Ever since TV was introduced, it became iconic to companionship; a little less than the family members but a bit more than the dearest pets in the home. Two’s company, therefore, couples appeared in TV programs since their earliest broadcasts. Usually, a couple is a part of the original script, but occasionally the couples were added later on in the script in consideration for the fans following certain characters who were deliberately paired in the interests of the show. In the past it was presumed that a couple essentially was comprised of the opposite sex members, but with the changing times, same-sex couples also started appearing on TV, and quite a few of them won a big fan following. Popular couples emerged initially from sitcoms and talk shows, but the most popular super couples came out of long TV serials allowing the couples to perform together for years over hundreds of episodes

1. Dana Scully and Fox Mulder

Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are two fictional characters and protagonists of the American TV series The X-Files. Both are FBI special agents and partners for the first seven seasons. In the TV series they work together in an office located in a basement of FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. They aim at investigating some unsolved cases titled as X-Files. The role of Dana Scully was played by Gillan Leigh Anderson who performed throughout the series in all nine seasons. In 1997, she was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The same year she was also awarded a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series in 1997. She also received two SAG awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in 1996 and 1997.

2. Carrie and Mr. Big.

Carrie and Mr. Big form a memorable couple in the famous HBO series Sex and the City. The roles of the fictional characters were played by Sara Jessica and Chris Noth. After the lapse of six seasons, the couple became inevitable for one another. John James Preston is called by Carrie Bradshaw as ‘Mr. Big’ or simply ‘Big.’ Big calls Carrie ‘Kid,’ and their love confession to one another is iconic to the series. Carrie asks Big if they had ever loved. Big replies, ‘Ab-so-‘¦cking- lutely.’  Mr. Big is a frequently appearing character with on and off love interests in the protagonist Carrie, and it was played by Chris Noth. Big is seen in the first episode of the series helping Carrie collect her scattered contents of her purse, notably cosmetics and condoms, when she is accidentally lovestruck by this stranger.

3. Homer and Marge

Homer and Marge are the main fictional characters which appear in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. Homer is the family patriarch and is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. This fictional character was created and designed by the cartoonist Matt Goering. Marjorie Simpson, better known as Marge, is the well composed matriarch of the family having three children; Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The Simpsons debuted on December 17, 1989 and having broadcast more than 508 episodes during 23 seasons is the longest American sitcom. On account of the popularity of the couple, The Simpsons has won numerous awards including: 27 Primetime Emmy Awards, 30 Annie Awards, and 1 Peabody Award. Time magazine in its December 31, 1999 issue named it the 20th century’s best television series. On January 14, 2000 the Simpson family was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Homer’s catchphrase ‘D’oh!’ has been incorporated into the English language.

4. Jesse and Rebecca

Jesse and Rebecca are a popular fictional couple from the American sitcom series Full House. It debuted on September 22, 1987 and lasted until May 23, 1995 on ABC. The series ran for 8 seasons and comprised 192 episodes. Jesse is Rebecca’s husband and fathers twins Nicky and Alice. His birth name was ‘Hermes’ which he changed to ‘Jessie’ while he was still young. He thought one’s name ought to be cool to be attractive enough. Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis, commonly known as Rebecca, is an educated, pragmatic, sarcastic but very loving wife of Jessie. She is the forth protagonist in the sitcom. She was born in Nebraska and found Jessie as the man of her dreams.

5. Rachael and Ross

Rachael and Ross are the fictional characters from the NBC sitcom Friends. It is an American National Broadcasting Company (NBC) sitcom which debuted on September 22, 1994 and continued until May 6, 2004. It relates to a group of friends from Manhattan. Rachael Karen Green is portrayed by Jennifer Aniston who received an Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe for her excellent performance. Entertainment Weekly named her ‘1 of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years’ while AOL named her the 23rd ‘Most Memorable Female Character.’

6. Lucy and Desi

Lucy and Desi are the famous couple from the famous sitcom I Love Lucy. Lucille Desiree Ball is the recipient of 13 Emmy Award nominations, winning 4 of them, a Crystal Award, Golden Globe, Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American, musician, actor and film producer. He is best known for performing as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy. He co-starred with Lucille Ball who was his wife at that time. The series was originally black and white and first broadcast on October 15, 1951 and continued to May 6, 1957. The couple is one of the most loved and remembered pair of all time in a TV series.

7. Luke Synder and Noah Mayer

Luke Synder and Noah Mayer are a super couple from the American CBS daytime TV series As the World Turns. Both are fictional characters, and the role of Luke was played by Van Hansis while Noah was portrayed by Jake Silbermann. August 17, 2007 is of special interest in the history of TV as the first ever gay male kiss was shown on an American daytime program. This legendary kiss was the most viewed selection in the history of You Tube. The couple is popularly known as ‘Nuke’ taken from the ‘N’ of ‘Noah’ and ”uke’ of ‘Luke.’

8. Bianca Montgomery and Maggie Stone

Bianca Montgomery and Maggie Stone are a super couple from All My Children; an American daytime drama. The role of Bianca was played by Eden Riegel while Maggie was portrayed by Elizabeth Hendrickson. Bianca was the first ever lesbian scripted character televised in a major daytime drama. The couple is the central attraction with an on-and-off romantic relationship, sort of flirtation, or platonic love. However, they struggled to keep the relationship as platonic love which continued for over four years. They loved one another because they were in need of security and solidarity.

9. Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper

Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper are the fictional characters from an American TV drama The Wonder Years which ran on ABC from 1988 to 1993. The show occupied a position in Nielsen’s Top Thirty, and TV Guide enlisted it as one of the 20 best of the 1980s. The 1988 series received an Emmy for Best Comedy Series, and 1989 it was awarded a Peabody Award. The series won 22 awards and 54 nominations. Both Winnie and Kevin had grown up on the same block, and their first kiss plays an important part in the drama. Winnie travels to Paris to study Art History, and both write to each other every week for eight years. In the end, on Winnie’s return, Kevin met her with his wife and first child to the dismay of fans. Kevin commented, ‘Like I said, things never turn out exactly the way you plan them.’

10. Mike and Carol Brady

Mike and Carol Brady are a fictional couple from an American television series, The Brady Bunch. Caroline Ann Brady, better known as Carol, is portrayed by Florence Henderson, and Mike Brady is portrayed by Robert Reed. Mike was a widowed architect, and after marrying Carol, he became stepfather to three daughters. He liked fishing and camping while Carol liked singing in the church choir. In 2009, Yahoo listed Carol in its ‘Top 10 TV Moms from 6 Years’ (1969-1974). Film.com listed her in their ‘Top 5 Classic TV Moms.’

Conclusion:

Television viewers comprise all age groups belonging to almost all walks of life with a wide range in social status. One common factor in this heterogeneous group is the empathy towards the protagonists. People get so absorbed in the love/hate relationships of the protagonists that they want to see their dreams come true as if they were their own. Fans who follow a TV couple is like brand loyalty for a product, and TV producers, writers, directors and all those concerned people keep a close watch over the fans’ following. Depending upon the changing trends, they will make required changes in the original script.