Entertainment

'New Girl's Coach & 8 Other TV Characters We're Thankful For This Thanksgiving

There are many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: health, happiness, the fact that one of these guys gets to eat free on Thursday. There's nothing like the holidays to make you grateful for the important things in life, which, of course, includes TV. From Breaking Bad to Game of Thrones to Scandal, 2013 saw some of the best episodes of television we've ever had the pleasure of watching.

This year also saw our favorite shows giving much-needed screen-time to characters we've come to know and love, and we couldn't be happier. In a year filled with fantastic TV characters, here are the nine that we're most thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Image: NBC

by Rachel Simon

Jesse Pinkman ('Breaking Bad')

Oh, Jesse. You may have been a methhead and a murderer and probably deserved to go to jail, but when you got into that car and drove away as fast as you could, we couldn't help but cheer for your freedom. In a show filled with wonderful characters, Jesse was by far the most-loved person on Breaking Bad.

Image: AMC

Margaery Tyrell ('Game of Thrones')

There are many clever characters on Game of Thrones (see: Tyrion), but not nearly as many that can use that wit to manipulate the evil King Joffrey — and succeed. Margaery, the sociopath's Tyrell-born wife, uses her intelligence and charm to get what she wants: power. Thrones was already a feminist show before Margaery came into the picture, thanks to Dany and Arya, among others, but the arrival of the Queen helped give the show's females an even better name than they already had.

Image: HBO

Ron Swanson ('Parks and Recreation')

We're thankful for the entire cast of Parks and Rec, but Ron Swanson consistently brings us more joy than anyone else. Whether he's preparing for baby or shooting guns with Donna, Ron never fails to provide viewers with happiness, laughs, and a whole lot of important life lessons ("Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.")

Image: NBC

The 'Friday Night Lights' Alumni ('Parenthood')

Thank god for Parenthood. Without it, the former cast of Friday Night Lights would probably be out of work. Over the seasons, the show has employed ex-FNL actors Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Matt Lauria, Minka Kelly, and Michael B. Jordan. For those of who still have trouble accepting the fact that Coach Taylor isn't on our TVs every week, getting to see actors from our old favorite show showing up on our new favorite show is as good as it gets. Especially when they look like Lauria.

Image: NBC

Coach ('New Girl')

While we're still mourning the loss of Happy Endings, but we're thrilled that the show's cancellation earlier this year allowed one of its stars, Damon Wayans, Jr., to return to New Girl . His character, Coach, is one of the best things about the show, and brings us the most laughs each week out of anyone. Now, if only they could keep him on permanently...

Image: FOX

Bob Benson ('Mad Men')

We're thankful for Bob Benson mostly because of everything he's not: a clean-cut, innocent, boringly normal guy. When it was revealed this season that Benson is an impostor who conned his way into a job, it shook up the office and made our summer TV viewing a whole lot more interesting.

Image: AMC

Sophia ('Orange Is the New Black')

Honestly, we're thankful for everything about Orange Is the New Black, from its amazing cast to its witty dialogue to its perfect pop culture references ("Don't be fuckin' with Harry Potter!") Most of all, we love the show's commitment to diversity, which includes the character of Sophia, a black, transgender woman. Played by trans actress Laverne Cox, Sophia is a barrier-breaking character who exemplifies all the things that make OITNB so special.

Image: Netflix

Sam and Dean ('Supernatural')

Wonder how Supernatural, that little CW show about paranormal-hunter brothers, has stayed on the air for nine years? Five words: Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

Image: the CW

Olivia Pope ('Scandal')

Fixing crises, breaking barriers, and wearing the world's trendiest coats? It's all in a day's work for Olivia Pope, Scandal's lead and our favorite woman on television.

Image: ABC

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