Top 10 Best Tv Bosses.

Nobody likes their boss, right? He or she are usually our worst nightmare who we have to put up with in order to get that steady paycheck every week. But on occasion after going through many jobs we finally get that one boss who we wouldn’t mind grabbing a drink with or coming into their office and having a pleasant chat over lunch. The same could be said of quite a few Tv bosses who at their best were lovable or likable, funny, warm, understanding, tough but fair and someone who you know will go to bat for you; and at their worst they can be a bit on the grouchy side, idiotic, difficult, slightly unreasonable, loud or just plain wacky, but either way they’re always entertaining. These are ten tv bosses that we all either wish we had or were lucky enough to have had that one like that.

10. Arthur Carlson. WKRP In Cincinatti.

Played with such comic skill by the late great Gordon Jump, Station Manager Arthur P. Carlson was a bit goofy, incompetent and a bit on the stodgy side but was also just a lovable goof ball who had a big heart and was a befuddled father figure to the WKRP staff. He may have got the job because his mother owned the station but his staff was ultimately loyal to him because he genuinely cared about them and about the station. He’s also hilariously inept with his thinking turkeys can fly fiasco and constant playing around with his fishing pole instead of actually doing some work.

9. Regina “Piggy” Grief. The Steve Harvey Show.

Sassy, sexy and full of sophisticated charm, Regina Grier was the beloved principal of Booker T. Washington High on The Steve Harvey Show and was the type of boss who saw herself as more of a friend to her students and faculty than just a boss. Sure she had her faults like her obsessive competitive nature or her various insecurities when it comes to love, but Regina was a classy role model for young women, and young black women in particular. As her administrative assistant said “Boss Lady, you my shero.”

8. Dave Nelson. Newsradio.

Dave Nelson doesn’t have it easy as the News Director of WYNX Newsradio with a wild and crazy staff as well as an even more wild and crazy boss. Dave’s temperament as a good natured, well meaning, mostly calm and level headed guy is what WYNX needs to keep some type of order, though nobody makes it easy for him. Phil Hartman’s Bill McNeal in particular is a source of frustration for poor Dave. The constant battles of wits between Bill and Dave usually gave the show its greatest source of comedy. Dave Foley is truly one of the best straight men in the business.

7. Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. NCIS.

Gibbs may be a tad on the quiet side, and he’s probably got the most intimidating stare down of all time but underneath that crusty and stoic exterior is the father figure to his NCIS team who all affectionately refer to him as “Boss.” Gibbs may slap Tony and McGee up the head when they annoy him or to keep them on track and isn’t one to pay his team many compliments but he’s also one to reward Abby with a Caf-Pow and an affectionate kiss on the forehead for a job well done. They all know that nobody on Earth has their backs the way Gibbs does unconditionally and fiercely. Over the years Gibbs has never failed to protect his team and back them up without a moment’s hesitation. That’s a boss everyone should be so lucky to have.

6. Henrietta “Hetty” Lange. NCIS: Los Angeles.

Who wouldn’t want Hetty as their boss? Wise, witty, sassy, nurturing, tough as nails, charmingly mysterious and a fierce mother to her “kids”. As Operations Manager Hetty was no joke and the team had the upmost respect for her (as well as feared her) but even more importantly had the upmost love for her as well. Let’s be honest, Hetty is just the best. She may be small but is way more dangerous than an entire army, especially if you dare mess with her kids.

5. Lou Grant. The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Lou Grant is the original grouchy but lovable Tv boss. Earning the late great Ed Asner a slew of Emmys for his portrayal, Lou was a man of great integrity and grit but also a huge softy underneath his gruff exterior. A dear friend to Mary and the other members of the WJM family, It’s no wonder that the creators of The Mary Tyler Moore Show has gone on record to say that the core relationship of the show was the Mary\Lou dynamic, because while Mary was indeed the heart and soul of the show, Lou Grant was the glue that kept everything together as well as the perfect straight man for Mary and Ted Baxter. He’s such an iconic tv character that he was able to go from a sitcom to a self titled drama. Try beating that!

4. Lt. Al “Gee” Giardello. Homicide: Life on the street.

Move over, Shaft! Al Giardello, affectionately referred to as simply “Gee” is the true badass Mother — shut yo mouth! Played with the utmost swagger and smoothness by the late great Yaphett Kotto, Gee was an integral force for the Baltimore Homicide Unit who kept his rowdy bunch of detectives but was also someone who they all respected and loved so much they’d do anything for. While Gee did put a lot of pressure on his squad to close cases, especially Frank Pembleton the world’s greatest interrogator, it was because he knew their value and who doesn’t need a little push? When Gee died in the 2000 tv movie we the audience felt the pain and loss as much as the squad did.

3. Captain Kathryn Janeway. Star Trek: Voyager.

Known for being the first female captain in Star Trek history, while being a great achievement didn’t define Janeway. She was just an incredibly shrewd, strong willed, compassionate and fiercely loyal leader who could be a bit reckless and bull headed at times, but when it was needed her crew appreciated her will to do whatever it took to save the day or to find them a way home. It’s hard to imagine anyone else besides Kate Mulgrew in this role; She brought the strength and intelligence you wanted and the warmth and humanity you needed. If I went to battle in space I’d want Janeway as my leader no doubt!

2. Judge Harry T. Stone.

While he may technically not have been the official boss of the Night Court bunch, As the judge Harry was very much the boss in his courtroom and perhaps the nuttiest, most child like and certainly goofiest tv boss that has ever existed. The endless pranks and magic tricks certainly made Jude Stone’s court more interesting than any other. But the compassionate and genuine way he ran his court and sentenced defendants is what makes Harry a real gem. Don’t let ‘im fool you though, despite Harry’s goofy nature he was no doubt in charge and very much as competent a judge and boss you could ask for, but was also your best friend and champion to where even the lecherous Dan Fielding had the upmost respect for him. The world would be a better place if we had more Harry T. Stones out there.

1. Captain Barney Miller. Barney Miller.

The 12th precinct wouldn’t have been the same without Captain Miller who ran his squad in the most level headed and compassionate way. Barney was the type of boss who you could always depend on to do his best to diffuse any situation or to always have your best interest at heart as well as invite you into his office to chat about any and everything. While Barney was usually the sane man running the insane asylum, he had his own foibles and idiosyncrasies that made him truly able to sympathize and connect with his men and the constant barrage of quirky criminals and victims. Perhaps nobody in television or even in real life had a harder job than Barney Miller who somehow juggled all the stress, craziness and pressure of running a police station in Manhattan, New York without having a heart attack. That takes true skill. Here’s to a truly awesome boss who we’d all be lucky to have.