There’s nothing quite like watching two actors with amazing chemistry play off each other. Your votes in this week’s poll will decide the Best Duo currently on TV. With so many fantastic pairs of characters out there, I asked the CliqueClack team to nominate their favorite duos from shows currently airing.
Debbie: I’m really supposed to choose between House and Wilson, Sam and Dean, and Castle and Beckett? I’m not sure I can, but if I am allowed to nominate them all, here are my reasons:
House and Wilson — True friends to the core, so brutally honest with each other yet so sneaky and conniving all at the same time. Big fun to watch.
Sam and Dean — Brothers, friends, partners, banter. The deep characterization the awesome writing on Supernatural has provided shows us that no matter what the separating force be to these two, like the apocalypse for example, nothing will keep them from having each other’s backs. And wise-ass banter.
Castle and Beckett — Chemistry, banter, friendship and the promise of more. The serious cop and the fun-loving writer are perfect for each other.
Ivey: My vote is going to be Brittany/Santana, but I’d add Booth/Brennan, Castle/Beckett, Chuck/Sarah, Peter/Olivia, and Marshals Mary/Marshall.
Julia: I vote for Merlin and Arthur, obviously, but this is waaaaaaaaaay too broad a category for me, so I’m bowing out beyond that.
Bob: Okay, I don’t even watch Psych and I know that Shawn and Gus need to be on this list.
Keith: But I did say Shawn and Gus….
[Unfortunately Keith only sent his list to Ivey.]
Keith: I’d add Abed/Troy, Walter White/Jesse Pinkman, Shawn/Gus, and Pete/Myka.
Carissa: Rizzoli & Isles. They’re completely different, share an incredible bond in spite of those differences, and always have each other’s back while still reminding each other of those differences through witty banter. The best female BFFs I’ve seen on television in a long time. If ever. Their dynamic is usually reserved for male/female couples playing the will they/won’t they get together game.
Michael: Well, naturally, House and Wilson. But….
[Decrying the “doofus caveat” of limiting nominees to shows that are currently airing, Michael proceeded to make his case for including Batman and Robin (i.e. Adam West and Burt Ward), Starsky and Hutch, and Cow and Chicken. I threatened that if we were breaking rules, I would nominate Craig Ferguson and his rattlesnake mug. Keith told us to hush-up, as we already have a battle royale on our hands.]
Michael: Yeah, I know. There are tons. Literally. I’m still sticking with House and Wilson, the perfect Asshat and Flabbergast pairing ….
Jen: Oh wait. You guys are forgetting Mary and Marshall on In Plain Sight and, possibly my favorite, Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke (TV’s hottest bromance) from White Collar.
Bob: Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy: A perfect odd couple that make 30 Rock what it is. They have some of the best chemistry on screen in a comedy and balance out each other’s quirks really well. Cool and calm Jack trying to mentor the neurotic and overly hyper Liz is some of my favorite TV.
Jeff: Troy and Abed from Community. Why? [Jeff provided several compelling reasons, including this one. And this one. And this one.]
Carla: I have to add Peter and Walter Bishop to this list. The father/son dynamic has grown from awkward to endearing to estranged. But the love is there. Even more so the humor.
An: My choice – Shawn and Gus. Why? Pop culture meta-reference fan-gasm. ‘Nuff said.
It’s time to vote for your favorite TV duo. If we forgot to nominate someone, leave a comment and make some noise.
Clacked by Ruby T.
on Sep 15, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
What about Michael/Sam – Burn Notice (gotta love Bruce Campbell)
I am sad to see the Venture Bros. unrepresented on this list. While I would argue that the show would fit better in a “Best All-Around Cast of Characters on TV” debate, the glory that is the Venture Bros. must be heralded. And while many might choose Hank and Dean Venture, I would advocate for Henchmen 21 and 24. If you haven’t seen the show, think Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as super-villain henchmen. Number 24’s death has only enhanced the relationship.
I would also argue that Eliot and Hardison from Leverage are contenders. Every time they are on screen together brings me joy.
A poll about best ensembles on TV would be awesome. Venture Bros, Leverage, Fringe …
The West Wing, SportsNight….
Chuck, The Closer, Community, Burn Notice, Human Target, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Dexter, . . .
The problem would be isolating the quality of the ensemble from the quality of the show. Nobody would argue that Warehouse 13 or Human Target are contenders as the best show on TV, but they have ensembles that work extremely well together.
Valley, McBride, and Haley clicked almost immediately and made an otherwise relatively basic action-adventure show worth watching.
It would also be hard to compare certain ensembles based on depth. Burn Notice has four (recently five) characters who make up the primary ensemble, so they all get relatively meaty stories on a regular basis on a show that is very much about the character relationships. The Closer has twice that many people on a show that is more about Brenda Leigh and how people relate to her than it is about the ensemble as a whole. This past season we barely got anything from Gabriel, Tao, or Taylor and primarily comic relief from Provenza and Flynn.
And to comment on this particular poll, I was sad to see Chuck/Morgan not represented. Also, it is disconcerting, if not surprising, that only two of the duos on the poll consist of two women. And while I lament that, I also have a hard time coming up with a female duo who interact enough independent of the show’s ensemble to warrant inclusion, which is sad. It would be nice to see more of that on shows that aren’t exclusively about women interacting.
The basic problem with this subject is we could probably come up with dozens of duos. Still, it’s a fun topic!
*POST AUTHOR*
You’re right, we definitely could! But I think each of us has a few true favorites. (Mine are Abed/Troy, Merlin/Arthur, and House/Wilson.)
Bert & Ernie
Too funny!
Merlin and Arthur are running away with this poll! They’ve got more than 200 votes right now, and it’s only been a few hours. O.O
Merlin & Arthur definitely had my vote. I wish I could have chosen Neal and Peter too, though.
Wow, there sure are a lot of characters on the list named “Pete” or “Peter”.
Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke! Awesome!
Matt Bomer & Tim DeKay no doubt the best duo – clearly, not even a contest!
Who are Merlin & Arthur – never heard of. Only one dynamic duo now and it’s Caffrey/Burke on Collar!
LOL. Never heard of Merlin & Arthur? Who are you? :P
O.O you’ve not heard of Merlin and Arthur!! king Arthur, knights of the round table? They are iconic myth. You should check the show out, they have so much chemistry :)
What a great idea–but it is just too difficult to come up with only one, when so many of the shows are built around chemistry of the casts, (not only the main characters), but several of the supporting casts such as those in “Burn Notice”, and the play between all of them in “Closer”. Since you penned me down, I had to take Neal & Peter in “White Collar”. Plain Sight, Bones, Psych, Castle, and several others have to be honorable mentions. Again, in almost everyone of those shows, the entire group chemistry is just outstanding.
Feels both very happy and completely conflicted about this poll. I found it in the Merlin and Arthur comm, voted for Merlin and Arthur after headdesking about Peter and Neal… And then tiptoed into the Neal and Peter community to post about this poll.
I watch and like all but, like, six of the show and duos listed.
Best duo for me Definitely is Matt Bomer & Tim DeKay ,,
. . . . .
*psssssssssssssssssssssssst*
Ruby!
Next time, don’t tell Keith you’re doing something like this and we’ll be able to get away with murder.
Your Partner In Crime, Michael
Merlin & Arthur！
Merlin & Arthur！
Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like the chemistry Jared and Jensen as Sam and Dean in Supernatural have, ever before! So there goes my vote!
Always Sam and Dean
No one else compares. Their chemistry is magic and cannot be beaten. Ever.
Sam and Dean Winchester, all the way.
Sam & Dean Winchester. It might be a show that the top TV exec refused to acknowledge or promote cause it lacks the Twilight Highschool hype & didn’t show sex scenes every few episodes but you can’t beat the fandom who knows the truth. These brothers went to hell for each other.
Booth and Brennan!!!!! They r just sooo adorable!!!!! B&B FOREVER!!! Bones FTW!!!!
Troy and Abed crack me up. I love that there’s a portion of the show devoted just to them.
My vote went to Merlin & Arthur, because come on! They’re legend! Two sides of a coin, destiny, because a half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole and all that!
But I also wish I could vote for Sam & Dean!
SAM N DEAN R ON TOP CUZ THEY R AWESOME
OH YEAH SAM & DEAN ALL THE WAY!! Supernatural RULES!! :)
Sam and Dean Winchester, for sure! Hands down the best duo on tv. When you add in Castiel and Bobby, it’s just golden!!!!
my vote goes to Sam and Dean… honestly the chemistry Jared and Jensen have is incredible!!!! Supernatural rules!! :) it’s one of the best shows ever!!
Sam and Dean, of course! :-D
I kinda did the same, only with Sam and Dean instead of Neal and Peter. I like all three duos, but the Winchesters come out on top*g*
oh my gosh I love CHUCK and Supernatural ! but I choose Chuck and Sarah ’cause I knew they would get the fewer votes and my boys Sam and Dean would get a lot =)
I voted for Neal/Peter because they are great and obviously no one comes close to the hotness that is Matt Bomer.
If adults were voting in this poll, the hot White Collar duo would be at 90%.
I choose Shawn and Gus from Psych since their friendship is the most stable.
Sam & Dean FTW!!!
And I am an adult.
I’m 35. Sam and Dean, no question about it.
Sam and Dean always!!!!! <33333 hehee Supernatural is amazing!
MERTHUR is made of WIN!
Has to be Dean and Sam, too many great things about them to mention, those who watch will know what I mean.
Has to be Dean and Sam, too many great things to mention, fans of the duo know what I mean!
Is this even a question? Sam & Dean of course, no buts about it.
I would have included Lisbon and Jane from The Mentalist…..
WTF?! Sam and Dean for sure!
Merthur sounds like some horrible disease. *shivers*
But yes, Merlin and Arthur! (or, you know, Neal and Peter.)
Merlin and Arthur, without a doubt! :D
Merlin and Arthur of course! They’re adorable to watch and have on screen chemistry even when they’re not really supposed to. Plus, do you not want to tug Colin’s ears? Can you really say you don’t want to? :D x
Oh god, how to choose between Sam and Dean and Merlin and Arthur…this is just killing me ><
Merlin & Arthur, no question!
They’ve got destiny and a slash dragon on their side! What could beat that!?
OF COURSE P/N
but peter’s name should before neal’s
you know what i mean
peter & neal！！
Neal Caffrey / Matt Bomer is WC…
SAM AND DEAN, and nobody else. I am 32 by the way :D
As for Troy and Abed, just you wait for the season premiere. Just saw it. Ending = epic.
I’m planning to watch it Monday – can’t wait!!!
Sam & Dean!!! The most awesome sexiest duo on tv EVER!!!!
Sam and Dean. Is there even an argument? No… as Jensen would say… SILENCE!!
GO SPN!
I most avidly place my vote for Dean and Sam Winchester. I have been looking forward to this Sept. 24th ALL FREAKING SUMMER. I am anxiously looking forward to watching another season of these brothers. I have my box sets 1-4 and will have Season 5 by years end. I can say it’s rare I find a show that doesn’t eventually disappoint me. SUPERNATURAL has never let me down as a viewer. GOOOOOOO TEAM FREE WILL! LONG LIVE THE WINCHESTERS! KICK IT IN THE ASS FOR SEASON 6!!!!!!!!!!!
Liz Lemon & Jack
30 rock!!!
Sam and Dean Winchester are the best!
Neal and Peter! Just wish we could see new episodes year ’round. C’mon January!
If you haven’t seen White Collar, it lives at ABC and aired on
Tuesdays this summer. You can get the Season One disks at Amazon for twenty-something dollars, a great buy for such quality entertainment. Action, suspense, but lots of humor too. It’s a really fun show!!!
What about best teams?
Sam and Dean!!!!!!!
Are you kidding us? :D Sam and Dean Winchester, of course!
Sam & Dean for the freaking win!
I was gonna say Dean&Cas but okay ;)
Merlin and Arthur, defiantly ;)
House and Wilson used to be the best double act before Wilson’s role was downsized to ‘Huddy’ cheerleader/relationship counsellor. Now? Abed and Troy all the way.