Top 10 Funniest Female TV Characters

You’d think 15 years in a cult bunker would break a girl’s spirit, right? Well, not for Kimmy Schmidt. After she’s rescued along with the rest of the “mole women,” Kimmy decides to stay behind in New York to make up for lost time. The problem? She doesn’t know a thing about fitting in today. Sad, but that’s what we love about her. She’s naive, she’s happy-go-lucky, she’s clueless about today’s lingo, and for some reason, she’s afraid of Velcro… Overall, she’s just so delightfully funny to watch as she explores the world around her with an entertaining, childlike innocence.

When you’re in the Department of Parks and Recreation, you need someone in charge who wants to work FOR the people. Will you settle for one that’s perky, loud, and obsessed with waffles and sugary sweets? Because that’s what you’ll get with Leslie Knope. But really, who wouldn’t want to work for her? She’s goofy, she’s ambitious, she looks for the best in any situation –like, say, if the equally hilarious April makes fun of her in a beauty pageant. She’s also fiercely independent and takes pride in being a park lady. Wouldn’t you give waffles to her?

Picture it; Golden Girls, 1985: an elderly woman suffered a stroke, but now she has the sass and attitude of an audacious teenager – especially towards her own daughter. That woman is Sophia Petrillo. After her retirement home burns down, not that she seems to mind, Sophia ends up living with her daughter Dorothy and her two friends – Rose and Blanche. Sophia’s pastimes include telling tall tales of her strange past, and making hilarious wisecracks and some not-so-subtle fart jokes. She may be the oldest lady in the house, but she’s the quickest on her feet– which is why we love her.

When you’re in charge of the Bluth family business, don’t expect things to be easy for you… especially when you’ve got a mom like Lucille. She’s spoiled, she’s overdramatic, she’s manipulative, and she’d rather be drinking cocktails or vodka than being an actual parent. Not even her own family is safe from her twisted ways… I mean come on; she kept an adopted Korean boy just because it makes her own son jealous. This matriarch is more of a bratty teenager than a mother, but we can’t resist watching her make a scene.

How is “Smelly Cat” not a number one hit already? Phoebe is part of a kooky and hilarious group of friends, and she is definitely the strangest of the bunch– which is saying a lot. She’s the space case of the group and is more than a little daffy at times. Whether she’s embodying her alter ego Regina Phalange, or eating a 99-cent steak despite being a vegetarian, Phoebe is always entertaining to watch. She’s also a musician, but some of her songs can be a little… well… interesting? Don’t pretend you don’t sing along to her bizarre originals whenever she brings out her guitar, though.

Just because your husband’s in showbiz, doesn’t mean you can’t be entertaining. Lucy Ricardo, wife of the heartthrob bandleader Ricky Ricardo, proves this point during her wacky misadventures trying to make it to stardom. She may not be a superstar like she wants, but she is most definitely amusing. What makes Lucy so hysterical is how even when Ricky tells her she can’t perform, she’ll come up with any hair-brained scheme she can to make a splash in Hollywood– and she’ll even drag her best friend along for the ride. Goofy and desperate to be famous, Lucy’s goofy antics are hilariously unforgettable.

It’s not easy being a middle-class mother and wife, and Roseanne Conner is living proof of that. Not unlike her real-life personality, Roseanne is loud, snarky, bossy, and large and in charge. Underneath it all, however, she’s actually a very loving wife and mom trying to make a living. She uses her humor to try and take care of any situation or conflict in her family. She always finds a reason to laugh while portraying the struggles of a working class woman, which rubs off on the show’s audience.

Ever wonder what it’s like behind the scenes of your favorite variety show? Tina Fey can show you through the life of her crazy character, Liz Lemon. Liz is the head writer for the SNL-esque show, TGS; starring her eccentric, self-centered best friend, Jenna. Unlike Jenna, Liz doesn’t really care how she looks or how she acts. She’ll dress up as Princess Leia to get out of jury duty, she’ll act out at parties, and you do NOT want to take her food from her. Though she’s a bit of an oddball, wouldn’t you want to watch Star Wars with Liz?

Before we reveal our funniest lady, here are a few honorable mentions.

Britta Perry
“Community” (2009-15)

Gina Linetti
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-)

Mindy Lahiri
“The Mindy Project” (2012-)

Carla Tortelli
“Cheers” (1982-93)

Kitty Forman
“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)

Karen Walker
“Will & Grace” (1998-2006)

When your show is essentially about nothing, it’s the characters that truly stand out– which is why Elaine earns the top spot on our list. She’s quirky, eccentric, and she’s one of the boys, well, at least when it comes to hilariously neurotic behavior. During the show’s nine-season run, her obsessive tendencies get her wrapped up in all sorts of laugh-out-loud scenarios, which leads to countless memorable moments, along with her coining some of TV’s most quotable phrases. If you think she has problems dealing with people here, imagine if she became Vice President or something…

Do you agree with our list? Which of these women made you laugh out loud? For more hilarious top 10’s, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.