7. MARY TYLER MOORE
When Mary Richards moved to Minneapolis in 1970, it was finally okay for a single gal to pursue a career and not be defined by a man. Take that, That Girl! As the always-positive, mostly unflappable voice of reason among hilariously needy neighbors and co-workers (see how she handles Mr. Grant taking more than his share of veal Prince Orloff at her near-disastrous dinner party), Mary Tyler Moore and her namesake series paved the way for the Ally McBeals and Carrie Bradshaws to come. And she did it with spunk. We like spunk.

Get This! The Mary Tyler Moore Show, season 4