constance McCashin) passed away and her husband Greg (William Devane) wanted nothing to do with raising their baby daughter, Meg, Mack and Karen agreed to raise the child as their own. Once Mac encountered a troubled teen (Thomas Wilson Brown) who he suspected was a victim of physical abuse and talked Karen into taking him in until they could find a safe place for him. But more than anything, Mack and Karen had mad passion for each other...I'll never forget the episode where Karen showed up at Mac's office in the middle of the day wearing some very sexy black lingerie.

[Gideon58]

7.

Darrin and Samantha Stephens, Bewitched

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f1/7f/79/f17f79f834a47aadd14310c64eb34973.jpg

Darrin (Dick York, Dick Sargent) was an advertising executive who literally bumped into a pretty blonde on the street one day named Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), had a brief courtship and married her. On their wedding night, Samantha confessed to her new husband that she was a witch and, well you know the rest...Darrin put up with a lot from Samantha's relatives, especially from her nasty mother, Endora (Agnes Moorhead), but his love for Samantha never wavered and vice versa.

[Gideon58]

6.

Larry and Cheryl David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2010/08/larry-david-cheryl-hines.jpg

A funny and unpredictable couple where you were never absolutely sure who wore the pants in the relationship. The chemistry between Larry David and Cheryl Hines was rock solid.

[Gideon58]

5.

Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, I Love Lucy

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1243419/images/o-RICKY-RICARDO-LUCY-facebook.jpg

Yeah, yeah, I know, they should be number one...well, they're not. Ricky (Desi Arnaz) was a bandleader and Lucy (Lucille Ball) was his wife who wanted to be in show business more than anything, despite the fact that she had absolutely no talent...this was the first super couple in primetime television and probably the first thought on the subject of this thread and their journey to TV history was a long and turbulent one, that began when Lucy and Desi met on the set of a 1940 musical called Too Many Girls and ended when Lucy and Desi ended up performing Desilu, their own production company which came to fruition because the couple wanted to do a sitcom together and no network would touch it because they thought television audiences would never accept Lucy being married to a Cuban.

[Camo]

Man, had no idea you were a Curb fan. Love Larry and Cheryl :up:. Top five for me probably.

[Gideon58]

4.

Tony and Carmela Soprano, The Sopranos

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/sopranos-408995.jpg

Tony (the late James Gandolfini) was a New Jersey mob boss who was in therapy and Carmela (Edie Falco) was his wife who hated a lot of aspects of her husband's work but loved the perks. Gandolfini and Falco won six Emmys for their work on this HBO series.

[Camo]

So glad to see those two finish so high :up:. As i said they'd be my #1 but i was honestly pretty surprised that they had even made the top 20 because if i remember right The Sopranos characters haven't finished that high on your previous lists.

[Gideon58]

3.

Archie and Edith Baines Bunker, All in the Family

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6KLV6uoDt_Q/maxresdefault.jpg

Archie (the late Carroll O'Connor) was a sexist, homophobic, loudmouthed bigot and Edith (the late Jean Stapleton) was not the brightest bulb in the row, but the most loving and tolerant woman on the planet who Archie did not deserve. He didn't like to admit it, but Archie loved his "dingbat" and no matter how heated things got between Archie, his son-in-law (Rob Reiner) and daughter (Sally Struthers), when it came down to it, Edith always supported her husband, no matter how assinine he was. I used to love when someone would ask Archie and Edith how they met...Edith lit up and loved telling the story and Archie just rolled his eyes and pretended to shoot himself. O'Connor and Stapleton collected seven Emmys for their work on this CBS classic.

[Gideon58]

2.

Dan and Roseanne Conner, Roseanne

http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files/i/2012/09/27/parenting-rosanne.jpg

I've been debating ever since I started this list about whether making these two my # 1 or my final choice for #1 but I realized that Dan and Roseanne's worked harder at parenting than they did at their marriage...don't get me wrong...it was crazy funny marriage but there was one I liked a little better.


And now, my # 1 favorite television marriage"

[Sexy Celebrity]

Homer and Marge Simpson.

[Miss Vicky]

:tsk:

Roseanne and Dan Conner would absolutely be my number one couple.

They represent to me what a marriage should be – a true partnership based on love and respect. They’re supportive of each other, they laugh together, they bicker but don’t stay angry, and have a very healthy sex life.

[Camo]

Homer and Marge Simpson.

Don't think he likes The Simpsons.

I guessed Roseanne and Dan and Tongo guessed Archie and Edith. Can't think what it will be.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Maybe it's a couple not many people know of.

[Camo]

:tsk:

Roseanne and Dan Conner would absolutely by my number one couple.

They represent to me what a marriage should be – a true partnership based on love and respect. They’re supportive of each other, they laugh together, they bicker but don’t stay angry, and have a very healthy sex life.

And none of it was real. That's right, i know how it ended after seeing one episode :p

[Sexy Celebrity]

Oh. Oh.

The Huxtables from The Cosby Show.

Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad.

[Miss Vicky]

And none of it was real. That's right, i know how it ended after seeing one episode :p

That's a bit of a stretch. You might want to try actually watching more of the show.

[Camo]

Oh. Oh.

The Huxtables from The Cosby Show.

Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad.

Would except most to bump them down to #2 at least after all the controversy. I've heard Rashad has been awful since that show :shifty:

[Sexy Celebrity]

Would except most to bump them down to #2 at least after all the controversy.

Maybe people are getting bored with that whole thing and Bill Cosby's making a comeback.

'Cause I bet he could.

[Camo]

That's a bit of a stretch. You might want to try actually watching more of the show.

I read something about John Goodman having a heart attack then nothing after that is real because Roseanne started writing a story or something. When did Dan (Goodman, it is weird calling them by their characters names when i'm not familiar with the show at all) have a heart attack?. I read that on a Cracked article or something which was about how absurd the final season got. I've actually considered watching the show because it is a favourite of my aunt, you and SC (i think) haha.

The first episode was pretty good.

[Miss Vicky]

To answer your question: Season 8.

[Sexy Celebrity]

I really wanna see the 9th (final) season of Roseanne again. As bad and boring as that season seemed to me when it aired in the '90s, the whole way she ended that show seems really clever and smart to me. I've seen a little bit here and there -- I saw the Halloween show with the Absolutely Fabulous women in it about a year ago. The other night, I watched Roseanne and Dan when they went to Vegas with Arnie and Nancy. That's one of my favorite Roseanne episodes.

[Sexy Celebrity]

Dan had a heart attack at the end of Season 8. After Darlene's (his daughter) wedding. The next season continued as if Dan survived the heart attack and would be okay. Then they suddenly won the $108 million dollar lottery and got rich. Then all sorts of crazy adventures happened throughout Season 9. At the end of Season 9, we found out the whole show had actually been a book that Roseanne was writing, with some facts about the family and everything changed to suit how Roseanne really wanted things to be. Dan actually died from his heart attack and Roseanne wrote the book as a way to deal with the pain she was going through, and I guess the loneliness of not having her husband anymore. Show ended with her finishing the book and going through the house, which no longer had all the nice furnishings they had from the lottery winnings because they didn't actually win the lottery. Season 9 was all a fantasy. The whole show was sorta like fan fiction about her own family, written by the family's matriarch.

[Gideon58]

1.

Heathcliff and Claire Hanks Huxtable, The Cosby Show

http://www.eurweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cliff-and-clarie.jpg

Yeah, yeah, I know, hurl the tomatoes if you must...the image of this TV couple has definitely been tarnished with all the recent controversy surrounding Mr. Cosby, but it doesn't diminish what he and Phylicia Rachad created onscreen back in the 1980's...an upwardly mobile African American couple who both had jobs (though admittedly we didn't get to see too much of Claire in the courtroom), and it was always clear that Claire was the smarter of the two and boss of the house Cosby always made that clear in every move Cliff and Claire made...I loved that Claire spoke Spanish and Cliff didn't and would get aggravated every time she spoke it in front of him. I loved that one of Cliff and Claire's favorite days of the year was the first day of school...I had never seen that really addressed by any other TV couple. They were almost always a united front regarding their five children, and definitely still had the hots for each other...I also loved that their sexiest moments usually involved no dialogue and some classic music. They had five children (though in the pilot there were only four) so we know they had a healthy sex life, but it was never shoved in our faces. maybe because it was the 80's. No matter what Cosby might have done later, it doesn't change the fact that he was one half of my favorite television marriage, like it or not.




Hope you enjoyed the list.

[Sexy Celebrity]

I knew it. Mmmmhmmm.

[Gideon58]

I knew it. Mmmmhmmm.
How could anyone not know?

[Gideon58]

Season 9 was all a fantasy. The whole show was sorta like fan fiction about her own family, written by the family's matriarch.
Hated the final season with a white hot passion.

[Camo]

To answer your question: Season 8.

Ok, then fair enough. I should have watched the show before assuming stuff because i was clearly wrong, i thought it was early on like Season 3 or something. I'll definitely give it a go at some point, wouldn't be surprised if i watch every episode of it before i watch Hedwig :p

[Camo]

Dan had a heart attack at the end of Season 8. After Darlene's (his daughter) wedding. The next season continued as if Dan survived the heart attack and would be okay. Then they suddenly won the $108 million dollar lottery and got rich. Then all sorts of crazy adventures happened throughout Season 9. At the end of Season 9, we found out the whole show had actually been a book that Roseanne was writing, with some facts about the family and everything changed to suit how Roseanne really wanted things to be. Dan actually died from his heart attack and Roseanne wrote the book as a way to deal with the pain she was going through, and I guess the loneliness of not having her husband anymore. Show ended with her finishing the book and going through the house, which no longer had all the nice furnishings they had from the lottery winnings because they didn't actually win the lottery. Season 9 was all a fantasy. The whole show was sorta like fan fiction about her own family, written by the family's matriarch.

That is actually pretty great. Does the writers/producers/whatever claim that is why the last Season strayed so much? Or do they admit they lost control and came up with a good way of explaining everything?

[Miss Vicky]

Hated the final season with a white hot passion.

That last season was definitely a low point, but I liked the actual finale.

[Sexy Celebrity]

and definitely still had the hots for each other...I also loved that their sexiest moments usually involved no dialogue and some classic music. They had five children (though in the pilot there were only four) so we know they had a healthy sex life, but it was never shoved in our faces.

In real life, Bill Cosby's sexiest moments didn't involve dialogue, either, since one person was passed out and the other was probably just grunting. Not sure if classic music was played. Definitely wasn't a healthy sex life, and while it all originally wasn't shoved in our faces, it is now.

[Gideon58]

In real life, Bill Cosby's sexiest moments didn't involve dialogue, either, since one person was passed out and the other was probably just grunting. Not sure if classic music was played. Definitely wasn't a healthy sex life, and while it all originally wasn't shoved in our faces, it is now.
What's going on with Bill Cosby now has nothing to do with Cliff and Claire and I was hoping people would be able to separate the two, but maybe I was wrong.

[Citizen Rules]

I just got a chance to go through your list, I repped the TV marriages I've seen and liked. I hadn't seen many of the TV shows on your list but of course I love the classic 50s-60s-70s TV. One question, Gideon do you have a preference for which actor you liked better as Darrin Stevens?

What's going on with Bill Cosby now has nothing to do with Cliff and Claire and I was hoping people would be able to separate the two, but maybe I was wrong. I'm fine with your #1 choice. But seeing how the issue came up: I usually try to separate what an actor does in real life from the fictional characters they play. But with Bill Cosby, I can't look at him any more without thinking of what he did. But that's just me, and no problem that Cosby TV marriage is number one:)

[Camo]

I usually try to separate what an actor does in real life from the fictional characters they play.

Same here there are some really awful people involved with film that i enjoy, like Sean Penn and Roman Polanski. Haven't ever seen anything really from Cosby though, i don't remember The Cosby Show being shown over here and i don't think i've seen him in any films. I only really know him from various shows making fun of him, like The Simpsons and Family Guy.

[Sexy Celebrity]

What's going on with Bill Cosby now has nothing to do with Cliff and Claire and I was hoping people would be able to separate the two, but maybe I was wrong.

It's way too recent and way too big. If Bill Cosby got a gun and shot dead dozens of people, would you still be saying, "Now now, everyone. Let's not think about that as I mention that I think he was basically the perfect husband on The Cosby Show. Sssssssshhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Silence!"

Actually, Bill Cosby DID get a gun and shoot dozens of people (or maybe thousands). Just none of them died.

[Topsy]

no Doug and Carrie? :o

thats the one where they both are actually funny,and the wife isnt just some nodding doll.. i like a few on your list though,and some i have never heard of :P also..monica and chandler..though i always wished her and richard would get back together

[Gideon58]

no Doug and Carrie?

Something about Leah Remini has always annoyed me.

[Gideon58]

OK, Sexy, I think we just need to let this go.

[Gideon58]

One question, Gideon do you have a preference for which actor you liked better as Darrin Stevens?

I had no problem with Sargent, but I preferred the rubbery faced York.

[Citizen Rules]

I like Dick Sargent, but in serious roles. I don't think he's a great comedian.

Dick York on the other hand is one of the truly great, and sadly, underappreciated comedians.

[TONGO]

It's way too recent and way too big. If Bill Cosby got a gun and shot dead dozens of people, would you still be saying, "Now now, everyone. Let's not think about that as I mention that I think he was basically the perfect husband on The Cosby Show. Sssssssshhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Silence!"

Actually, Bill Cosby DID get a gun and shoot dozens of people (or maybe thousands). Just none of them died.

100% Agree.

[DalekbusterScreen5]

My favourite has to be the 10th Doctor and Queen Elisabeth the 1st's in Day of the Doctor. I particularly love the War Doctor's response to it all with 'Is there a lot of this in the future?' :D

[Sexy Celebrity]

I had no problem with Sargent, but I preferred the rubbery faced York.

Same. I actually think York's kinda cute.

[honeykid]

I'll never understand how people could stop liking something on tv because of what the person portraying them/it/him/her did. I'm not having a pop at anyone, it's just something I don't get.

[Citizen Rules]

For me, it's because of 'associated emotions'. The worst example is...I can't look at O.J. Simpson in an old movie without thinking of him severing the head of his girlfriend with a serrated hunting knife. And thanks to him, I never write 'OJ' on the grocery list for orange juice....Seriously, I write out the entire word, orange juice.

[Camo]

And thanks to him, I never write 'OJ' on the grocery list for orange juice

This made me laugh out loud :laugh:

[Gideon58]

That is actually pretty great. Does the writers/producers/whatever claim that is why the last Season strayed so much? Or do they admit they lost control and came up with a good way of explaining everything?


The other thing in Roseanne's book that I did love was that it was revealed that Jackie was really gay and not Beverly, which was something I always suspected that Jackie was in deep denial about and would explain all the problems she had having viable relationships with men.