The Best Male/Female Friendships on TV

Is anyone else totally sick of the Harry Met Sally lameness that rears its ugly head in every single television show where heterosexual characters of the opposite gender hang out together? The New York Times certainly is, judging by their recent op-ed about platonic relationships in pop culture, but that hasn’t stopped the entertainment industry from constantly turning friends into lovers. In fact, they’re so common that they’re starting to make us long for more tension-free guy-on-girl friendships. These relationships are few and far between, but they’re out there, and we’ve got a list of our favorite examples on TV. Tell us yours in the comments.

Clarissa and Sam from Clarissa Explains it All

Usually the thought of your cute neighbor breaking into your bedroom via a ladder and a cool guitar riff would be either incredibly romantic or incredibly creepy, depending on the circumstance. The laid-back, lovable Sam ended up being neither; though he and Clarissa went on exactly one date during the show’s run, they knew that they were much better as best friends. Great for us, because if they broke up, who would they both get to coordinate all those eclectic, mismatching outfits with?

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Nick325 5 pts

I don't think i'd really call Ted and Robin just a friendship seeins as he has never really gotten over her and has tried to get her back on numerous occasions. The How I Met Your Mother friendship I was really hoping for was Barney/Lily. Barney jokingly hits on Lily and shes very interested in how good he is in bed, but they can joke about it because they both know nothing will ever happen between them. She is always the first one he goes to when he needs to talk about something real, even before Robin, and he's the one who was able to convince her to come back to NY and be with Marshall. A lot of the pairings on this list are great a lot of them I hadn't even thought of, but Barney and Lily really are I think one of the best platonic friendships on tv

"Seriously, though, we’d have been devastated if Robin left the show, so we’re glad they found a way to keep her around." WHAT A MORONIC STATEMENT. Why would Robin leave the show just because she broke up with Ted? Her and Barney used to date and they broke up as well. She's an integral part of the show and a main character - not just a guest star. And her hotness combined with smarts is a big reason why men watch this show (myself included).

I am absolutely giddy over the inclusion of Don and Peggy, because YES. Those two are platonic soulmates. I agree with Howard re: Whedonfriendships, also, and nod especially to Firefly's crew, Xander and Willow despite their little season three romance drama, and Adelle and Topher of Dollhouse. And a lot of the characters on Deadwood, too; Joanie and Charlie are my favorites, but there are brilliant relationships every which way.

Uhh Helo you forgot the most BEST one of all One Tree Hills Very own Lucas & Haley! Very Shocked that was not on there.

Maggie and Andy from Extras. The primary series arc and resolution was about their friendship.

Really? I ALWAYS thought there was sexual tension between Stabler and Benson. They build entire marathons around it on the USA Network. Guess it was just me.

There's not much that will ever beat Buffy and Willow, in fact I think Joss Whedon is the king of tv friendships - look at the number of great ones in every single series he's done.

I love Marshall and Mary on USA's In Plain Sight. It's in it's last season and I am hoping upon hope that they don't get these two together in the end. They make great friends. She was referred to as his work wife though so that may have suggested it won't go any further.

Oh, I totally agree with Jo B.: How could you forget Benson and Stabler? No sexual tension there whatsoever, but you still have this great, complex relationship where they both depend on each other physically and emotionally.

Gotta throw in Josh Lyman & Donna Moss on "The West Wing"--even though their work relationship/friendship eventually evolve into romance, it's not until the end of the final season.

Did you forget Stanford and Carrie; Jen and Jack on Dawson's Creek and of course, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler!!! OMG!