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In our opinion, the biggest side effect of sitcoms being squeezed out by cable, reality TV, the Internet and the bulbous chin of Jay Leno is that some sitcom cuties aren't getting the attention they deserve.

For example, Kaley Cuoco, who plays Penny on CBS's geek-centric "The Big Bang Theory," and is our newest crush of late. You may remember Cuoco from "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," but in her latest incarnation, the leggy blonde is of appropriate age, and sometimes willing to sleep with really socially awkward guys. (Editor's Note: It appears her affection for geeks is the real thing.) If that isn't a recipe for having your image on dorm room walls all over this great land, what is?

Read on for a Cuoco-inspired walk through the history of sitcom "it" girls.


Laurie Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore), "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
Mary Tyler Moore remains the gold standard of being cute and funny for about 23 minutes.

Jeannie (Barbara Eden), "I Dream of Jeannie"
Jeannie was certainly the hottest 2,000-year-old in television history.

Mary Ann Summers (Dawn Wells), "Gilligan's Island"
Now you know where we stand on the great Ginger vs. Mary Ann debate. For today, at least.

Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson), "WKRP in Cincinnati"
Jennifer Marlowe was the pinnacle of the tight sweater.

Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate), "Married With Children"
A whole generation of confused boys grew up thinking the best-looking girl in school was also going to be the easiest.

Becky Donaldson Katsopolis (Lori Loughlin), "Full House"
If you weren't one of the weirdos obsessing over the long countdown to when certain child stars became legal, you were noticing that Uncle Jessie had himself a seriously stunning (and fully grown) lady friend.

Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), "Friends"
Before she was "Jennifer Aniston," she was the new girl with the haircut that everybody was talking about.

Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), "The King of Queens"
Here to represent all the sitcom wives who are disproportionately better-looking than their sitcom husbands.

Tiffany Malloy (Nikki Cox), "Unhappily Ever After"
Cox was so distracting during her reign on "Unhappily Ever After" that we had totally forgotten Eric from "Entourage" was also on that show.

Pam Beasly (Jenna Fischer), "The Office"
"Wow, she's just like that girl in my office that everybody has a crush on!"

What other attractive prime-time funny ladies we're missing out on?