List on the 3s: Top 10 Fictional TV Characters Shiny Would Invite Over for a Dinner Party

I’m “List on the 3s” and I approve this blog entry.

Ah, Fall television season, how I love you and curse you. You bring me exciting new episodes of shows, both new and returning, and you suck up my valuable time while I get engrossed in the lives of people who actually don’t exist. What a shameful and exciting mistress you are…

Yes, I’m a televisioholic.  I simply can’t quit any time I want. I get so involved in the serialized shows that I can’t bear to miss even one episode. Let’s face it — I just enjoy character development. I like to think about how these characters would involve themselves in my environment. Or vice versa.

Which is why I’d love to have a dinner party of sorts. And I’d invite characters who are currently on the air. (Sorry, Mallory Keaton…) I’m also limiting it to fictional characters and not reality stars (Sorry Phil Keoghan). I might not love each and every one of these folks, but I think it would make for an interesting evening.

Top 10 Fictional TV Characters Shiny Would Invite Over for a Dinner Party




10.  Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother

He might be a bit of a jerk. He might monopolize the entire conversation. He might make it all about himself. He might hit on every woman there.  But I’m sure he’ll bring a really, really nice and really, really expensive bottle of wine.  Good enough for me…




9. Charlotte “Chuck” Charles from Pushing Daisies

Chuck has a lot going for her: She’s smart. She’s witty. She’s compassionate. She’s beautiful. As we found out early on, she’s Jewish — which means she could lead everyone in Birkat Hamazon if we wanted her to. And she’s dead — not really a strong point, but her ressurection gives her a very happy outlook on life, not taking any of it for granted. And besides — she’ll bring pie! How cool is that?

It was either going to be her or Ned, “The Piemaker.” But she’s far easier on the eyes. And besides — I’d be afraid that Ned would come in and accidentally touch some dead bugs or something which may be somehwre around the house. Yuckers…




8. Creed Bratton from The Office

Yes, yes. I know that Creed Bratton is actually a real person. But we’re talking about the fictional Creed Bratton played by the real Creed Bratton. He works in Quality Assurance, which is usually a good source of story material. However, considering that Creed can’t even remember what it is that he does at the office, we’d get by on his interesting anecdotes about everything and anything. We would, however, have to search him for missing silverware at the end of the night.




7. Anna Wu from Chuck

She could very well be the most ass-kickin’ character on that show.  She’s a member of the somewhat elite “Nerd Herd” at the Buy More, and she wears her tie and white, short-sleeved shirt better than anyone else there.  The only caveat is that I wouldn’t let her bring her boyfriend Morgan — the dude doesn’t get how much out of his league she is.




6. Ray Carling from Life on Mars

(From left to right: Dean Andrews from the original British series; Lenny Clarke from the unaired USA pilot set in L.A.; Michael Imperioli from the current USA series set in New York)

These are a bunch of hard-working cops. Kind of. Not extremely bright, but they hold their own in their respective precincts back in 1973 (or 1972 in the case of the L.A. pilot) (or 1981 in the case of Ashes to Ashes, the British LoM spinoff). Plus, they all have wonderful moustaches.  It will be funny if I serve tomato soup…




5. and 4. The “Two A-Holes” from Saturday Night Live

These two (played by Jason Sudekis and Kristen Wiig) are two of the most obnoxious characters I will have ever met. But they’d probably leave halfway through the party to get Starbucks or something, so we could talk about them. And then they’d come back and interrupt us. And maybe Creed would kill them or, at the very least, gut them like fish. So, any way you slice it, it’s entertainment for all.




3. Patrick Jain from The Mentalist

This one comes with a bit of caution — this con-man pretending to be a psychic turned consultant for the California Bureau of Investigations can read people extremely well. He seems pleasant enough, but he’ll probably look at my kitchen or the way I serve broccoli and determine exactly which shade of anxiety I have about my penis.  He’s really freaky like that. Of course, I could always sit him next to Ray Carling and let him have a field day with him instead…




2. Dr. Remy Hadley from House

Dr. Hadley, a.k.a. “Thirteen,” knows her stuff. She knows what she wants in life. She’d probably bring the best booze. And she’d probably let us all watch while she makes out with Anna from Chuck. Except for Barney Stinson — who would keep on hitting on her and getting rejected.  That in itself would be fun to watch.

Plus — if there’s any food poisoning at the table? No problem; we’ve got a doctor!




1. Darnell “Crabman” Turner from My Name is Earl

How can you not like Crabman? He’ll be kind and respectful. And he’ll ask for seconds for dessert instead of just assuming that everyone has had firsts. What a mensch…

So — that’s my dinner party. How about you all?