21. KERMIT
He began as a puppet made of an old green coat and a Ping-Pong ball. But thanks to the imagination and voice of Muppet master Jim Henson, Kermit was transformed into so much more. On Sesame Street, he taught kids how to read and relish their youth. On The Muppet Show, he played straight man to a world of gonzo characters. When he guest-hosted The Tonight Show in 1979, it was a coronation: Kermit had become more than an entertainer. He had become our friend.

Get This! The Muppet Show, season 1