Olivia Benson from 'Law & Order: SVU'

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TV's Most Intriguing Characters

Detective Olivia Benson has been frank about her alcoholic mother. She draws on her troubled past to make her a better cop. A product of a rape herself, Olivia relates to the victims and has a keen insight toward the perpetrators. (Photo: NBC)

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Jack Bauer from ... Jack Bauer is a loose-cannon agent, able to take out 30 enemies at one time, as well as disarm a bomb. (Photo: FOX)
Tara from 'The U... Toni Collette stars Tara, a woman who suffers from multiple personality disorder, in this highly anticipated show from 'Juno' writer Diablo Cody. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
Columbo The classic gumshoe Columbo is so mysterious, that to this day, we still don't know the character's first name. (Photo: Mario Casilli)
Cristina from 'G... Cut-throat cardiologist-to-be Cristina Yang has an elitism and work ethic that make her an engaging yet comedic factor for the prime-time soap 'Grey's Anatomy.' (Photo: ABC)
Don Draper from ... Living under a stolen identity, Don Draper has a mysterious past which has drawn all sorts of comparisons from Jay Gatsby to Superman. This suave ad exec from Madison Avenue charms and fools audiences everywhere. A family man trapped in suburban life in an era on the cusp of social change, Don Draper proves to us that two lives are most certainly better than one. (Photo: AMC)
Lisa from 'The S... As the voice of reason in a dysfunctional family, Lisa is a direct foil to Homer. An intellectual and a Buddhist, Lisa is wise beyond her years. (Photo: FOX)
Dexter from 'Dex... Everyone's favorite sociopath, Dexter intrigues audiences everywhere with his idiosyncratic moral code and addiction to killing. Yet, by the end of the third season, viewers have come to see Dexter forge real relationships. We eagerly await the next season, when we can see Dexter play the role of father. (Photo: Showtime)
Olivia Benson fr... Detective Olivia Benson has been frank about her alcoholic mother. She draws on her troubled past to make her a better cop. A product of a rape herself, Olivia relates to the victims and has a keen insight toward the perpetrators. (Photo: NBC)
Bill Bittinger f... Bill, the egotistical host from a local morning talk show, feels he is destined for greatness. He creates conflict by acting out because he is discontent with his job. An irritation to everyone but his boss Jo-Jo (Geena Davis), this character became an anti-hero. (Photo: NBC)
Brennan from 'Bo... Genius forensic doc 'Bones' captivates audiences everywhere with her good looks, her cunning insights...and her social awkwardness. (Photo: FOX)
Omar from 'The W... 'The Wire' depicts a declining city in its story of Inner City Baltimore. The show has brought us some of the most fascinating characters of all time. But no character is more enigmatic and shocking than Omar. Omar is an independent drug dealer who steals from big-time dealers to make a living, yo-yoing between assisting police investigations and murdering drug dealers. Omar also struggles with being homosexual in an intolerant world. (Photo: HBO)
Angela from 'My ... Though short-lived, 'My So-Called Life' was a cult classic that shot Claire Danes to stardom. Angela was a teen that everyone could relate to, and the character remains a staple in pop culture history. (Photo: ABC)
Stephen Colbert ... Stephen Colbert has made an entity out of his satirical show. A phenomenon amongst college students in particular, Colbert took his popularity to the next level with a fake attempt at running for president. (Photo: Comedy Central)
Michael Scott fr... This unpredictable boss has perfected his own style of awkward humor. 'The Office' remains one of the most watched TV shows on NBC. (Photo: NBC)
Felicity from 'F... 'Felicity' chronicles the story of a sheltered girl fresh out of high school who moves away to college for the first time. Keri Russell's rendition of the young student may have been short-lived but was very impressionable. (Photo: WB)
Mr. Big from 'Se... For six seasons of 'Sex and the City,' Chris Noth's character was simply referred to as 'Mr. Big.' Big maintained his mystique as the one who got away, until Carrie finally married her dream guy in the series finale. (Photo: HBO)
Dr. Gregory Hous... This pill-popping, law-breaking, Hopkins-educated doctor has become a phenomenon. With an entire show based around his grumpiness and ego, House's genius makes it possible for him to solve seemingly impossible medical dilemmas. (Photo: FOX)
Roseanne from 'R... Reinventing what it meant to be a TV mom, Roseanne was a far cry from June Cleaver. For nearly a decade on TV, Roseanne's brash humor charmed audiences. (Photo: ABC)
Liz Lemon from '... Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon on '30 Rock' so well, people everywhere think the two are the one and the same. With a likable personality and quirky sense of humor, Liz Lemon charms audiences and critics everywhere on '30 Rock.' (Photo: NBC)
Sideshow Mel fro... A shirtless Shakespearean thespian, Sideshow Mel remains a mystery. Though he appears in every mob scene on 'The Simpsons,' little is known about him or the bone in his electric blue hair. (Photo: FOX)
Betty Draper fro... Upon first glance, Betty Draper is the perfectly poised wife, the envy of everyone. Her beauty and money are supposed to bring her happiness. Yet underneath her blond bob is a deeper depression that is often ignored by everyone around her, forcing Betty to act out. (Photo: AMC)
Peggy Olsen from... As the only woman with an office at 'Sterling Cooper,' Peggy's climb from being Don Draper's secretary to having her own secretary wasn't an easy one. With a rocky personal life and a rockier religious life, Peggy continually surprises the boys at the office. (Photo: AMC)
Crockett and Tub... Dressed in the latest Italian fashions, Crockett and Tubbs appear on this list together because they are marked in TV history as one of the greatest detective duos of all time. Playing off of each other's qualities and histories, they work together like brothers. (Photo: NBC)
Keema from 'The ... As one of the only female police officers in her unit, Keema is a cop with integrity. Even after being shot in the line of duty, she refused to tell a lie in order to catch her shooter. (Photo: HBO)
Michael Westin f... Outed CIA agent Michael Westin struggles with assimilating back into normal life. With a personal vendetta against the ones who burned him, Michael remains elusive to almost all, including his love interest Phiona. (Photo: USA)
Brenda from 'Six... As a registered genius and compulsive liar, Brenda managed to win over Nate and loyal fans. Though the relationship with her mentally ill brother was off-putting, it only added to the character's intrigue. (Photo: HBO)
MacGyver from 'M... Able to get himself out of any situation with simple house hold items, MacGyver was known for not resorting to weapons in order to win--his heroism was based off of his intelligence. (Photo: Paramount)
Munch from 'Law ... Conspiracy theorist Det. Munch (Richard Belzer) from 'Law & Order: SVU' remains a mystery to his co-workers. Close with his partner 'Fin' (Ice-T), Munch is generally misunderstood. But his rebellious nature and inquisitive eye make him a great detective. (Photo: NBC)
Addison from 'Gr... Dr. Addison Montgomery came to 'Grey's Anatomy' as the estranged wife of Derek Shepherd that everyone was supposed to hate. But her wit, sophistication and classic good looks quickly made her a fan favorite. The character was so popular, she got her own spin-off, 'Private Practice.' (Photo: ABC)
Ari Gold from 'E... Jeremy Piven plays the egotistical Ari Gold, whose fast-talking agent is never at a loss for words on the Hollywood hit 'Entourage.' (Photo: HBO)