Sitcoms from the 2000s ranged from network shows for adults to kids' shows on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. As the days of classic 1990s family sitcoms ended, there weren't that many new shows that the whole family could enjoy together. Still, there are some characters from the 2000s that anyone could love.
Best friends continued to be important for sitcom characters of any age. Besides ensemble shows that featured bigger groups of friends, many series showcased two or three characters who were very close. But which friends from the sitcoms of the 2000s are the best and most memorable?
Moze & Cookie (Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide)
Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004-2007) followed the common 2000s pattern of one guy best friend and one girl best friend for the protagonist. Ned Bigby's (Devon Werkheiser) best friends are Jennifer "Moze" Mosely (Lindsey Shaw) and Simon "Cookie" Nelson-Cook (Daniel Curtis Lee).
It's a tie between Moze and Cookie for who is the coolest friend, and they create a balanced trio with Ned. Like many kids' sitcoms at the time, Ned's has its title character and girl best friend become romantically involved.
London & Maddie (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody)
London Tipton (Brenda Song) and Maddie Fitzpatrick (Ashley Tisdale) tie as each other's best friends on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005-2008). Maddie works at The Tipton Hotel's candy counter and London is the hotel heiress. The teens provide the perfect contrast to Zack and Cody's twin antics, especially in the first couple of seasons.
The show tends to overstate the fact that London is rich and Maddie is poor, but there are also several golden moments of friendship between the young women. A great example is when London decides to make Maddie a homemade sweater for Christmas. Even though Maddie temporarily gets greedy and expects London to buy her something nice, she stops and really appreciates the gesture. The friends learn to strike an equal balance of give and take as they go through life together.
Greg Wuliger (Everybody Hates Chris)
Greg Wuliger (Vincent Martella) is Chris's best pal on Everybody Hates Chris (2005-2009). The series is set in the 1980s and mirrors the real life of comedian and narrator, Chris Rock. Chris (Tyler James Williams) knows Greg from the predominantly white school both boys attend.
Greg is a nerdy, quirky kid who tries to be a little tougher when he gets older. He's a loyal friend to Chris, especially when it feels like no one else is, and viewers love watching the two grow up together.
Keely Teslow (Phil Of The Future)
Keely Teslow (Aly Michalka) is the perfect friend and eventual crush for Phil Diffy (Raviv Ullman) on Phil of the Future (2004-2006). Keely knows that Phil and his family are secretly from the future, and she often enjoys the 2121 technology that they use around her.
Keely gets caught up in trying to be part of the cool crowd with her friend, Tia (Brenda Song), but she still cares deeply about Phil. It's not easy for Phil to live in a completely different century, and Keely is incredibly understanding of the cultural differences that he goes through at their high school.
Chelsea Daniels (That's So Raven)
Much like London Tipton, Chelsea Daniels (Anneliese van der Pol) is one of the characters Disney gradually made ditzier throughout her series. Chelsea, Raven, and Eddie are best friends, but Chelsea spends a bit more time with Raven and is her confidant on many matters.
Chelsea has some wonderful personality traits, including her passion for health and animal rights. That's So Raven (2003-2007) wouldn't be the same without Chelsea because she puts her friends first and helps them out of the many sticky situations Raven's visions put them in.
Deacon Palmer (The King Of Queens)
Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams) and Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) are friends and co-workers on The King of Queens (1998-2007).
Doug and Deacon hang out at their job and outside of work, and Deacon loves to have a good time but also cares about giving back to his community and helping others. He is a husband and father, too, but he still makes time for his friends.
Will & Grace (Will & Grace)
Will Truman (Eric McCormack) and Grace Adler (Debra Messing) tie as best friends on their hit sitcom, Will & Grace, which originally ran from 1998 to 2006. Will met Grace at Columbia University and is a corporate lawyer, and Grace is an interior designer who lives with Will for much of the series.
Will and Grace are the perfect match as friends, and Will's more measured approach to life is good for Grace's more neurotic nature.
Barbra Jean Hart (Reba)
Reba (2001-2007) stars Reba McEntire in the title role as a single woman raising three kids in close proximity to her ex-husband and his perky new wife, Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman).
Reba can't stand Barbra Jean at the start of the series since Barbra Jean is the other woman. However, although she doesn't want to admit it, Reba becomes very close with Barbra Jean throughout the show. Barbra Jean shows herself to be a kind person who cares for those around her and loves Reba's children like they are her own.
Alan Twitty (Even Stevens)
Twitty (AJ Trauth) is Louis Stevens' best friend on Even Stevens (2000-2003). The guys have a girl best friend named Tawny, but Twitty and Louis have a special bond as guy friends and frequently hang out with their other pal, Tom Gribalski.
Twitty is a contemplative character who can show his goofy side or his quieter, artistic side, depending on what the situation is. He is loyal to all of his friends and is multitalented, particularly when it comes to music and baseball. Twitty learns that being a friend means accepting help from other friends, as in the "Head Games" episode, where all his pals try to help him learn to relax.
Miranda Sanchez (Lizzie McGuire)
2000s kids love Twitty and Miranda Sanchez (Lalaine) equally and were thrilled when the stars of these roles did a movie together (You Wish! in 2003). Miranda is best friends with Lizzie and Gordo on Lizzie McGuire. She can take a lot of credit for Y2K fashion trends and hairstyles, but she's ultimately a true friend who Lizzie can trust.
Gordo is great, but there's no Lizzie without Miranda. The girls are seen talking on the phone and hanging out all the time, and while Miranda doesn't always make perfect choices, she makes a lot of sacrifices for her friends. A classic example is when Miranda takes the blame for starting a rumor about Kate to protect Lizzie, who actually started the rumor.