Sitcoms are known and loved by audiences for their great characters and hilarious dialogue. A great comedy show keeps viewers tuning in on a weekly basis for the misadventures of its characters, as well as funny lines. The best sitcoms even live on with new generations of fans, remaining iconic for decades. Every bit as iconic as the shows themselves are their characters.
Comedy characters get praise and love from fans for their mannerisms, outlooks on life, and the amusing dialogue they bring to the show. For some characters, their lines end up being just as iconic as the series and fans love to reference the show on those lines. While many characters have their share of quotable lines, some just get better dialogue than others.
10 Cliff Clavin
Cheers
Cliff Clavin was a standout character in Cheers simply for his absurdity. Almost every episode would contain a moment where Cliff would attempt to engage in conversation by sharing a useless and, more often than not, nonsensical "fact" with the rest of the bar.
While no specific Cliff quote stands out, it was more his tendency to begin sentences with "it's a little known fact that..." only to make up a ridiculous statistic or fact. Cliff could have been Cheers' most knowledgeable character if only his facts had a shred of truth to them.
9 Joey Tribbiani
Friends
Of all the characters on Friends, Joey had the best charisma and was the group's most affable member. The aspiring actor with a heart of gold became the fan-favorite, as well as being the only cast member to land his own spin-off series, albeit an unsuccessful one.
Joey's signature "how you doing?" line was adopted by some of his biggest fans, who used it as everything from a joke to a pickup line. As a character portrayed as having a child-like innocence, many of Joey's best lines like "has it always been purple?" reflected his more simple personality.
8 Frasier Crane
Cheers / Frasier
Frasier Crane started out on Cheers but truly came into his own in his eponymous spin-off. Frasier's great lines were mostly expressions of his snobby attitude. His obnoxiously long monologues, random references to his knowledge of classics and anecdotes are among his best quotes, such as scolding Daphne for "two shades of black sock."
Frasier also had the incredibly iconic "I'm listening" catchphrase that he'd use both on and off his radio show. Frasier fans have a hard time picking their favorite absurd quotes from the show, but most of them were spoken — or sung — by the star himself, such as Frasier's theme tune.
7 Captain Holt
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Few actors have managed to master the art of deadpan humor as well as Andre Braugher's portrayal of Captain Holt. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine character took over the precinct after years of mismanagement and slacking, and he quickly tried to right the ship.
Holt's deadpan delivery of lines like "I just erased everything," "I only have one dream a year, always on tax day," and his exasperated "hot damn!" made him one of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's best characters. Holt has the perfect balance of dry sarcasm and a serious personality that makes even unfunny lines amusing.
6 Homer Simpson
The Simpsons
While fans best remember Homer for his signature catchphrase "doh!," he has spoken many quotable lines throughout his over thirty years of existence. The nuclear plant safety worker and father of three, even Homer's "woo-hoo!" cheer is often copied by Simpsons fans.
Homer's "mm, donuts" line is also something many fans have copied when in the presence of their own favorite pastries. The character is best defined by quintessential dad jokes, such as "if I could say a few words, I'd be a better public speaker" and "if he's so smart, how come he's dead?"
5 Ron Swanson
Parks and Recreation
Ron Swanson was the best character on Parks and Recreation, and few fans would argue. The libertarian manager of Pawnee's parks department, Ron was a stoic and self-sufficient man who prized freedom above all else. He also dropped pearls of wisdom throughout the series.
Ron's stoic delivery of "dad advice" was what made him the best part of Parks and Recreation and made it so great to quote him. One episode in particular where he filled in on a daytime talk show left several hilarious quotes for fans to pull from. The quote that best defines him, "I know more than you," became a popular meme.
4 George Costanza
Seinfeld
In his own way, George Costanza is one of Seinfeld's most down-to-earth characters, even if he's the sleaziest of the main four. George's ability to take mundane situations and turn them into the most awkward interactions imaginable led to incredibly funny quotes.
Everything from George's infamous "shrinkage!" line to his smaller quotes like "I knew it wasn't Berkowitz!" and "what do you wanna hear?" became some of Seinfeld's most repeated lines. George put a voice to the random thoughts that could through someone's head, adding humor, awkwardness, or both to the scenes he was in.
3 Sheldon Cooper
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory's de facto main character, Sheldon Cooper is almost single-handedly responsible for several modern cultural memes. From his "bazinga!" catchphrase to introducing the mainstream to Schrödinger's Cat, Sheldon was the show's most quotable character.
Sheldon also brought audiences things like the "rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock" game and his "soft kitty, warm kitty" song. The Big Bang Theory may have ended and long passed its heyday, but its star character left the world with several memorable pop culture references.
2 Frank Costanza
Seinfeld
Seinfeld's characters are all iconic in their own right, but Frank Costanza was given many of the show's best lines, despite having fewer episodes. The over-the-top retiree had an incredibly consistent role on the show, and his eccentric personality led to great quotes.
Lines like "serenity now!," "a Festivus for the rest of us," and "I got a lot of problems with you people!" are the go-to references for Seinfeld fans. Jerry Stiller made a real impression on fans with his comedic timing and exaggerated delivery of his lines, with even his "err" between sentences becoming great.
1 Peter Griffin
Family Guy
Peter Griffin is the star of Family Guy and head of the Griffin household. Since his 1999 debut, Peter has contributed as much to the cultural zeitgeist as anyone, thanks to his deadpan comedic lines and slapstick comedy. The character's best lines are small, passing, and typically reflect his idiocy.
Peter Griffin's best quotes include things like "dance the dance of life" and "shut up, Meg." Peter also helped revive the song "Surfing Bird," which turned into a popular meme. Even Peter's characteristic laugh is something often copied by his fans.