Today is a drizzly, gross kind of day. Despite that, I’m feeling pretty optimistic because I powered through about half of my list today, and now I’m smelling strawberries and cinnamon drying into fruity goodness in the oven!

TV month is drawing to a close, and tonight I wanted to focus on the stock character types and character relationship formulas that writers and producers love to build TV shows around. We watch them, we recognize them, we love them.

Now let’s talk about them!

1. The Sidekick: Think Ethel on I Love Lucy, Chandler on Friends, Potsy on Happy Days, Eric “E” on Entourage. Think Margaret Cho’s assistant on Drop Dead Diva, Summer on The OC

2. The Kook: Kramer on Seinfeld. Phoebe (Friends) Beth (the redhead) on News Radio. Duane on the office.

3. The butt-of-all-the-jokes: Screech Powers (Saved by the Bell), Andy Dick (News Radio) Buster/ Tobias on Arrested Development

4. The womanizer/manizer: Joey Tribiana (Friends), Shane (The L Word), Samantha Jones (Sex and the City), Richard (Coupling, UK), Karen (Will and Grace) Kitty on Arrested Development( “say goodbye to THESE!”). Hank (Californication), Edie (Desperate Housewives), Barney (How I met your mother) Vince Chase (Entourage)

5. The neat freak. Danny Tanner (Full House) Monica (Friends) Felix (The Odd Couple)

6. The Fashionista: Rachel (Friends), Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City), Karen (Step by Step) The two scheming assistants on Ugly Betty, plus Justin. Gabby from Desperate Housewives (in the first seasons). Stacy (Drop Dead Diva).

7. The genius/nerd: Urkel (Family Matters), Mark (Step by Step), Lisa Simpson/ Millhouse, Carol Seaver (Growing Pains). Rachel (Glee). Ross Geller (Friends), Jessie Spanow (Saved by the Bell)

8. The “cool guy.” The Fonz. Zack Morris (Saved by the Bell),

9. The tough guy/gal: Ryan (The OC). Tori, Ronda (remember her?) (Saved by the bell), Tony Soprano, Puck (Glee). Xena- Warrior Princess

10. The workaholic: Mr Big (Sex and the City), Kate (Castle), Christina (Grey’s Anatomy), Kirsten/ Caleb (The OC), Don Draper (Mad Men), Miranda (Sex and the City), Sue Sylvester (Glee), Lynette (Desperate Housewives)

What types of TV characters did I miss? What kind of weather are you having today? Do you sometimes bake just for the lovely smells too? I can’t wait to try my strawberries!

Meri