Most Sizzling TV Couples of All Time

We are not talking about cute and cuddly. We're not talking about sweet. (This is why The Office's Jim & Pam are not on the list.) We're talking about the stuff of legend, like when millions tuned in every week to see David and Maddie (Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd) spar on Moonlighting, right up until that (fateful) night they consummated all that buildup. (Viewers left shortly afterwards, making this show forever set the bar for Why You Should Not Let Your Main Couple Hook Up.)

The other day I was watching an unnamed TV drama currently on the air (I do not identify the show because I don't want to be blamed for spoiling any plot points for those of you who only watch shows on DVD or on DVR weeks later) in which the leading male and female had so far had no hints of romance, until she was in need of comforting and he stroked her hair, and suddenly I found myself leaning so far off the sofa waiting as their faces came very, very close. I was not rooting for these two to become a couple, but now that they've flirted with the idea, I have to say I'm intrigued.

But those are the types of couples I like the most; not the star-crossed lovers, but the unexpected pairings that stumble on each other. Despite all the bad dialogue ("We shouldn't be doing this." "What are you afraid of?") I admit I liked Kelly and Dylan way better than Brenda and Dylan on 90210 (even though, in the end, it seems no one can really make Dylan settle down. You either end up alone, alone with a kid, or dead); and of course Joey and Pacey proved to be a much better couple than her original MTB (Meant To Be), Dawson.

I am also a fan of Meredith & Derek (Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey) on Grey's Anatomy, mostly because this relationship started from a one-night stand--so at least we got THAT out of the way--but managed to sustain the tension through breakups, other relationships, and hospital politics. Particularly season two, with a lot of very tense moments in an elevator and a night of passion at the prom (don't ask).

I asked around the office for other opinions, and here's what they said:

Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files. They can “trust no-one”, but each other. --Amanda

[On Mad Men], I love Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) and Peggy (Elisabeth Moss)’s weird, painful and achingly dysfunctional pull towards one another (and that whole “I had your baby, and I gave it away” thing is just the icing on the crazy-cake). --Kira

Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) on Castle. Mmmmm..... --Shauna

I hate to go the vampire answer, but Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) from True Blood… As they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  (Yes, I know she’s semi-engaged to Bill.) --Leah


Going back a few years, but I’m going to have to go with Bobby & Diane (Jimmy Smits & Kim Delaney) from NYPD Blue. Chemistry, connection, and intensity that seemed for real. And pretty much the main reason a non-cop-drama fan like me watched the show for years. --Lisanne

Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) and Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) from Burn Notice. They burn for each other. And kill for each other too. --Stephanie

Alright, so even though the show is not on anymore, and wasn’t for that long, Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) and Angela Chase (Claire Danes) from My So-Called Life were a truly intense couple, if that’s what you could call them. He was painfully aloof, she was awkward, but despite it all, it worked. And that moment, when he held her hand walking down the hallway, to the tune of Buffalo Tom’s “Late at Night,” was truly epic. --Meredith B.

Who did we miss? --Ellen

Comments

[pbt on February 14, 2010 at 08:24 AM]

Can't argue with Eric and Sookie/Alexander Skarsgard and Anna Paquin as hottest True Blood Couple. And, yes I know that Anna and Stephen are engaged. I find their relationship on the show boring. I will get flamed for that but just my opinion that Eric and Sookie's attraction to each other is far more entertaining.

[sanctuary on February 15, 2010 at 02:40 AM]

I find their relationship on the show boring.

[WPZ on February 15, 2010 at 09:16 AM]

Tony and Ziva from NCIS will get the call from many of the show's rabid fans.
They finally did the deed in an episode a couple of weeks ago with, I have to admit, what was some really well-written, deviously distracting dialogue. You actually had to be paying attention to discover the tryst had transpired.
Saying there was deft interpersonal relationship plotting on NCIS isn't easy, which often makes high school prom affairs look sophisticated.

It would be remiss not to mention Steed and Mrs. Peel from the Avengers of long ago. In some ways, they pioneered "special" couplehood in television series.
A viewer would have little doubt there'd been intimate contact, but since it was maybe only directly referenced perhaps two or three times in the three seasons, it wasn't a given.
However, I do recall a later interview with one of the show's producers saying that the internal storyline was that there'd been action in the past, but it was over as of the time of the stories.
Sure.

[Fat Tony on February 15, 2010 at 12:24 PM]

Mad Men has others: Roger and Joan, Don and Rachel, Don and Midge.

[Reno Sepulveda on February 15, 2010 at 02:08 PM]

Daniel J. Travanti and Veronica Hamel as Pizzaman and Liz Davenport on Hill Street Blues. And then there was Laura Palmer and ummm everybody

[Tim McDonald on February 15, 2010 at 04:11 PM]

The one I like on today's shows is Tony and Ziva on NCIS. The attraction neither will admit, which has so far survived both his and hers dying off, but which is way to similar to Moonlighting to ever be consumated, is part of the attraction of the show.

[The Chad on February 15, 2010 at 04:17 PM]

Frye and Leela! Various alternate realities and time-skips were the only way the ever hooked up, until the very end of the last regular episode. Not always steamy, but you always rooted for it to happen.

[Jeff on February 15, 2010 at 04:30 PM]

Damn... c'mon, what about Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty?

[Jeff on February 15, 2010 at 04:32 PM]

Or Kirk and Uhura? Is everyone under 50?

[Kevin on February 15, 2010 at 04:34 PM]

Kate & Sawyer?

[Kevin on February 15, 2010 at 04:37 PM]

Nikita (Peta Wilson) and Michael (Roy Dupuis) from La Femme Nikita

[spiffy on February 15, 2010 at 04:37 PM]

Surely you haven't all forgotten Nell Fenwick and Horse?

[Kevin on February 15, 2010 at 04:38 PM]

John Crichton (Ben Browder) & Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black) from Farscape

[can't believe I'm saying this... on February 15, 2010 at 04:38 PM]

Laura (Stephanie Zimbalist) and "Remington" (Pierce Brosnan) on Remington Steele.

[W4LT on February 15, 2010 at 04:39 PM]

CJ and Padma

[fan on February 15, 2010 at 04:40 PM]

morticia & gomez!

[MIchelle on February 15, 2010 at 04:41 PM]

Northern Exposure -- Maggie and Joel

[q12345q6789 on February 15, 2010 at 04:44 PM]

Well, with all these references to the 1980's, I guess I would have expected Sam Malone and Diane Chambers from "Cheers" to be a pretty prototypical example of this dynamic in TV for its time. (I remember Andy from the Office referenced it; stating that he and Karen had a "real Sam and Diane thing goin' on".)

[Pat Patterson on February 15, 2010 at 04:50 PM]

Zoe (Gina Torres) and Wash Washburn (Alan Tudyk) from Firefly and Serenity. Also Lovejoy (Ian McShane) and Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan) of the British series Lovejoy.

[q12345q6789 on February 15, 2010 at 04:54 PM]

@Pat: If we're doing Firefly/Serenity; I gotta go with Capt. Mal & the Companion, Inara! There was always a lot of sexual tension between the two of them.

[Elroy Jetson on February 15, 2010 at 04:57 PM]

How about George and Louise Jefferson? You could cut the sexual tension with a knife whenever George yelled, "Wheee-zieeee!"

[Beth on February 15, 2010 at 04:58 PM]

Clark and Lana in "Smallville". (I admit I'm too old, but my daughter got me hooked a few seasons ago). Sam and Diane in "Cheers". Doug Ross and Carol Hathaway in "ER".

[wnmc on February 15, 2010 at 04:58 PM]

And along that line, James Garner and Mariette Hartley on the Rockford Files. And what about Sam and Dianne?

[Gary Burner on February 15, 2010 at 04:58 PM]

Gaius Baltar(James Callis) and Number (Tricia Helfer). There were several variations of these two and some of the relationship pairings were very unexpected.

[ray martin on February 15, 2010 at 05:06 PM]

kermit and piggy?