Rivals. We’ve all had them at one time or another. Or at least I hope you have because otherwise I’ll feel bad about the fact that I have them. Outside of my own, I do have favorite rivalries from television shows. Some of them are entertaining and make a show better. Some of them are half of the reason that I watch certain shows. And some of them are just plain exhausting and I don’t understand them. Either way, I love a good showdown
- The Office: Jim Halpert and Dwight Shrute
Probably one of the most iconic rivalries in television. In the beginning it’s mostly Jim pulling pranks to entertain himself at work with Dwight’s dramatic reactions, but over time Dwight gets into it too. I wasn’t rooting for either of them because I just liked watching all of the shenanigans. Jim and Dwight bond over different things throughout the series and end up becoming good friends. They even pull some pranks together and then run a no-nonsense office. A cute rivalry if I’ve ever seen one.
2. South Park: Cartman and Kyle
This rivalry is based on fat jokes and mom jokes. We never learn why Cartman hates Kyle so much, but he never fails to show it. And in defense of Kyle, I would hate anyone who sings a song about my mom being a bitch. These rivals were constantly in each other’s faces because they had the same friends. This may seem awkward, but it never stopped them from going all out, which I respect.
3. The Nanny: CC and Niles
This particular pair ends up being a couple at the end of the series, but before that happened, they fired insults at each other left and right. Niles roasts were great because he was quick on his feet, while CC opted for a more humiliating style of humor. They entertained us for seasons with their back and forth and it was cute to see them as an unexpected couple.
4. 30 Rock: Jack Donaghy and Kaylie Hooper
What grown man feuds with a teenage girl? Jack Donaghy, that’s who. In his defense, Kaylie was a conniving, entitled teenage girl. This rivalry makes the list because all of their interactions involved intense scheming, plot twists, and long cons. You can never tell who’s a step ahead of the other. Kaylie wins one, Jack the next. An entertaining and thoroughly confusing rivalry is the best kind.
5. Scrubs: J.D. and the Janitor
If this rivalry teaches you one thing, it’s that you should tell the truth. This rivalry lasted for years all because J.D. lied about getting a penny stuck in an elevator. He then subjected himself to sabotage, pranks, and psychological warfare. I respect the janitor’s persistence and ability to hold a grudge. Their antics were some of the best bits from the show, aside from J.D. and Turk moments.
6. Parks and Recreation: Pawnee and Eagleton
A rivalry between towns that goes back hundreds of years. When the rich people of Pawnee decided to take their money and start their own town next door, things got awkward. The people of Pawnee and the people of Eagleton were constantly going head to head over property, events, and money. In the end, the little guy won when Eagleton went bankrupt and got reabsorbed into Pawnee.
