15 most likable TV leads

8. Fran Fine on The Nanny

Perhaps one of the most underrated sitcom characters of all time, The Nanny’s Fran Fine, or the flashy girl from Flushing as she’s known in some parts, is as likable as they come. Yes, she could be heavy-handed with her affinity for meddling and, if you’re anything like Mr. Sheffield (lord help you), her nasal laugh grated on you. But those are just minor details. Fran’s as kind-hearted and well-meaning as she is fabulously dressed (from the Loehmann’s sale rack, no less).

For six seasons on The Nanny, Fran Drescher played the coolest au pair you could ever meet. She lit up every room she entered and sprinkled her sparkle wherever it chose to land. When she begins working for the Sheffield family, which wasn’t an easy position to snag, it’s a culture shock on both ends. However, Fran’s much more relaxed approach to life shakes some spirit into their stuffy upper class home. It’s that carefree zest that can be mistaken as careless and gets her into low-stakes sitcom trouble.

Even though she often sticks her nose into business that’s notably not hers, you could never blame her efforts to live free of fear or insecurity. You know, besides her fear and insecurity of not being married well after 30. Say what you will about the feminism of The Nanny, but Fran Fine was among the funniest and most likable lead television characters of the ’90s and, arguably, all time. Everyone wants to crack jokes and watch soaps with her and everyone would die for her unparalleled sense of style.