Our Imaginary TV Friends

Felicity (1998-2002)
In J.J. Abrams? Felicity, Kerri Russell starred as the titular character who passes up enrollment at Stanford to follow her high-school crush Ben (Scott Speedman) to the fictional University of New York. Dorm drama, life lessons, and an angst-filled love triangle followed.

Sidekick to: Rory Gilmore
Gilmore Girls (2000-07)

Lane rocks the sidekick role in a distinctly Gilmore Girls fashion: She brings the wit and pop culture references as fast and sure as the Girls themselves, but never outshines Rory's true No. 1, Mama Lorelai. Lane's own mother — the fearsome antiques maven Mrs. Kim — is a whole different story, which makes her rock & roll rebellion the perfect counterbalance to Rory's bookish tendencies. And while she's got her own thing going on (the drumming career, the intraband marriage), she'd never try to steal the spotlight, like Rory's rival-turned-roomie, Paris. —Tim Gunatilaka