Top 10 Most Iconic TV Kisses of All Time

Top 10 Most Iconic TV Kisses

Now these are some unforgettable smooches! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Iconic /Memorable TV Kisses.

For this list, we’ll be taking a look at the most iconic kisses in television history. From groundbreaking to shocking, we’ve got ‘em all.

#10: Nick Miller and Jessica Day

“New Girl” (2011-18)

Every sitcom approaches the will-they-won’t-they scenario differently. For “New Girl’s” Jess and Nick, that situation came to a head in the season two episode, “Cooler”. Nick and Jess find themselves locked in a room during a game, with the stipulation being that they can’t leave until they kiss. Jess wants to get it over with but Nick stubbornly rebuffs her, dropping the cryptic line “not like this”. At the end of the episode, Nick grabs Jess and plants an epic kiss on her – and, when he lets go, delivers this memorable line. It was spontaneous, passionate and perfectly in keeping with his character’s personality.

#9: Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf

“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)

To say that “Gossip Girl’s” Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf had a tumultuous relationship would be a gross understatement. Both characters are outspoken, egotistical and manipulative, and while they had plenty of steamy moments throughout the show’s run, we’re going with this scene from season four. It occurs while the characters are broken up and openly hateful of one another. For this reason, they sign a peace treaty to prevent further bloodshed. However, in true Chuck and Blair fashion, they rip it up, proclaim their hatred for one another and then lock lips. Surprising and sexy!

#8: Luke Danes and Lorelai Gilmore

“Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)

Is there anything better than a long overdue first kiss? Luke and Lorelai displayed obvious chemistry for the better part of four seasons before finally locking lips in the episode “Raincoats and Recipes”. What makes this kiss special is the buildup. As the two characters argue with one another, you can feel the tension begin to rise. A kiss seems inevitable, and it doesn’t disappoint when it finally arrives. Unfortunately for these two lovebirds, the moment is cut short when a naked Kirk comes barreling down the stairs. But, after having waited for so long to see them hook up, we couldn’t care less.

#7: Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence

“Boy Meets World” (1993-00)

Ah, young love. Fans got to watch Cory and Topanga’s relationship blossom over the course of seven hilarious and heartfelt seasons of “Boy Meets World”. However, most will probably forget that their first kiss occurred all the way back in season one! During the episode, Cory messes up his hair and is ridiculed by his classmates, but Topanga takes pity on him. They later find themselves handcuffed to a locker, and that’s when Topanga decides to plant one on him. The look on his face is absolutely priceless. First kisses don’t get much cuter than this!

#6: Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big

“Sex and the City” (1998-04)

Now this is what we call a perfect ending! After getting into a fight back in New York, Big flies to Paris to find Carrie, who’s there with her Russian artist boyfriend Aleksandr Petrovsky. The two serendipitously find each other, and it isn’t long before they’re wrapped up in each other’s arms. It’s then that Big finally commits himself to Carrie, sealing his newfound courage and love for her. After six long seasons of will-they-won’t-they – not to mention a slew of men in between – it was only right that these two ended up together. An iconic kiss? We definitely think so!

#5: Jack McPhee and Ethan

“Dawson’s Creek” (1998-03)

This memorable kiss may not have been the first between two men to ever appear on TV, but it was certainly one of the most realistic! While other homosexual characters had shared pecks on the small screen, it was this kiss between Jack and Ethan on “Dawson’s Creek” that truly raised the bar. Sadly, the moment is undercut by the fact that Ethan’s boyfriend is literally standing right next to them. Having to watch Jack realize this is uncomfortable to say the least – but hey, sometimes that’s the price you have to pay to set a new TV milestone!

#4: Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly

“The Office” (2005-13)

In the pantheon of “perfect TV couples”, Jim and Pam are right up there with the best of ‘em. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Back in season two, Pam was stuck in an unhappy engagement to Roy, and Jim was secretly in love with her. That all changed in the finale, when Jim worked up the courage to tell Pam how he felt. Sadly, she rejects him, but it isn’t long after that the two find themselves alone in the office. Jim throws caution to the wind, grabs Pam and kisses her – allowing fans to breathe a sigh of relief. In a show full of memorablemoments, this is one of the best.

#3: Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura

“Star Trek” (1966-69)

The debate over when the first interracial TV kiss occurred has been raging for decades. However, many have pointed to this one, shared by William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols on the third season of the original “Star Trek” series, as the groundbreaking smooch. Regardless of who did it first, Captain Kirk and Uhura’s kiss is undoubtedly the most famous. Even so, it remains steeped in controversy, with some claiming that Shatner and Nichols’ lips never actually touched. This simply adds to the scene’s lore, making it an easy pick for the top three on our list.

#2: Sam Malone and Diane Chambers

“Cheers” (1982-93)

Few television couples are as iconic as this one. However, things didn’t exactly bode well for them at first. The two would bicker constantly,and appeared to have differing views on almost every subject. However, in what’s now considered a common television trope, the two characters’ hatred was simply a mask for their romantic feelings towards one another. In the season one finale, “Showdown, Part 2”, Sam and Diane finally let their emotions get the best of them, sharing a passionate – albeit hate-fueled – kiss in the back of the bar.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:


Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson
“Glee” (2009-15)

Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan
“Bones” (2005-17)

Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert
“The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)

#1: Ross Geller and Rachel Greene

“Friends” (1994-04)

Could it have been anyone else? Ross and Rachel have their fair share of memorable kisses, but few with the same level of emotional gravitas as this one. The kiss in question occurs at the end of the season two episode, “The One Where Ross Finds Out”. Ross and Rachel get into a heated argument after hours at Central Perk, and Ross ends up walking out on her, only to reappear with those puppy dog eyes moments later. The look on Rachel’s face when she sees him standing in the rain is surpassed only by what follows: an earth-shattering kiss the likes of which fans had been waiting for for far too long.