The 25 best TV couples of all time

Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) tried like crazy to get with Kelly (Tiffani Amber Thiessen). Plotting, scheming, and conniving his way to winning the love of his life. It eventually happened. There were some bumps in the road and even an emotional breakup. As expected, Zack and Kelly got back together and eventually married. Let's also give an honorable mention to Slater and Jessie. They're all still going strong on Peacock's reboot series.

Being gay in high school was not easy for Kurt (Chris Colfer), who was regularly picked on and bullied — even when he found a home with the glee club. He transferred to the elite Dalton Academy, where he fell in love with another singer, Blaine (Darren Criss). Eventually, both would return to McKinley High. It wasn't the easiest relationship, but it might have been when Kurt felt most comfortable.

Initially, Monica's (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) hook-up in London was one of convenience because both were struggling in the love department. In time, it grew more serious and quite sweet. Monica has no trouble bossing Chandler around. But, then again, did we expect anything less? Still, they're made for each other.

College sweethearts Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) try to project the perfect marriage. Or, at the very least, an honest one. Their attempts are worthy, but life tends to get in the way. Still, they manage things well and are solid role models to their children and others within their circle. Their love for each other is not too over the top, but enough that viewers know it's still strong.

Even when they were kids, it was obvious that Corey (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) would get together and stay that way. Their relationship even warranted the Girl Meets World spinoff. They were able to make it through junior high, high school, and beyond as a couple, which says a lot about their staying power. 

There might not be a sweeter couple than Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan). They were truly meant for each other. Both are a little odd and nerdy but in that charming way. Marshall is as loyal as they come, and Lily is concerned as a good wife should. Plus, they can be a little wild at times. They're also one of those couples that fit in well with their single friends and never make others feel uncomfortable. 

Talk about ups and downs. Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Lisa Holloman) were all over the place as a couple during the run of this successful Showtime series. From the moment they met, the physical attraction could not be denied. However, the complexity of their respective lives seemed to hinder the staying power of their relationship. Perhaps that's why it made for exceptional dramatic television.

Mike (Robert Reed) and Carol (Florence Henderson) are up there with the greatest television parents of all time. That's because they were a pretty good pair. Seriously, how many couples can solve myriad family problems in roughly 20 minutes each week? Not to mention, Mike and Carol slept in the same bed, which, not long before, seemed taboo on network television.

During the long run of this massively popular HBO series, the relationship between Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and "Big" (Chris Noth) was a prominent storyline. Carrie endured her share of failed relationships, and her run with Big could be exhausting. However, we knew he was the one love she could not shed, and she was the one who completed his life, even if they both tried to mess all that up. They stayed together until the end when Big died of a heart attack in the HBO Max revival And Just Like That... 

Rafael and Adam aside, it's always been Michael (Brett Dier). Right? He was Jane's first husband. While there were secrets and issues within the relationship, it seemed Michael was always the guy with whom Jane (Gina Rodriguez) was meant to be. Unfortunately, life threw them a tragic curve ball. All left was the thought of what could have been.

After breaking up with Ann, Andy (Chris Pratt) started dating April (Aubrey Plaza). Known for eating chili off a frisbee for breakfast, Aubrey and Andy are two strange birds who seem right for each other. Married shortly after they began dating, they eventually move to Washington D.C. when April gets a job there. In terms of dysfunction, this pair rates high up there, but in that charming, sitcom way.

Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) were much more likable when they were just friends, and there was that sexual tension between them. Once they got together, there were some memorable moments — marriage, the births of CeCe and Philip. They are still more than worthy of a spot on this list.

During parts of the 1980s, Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) were arguably the most popular couple on network television. They were opposites. Diane, the intellectual, and Sam, the player, until Diane won his heart. Of course, it did not last, but the time they had was TV gold. 

Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) are both successful professionals, but when it comes to parenting, their kids might actually be better at running the household consistently. That is why Dre and Bow are a special couple. They do their best to provide the proper guidance for their children and though independently bullheaded at times (especially Dre), realize they can't do it alone. 

Dylan (Luke Perry) was a rich bad boy with a heart. Brenda (Shannen Doherty) was a Midwestern girl with a rebellious streak. They were one of TV's most popular couples during the 1990s. Even when they were no longer dating, their love for each other never faded. Unfortunately, they never got a chance to fulfill that love completely.  

Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) might seem like overwhelmed parents and an overly dysfunctional couple, but at the end of the day, they are made for each other. The wannabe "cool dad." Phil is one of the most comically endearing fathers on television. Claire, meanwhile, is high-strung and motherly in her not-totally overbearing way. Plus, they have a couple of cool aliases in Clive Bixby and Julianna.  

Why did Ralph (Jackie Gleason) and Alice (Audrey Meadows) make such a great couple? Because while Ralph can be hilariously overbearing and hot-headed, the real boss of the household was Alice — no matter how much Ralph wanted to send her "to the moon." Alice was there whenever Ralph needed to be reined in, cooled down, or brought back to Earth. 

Being the wife of a high school football coach can be tough, especially in Texas, where the importance of prep football is right up there with breathing. Yet, Tami (Connie Britton) does her best to be the voice of reason and calm to her husband, Eric (Kyle Chandler). Together, they make one formidably human team that provides some stability within the cut-throat world of Texas high school football. 

Archie (Carroll O'Connor) wasn't the easiest person to get along with. However, if there was one person who could tame Archie, it was his wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton). No matter how rough or gruff Archie was, Edith was usually able to turn him into a teddy bear. 

Critics did not necessarily care for this relationship, but all the dysfunction enthralled fans of the popular show. For viewers, the couple generated a love-hate relationship. Fans really wanted Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) to find true love, but should she really end up with the man known as "McDreamy" (Patrick Dempsey)? Their relationship was beyond complex and the force that drove the show for several seasons. 

Nerd love at its finest. Early in their friendship, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) were essentially the same know-it-all, cold-as-ice, socially awkward people incapable of having a romantic relationship. That changed over time, and their romantic dysfunction as a couple eventually subsided and became endearing for the TV world to watch. It was also not surprising that they would win a Nobel Prize in Physics.

Full disclosure: Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) were more annoying than cute. Still, their on-again-off-again relationship was always part of the storyline during the legendary show's lengthy run. They had plenty of memorable moments, whether off or "on a break." So, it was only fitting that they would be together when it came time for the series to end. 

There are not many real-life couples who play the same role on television or in film. Of course, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz pulled it off without a hitch. Lucy was the star of the show. Her antics drove the series, and Ricky, armed with his famous accent, was there to play somewhat of a straight-man to her comic genius. 

Homer tends to grab a lot of attention with his antics (we really like when he went into space), but Marge has always been the anchor of the household — in a good way. She's able to keep everybody in check, has no problem laying down the law, and can be sarcastically humorous more times than not. And for all the trouble and predicaments Homer gets into, she always stands by her man. 

From the very first episode of this massive ABC hit, we could not get enough of Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet). Whether hysterically fretting over baby Lily (at least in the beginning) to Cam's flair (remember Fizbo?) for the dramatic to Mitchell's hilarious issues with his father and sister, they remained the highlight of the show's lengthy run. Their two-part wedding episode in Season 5 is considered one of the most important moments in not only the series' history but also for network TV.