TUCSON, Ariz. — Trying to make a difference on our environment, change people’s perspectives toward the Earth and promote eco-friendly living is a tough job for us at The Cat Scan. So often times we look toward role models for guidance — and of course we find them on TV.

These characters from the boob-tube and the silver screen compose my list of some of the “greenest” TV and movie characters of my time.

(This list excludes cartoon characters such as Captain Planet, Lisa Simpson and George Jetson — that’s certainly not gasoline powering that briefcase! — for obvious reasons that their lists have already been made and they would easily win.)

Mimi Kennedy as Abby O’Neil. Dharma & Greg. 20th Century Fox.

Kennedy’s Abby O’Neil is quite possibly the greatest hippie TV mom of all time (also quite possibly the first). Her daughter Dharma married the wealthy and reserved (read: Republican) Greg Montgomery and their love found a way through her wild eco-friendly and charitable ways. Abby O’Neil was known to grow her own vegetables, buck the system and always think Earth first.

Pro: Hippie from '60s, recycler, organic farmer, yoga practicer.
Con: Drove old '60s Volkswagen gas-guzzling van. (Although this was before the time of hybrids.)



Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson in Independence Day. 20th Century Fox

As a scientist, Levinson found out how to disable the invading alien’s shields and destroy the intruders that blew up Bill Pullman’s White House in this 1996 action flick. Levinson was a devout recycler, third-party believer and conspiracy theorist. Erratic and alongside Will Smith, Levinson saved the Earth in a literal sense from destruction without giving up his eco-friendly point of view.

Pro: Recycler, saved the Earth (literally).
Con: The explosion of the alien mother ship had to create some serious greenhouse gasses.



Jeff Goldblum (again?!) as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park. 20th Century Fox.

Goldblum struck again in the film adaptation of Michael Crichton’s best-selling novel (and all of its sequels). Dr. Malcolm was a staunch believer in chaos theory and is famous for preaching that “nature will always survive.” He also explained to the other members of the expedition how fragile our existence is here on Earth, not the Earth’s existence.

Pro: Stood as voice of reason against dino-park, believes in the power of Earth and warns against it, prominent voice against over-consumption of resources.
Con: Pompous, offers no solutions to the problem, just the highlights of our problem.



Danielle Fishel as Topanga Lawrence. Boy Meets World. ABC.

Ah yes, Topanga. Topanga fits in with the hippie feel that Abby O’Neil stood for but on a younger (and hotter? maybe?) level for T.G.I.F. faithful. Always toying with poor Cory Matthews’ heart and organizing recycling events at John Adams High School in Philadelphia, Topanga was a forerunner of eco-friendly ideals at a time when it had not yet caught on. We can all imagine Topanga as the Green Party President at her liberal arts college today.

Pro: Activist, hippie, reaches young audience.
Con: Beats me.



Richard Dean Anderson as MacGyver. Macgyver. Henry Winkler/John Rich productions.

“His mind is the ultimate weapon” reads the tagline, and nobody lived by the three R’s of recycling like MacGyver. His legacy continues to this day long after the seasons have past through Mastercard commercials. Macgyver jokes were the original Chuck Norris jokes, and everyone knows about his unbelievable resourcefulness.

Pro: Can make anything from anything, has never seen a piece of trash before: It’s all spare parts to Macgyver.
Con: Not sure if he cared about the Earth at all, just surviving.



Elizabeth Berkely as Jessie Spano Saved By The Bell. NBC.

Another high school activist, Spano was the main organizer of Earth Day and other events at Bayside High School, (all of which took place at The Max). She was the pushy type contrasted with Topanga’s chill attitude but was far more effective standing up against oil spills and problems with the food at the Max.

Pro: Resourceful activist, strong and opinionated, productive in fighting for the Earth.
Con: Too pushy, didn’t think Zack Morris was that cool.


Close Calls: Erin Brokovich (movie was too long and lame), Sara Sidle of CSI (just a vegetarian), Phoebe Buffay of Friends (not active enough), Elaine Benes of Seinfeld (PETA supporter but worked for J. Peterman catalog), Larry David (proud Prius driver) and Gene Hackman as Brill in Enemy of the State (off the grid but not eco-friendly).

Well there’s our list, and now it’s up to the readers out there to vote. Tell us who the greenest character is on our list and if I’ve missed anyone feel free to email comments or suggestions to amtarnowski@gmail.com.