Top 10 TV Gal Pals

Everyone remembers their childhood best friend. For many of us, unfortunately, that friendship ended long before we grew into adults. Luckily, that isn’t the case with Cece and Jess. Despite growing up to be completely different people, their opposite personalities and quirks have always balanced each other out; making their friendship stronger than ever. The defining trait of their relationship is how protective they are of each other, especially when it comes to dating and heartbreak. Jess supports Cece in all her endeavors, while Cece isn’t afraid to physically harm any guy that hurts Jess.

No other show has better displayed what it’s like to be friends in the 21st century than “Girls”. While the series may be best known for its explicit sex scenes, the friendships between the four main female characters lies at the very core of the show, and is the reason why it is so critically acclaimed. Sure, Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna don’t always get along, but this show proves that not only are arguments healthy, but they can actually make a friendship stronger. Together, the group is able to overcome the angst of emerging adulthood and self-esteem issues by sticking together in a modern world that often promotes distance.

Who would have guessed that a giant pit would lead to one of the best friendships on TV? Ann and Leslie quickly became friends on the first episode of “Parks and Recreation” after Ann used an open forum to complain about a giant pit near her house and Leslie decided to help solve her problem. Perhaps the best thing about their relationship is how they continually push each other to grow as individuals. That, or Leslie’s hilarious compliments. She even helps Ann get a job with the Pawnee health department so they could spend more time together. No matter where these two women end up, they will always be best friends.

One’s an outspoken tomboy, while the other is a stereotypical girly-girl. Together, they formed one of the most iconic pairings in television history. What makes their friendship great is how they are always there for each other and help pick each other up. For all her tough talk, Laverne tends to get hurt easily, but Shirley is always there to support her friend. As for Shirley, she became more confident over the course of the series thanks in large part to living with Laverne.

“Grey’s Anatomy” is essentially a soap opera set in a hospital, but for all of the relationships on the show, it could be said that the most important one is between Meredith and Cristina. Known as “The Twisted Sisters,” their friendship lies at the very core of the series. Rather than spending their time shopping or talking about boys, they pushed each other professionally and remained strong, independent females. There is nothing fake or sappy about their friendship, and they aren’t afraid to tell each other how they really feel, especially when the other needs to hear it. At the end of the day, what more could you ask of a friend?

“Pretty Little Liars” is a show that revolves around secrets. I mean, obviously, it has the word “liars” in the title. But more than anything, it’s a show about friendship. While they may not be the most honest group of friends on our list, no one else has gone through the life-threatening obstacles they have. From the alleged death of their clique leader to being blackmailed by an anonymous foe, these girls quickly realized that the only way to survive was to rely on one another. Sure, they may not be the kind of friends to let in on your deepest, darkest secrets, but at least you know you can count on them when someone is trying to murder you.

One of the first pairs of gal pals to ever appear on screen, without Lucy and Ethel, we wouldn’t have any of the other entries on this list. The pair met after Lucy moved in to an apartment in New York City, which was owned by Fred and Ethel Mertz. Although Ethel was much older than Lucy, they quickly became inseparable. They get into business together on several different occasions, and while they are sometimes competitive, they are always there to support each other during difficult times. Plus, they have an awesome friendship song, even if their husbands don’t quite understand it.

Sure, Joey, Chandler, and Ross are just as important to the “Friends” dynamic as the girls, but there’s just something special about the friendship between these three women. Between their hilarious antics, these lovely ladies taught us all a great deal about friendship, including that boys never trump friendship and no matter how much time passes, your best friends will always be there for you. While all three have their various quirks, it is because of these differences that they are able to form such a strong bond. Plus, sometimes, at the end of a tough day, all you need is someone to sit on the couch in a wedding dress while throwing back beers.

The first line in the opening credits of this classic series states “Thank you for being a friend,” and that pretty much sums up the entire show. These ladies proved that even in the golden years of your life, you can still maintain strong friendships. While Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia and Rose came from four extremely different backgrounds, they quickly developed a bond that was stronger than any of the other relationships on the show. While they were never held their tongues and told each other how they really feel, we always knew they would all be together for a slice of cheesecake at the end of the day.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions:

Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77)

Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper
“The O.C.” (2003-07)

Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Max Black and Caroline Channing
“2 Broke Girls” (2011-)

Penny, Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, and Amy Farrah Fowler
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-)

Several other groups of friends have attempted to navigate the treacherous landscape known as New York City, but none have done it like these women. This show is at its best when it showcases the friendship between Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, particularly when these bonds are tested due to sensitive subjects like promiscuity and sexuality. While they may be constantly on the hunt for men, they always put each other first and created a strong support system that includes just as much love and trust as it does shopping and gossiping. At the end of the day, this show proves that maybe your best friend is your soul mate.

Do you agree with our list? Which gal pal friendship do you think is the best on TV? For more awesome Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.