http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-ten-best-characters-on-television-20111014-1lo7v.html Here are a few that I agree with.
Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) on How I Met Your Mother
Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) on House
Gloria (Sofia Vergara), Modern Family
Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory
Which characters on TV do you think are really well written and then brought to life by a good actor?
I'd also add the children from Outnumbered. Delightful little scamps. (Said with a grimace and real-life understanding.)