TV Guide ranks best 'toon characters'
Animatedbuzz.com
July 28, 2002
TV Guide is at it again. Hot on the heels of releasing the 50 worst television shows ever, it's coming out with another list. This time, TV Guide ranks the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.
According to Cartoon Research, the Aug 3. issue--which is on sale this week--ranks Warner's venerable cross-dressing hare, Bugs Bunny, as the best of the best. Homer Simpson and Rocky and Bullwinkle round out the top three. (Hey, I know that's technically four characters, but tell it to TV Guide.)
Bugs Bunny, I understand. Even though I much preferred Roadrunner, Speedy Gonzales or Tweety cartoons, I can't deny that Bugs is the Hulk Hogan of the cartoon industry. So, I won't argue with the top choice, but I sure will moan about number three. Rocky and Bullwinkle? Are those two goofs even relevant anymore? Judging by the the paltry box-office take of the live-action movie a couple of years ago, I'm going to go ahead and say heck no. The new Scooby-Doo movie is horrible too, but you didn't see THAT nosediving, did you?
Oh, and speaking of Scooby, where did he rank in the who's who list of cartoon giants? He's in the middle of the pack at No. 22. Where's the logic in that? I'm not the biggest Scooby fan, but the shows on Cartoon Network continue to pull in good ratings. If he were in a handicap match with Rocky and Bullwinkle, Scooby would kick their butts faster than (here's where I'd make a a clever reference to the Rocky and Bullwinkle show...if I knew ANYTHING about it other than it bored me to tears as a kid).
What about Disney's lovable little merchandise-seller, Mickey Mouse? He comes it at No. 19. While I would have personally ranked him higher because the Disney empire was built on his back--plus I always dug his 'toons more than I did Bugs' (Mickey's Christmas Carol rules)--I can almost understand why he fell so low. There are simply bigger fish that deserve the nod ahead of him ... or so you might think.
TV Guide has this list all wrong. Yeah, I'm going against award-winning editors of the most widely read magazine in the United States as if my opinion should be more highly regarded. But do you know who's ahead of Mickey? Angelica Pickles, Spongebob Squarepants, Cartman and Gumby, to name a few. Does Gumby even freaking count? Poor Mickey. But hey, at least he's not like Scooby, getting beaten out by Gerald McBoing-Boing (Don't worry, I don't know who that is either).
Since I can moan about this all day, and probably tomorrow as well, I'll end my rant now. If anyone ever makes a 50 Worst Makers-of-Lists, I nominate TV Guide to be No. 1. Take a look at its 50 best, yourselves, then hit the forums to share your opinions.
Chris Douvalas
Via Cartoon Research:
1. Bugs Bunny
2. Homer Simpson
3. Rocky and Bullwinkle
4. Beavis and Butt-Head
5. The Grinch
6. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble
7. Angelica Pickles
8. Charlie Brown and Snoopy
9. SpongeBob SquarePants
10. Cartman from "South Park"
11. Bart and Lisa Simpson
12. Fat Albert
13. The Powerpuff Girls
14. Daffy Duck
15. Pikachu
16. Gumby
17. Betty Boop
18. Top C
at
19. Mickey Mouse
20. Popeye
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing
22. Scooby-Doo
23. Underdog
24. Josie and the Pussycats
25. Heckle and Jeckle
26. Arthur
27. Winnie the Pooh
28. Felix The Cat
29. Mr. Magoo
30. George of the Jungle
31. Ren and Stimpy
32. Tom Terrific
33. Tweety and Sylvester
34. Bill from "Schoolhouse Rock"
35. Space Ghost
36. Yogi Bear and Boo Boo
37. Mighty Mouse
38. Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner
39. Superman
40. Batman
41. Daria
42. Wonder Woman
43. Donald Duck
44. Alvin (The Chipmunk)
45. Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale
46. Woody Woodpecker
47. Porky Pig
48. Bobby Hill from "King of the Hill"
49. Speed Racer
50. Tom and Jerry
Chris Douvalas
