Vh1's 200 Greatest Pop Icons

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200.
The Rock

199.
Queen Latifah

198.
Cartman

197.
Judge Judy

196.
Axl Rose

195.
Macaulay Culkin

194.
Dr. Phil

193.
Arsenio Hall

192.
Beavis & Butthead

191.
Regis Philbin

190.
Russell Crowe

189.
Dolly Parton

188.
Joe Namath

187.
Rock Hudson

186.
Halle Berry

185.
Rosie O'Donnell

184.
Bob Marley

183.
Winona Ryder

182.
Telly Savalas (as Kojak)

181.
Reese Witherspoon

180.
Larry Hagman (as J.R. Ewing)

179.
Chris Rock

178.
Drew Barrymore

177.
Mariah Carey

176.
Wonder Woman

175.
Jackie Gleason

174.
Tupac Shakur

173.
Roseanne

172.
Gianni Versace

171.
Scooby-Doo

170.
Jim Morrison

169.
Woody Allen

168.
ABBA

167.
The Three Stooges

166.
Betty Ford

165.
Diana Ross

164.
Burt Reynolds

163.
Liberace

162.
Leonard Nimoy (as Spock)

161.
Monica Lewinsky

160.
Farrah Fawcett

159.
Ricky Martin

158.
Batman

157.
Barbara Eden (as Jeannie)

156.
Venus/Serena Williams

155.
Christie Brinkley

154.
Harry Potter

153.
Bon Jovi

152.
Bob Hope

151.
Spider-Man

150.
Garth Brooks

149.
Sally Field

148.
Mister Rogers

147.
David Bowie

146.
Neil Armstrong

145.
Dick Van Dyke

144.
Ellen DeGeneres

143.
Ron Howard

142.
Gwen Stefani

141.
Bruce Lee
140.
James Gandolfini (as Tony Soprano)

139.
Molly Ringwald

138.
Hugh Hefner

137.
Prince

136.
Babe Ruth

135.
Whoopi Goldberg

134.
Janet Jackson

133.
Julie Andrews

132.
Led Zeppelin

131.
Calvin Klein

130.
Dick Clark

129.
Dorothy Hamill

128.
Judy Garland

127.
Tina Turner

126.
Charlie Chaplin

125.
Stevie Wonder

124.
Sigmund Freud

123.
Jane Fonda

122.
Bob Denver (as Gilligan)

121.
Bruce Willis

The rest coming soon.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 10:47 (twenty-two years ago)

VH-1's obsession with pointless lists is nearly as bad as ILM's

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

hurry i want to see the ret of this

― Vic (Vic), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

It's all pretty awful. A friend of mine seems genuinely upset by their silly choices, but come on -- it's VH-1! It's just something to replace their endless repeats of "I Love the Eighties".

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the 70's is coming next month.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:13 (twenty-two years ago)

120.
Sarah Jessica Parker

119.
Ben Affleck

118.
E.T.

117.
William Shatner

116.
Whitney Houston

115.
Sylvester Stallone

114.
Cindy Crawford

113.
Alfred Hitchcock

112.
Justin Timberlake

111.
Rudy Giuliani

110.
Bette Davis

109.
Jimi Hendrix

108.
Albert Einstein

107.
Sting

106.
Joe Dimaggio

105.
Richard Pryor

104.
Charlie Brown

103.
Aretha Franklin

102.
David Letterman

101.
Kevin Bacon

100.
Will Smith

99.
Henry Winkler (as the Fonz)

98.
Shania Twain

97.
Stephen King

96.
Wayne Gretzky

95.
Vivien Leigh & Clark Gable (as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler)

94.
Penny Marshall (as Laverne DeFazio)

93.
Kiss

92.
Al Pacino

91.
Marvin Gaye

90.
Clint Eastwood

89.
Barbara Walters

88.
Johnny Cash

87.
Grace Kelly

86.
Paul Newman

85.
Eddie Murphy

84.
Katharine Hepburn

83.
Aerosmith

82.
Bill Gates

81.
Jack Nicholson
80.
Pamela Anderson

79.
Robin Williams

78.
Arnold Schwarzenegger

77.
Bugs Bunny

76.
Bruce Springsteen

75.
John Belushi

74.
Susan Lucci

73.
Bono

72.
Jay Leno

71.
Run D.M.C.

70.
Carol Burnett

69.
Denzel Washington

68.
Bob Dylan

67.
Howard Stern

66.
Barbra Streisand

65.
Jackie Robinson

64.
Celine Dion

63.
Mel Gibson

62.
Andy Warhol

61.
Mike Myers
60.
Kermit & Miss Piggy

59.
Leonardo DiCaprio

58.
Magic Johnson

57.
Nicole Kidman

56.
Carroll O'Connor (as Archie Bunker)

55.
Elton John

54.
John Wayne

53.
Jerry Garcia

52.
Robert DeNiro

51.
Tiger Woods

50.
James Brown

49.
Elizabeth Taylor

48.
Jim Carrey

47.
Jackie O.

46.
Harrison Ford

45.
The Bee Gees

44.
Michael J. Fox

43.
Martha Stewart

42.
Fred Flintstone

41.
Cher
40.
The Osbournes

39.
Katie Couric

38.
Brad Pitt

37.
Kurt Cobain

36.
Johnny Carson

35.
P. Diddy

34.
Audrey Hepburn

33.
George Clooney

32.
JFK

31.
Eminem

30.
Bill Cosby

29.
Mary Tyler Moore

28.
John Travolta

27.
Frank Sinatra

26.
James Dean

25.
Rolling Stones

24.
JFK Jr.

23.
Julia Roberts

22.
Tom Hanks

21.
The Simpsons

20.
Britney Spears

19.
The Brady Bunch

18.
Bill Clinton

17.
Mickey Mouse

16.
Muhammad Ali

15.
Jennifer Lopez

14.
Steven Spielberg

13.
Jerry Seinfeld

12.
The Beatles

11.
Friends Cast

10.
Michael Jackson

9.
Princess Diana

8.
Michael Jordan

7.
Madonna

6.
Marilyn Monroe

5.
Tom Cruise

4.
Lucille Ball

3.
Elvis Presley

2.
Superman

1.
Oprah Winfrey

The Simpsons not even in the top 10!

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

How were the positions decided? Public vote or judging panel?

If it was the latter, what were the judging criteria? If it was the former, WHY??

― robster (robster), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the judging criteria for VH1 is if they could be recognized by their first name or if you could dress up as the person for a Halloween costume -- seriously.

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's a quote from an article about the list that explains the criteria:

The list, a result of months of watercooler-style arguing among the VH1 staff, was designed to reflect celebrities who've had the most influence on pop culture.

Robert Weiss, a VH1 programming executive who oversaw the special, said the show tries to justify its rankings in each segment.

Among the tests were: Can you dress as them for Halloween? Would you recognize them by a one-word name? And has Saturday Night Live ever parodied them?

"I really think pop culture is a moving target and this list is very much about now in 2003," Weiss said, acknowledging the fickle nature of listmaking. "If we did a list next year, I think there'd be some changes."

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Was this a list by yanks for yanks by any chance?

― Spoonered (Spoonered), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

It was a list by porn starlets for porn starlets.

― Larcole (Nicole), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:43 (twenty-two years ago)

where the hell is Leo Sayer?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

and at least one of Rod Hull or Emu should be in top 50 - i can accept the glaring omission of Bob Carolgees i guess...

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

no Quentin Crisp?? this list is rubbish!

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Leo Sayer is busy making love to Gino Vanelli.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"I really think pop culture is a moving target and this list is very much about now in 2003,"

Right because Oprah is all the RAGE this year

― Vic (Vic), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Is she even a part of pop culture I mean REALLY?

Why isn't Webra Walters Wawa on here then?????????????

― Vic (Vic), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

where's Rick Rossovich? And the guy who played Tackleberry from Police Academy.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Oprah at number one?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the judging criteria for VH1 is if they could be recognized by their first name or if you could dress up as the person for a Halloween costume -- seriously.

Dude who the fuck dresses up as Ben Affleck for Halloween? Actually, that's a great idea.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Im going as Richie Tenenbaum this year.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

oh ally make sure to put matt damons dick in your ass for that costume.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I wasn't going to actually wear that costume, I'd go as J.Lo.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Laverne higher than the Fonz?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

(FYI I stole the J.Lo/Ben thing from Andrew Farrell and I am not gonna be a stealing hatah on my boy Andrew so there you all go)

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

God that top three is the best thing ever. The old Elvis-Superman-Oprah one-two-three punch!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

who the fuck under 30 knows who Lucille Ball is anymore?
really.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"40. The Osbournes"

WTF!!!???!!!???

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

and where's Batman???
did I miss him?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

He's #158

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

and robin???

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Not only should Batman be ranked higher, but they forgot to add a couple from his Rogues gallery. Where's The Joker or Catwoman?

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

meanwhile the Brady Bunch are 19? and the Friends cast??? Who the fuck are they???
And where's Jerry Van Dyke?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

who the fuck under 30 knows who Lucille Ball is anymore?

um, you're kidding, right?

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

no, I'm serious. Did her legend make it through the 90s?
I know that the Marx Bros have sadly fallen off the pop culture radar and as such their likenesses are rarely used in marketing campaigns anymore.
To kids today, mostly the under-25s, the 70s were forever ago. They don't know Ralph Kramden, why should they know Lucy?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course, I eat this shit up every time VH1 rolls out another one of these, but in this case, I hate how the word "icon" is diluted here.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I was born in 1987 and I know who Lucille Ball is (though not Ralph Kramden)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, so maybe I underestimated the kiddoes.
Do your friends know who Lucy is Curtis? Like if you showed up at yr buddy's house and called in warbling hispanic accent "LLLLLLLLuceeee, I'm ho-ome!" would he crack a smile or just look at you all goofy, like you were on glue?

PS Do the kids still like the glue?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

you've got a point - if there's anyone in the top 20 who might be obscure to my generation, it'd be Ball - but "I Love Lucy" is rerun constantly, while "The Honeymooners" is generally confined to the 2 am slot nowadays. I think Lucy's probably better known to the under-20-something crowd than, say, Bob Hope.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 19:03 (twenty-two years ago)

wait, Ralph Kramden = Jackie Gleason right? Stick with the actors' names and they're easier to recognize ;)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

113.
Alfred Hitchcock

112.
Justin Timberlake

― ryan (ryan), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

THIS SHOW IS FUCKING HELL AND IT'S ALWAYS ON AND GUESS WHAT KRISTIN DAVIS WOULD LIKE TO BE AUDREY HEPBURN AIEEEEEEEE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE. I WOULD SHIT GOLD BRICKS FOR A GODDAMN CELINE DION VIDEO RETROSPECTIVE. I WOULD KILL SHANIA TWAIN FOR A SHANIA TWAIN CONCERT SPECIAL BUT NO THEY GIVE ME THIS. DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I suspect at least some of VH1's criteria is based on "Haha won't this piss off some dorks!"

― Millar (Millar), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

what I love about the whole VH1 listomania thing is that it's the product of a bunch of former rock critics who are running things there, and they're under the impression that everyone likes lists, and that isn't quite true--rock critics like lists, regular people mostly don't give a shit. (note: I could just be saying this because I'm a rock critic. but still.)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

if this was true, then wouldn't bad ratings inspire them to STOP?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

oh allow me my self-hate for once, you rationalist you

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

bad ratings have never stopped vh1 from doing anything

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

then how come J.D. Considine and Scott Poulson-Bryant aren't cracking open the bubbly at the 10th anniversary party for "Four On The Floor"?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

because viewers like rock critics' lists, not the people who make them, maybe?

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 24 July 2003 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

actually, maybe they like VH1 lists because they're so CLEARLY not like rock critic lists. What critic wouldn't find 15 better pop icons than Jennifer Lopez?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Oddest entry IMO:
39.
Katie Couric

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

VH1: "Katie Couric > James Brown"

I give up completely.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean besides yourself, Anthony?

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:22 (twenty-two years ago)

you know I'd prefer Shakira, Matos.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I just saw a little more of this last night and...I think DMC's explanation about the power of grunge may be one of the funniest things I've seen on VH1. ever.

Also, George Clooney was discussed by a bunch of gay guys and Chuck D. Meet the G that killed me!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 26 July 2003 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

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