Isn't it nice to go somewhere "where everybody knows your name?" Those were the lyrics in the theme song of the most iconic TV series centered around a bar, Cheers. But many other shows have aired that either center on, or include bars. And what bar can run successfully without a good bartender? They mix delicious cocktails, pop open ice-cold beers, and lend a helpful ear when needed.
So who have been the best bartenders on television? They all served up more than just drinks, whether it was a welcoming smile or a good ear.
Woody Boyd: Cheers
The lifelong bartender, Woody was made for the job. He had the gift of gab, always had a smile on his face, and really wasn't cut out to do much else. He was sweet and kind, but also goofy and sometimes dimwitted.
Woody, played by Woody Harrelson, was the bartender who made every patron feel welcome and comfortable. He was a far more important part of the bar than he was ever given credit for.
Moe Szyslak: The Simpsons
Not only did Moe from The Simpsons have to put up with the depressed patrons of Moe's Tavern, like Homer Simpson always coming in and venting their frustrations about life, he also had to deal with the constant childish pranks. Usually, Bart Simpson was the culprit, prank calling to make Moe call out some ridiculous made up name designed to make him look stupid, like "Oliver Klozoff" and "I.P. Freely."
Moe himself was a stereotypical depressed bar owner and bartender who would sometimes recall his own tales of woe and missed opportunities to his patrons - though they were often too drunk to listen, or too self-absorbed to care.
Georgie Santorelli: The Sopranos
To be a bartender at an establishment called Bada Bing that was frequented by the mob in The Sopranos, Santorelli had to have a special set of skills. He did more than pour drinks: he was sometimes involved in crimes.
He wasn't exactly a stand-up guy, giving his strippers better gigs in exchange for cash and sexual favors. Nor was he very smart. But he took heat from Tony Soprano often and was an integral part of the show and the mob's activities.
Nick Miller: New Girl
A lazy drifter who left a potential career in law to tend bar and pursue a writing career (even though he never really got anything written), Nick was miserable half the time on New Girl. But he loved the idea of sleeping all day and getting up to work at night, making bartending the perfect job for him. And he wasn't opposed to having a few drinks himself.
While Nick had trouble figuring out his own life, not exactly making him qualified to dole out life advice to patrons, he was there to listen and make them laugh, and sometimes, that's all they needed.
Sam Malone: Cheers
After a failed professional baseball career, Sam Malone decided to tend bar, ironically to help him out of a rut that involved burying his sorrows in booze. He used the opportunity to make plenty of friends and meet many women to quench his womanizing and apparently sex-addicted ways.
He eventually moved up in the world and bought the bar, and even had a serious relationship (or two). But it was his charm that helped the bar become so successful and attract patrons, who visited daily.
Isaac Washington: The Love Boat
Things would never have been as "exciting and new" as the theme song promised had it not been for Isaac, who kept the drinks flowing and delicious on every trip.
What's more, every drink was served with an ear-to-ear smile and a dose of good advice. A bartender that hands you a refreshing pina colada following a quick therapy session? He was darn near perfect!
Guinan: Star Trek
Bartenders are expected to be good listeners, and sometimes, the best ones are able to offer sage advice. Imagine a bartender with literally hundreds of years of experience under her belt. This was the case with Guinan.
Portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, the seasoned bartender on Star Trek had unmatched wisdom, which meant that whatever comfort or help she provided for a situation, patrons could be rest assured that she knew what she was talking about.
Tara: True Blood
She was like the Soup Nazi of bartenders on True Blood - a no-nonsense person who was there to do her job and didn't have the patience for anyone who got in the way. She was efficient, though also consistently angry.
But she was also the kind of bartender you wanted serving you drinks, even if you felt slightly afraid that she might snap at you at any moment while doing so.
Steve Brady: Sex And The City
It's easy to forget that while Miranda and Steve ended up having a loving marriage with a child by the end of Sex And the City, they actually met in a bar where he was working. Steve, the personification of the "nice guy," was supposed to be a one-night stand, but his persistence led to the relationship being much more.
While Miranda hoped that her perfect man would have been professionally successful as she was, she realized Steve was content being a bartender and proud of the gig. This wasn't to say that Steve wasn't ambitious, though, and he took his skills to the next level when he opened Scout, a bar he co-owned with Aidan Shaw.
"The Gang:" It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is centered around a group of friends who own and work at Paddy's Pub together. Calling themselves "The Gang," they are all quite narcissistic, despite the Irish pub not actually being a successful business.
Nonetheless, together, their ridiculous behavior that goes against social conventions and their constant scheming against or blackmailing of one another makes them thoroughly entertaining to watch. They aren't a loyal bunch, but their toxic co-dependency warrants them standing together as one on this list.