Neighbors. They can be our best friends, our worst enemies and sometimes somewhere in-between. They can be the people with whom we enjoy exchanging cheery greetings, sharing a cup of coffee or challenging to a game of poker. Or they can be the people we run and duck from because they always want something or are difficult to get away from. It’s fun to see these interactions played out on our TV screens among beloved characters in imaginary worlds.
On our favorite television programs, neighbors are often sidekicks to the leads – partners in schemes and adventures, sometimes reminding us of our own besties. They can also be great foils to the leads, providing bickering and zingers that make us laugh. They are the side characters who have made themselves memorable by barging in unannounced, sliding in with crazy hair, or peering over fences. They’re the characters whose secrets are a big part of storylines, or whose reactions to the lead character’s secrets cause some of the mayhem.
Some shows have great ensembles where most or all of the leads are neighbors to each other, such as “Friends” or “Desperate Housewives.” We mainly stuck with secondary characters for the purpose of this article; however, those two series had some pretty memorable side characters as well. We also stuck with Primetime, so you won’t see “Mr. Rogers” on the list, even though he is the epitome of a great neighbor. Did your favorite TV neighbor make the list?
Our photo gallery includes favorites from “I Love Lucy,” “Seinfeld,” “One Day at a Time,” “The Flintstones,” “Bewitched,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Jeffersons” and more.
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25. Friends
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Larry Hankin as Mr. Heckles
Although he’s only in a handful of episodes, Mr. Heckles left quite an impression. He wanders the hallways in his robe, complaining about noise to his upstairs neighbors Monica and Rachel, and makes up far-fetched tales about what he could be accomplishing if he had peace. The friends find out too late that the poor man could actually hear every little movement in their apartment – after he dies while banging on his ceiling after complaining about noise for the last time. However, he does leave all his worldly possessions to “the two noisy girls upstairs.”
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24. Dennis the Menace
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Joseph Kearns as Mr. George Wilson
Dennis is quite the menace, and his “best friend” Mr. Wilson usually ends up on the wrong end of his misadventures. But Mrs. Wilson adores Dennis, and treats him as she would a grandchild, smoothing over any rough patches between the two. Mr. Wilson knows Dennis’s antics are part of innocent childhood fun, and is secretly proud to be considered the boy’s “best friend.”
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23. Family Ties
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Marc Price as Skippy Handelman
He’s the geeky next-door-neighbor kid who becomes best friends with Alex, but harbors an unrequited crush Mallory. But, alas, the popular girl is more interested in the guy who rides a motorcycle and has a monosyllabic vocabulary. But it’s Skippy who gives the series an extra dose of dopey heart.
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22. Desperate Housewives
Image Credit: © 2006 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice is the ideal neighbor: generous, caring, a doting wife and mother and a caring friend. Therefore, her suicide is a shock, and leads her friends to wonder what secrets she kept. That secret is revealed in the first season, but Mary Alice continues to oversee the ladies of Wisteria Lane, learning their secrets and vulnerabilities that she would have never known had she lived. In death, she narrates all the activities on the Lane, and even continues to be a guiding force for those neighbors she left behind.
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21. Gilmore Girls
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Sally Struthers as Babette Dell
Her inappropriate comments are the comic relief needed in life, and Babette proves to be the best neighbor for Lorelai and Rory. You never know what she may say with that raspy voice, but you know it’ll be interesting if not a bit awkward, and her spunk brightens even the worse day. She is so beloved by her friends and neighbors that they all throw a wake for her dearly departed cat Cinnamon.
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20. The Americans
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman
It’s the 1980s, and the United States is deep in the Cold War with the Soviet Union. FBI agent Stan Beeman, fresh off a deep undercover assignment involving a white supremacist group, hopes to find some peace for his family in the suburbs of Virginia. Little does he know that his new across-the-street neighbors are the Soviet spies he’s actually trying to trace. A friendship grows between the two families, and Beeman eventually has to decide if it was all deceitful, or if there was some genuine neighborly love involved.
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19. The Bob Newhart Show
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Bill Daily as Howard Borden
You’d think a trained psychologist would know a delicate way to get rid of a mooch, but, in that deadpan way of his, Bob just puts up with his neighbor from across the hall. The airline navigator would just “pop in” on Bob and his wife Emily, usually at mealtime. The guy did appreciate a meal – he took pictures of his food before that was even a thing!
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18. Married with Children
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Amanda Bearse as Marcy Rhoades D’Arcy
What could possibly happen when a fierce feminist with a successful career and a sexist who is a failure at everything live across the street from each other? A decade of hilarious and raunchy put downs and insults, of course! Al loves any reason to put Marcy down, from her boyish looks to her love life. But Marcy is always quick to point out how fabulous her life is compared to Al’s. She also becomes a good friend to Peg, much to Al’s dismay – although there is the rare occasion in which the two adversaries join forces in a common cause.
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17. Maude
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Conrad Bain and Rue McClanahan as Arthur and Vivian Harmon
McClanahan and Bea Arthur had us laughing way before “Golden Girls,” but this time McClanahan is the ditzy friend to Arthur’s liberated feminist. Vivian and Maude have been friends since college, supporting each other through divorces. Vivian eventually marries the best friend to Maude’s husband Walter, and the two couples live next door to each other. Vivian’s poor husband Arthur has a hard time of it sometimes, as he’s a staunch conservative stuck next door to a staunch liberal, and he and Maude often clash – with his own wife sticking up for her friend instead of her husband.
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16. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Jerry Paris and Ann Morgan Guilbert as Jerry and Millie Helper
They’ve been neighbors for years, and the Helpers and the Petries have become the best of friends. Sometimes Jerry’s ribbing can get a little out of hand, and he and Rob end up in a friendly brawl, but they always end up laughing about it. And Millie is always there for Laura, whether she’s made the unfortunate choice to bleach her hair, or she’s concerned about Rob’s professional dealings with an attractive actress.
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15. Leave It to Beaver
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Ken Osmond as Eddie Haskell
He became the archetype for those sneaky fake flatters. Eddie lives next door to the all-American Cleaver family, and is, as Ward Cleaver puts it, “so polite it’s almost un-American.” But behind that impeccable grooming and those smooth manners, Eddie is really a sneaky kid up to no good – from picking on younger kids like Beaver to being the ringleader in his friends’ shenanigans. He’s the sneakiest of kids, and if Ward and June ever had an inkling of his scheming, it’s doubtful he’d be hanging around for long.
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14. The Flintstones
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Barney and Betty Rubble
Sometimes even the normally affable Barney can lose his patience with Fred’s hotheadedness, but the eternally cheerful Barney can’t stay mad for long. It helps that that the two best buds are brothers in the “Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes,” and that their wives and children are besties as well. Known for their infectious laughs and camaraderie with the Flintstones, the Rubbles are the perfect complement to the famous Stone Age family.
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13. The Simpsons
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Harry Shearer as Ned Flanders
Homer Simpson would be a difficult neighbor to have, but Ned takes his “neighboreeno’s” buffoonery in stride. Ned can be a bit annoying himself, with his never-ending cheerfulness and constant need to do good, even loaning the unappreciative Homer anything he asks for without ever expecting anything in return. Although Marge thinks he’s the “perfect neighbor” and despite his generosity, Homer harbors a dislike born of jealousy, and the two neighbors have had a love/hate relationship for 30 years.
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12. Three’s Company
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Richard Kline as Larry Dallas
He’s not only the trio’s upstairs neighbor, he’s also Jack’s best friend. He’s a womanizer who lies about his occupation to impress women and lies about his name to avoid long-lasting relationships, even using Jack’s name on occasion. Even though he can be on the sleazy side, he’s a fun guy and when comes and knocks on their door, Jack and the gang always let him in.
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11. Good Times
Image Credit: CBS/Photofest Ja’Net DuBois as Willona Woods
She’s not only a good neighbor, she’s also Florida’s best friend and a flamboyant bright spot in their housing project. Recently divorced, she’s always ready for some fun and for gossip-sharing, but when times get tough, she’s a caring and generous friend, offering an ear when needed. Times would definitely not been as good without this independent sassy lady.
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10. One Day at a Time
Image Credit: CBS Pat Harrington, Jr. as Dwayne Schneider
With his slick mustache, pack of cigarettes rolled up in his white T-shirt, denim vest and tool belt dangling from his hips, Ann Romano’s building super thinks he’s quite the Don Juan. He barges unannounced into the apartment of the divorced Ann and her two daughters, offering unsolicited advice like he’s the smartest guy in the room. He’d be creepy if he weren’t so clueless, and is made so lovable by Harrington’s portrayal that the character becomes a surrogate father to the girls and a part of the family. Harrington deservedly won an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
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9. Laverne and Shirley
Image Credit: Courtesty of ABC Michael McKean and David Lander as Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman
These goofballs grew up with Laverne and Shirley, and now live upstairs from the girls’ basement apartment. The two sets of roommates can communicate by screaming in the dumbwaiter shaft that connects their apartments; however, Lenny and Squiggy rather pop up unannounced but with impeccable timing, slithering in with Squiggy’s dopey “Hello” announcing their arrival, and Lenny trailing not too far behind. Between Lenny’s claim (although he’s not really sure) that his last name is Polish for “Help, there’s a hog in my kitchen” and Squiggy’s love for his stuffed iguana Jeffrey, they’re as lovably childlike as they are irritating, and they are as essential to the show as Laverne and Shirley themselves.
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8. Seinfeld
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer
How does one describe Kramer? Jerry’s eccentric across-the-hall neighbor defies definition. He’s a mess of contradictions, often self-involved but also the most caring and empathetic in the group of friends. He has no visible means of support and often involves himself in dubious schemes, but always lands on his feet. He frequently slides into Jerry’s apartment unannounced, eats jerry’s food (he especially loves fruit) and “borrows” things without permission, typically returning them in a battered state. His mysterious background comes out in bits and pieces over the years, and Jerry gets a little insight into his odd behavior when the two are forced to exchange apartments for a brief period of time. Despite his oddities, Kramer is a loyal and brutally honest friend that you just gotta love.
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7. Full House
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Andrea Barber as Kimmy Gibbler
Kimmy is the weird kid next-door who you’re not really sure you want your own child hanging around with. Fortunately D.J. proves to be a good influence instead of Kimmy being a bad one. So, despite her smelly feet, snoring and overall pushy nature, and despite the fact that the rest of the Tanners barely tolerate her (Danny often ask her to leave the house and Stephanie and Jesse trade barbs with her), Kimmy becomes a lifelong friend to D.J. and a permanent thorn in the side to the rest of the family.
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6. Family Matters
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
Originally intended to be a minor character, Urkel became a breakout sensation with his oversized glasses, high-water pants hefted up by colorful suspenders and a high-pitched whiny voice that is nearly the undoing of Carl Winslow. His unrequited love for Laura leads him to become a fixture at the Winslow house, often unintentionally stirring up trouble or initiating some mishap, leading him to say, “Did I do thaaaaat?” Without Urkel, “Family Matters” just wouldn’t be the same.
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5. The Jeffersons
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Paul Benedict as Harry Bentley
No neighbor has had the door slammed in his face more than poor Harry Bentley. Largely loved by his neighbors, despite his tendency to share boring stories from his childhood, he annoys George Jefferson with his neediness. He shows up at the Jeffersons’ door wanting to borrow something, or to ask George to walk across his bad back (which George grudgingly does). Even though George complains about his neighbor, he’s excited when the Russian language translator moves back into the building after two years away in Soviet Union. Surprisingly, the actor was American-born but famously carried off the gentle Englishman persona so well that he was forever associated with it.
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4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman as Rhoda Morgenstern and Phyllis Lindstrom
A single gal reeling from a bad breakup and starting fresh in a new city couldn’t ask for better neighbors than Rhoda and Phyllis. The two may have been each other’s nemesis, but they were wonderful friends to Mary, despite their contrasting personalities: Mary is the eternal optimist always ready with a smile, Rhoda is the brash chick from the Bronx always ready with a wisecrack and Phyllis is the self-absorbed snob always ready with a putdown. The three commiserate about life over cups of coffee, and they know their doors are always open if any one of them needs a friend. Harper and Leachman were so memorable they both earned Emmys and their own spinoffs.
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3. I Love Lucy
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS William Frawley and Vivian Vance as Fred and Ethel Mertz
Sometimes their landlord/tenant relationship could cause conflict, but the friendship between the Ricardos and the Mertzes always wins. Ethel supports Lucy’s crazy schemes, and Fred supports Ricky’s efforts to contain the mayhem. The Mertzes become godparents to Little Ricky, and the two are invited along on the Ricardo’s excursions across the U.S. to Hollywood and even overseas to Europe. And when the Ricardos move to the country, the Mertzes can’t stand being away from their neighbors, so even curmudgeonly Fred is willing to hire a manager for the apartment building so that he and Ethel can move to the country – right next door to their besties once again!
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2. Home Improvement
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Earl Hindman as Wilson W. Wilson Jr.
“Well, hi dee-ho!” We don’t see his face, but we don’t need to; all we need is his kind voice doling out words of wisdom to his neighbors. He brightens spirits with his cheery greetings, and takes time out of his day to offer advice based on his years of worldly travel and cultural studies. His face being partially hidden is one of the best and most well-loved running gags in TV history, and originated with Tim Allen’s view of a neighbor when he was growing up. Wilson’s full face is finally shown in the series’ curtain call during the finale episode.
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1. Bewitched
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Alice Pearce (Seasons 1-2) and Sandra Gould (Seasons 3-8, following Pearce’s death) as Gladys Kravitz
The epitome of the nosy neighbor, her name has become synonymous with busybodies everywhere. Gladys is convinced that something strange is going on at the Stephenses (and with Samantha and her entire family being witches, there usually IS something strange going on). However, every time she shrieks for her husband Abner to come look, everything is back to normal. If only she would keep her nose on her side of the drapes instead of poking it into everyone else’s business, she’d be a lot less stressed – but the show would be a little less funny.
