One of the most fun tropes in television, especially sitcoms, is the next-door neighbor character. Sometimes they’re wacky and other times they’re there to provide wise words of wisdom, but they’re often some of the best and most beloved parts of TV series. Here are just some of the best next-door neighbors in television history.

Barney Rubble (The Flintstones)

Whether they’re goofing off at work, bowling in their league, or selling Fruity Pebbles, Barney always has Fred’s back. This classic animated icon is always quick with a quip and is a loving husband and father. However, he also heavily plays into Fred’s shenanigans which get them both into a lot of trouble.

Roger Evans (Sister, Sister)

Sister, Sister had everyone shouting “go home, Roger!” back in the 90s, and it’s because of this pesky neighbor kid. He often made advances on the twin sisters that were never well-received, but he grew on them and the audience as he became a trusted friend to the protagonists. He may have been a nuisance, but he was always entertaining to watch.

Bob Pinciotti (That 70’s Show)

That 70’s Show may be focused on the teen characters, but Bob regularly steals the spotlight. He lives next door to the Formans and is Donna’s father, but most importantly, he’s particularly wacky. He loves breaking out into song to sing “What’s New Pussycat” and can swallow cupcakes like they’re pills. He’s a doofus with a heart of gold and one heck of an afro. 

Frank and Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)

Frank and Marie are Ray’s parents and live just across the street. They push the classic sitcom to particularly eccentric levels. They may come from a place of love, but they often serve as antagonists of the antagonists of a number of episodes. Whether they’re judging Debra’s cooking or crashing a car through the wall of their house, they manage to be a riot even when they’re at their most cynical.

Squidward Tentacles (SpongeBob Squarepants)

SpongeBob is an upbeat, happy-go-lucky guy. That’s what makes Squidward, his bitter and condescending next-door neighbor, a perfect foil for him. Squidward is a rather grumpy character, but he manages to provide a lot of laughs and entertainment for the audience. His affinity for art and terrible clarinet playing make him a hilarious and fascinating character. Plus, most people who grew up watching SpongeBob grew to be a little too much like him.

Ned Flanders (The Simpsons)

Ned Flanders is a staple of one of the longest running TV series of all time, and for good reason. He’s the perfect foil for Homer. Where Homer is crude, dumb, and often self-absorbed, Ned is the complete and total opposite. He’s weirdly buff, overly polite, hyper religious, and uses words like “diddly-do.” He’s kind of a bizarre guy, but it’s hard for any Simpsons fan to not love the guy.

Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World)

What could be worse than having your teacher live right next door to you? Having that teacher for every year of your school career, of course. Mr. Feeny is filled with infinite words of wisdom. He is a kind, loving man, though, and cares very deeply for those around him. Every hardship he puts Corey and the others through is to teach them a valuable life lesson.

Wilson (Home Improvement)

When most folks think of Home Improvement, it’s not long before the next-door neighbor, Wilson, comes to mind. He gives the best advice to the Taylor family regardless of what issue they’re having. His humor is quite dry, which is a perfect match for Tim’s goofiness. What makes Wilson truly memorable, though, is that his mouth is always hidden behind his wooden fence, and when he’s not behind his fence, it’s still not seen for one reason or another. Seeing his whole face would weirdly be a let down.

Dale Gribble (King of the Hill)

King of the Hill popularity has surged thanks to memes, and many of those memes are thanks to Hank Hill’s neighbor and long-time friend Dale Gribble. Regardless of what the plot of an episode is about, Dale always has his own thing going on and it’s always something extraordinarily ridiculous. Of course, Dale would be nothing without the other neighbors Bill and Boomhauer, but Dale’s definitely the standout of the bunch. Whether he is throwing pocket sand in the eyes of his enemies or believing that his son came from aliens, he’s always hilarious.

Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

Steve Urkel was only meant to appear in a single episode of Family Matters, but was so popular that he became a series regular and eventually the show’s main character. He’s a super genius and a clumsy screwup at the same time, making him an incredibly entertaining character to watch. His catchphrase “did I do that?” became one of the most iconic television quotes of all time. Steve is the perfect amount of annoying to the Winslow family where he stays funny without ever overdoing it. He wasn’t even in the first half of the first season, and yet he’s the most iconic and recognizable part of the show, proving how great he is.

Mr. Dink (Doug)

Doug may have focused on the titular character and his friends as they experienced various hardships and life lessons as they were growing up, but Doug’s neighbor, Mr. Dink, was always a highlight in any episode he appeared in. He was easily the most eccentric character in the show with his wacky inventions, advice that was only sometimes helpful, and overall zaniness. His name stands for “double income no kids,” so he always had the money to spend on the most ridiculous gadgets imaginable. This guy was a 90s Nickelodeon icon.

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