15 Best TV Friendships We All Should Aspire to Have

Who's the Grey to your Yang? One of the best things to come out of the long-running Grey's Anatomy is the fiercely loyal friendship shared between doctors Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh). They're soulmates and confidantes without ever getting embroiled in the (*cough* sexist *cough*) TV cliche that insists on pitting women against one another over the affections of a man. Instead, this raw, powerful friendship is the real deal.

It's not a common occurrence for two supporting players in a mega-cast to break through as fan favourites. But the sweet camaraderie shared between Orange is the New Black inmates Taystee (Danielle Brooks) and Poussey (Samira Wiley) was a welcome sight on our screens. Throughout four seasons (before that tragedy we still can't talk about) fans were gifted with a gloriously complex friendship that managed to endure every shit-storm that came its way.

Vampire slayers and witches go hand-in-hand – or at least they do in Sunnydale. Joss Whedon gave fans plenty of romance to swoon over in his popular TV adaptation of the 1992 cult flick, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the bond shared between Buffy Summers (Sarah-Michelle Gellar) and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) gave us all the dramatic tension, partnership and comic relief we needed.

Forget Ross and Rachel. In a series packed with rock-solid friendships, it's the chemistry between struggling actor Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and "transponster" Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) that contributes to the enduring legacy of Friends. Bonding over pizza, Yasmine Bleeth and their beloved Chick and Duck, J-Man and Channy's mutual affection knows no bounds. Could they BE any cuter?

Pose has (rightfully) been celebrated for its uncanny ability to capture on camera the LGBTQ+ "found families" that make up New York's ballroom scene. Blanca (MJ Rodriquez), mother of the House of Abundance, and ballroom emcee Pray Tell (Billy Porter) forge a lasting bond over their shared concerns for the queer youth in their care and their HIV/AIDS health scares. It's a powerful, important relationship that'll we'll be talking about for years to come.

"Ovaries before brovaries." These Parks and Recreation besties not only introduced us to the fabulous concept of Galentine's Day ("ladies celebrating ladies" every Feb. 13, folks), but they also gave us one of television's best and most enduring female friendships. Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ann (Rashida Jones) give us plenty of reason to celebrate, and even the most casual fans can't deny their bond. In short, they're the sort of feminist duo we need right now.

Move over, Ricky! Television's original gal pals, Lucy and Ethel, were the real dynamic duo of the iconic and groundbreaking 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. Their undeniable chemistry (Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance were besties IRL) and impeccable comic timing resulted in a series of riotous misadventures that often left Ricky and Fred sidelined – and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Back when Will and Grace premiered in 1998 there was little by way of LGBTQ+ representation on television – let alone portrayals that didn't fall into tired tropes and stereotypes. Which is why it was so refreshing to see a career woman (Debra Messing) rooming with her bestie – successful lawyer Will Truman (Eric McCormack). Although their dynamic might seem quaint by today's standards, it was a revolutionary trailblazer at the time.

In a series rife with casual flings and will-they-won't-they relationships, perhaps the most enduring to emerge out of Community is the odd-couple pairing of Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi). A former high school football star and a socially awkward pop culture enthusiast doesn't usually scream "friendship" but the bond between these two lovable goofballs is all kinds of endearing.

One of the most intimate and refreshing portraits of female friendship on television is shared between Insecure's Issa (Issa Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji). Delving into the intricacies that come with having a close gal pal, Issa and Molly know each other inside and out – and don't shy away from calling out each others' bullshit. These are the types of friends we all need.

Before there was Sex and the City, there was the hilarious Golden Girls foursome that brought the sex jokes and sitcom hijinks to mainstream television. Whether you're a Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Rose (Betty White) or Sophia (Estelle Getty), these BFFs have us seriously considering living out our retirement years with our own besties.

...thank you for being our friends.

As one of the longest-running and most iconic friendships in the Degrassi universe, this Next Generation duo even boasts its own nickname among fans – Memma, for Manny (Cassie Steele) and Emma (Miriam McDonald). Although the pair certainly have their ups and downs (it is high school, after all), their bond is stronger than any temporary setback. We love to see it!

Sure, they're technically cousins, but there's no denying the gradual bond that forms between high school stud Will Smith and the more academic-minded Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro). They certainly had their ups and downs and probably played one too many pranks on one another but, at the end of the day, they were besties at heart.

Yes, they had a will-they-or-won't-they dynamic to their professional partnership but, at the end of a brutal day filled with alien conspiracy theories, paranormal activity and certain smoking men, The X-Files' Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) were best friends at heart. They were each others' equals in every sense and had the sort of chemistry that can only be found in people who have truly gone through life's strange twists and turns together.

A study in polar opposites, Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) won themselves their own titular sitcom after making waves as Fonzie and Richie's dates on the 1970s classic Happy Days. The popular spin-off followed these two savvy besties as they went about their personal and professional lives, and we were with them every step of the way.