10 Best TV Characters of 2014

by Julian Spivey
Every year around this time you see lists of the 10 best television shows of the year. Those lists are interesting, but they always seem to feature the same dozen to 15 shows (apparently most critics have the same tastes). What you don’t often see is an end of the year list of the best characters on television, probably because most people’s lists would be filled with lead characters from the very shows you see on ‘end of year’ lists. This list is a little different. While there are likely terrific characters on those critically over-loved shows, this list sets out to shine a light on some of the best characters on television that you don’t often get a chance to hear about.

10. Frank Winter (Manhattan)
“Manhattan,” only WGN’s second ever original series, is the best new drama of 2014 and a lot of that has to do with John Benjamin Hickey’s Dr. Frank Winter, the lead scientist on the Manhattan Project tasked with trying to create the bomb to end all wars. Winter is a man on a mission from the show’s pilot on and will stop at anything to put an end to the war claiming hundreds of American lives every week. He’s as serious as a television character can get and Hickey plays the role to perfection. 

9. Andre Johnson (black-ish)
It has been quite a while since network television had a sitcom featuring a great black lead and ABC has finally given us one in the form of Anthony Anderson’s Andre Johnson from “black-ish.” Dre is a successful advertising executive who fears his wealth and success have spoiled his four kids into a life of luxury, something he certainly didn’t have as a child. The antics he goes through to make his kids appreciate life and their culture makes the character one of the funniest new characters of 2014 and in the hands of the amiable Anderson is also one of the most likable characters currently on television.   

8. Cristela (Cristela)
ABC has really been onto something this fall with sitcoms featuring minority families, something that network television has ignored for far too long. “black-ish” and “Cristela” have also been the best new sitcoms on network television this year, in my opinion. “Cristela” is a vehicle for stand-up comedian Cristela Alonso who’s character is an aspiring attorney interning at a major law firm in Dallas. The character is incredibly likable and laugh out loud funny, especially when giving her brother-in-law hell and rebuking the advances of his best friend who likes her. With the way things are going by the end of the season Cristela might surpass Mindy Kaling’s Mindy Lahiri from “The Mindy Project” as network TV’s funniest female. Viewers need to flock to this show fast, however, because ratings have it in danger of being canceled after only one season.

7. Capt. Raymond Holt (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
After only a season and a half Andre Braugher’s performance as NYPD 99th Precinct Capt. Raymond Holt on Fox’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” might be the best character on any network sitcom and he appears to be getting even better and funnier. I worried a bit in the first season that Capt. Holt might be a little too wooden or stuffy, which was part of the character’s humor but could get old quickly. However, in the second season the character has opened up a little bit to show a more human, less robot side to himself – especially with his feud with Kyra Sedgwick’s guest character Deputy Chief Madeline Wuntch. Andy Samberg’s Golden Globe winning performance as Det. Jake Peralta was the funniest character on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” in season one, but Braugher’s Capt. Holt has surpassed him this season. 

6. Rowan Pope (Scandal)
Joe Morton’s Emmy-winning portrayal of Rowan Pope on ABC’s “Scandal” has become the most intriguing thing about one of network television’s most intriguing shows and has also become the scariest dude on network television (and that includes Mads Mikkelsen’s terrific portrayal of Hannibal Lecter on NBC’s “Hannibal”). Papa Pope is, of course, the father of “Scandal” protagonist Olivia Pope and the two have had a strained relationship throughout the series’ run. Olivia (Kerry Washington) knows her father, the leader of the elite black ops program B613, is a monster capable of doing nearly anything, but he’s still her father (that thinking is honestly irritating at times). Rowan finally goes too far in the current season when he frames Olivia’s boyfriend Jake Ballard (Scott Foley) for the murder of the President’s son last season. Now Rowan, who gives the absolute best monologues on television, is at war with Olivia, Jake and President Grant (Tony Goldwyn) which should have the series off the chain when it returns from its winter break in late January.

5. Jimmy Shive-Overly & Gretchen Cutler (You’re the Worst)
I couldn’t just choose Jimmy or Gretchen from the new FX comedy “You’re the Worst” because these two incredibly horrible, should be unlikable characters were meant for each other and have formed the best relationship currently on television in TV’s best new show of 2014. Critics everywhere have been raving about this show since its debut over the summer, but I don’t get the feeling too many people have actually tuned in to the show and believe me they’re missing out. Chris Geere’s Jimmy and Aya Cash’s Gretchen are self-involved, loathsome, all-around toxic individuals – this is why I said they “should be” unlikable – but together they form quite the unique and dare I say cute couple (they would both vomit at that compliment). “You’re the Worst” is probably not a show for viewers who can’t stand detestable people, which might say something bad about myself and the other fans of this series, but if you can identify with these horrid people it might make you feel like there’s someone for you in this world.

4. The Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor from BBC America’s “Doctor Who” has appeared on my ‘greatest TV characters of the year’ list before, but that was the previous Doctor – Matt Smith’s performance as The Eleventh Doctor. This year The Doctor regenerated into his twelfth reincarnation (well, it’s really been more than that, but fans of the show will understand) and is now portrayed by Peter Capaldi as one of the oldest looking Doctors in the show’s 51 year history. Capaldi’s Doctor is vastly different than the previous three Doctors (Smith, David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston) since the show’s re-boot in 2005 and that’s the biggest reason for his return to the list. Smith’s Doctor was lovely and my favorite of all-time, but every Doctor/actor who portrays him brings a new personality to the character. Capaldi’s Doctor is angrier, more arrogant and more unlikable if you will and I think that adds intrigue to the show and the character. It had some longtime fans starting to dislike The Doctor and the show in general, but honestly this new personality has infused some much-needed change into the show.

3. Frank Reagan (Blue Bloods)
Tom Selleck’s New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan is one of the most underrated characters on television in my opinion. I believe it’s because Selleck does such a great job at acting naturally without bringing too much attention to himself. He’s become quite the naturalistic actor and his character is without a doubt the most moralistic character on television. I love moralistic characters, those that always seem to do the right thing, no matter how hard it may be to do so. Selleck’s character is truly the closest thing on modern television to the old Western heroes of the ‘50s and ‘60s like Paladin from “Have Gun – Will Travel” and Marshall Matt Dillon from “Gunsmoke.” Half the time I watch “Blue Bloods” I spend wishing Frank Reagan was real and would run for President of the United States. The world would be a better place for it.

2. Zeek Braverman (Parenthood)
Craig T. Nelson’s Zeek Braverman the patriarch of the lovable Braverman clan on NBC’s drama “Parenthood,” which is currently in its sixth and final season has been the best character on that series (along with Ray Romano’s curmudgeonly Hank Rizzoli, who made last year’s list) of the last two seasons. At times during the show’s first few seasons I felt like the show ignored Zeek a little too much, especially given the fact that Nelson was such a talented part of the cast. I’m glad to see the show focus much more on the stubborn, often set in his ways, but still incredibly lovable character over its last couple of seasons. Nelson’s portrayal of Zeek Braverman is so good and so realistic that it’ll often leave you wishing he was your father.

1. Craig Ferguson (Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson)
This is a first for my annual best characters on television list as Craig Ferguson is obviously not a fictional character, but a host of a late night television show (or at least he was before his show ended last week). Ferguson was the most unique host on late night network television with the most different show in late night talk show history. He simply did things his way with a playful brand of absurdist humor that gently mocked the late show platform in general. Ferguson’s time on CBS’ “Late, Late Show” was a superb 10-year experiment that proved that late night didn’t have to be so stringent or organized. You could do with it what you wanted. Maybe the country hasn’t caught up, because the show’s ratings where always behind its competitors leading to a cult following of dedicated fans.

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