"Laverne & Shirley" (1976-83): Sure, Lucy and Ethel shared a lot of antics, but you never sensed they were real pals. There was no question, though, that these title characters would swim through milk and Pepsi for each other."Cagney & Lacey" (1981-88): When they weren't solving cases, these two partners were trying to solve each other's problems, usually with less success. Still, their hearts were always in the right place.
"The Golden Girls" (1985-92): They spent most of their time spitting one-liners at each other, but in the end, you knew they would thank each other for being a friend.
"Designing Women" (1986-93): Groundbreaking TV in suggesting that you could put women in a room together and they could talk about issues beyond their latest boyfriends.
"China Beach" (1988-91): Hot Lips Houlihan could have used some tough broads like these when she was stationed in "M*A*S*H." Come to think of it, we could all benefit from friends like these.
"Sex and the City" (1998-2004): I'm not sure I'd want a posse that focuses so intensely on shoes and sexual positions, but this foursome seemed just fine with it, especially after a few cocktails.
"Girlfriends" (2000-08): Unfairly dismissed by many as a black version of "Sex and the City," this Kelsey Grammer-produced series was actually a more realistic sitcom about female bonding.
"Gilmore Girls" (2000-07): Sure, Rory and Lorelai were mother and daughter, but they were also best buds who surrounded themselves with equally enduring, tough women.
"Army Wives" (2007-): This Lifetime hit takes "Housewives" one step further, setting the soapish story lines on a military base where the stakes are much higher than a fresh-lawn suburb.
