Top 20 TV Ensembles from the Past 20 Years

Sure, television is only as good as its script, but where a TV series really shines is in its ability cast actors who fit their written characters to a "T."

You almost always know a great TV ensemble cast even if you haven't been an avid fan of the series.  You may not have watched "Cheers" religously, but you know Norm, Frasier, Woddy, Sam, and Rebecca were instrumental to the success of the show.  You might not have caught every episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but you knew the characters of Carlton, Hilary, Uncle Phil, and Jazz went a long way towards the show finding such a massive audience.

An ensemble cast is great when the series is strong due to an eclectic mix of interesting characters--not just the star.  And most important, an ensemble casts creates memorable characters that you remember, truly, for a lifetime.

First, a quick note regarding this list.  This countdown will display the best 20 ensemble television casts in the past 20 years.  If a show premiered before 1989--that's deemed okay--as long as it was still on the air in 1989 (or beyond).

This countdown will also have a list of the runners-up.

20. All That:  Rarely will you ever see a show "for kids by kids" on a countdown like this, but "All That" was something special.  Airing from 1994-2005 and having a different set of cast members similar to "Saturday Night Live," "All That" was a sketch show that had many memorable characters.  Young actors Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Lori Beth Denberg, Josh Server, Amanda Bynes and many more helped to create classic characters such as Repair Man, Ed from Good Burger, Earboy, Super Dude, The Librarian, and Pierre Escargot.  This variety show matches up with the best of them--and these were child actors.

19. Roseanne:  In a sitcom age when fat, infantile men get the sexy, sassy wife, "Roseanne" was an interesting contrast.  With Roseanne Barr, viewers saw a woman who not only didn't fit the physical stereotype of a television star, but her character often spoke her mind and certainly had no problem wearing the pants in the family.  A great dynamic of the show was seeing a loving, blue-collar family exchange verbal jabs at each other.  Her husband, Dan Connor (John Goodman) always provided a great sparring partner.  Roseanne's unconvential way of parenting was made all the more evident by the quality performances of the child actors--namely Darlene (Sara Gilbert).  And the colorful wit of Roseanne's younger sister Jackie helped solidify "Roseanne" as one of the best television ensembles.

18. Homicide: Life on the Streets:  This is the series that infleunced the likes of girtty cop shows such as "The Wire" "NYPD Blue, "and "The Shield."  While Andre Braugher's star seems to shine brightest in this police drama, the interactions that Braugher has with his rookie partner, Detective Tim Bayliss, as well as detectives Felton, Crosetti, and Bolander helped to put this ratings starved series over the top.  And while this show may not go down as one of the best television series ever, it's impact on television cannot be denied.  It changed the expectations of viewers regarding police dramas, and helped push the envelope in terms of acting and directing.  Braugher and company were no less than outstanding.

17. Arrested Development:  It's not often that a quirky, short lived series leaves a lasting impression on its audience, but in the case of "Arrested Development," this show is the exception to the norm.  Just look at this cast--Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, David Cross, Tony Hale and Jessica Walter.  This crazy, odd ball family made the Bundy's look tame and the Griffin's seem normal.  With wild characters engaging in outrageous antics (remember Tobias' Blue Man Group audition?), this ensemble took the material that was given to them and shattered every television character convention that had come before it.

16. Prison Break:  A little bit of a curveball here, but "Prison Break" was perfectly cast.  Sure, the series was based around Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows (played to convincing perfection by Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell), but it was the cast that surrounded them that made the series stand out.  Robert Knepper--the seemingly twisted love child of Hopkins' Lecter and Ledger's Joker, with a dash of humor--was despicably brilliant as T-Bag.  William Fichtner's Alex Mahone was an FBI agent who devolved into a loving but tremendously broken convict.  Sara Tancredi was a loyal, mild mannered, and clever prison doctor, and other supporting players such as Sucre, Kellerman, Bellick, and C-Note helped make this series a cult favorite.

15. Married with Children:  There's no question that Al Bundy is rememebred as a classic sitcom character, but what would this show be without Peggy, dim witted Kelly, hard on his luck Bud, Marcy Darcy, Jefferson, and even Buck the family dog?  It would probably be a forgettable show.  But the show, which ran for over a decade, was far from forgettable.  The series that no doubt was the inspiration for 1995's "Unhappily Ever After," "Married with Children" was not beloved because of it's concept (which was quite cookie cutter), but by the actors who had wonderful on-screen chemistry.  Whether it was Al and Peggy's love/hate relationship, the verbal ping-pong between siblings Kelly and Bud, or Marcy's disdain for anything and everything related to Al, these characters interacted with each other in a hilarious fashion that few shows can match.

14. Saturday Night Live: This sketch show, like any other, has a constant revolving door.  But in the 1980's and 1990's, this show saw an immensely talented group perform unforgettable characters that viewers still find themselves quoting.  Dana Carvey as the "Church Lady?"  Mike Myers as Coffee Talk's Linda Richman?  Chris Farley as motivational speaker Matt Foley?  Will Ferrell and Darrell Hammond as "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebec and contestant Sean Connery?  Tim Meadows as The Ladies' Man?  The list, truly, goes on and on.  One thing is for sure, these actors made live television look easy.

13. MadTV:  Many may not like the idea of the cast of "MadTV" receiving a higher slot than the cast of "SNL."  But, a couple things must be mentioned.  One, "MadTV" had very funny characters--that is of the utmost importance.  Number two, and arguably just as important a fact, "MadTV" had to carve out it's own niche against "Saturday Night Live," which was and continues to be a comedy institution.  It's hard enough to have a variety show on during the same week as the most popular one to ever grace the television screen, but to go head to head against it takes some guts.  And quality actors.  And "MadTV" had quality actors who portrayed great characters--from Alex Borstein's Miss Bunny Swan to Michael MacDonald's Stuart Larkin to Debra Wilson and Nicole Sullivan's Lida and Melina to Will Sasso's portrayal of Steven Segal, the cast from the 1990's was a dynamite collection of comedic actors who helped the series move out of the shadow of "SNL."

12. Sex and the City:  How many guys watched this show?  No one?  No surprise there.  Regardless of the gender demographic breakdown, this was a landmark series in that it showed women bluntly talking about love, sex, and relationships without fear of any male perception.  And though one can argue that these women were more materialistic than a mainstream rap artist (Carrie becoming upset that her $400 shoes were stolen at a party rings a bell), the ability for these completely different women (Charlotte and Samantha were no doubt polar opposities) to come together for each other and help one another through every rough patch in life was palpable.  The viewer could feel the passionate friendship that this foursome shared.  There's no doubt that these characters couldn't have been played by any other actresses'.

11. Cheers:  This series, set in a Boston bar no less, debuted in 1982 and aired until 1993.  The series helped to create a well known spinoff in "Frasier."  Through it all, "Cheers" had countless memorable characters.  Whether it was the potential romance between Sam and Diane, or the introduction of Rebecca; whether it was the slow-witted Coach or even dimmer-witted Woody; whether it was Norm, Carla, Frasier or Cliff, this was a sitcom that truly had beloved characters.  At "Cheers," the theme song states that "everybody knows your name."  There's no question that viewers know and have since remembered the name of every patron and bartender who ever stepped foot into "Cheers."

10. The Cosby Show

:  This series is known for being ground breaking in that it presented an educated, loving upper middle class black family to America.  But it also was very well cast.  Bill Cosby is certainly the one who gets the most attention, but Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable is one of the handful of characters on television that couldn't have been played as well by another actress.  Rashad brought grace and dignity to her character.  Equally fitting was Malcolm Jamal Warner as son Theo, a thoughtful character who perfectly resembled many teenagers in America.  Children Denise, Vanessa, and Rudy rounded out the cast.  And although characters Elvin and Sondra brought a sweetness to the series, the now 23 year old Raven-Symoné portrayed a then wise three year-old named Olivia.  That character, if there was any question, solifies this show in the top 10.

9. Desperate Housewives:  We have seen women on television before.  From "Sex and the City" to "Designing Women," female characters have been showcased in different aspects on the small screen.  But rarely have we seen women who were in their thirties and forties featured as the stars on a television series.  These women weren't the supporting characters, like the wives on the show "The Unit."  No, these women were the show.  And every one of them were unique.  From Bree's stuffiness to Edie's sexual innuedo, this series showed what really happens--physically and emotionally--to women when they seemingly have it all: the husband, the white picket fence, and the 2.5 children.  The men pull their weight on this show, as well.  James Denton as Mike, Ricardo Chavira as Carlos and Doug Savant, especially, as Lynette's husband Tom, are all excellent. 

8. West Wing:  This was the show that gave viewers an insight into what goes on in The Oval Office.  With Martin Sheen playing President Bartlet and Stockard Channing portraying First Lady Abigail, viewers knew they were in for a treat.  But the cast was rounded out by actors such as Rob Lowe, John Spencer, Janel Moloney, and Dulé Hill.  Towards the end of the series' run, Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits were brought on as opposing candidates fighting for the Presidency.  And with the series' producers and writers admitting that Smits' character Matt Santos was based on then Senator Barack Obama, the ensemble cast's ability to take a page from real life makes this show (which won 27 Emmy's) all the more relevant.

7. The Wire:  Many people consider this to be the be, quite literally, one of the best shows to ever air on television.  Many claim that the show is akin to a great novel.  And while the scripts were no doubt stellar on this David Simon created series, the cast of this Baltimore set drama were even better.  Bunk, Omar, Stringer, McNulty, Bubbles, D'Angelo, Daniels, Bodie--the list truly is endless.  One of the few series on this list that could arguably be #1, the actors who starred in this incredible ensemble left such an impression on its audience, that the series will be intently studied for years after it's series finale.  A show that allowed the viewers unparalled access into the world of both the law and law breakers--and the line that divides them--"The Wire" was appointment television (which is rare in the age of DVR's and Hulu.com).  Here's some advice: rent or buy the DVD's of this show, as you will never see a dramatic cast like it for twenty years.

6. ER:  The NBC series "ER" debuted on television in 1994 and just finished it's on-air run in April of 2009.  Over that time span, the show featured an immense ensemble cast that changed dramatically over the years.  But the series started with Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene and George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross.  Sherry Stringfield portrayed Dr. Susan Lewis, Noah Wyle played Medical Student (and later Dr.) John Carter, and Eriq La Salle depicted Dr. Peter Benton.  Julianna Margulies guest starred in the pilot as Nurse Carol Hathaway before becoming part of the regular cast later.  Though the show centered around a busy hospital, the series was really about the lives of these doctors--both on the job and in their private lives.  And while the hospital saw doctors come and go, the producers never forgot that though this was a show set inside a chaotic hospital, the audience tuned in because of the doctors who operated inside it.  

5. The Shield:  Similar to "The Wire," this gritty police drama rarely received any love from award shows.  Though Michael Chiklis won an Emmy during the show's first season, this FX series was always unable to even get nominated.  It's a shame, too, because the cast was outstanding.  One of the only shows that can truly go toe-to-toe with "The Wire," the series featured a cast of characters that involved Vic Mackey (Chiklis), Shane, Ronnie, Lem, Aceveda, Dutch, Claudette, Danny, Julian and more. All multi-faceted and all were deeply flawed in some fashion.  In short, they felt real and believable.  The show dealt a lot with the concept of morals--what is right and what is wrong.  More than that, the show displayed that there's always a "gray area" that, if crossed, can lead a character down a dark path that's hard to come back from.  The interactions of Vic and Shane, especially in the final season, showcased this perfectly.  And when Forest Whitaker joined the cast as Detective Jon Kavanaugh in the explosive fifth season, this show soared to new heights.

4. Seinfeld:  Often called a show about nothing, there's no doubt that this cast was exemplary.  Even if you never saw a single moment of the series, you know the characters--Jerry, Kramer, George, and Elaine.  You probably even know some the other classic characters--Newman, Bubble Boy, and even the Soup Nazi.  But it was the principal cast, an ecclectic mix ranging from the rather pedestrian (Jerry) to the ornery (George) and even outrageous (Cosmo Kramer).  With episodes that dealt with everything from locating a parked car in a garage to abstaining from self pleasure, this show always was one of the very few programs that was able to make the utterly mundane funny.  In the hands of a different set of actors, it may not have worked.  On "Seinfeld," it was pitch perfect.  And though the cast has found mixed success after the series ended--Jason Alexander had a couple failed TV series, Michael Richards' self titled show was canceled in 2000, followed by a Laugh Factory racial incident in 2006; Julia Louis-Dreyfus' "Watching Ellie" never caught on in 2002, though she finds success currently with "The New Adventures of Old Christine"--judging the cast based on its "Seinfeld" fame, they were clearly one of the best.

3. The Golden Girls:  Never had a television series dealt with the lives of four older women.  Currently, we have "Desperate Housewives" and have since experienced "Sex and the City," but "The Golden Girls" is the grandmother to both of those programs.  The NBC staple, however, wasn't simply stuck in a nursing home.  In fact, the character of Blanche, despite her age, was clearly sexually active and was often described as a slut, skank, and whore.  Dorothy (the late Bea Arthur) often bickered with her mother Sophia (the late Estelle Getty).  Rose was constantly called stupid, and though these women were up in age, sexual innuendo's were constantly exchanged among the characters.  Despite the verbal jabs and bickering, these four women displayed a bond that was inseparable.  These actresses portrayed characters that were both humourous and sometimes outlandish, but also grounded and believable.  That's no easy task to pull off, but on "The Golden Girls," the chemistry of the actresses was pitch perfect.  In fact, "The Golden Girls" is only one of just three shows ever to feature Emmy wins for all of its main actors.  Clearly, this was a cast for the ages. 

2. In Living Color:  Sure, "In Living Color" was amazing because it was the first highly successful sketch show to feature a predominately black cast.  And while being a "first" is fine, if you aren't simultaneously great, it can unfortunately just become a footnote in history.  But "In Living Color" was indeed brilliant.  Produced by Keenan Ivory Wayans, this show starred David Alan Grier, Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson, Damon Wayans, Kim Wayans and, of course, Jim Carrey (who starred on the show during its entire run from 1990 to 1994).  A sketch show is only as good as it's actors.  Although writers are important, if a actor can't pull off a perfect imitation of a political figure, or make a zany character believable and funny, then the sketch is not a success.  On "In Living Color," there were countless humorous characters and sketches--Men on Film, Anton Jackson, Vera de Milo, Fire Marshall Bill, Handi Man, The Head Detective, Benita Butrell, and of course Jamie Foxx's Wanda.  The cast, like all sketch shows, made fun of topical issues.  Whether it was Mike Tyson or Vanilla Ice, the cast of "In Living Color" would no doubt lampoon its subjects to perfection.  

1. Freaks and Geeks:  Probably not an expected winner--and some may not have even seen this television gem--but this series, which aired on NBC from 1999 to 2000, was a great representation of high school life in the 1980's.  But more than that, it featured an incredible cast from top to bottom.  Linda Cardillini as the often uncomfortable and unsure Lindsay Weir was perfectly cast.  The geeks--Sam, Bill, and Neal--were all misfits who you rooted for.  The freaks--Kim, Daniel, Nick and Ken--were underachievers and burnouts who you knew had some untapped (and equally misdirected) potential.  But it wasn't just these principal actors who sined--it was the entire cast that made this short lived series standout.  Natasha Melnick as Cindy Sanders was the sweet and sometimes egotistical love/lust interest of Sam Weir.  Jerry Messing as Gordon Crisp was an overweight, foull smelling kid with a surprisingly upbeat disposition.  Chauncey Leopardi as Alan White, the school bully, was not stereotypical--you eventually came to understand his inner frustration and ultimately felt sorry for him.  Dave Allen as hippie guidance counselor Jeffrey Theodore Rosso and Thomas F. Wilson as Coach Benjamin Fredericks (who is best known as "Biff" from the "Back to the Future" trilogy) were both brilliantly cast as faculty members at William McKinley High School. 

It also should be noted that, almost a decade after the show ended, the cast of this single season show has gone on to find immense susccess.  James Franco, who portrayed burnout Daniel Desario, has gone on to star in the "Spiderman" trilogy, "Pineapple Express," and mostly recently "Milk" opposite Sean Penn.  Seth Rogen, who played Ken Miller, has gone on to star in films such as "Knocked Up," "Superbad" and the upcoming "Funny People."  Jason Segel, who played Nick Andopolis, currently stars in CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," and is now infamous for his nudity in both "Knocked Up" and his starring role in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."  Linda Cardellini, who portrayed Lindsay Weir, went on to star in NBC's "ER."  And "Freaks and Geeks" producer Judd Apatow has since gone on to produce and direct such films as "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Superbad," "Knocked Up," "Talladega Nights," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Pineapple Express," and "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." 

Though only lasting one season, "Freaks and Geeks" made an sizeable impact on both its loyal viewers and the entertainment industry at large.  And that's enough to make this show the number one television ensemble over the past twenty years.

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