TV's Greatest Icons List

[Hulk]

Besides pointing out the fact that this list is doing EXACTLY what it is supposed to do (generate buzz and debate), I'd like to point out that there are 3 Megos, one CTVT, and lots of customs on the list.

Good point Paul!

[huedell]

[QUOTE=Adam West;60185]

c. I don't think Ted Danson qualifies as breaking "big" into movies---Clooney
on the other hand...
QUOTE]
I'm not saying Ted Danson is a huge box office draw but I'd say Three Men and a Baby and Saving Private Ryan were pretty successful. Clooney has had as many stinkers as he has had hits.

Danson was so unsuccessful as a movie star that he didn't even have the
high profile "stinkers" that Clooney was afforded

We disagree about the perspective there that's cool --- but I am just
under the impression that if Clooney is a huge movie star raking in millions
of dollars a flick and if Clooney is a "Sexiest Man Of The Year"
in recent years for PEOPLE Magazine while Danson lingers more on TV
reruns than anything else (let alone movies) that Clooney's movie success
HUGELY overshadows Danson's

But let's get back to T.V. shall we...

As far as cooking show stars----as far as icons go---they are pretty
designated to their respective eras without much bleed thru to the present
pop icon consciousness----but Martha Stewart (she's "kinda" of a cooking
icon) now THERE"S a significant overall icon in my opinion

[Adam West]

[QUOTE=huedell;60179]
c. I don't think Ted Danson qualifies as breaking "big" into movies---Clooney
on the other hand...
QUOTE]


I'm not saying Ted Danson is a huge box office draw but I'd say Three Men and a Baby and Saving Private Ryan were pretty successful. Clooney has had as many stinkers as he has had hits.

[Adam West]

Now that I think of it, I remember seeing Julia Child's kitchen from her tv series in the Smithsonian the last time I visited (about a year or two ago).

She's been doing cooking shows since the 1960's and I still see reruns of some of her shows today. She has been parodied on shows like SNL and was a major pioneer for a channel like the Food Network.

It's not worth discussing anymore. I'm sure they had their reasons for who they picked but it does appear that there are some icons that have stood the test of time and deserve to be on the list more so than some of the names.

[huedell]

I don't think so. His role did not play a prevalent part for most of the Cheers series until near the end. Using the logic above, Robin Williams should be on the list since he was on Happy Days and the spinoff Mork & Mindy but I don't think he should make the cut.

Speaking of which, Ron Howard is another one who seems like he should be on the list. I have to think Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham are more recognizable to more people than Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Maybe because some of the actors like Ted Danson and Ron Howard broke it big into movies, they lost some of their TV icon status but then again George Clooney is on the list so again some of the choices don't seem to make sense to me anyway.

I guarantee if you were to show a picture of Bugs Bunny to 100 people at random, regardless of age, Bugs Bunny would be more recognizable than Homer Simpson.

a. Williams only appeared on 2 or 3 episoides of Happy Days---Kelsey Grammer
appeared on what... a hundred maybe...episodes of Cheers? And Frasier ran a LOT
longer than Mork & MIndy

b. I agree with you---omitting Ron Howard seems to be pretty wrong---
again, I think they are rationaliziong this with the fact that his co-stars
on both shows were included and that Ron was a successful movie director
too---not that that is a good philosophy in making this list---remember
despite certain points I'm trying to make here---I still think this list could
use a lot of rethinking

c. I don't think Ted Danson qualifies as breaking "big" into movies---Clooney
on the other hand...

and

d. Bugs is a HUGE icon---but maybe they percieve him more like a film star
like, say, the THREE STOOGES or THE LITTLE RASCALS (who also spent
alotta syndicated time on TV but started as film clips)

Bugs had a LOT of time on the small screen---but a lot of what he did was
used for the big screen (and still is every few years...Space Jam...Back In
Action...etc.)

Fred Flintstone on the other hand...

[jwyblejr]

I can understand why people are up in arms over Silvers being snubbed. How many shysters have been on cartoons that have copied Phil? They even try to copy his voice.

[huedell]

Yes, his show is still playing on PBS. His Red Sweater is hanging in the Smithsonian Institution in the Museum of American History Pop Culture section. Henry Winkler's leather jacket is there as well as one of Jim Henson's original Kermit's. I don't know how much more of an icon it gets than that.

and I don't know how much more I can say I'm NOT contesting you
than this

Seriously, though...I was just curious what the scoop was on his current
popularity----nothing more----he surely has been a major force in TV with
children up until a few scant years ago--that mean a LOT of visibility--and
with reruns that may continue for a long, long time

[Adam West]

Following that logic wouldn't it be more of an oversight that Kelsey Grammer
wasn't on that list---he too was on a show (FRASIER, obviously) for about
a decade that was just as popular as CHEERS---and on top of that he
was in Cheers with Danson too for about half its run

I don't think so. His role did not play a prevalent part for most of the Cheers series until near the end. Using the logic above, Robin Williams should be on the list since he was on Happy Days and the spinoff Mork & Mindy but I don't think he should make the cut.

Speaking of which, Ron Howard is another one who seems like he should be on the list. I have to think Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham are more recognizable to more people than Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Maybe because some of the actors like Ted Danson and Ron Howard broke it big into movies, they lost some of their TV icon status but then again George Clooney is on the list so again some of the choices don't seem to make sense to me anyway.

I guarantee if you were to show a picture of Bugs Bunny to 100 people at random, regardless of age, Bugs Bunny would be more recognizable than Homer Simpson.

[Adam West]

You don't say

It might have looked otherwise, but I was agreeing---and asking a question at the same time

My point was---now that MR. ROGERS (specifically) is dead/retired who knows how
his icon status would diminish IF (and I stress "if") there were no reruns---I asked im my last
post IF they WERE showing reruns---anyone have an answer?

Yes, his show is still playing on PBS. His Red Sweater is hanging in the Smithsonian Institution in the Museum of American History Pop Culture section. Henry Winkler's leather jacket is there as well as one of Jim Henson's original Kermit's. I don't know how much more of an icon it gets than that.

[huedell]

If they are choosing stars based on shows with long runs, Ted Danson has to be on that list. That show was on for 10 or 11 years and the #1 show for I don't know how long.

Following that logic wouldn't it be more of an oversight that Kelsey Grammer
wasn't on that list---he too was on a show (FRASIER, obviously) for about
a decade that was just as popular as CHEERS---and on top of that he
was in Cheers with Danson too for about half its run

[huedell]

There are quite a few people on the list who have passed on.

You don't say

It might have looked otherwise, but I was agreeing---and asking a question at the same time

My point was---now that MR. ROGERS (specifically) is dead/retired who knows how
his icon status would diminish IF (and I stress "if") there were no reruns---I asked im my last
post IF they WERE showing reruns---anyone have an answer?

[Adam West]

Bob Barker is actually included at #34 and, yes, Mr. Rogers and Barker are
good examples---even though Rogers has passed on---its relatively recently
he retired---and maybe they even still show reruns?

There are quite a few people on the list who have passed on. I am trying to look at it objectively and I agree that there are quite a few on the list that don't seem to belong or if they do belong, their ranking seems awful high.

The most glaring ones in my eyes are Homer Simpson (if they are including cartoon characters, I think there are icons that have weathered the test of time longer) and Sarah Michelle Gellar...did she do anything besides Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which I don't think scorched up the ratings charts) and a brief stint on a Soap Opera?

If they are choosing stars based on shows with long runs, Ted Danson has to be on that list. That show was on for 10 or 11 years and the #1 show for I don't know how long.

[huedell]

Well getting back to the main topic Bob Barker and Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) are missing from the list and I would venture to guess that even most the younger generation know who these two are.

Bob Barker is actually included at #34 and, yes, Mr. Rogers and Barker are
good examples---even though Rogers has passed on---its relatively recently
he retired---and maybe they even still show reruns?

[Adam West]

Well getting back to the main topic Bob Barker and Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) are missing from the list and I would venture to guess that even most the younger generation know who these two are.

[huedell]

Actually, I don't blame Hue one bit for his comments.

Hue --- like the whole new generation was raised with a cable company telling them what's "classic TV" and what's not.

The only prob, this "cable company" has their own agenda.

It's quite sad........

TV Land is NOT classic TV personified.
They're just like any other money making organization.
They promote ONLY what they have their grubby fingers on.
Everything else is inconsequential and doesn't exist.

We're on the same page Mike...

It's simply outta my hands what people like myself have had pumped
into their brains by the media

Even you making me out to be a "feel sorry for" drone doesn't come off
as malicious because I know you really mean it in a sympathetic way because
of your passion for the stuff you love that passed me by

Would I be better off with having more exposure to the icons you
brought up (and I criticized as being less visible)???
Possibly----but that wasn't my point...in this thread (see past posts)

As far as the media and newfangled cable stations messing with pop culture's
potential as the years have gone on----I think the best example of this is
what's happened to MTV over the years--
--they squandered SO much potential the channel had to better
the rock music landsacpe---I guess their "more music oriented" programming
of VH-1 is a consolation, but I think its a small one