The 101 most influential people who never lived.

[philosophie_en_rose]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-16-influential-people-list_x.htm

1. The Marlboro Man
2. Big Brother
3. King Arthur
4. Santa Claus (St. Nick)
5. Hamlet
6. Dr. Frankenstein's Monster
7. Siegfried
8. Sherlock Holmes
9. Romeo and Juliet
10. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
11. Uncle Tom
12. Robin Hood
13. Jim Crow
14. Oedipus
15. Lady Chatterly
16. Ebenezer Scrooge
17. Don Quixote
18. Mickey Mouse
19. The American Cowboy
20. Prince Charming
21. Smokey Bear
22. Robinson Crusoe
23. Apollo and Dionysus
24. Odysseus
25. Nora Helmer
26. Cinderella
27. Shylock
28. Rosie the Riveter
29. Midas
30. Hester Prynne
31. The Little Engine That Could
32. Archie Bunker
33. Dracula
34. Alice in Wonderland
35. Citizen Kane
36. Faust
37. Figaro
38. Godzilla
39. Mary Richards
40. Don Juan
41. Bambi
42. William Tell
43. Barbie
44. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
45. Venus and Cupid
46. Prometheus
47. Pandora
48. G.I. Joe
49. Tarzan
50. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock
51. James Bond
52. Hansel and Gretel
53. Captain Ahab
54. Richard Blaine
55. The Ugly Duckling
56. Loch Ness Monster (Nessie)
57. Atticus Finch
58. Saint Valentine
59. Helen of Troy
60. Batman
61. Uncle Sam
62. Nancy Drew
63. J.R. Ewing
64. Superman
65. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
66. HAL 9000
67. Kermit the Frog
68. Sam Spade
69. The Pied Piper
70. Peter Pan
71. Hiawatha
72. Othello
73. The Little Tramp
74. King Kong
75. Norman Bates
76. Hercules (Herakles)
77. Dick Tracy
78. Joe Camel
79. The Cat in the Hat
80. Icarus
81. Mammy
82. Sindbad
83. Amos 'n' Andy
84. Buck Rogers
85. Luke Skywalker
86. Perry Mason
87. Dr. Strangelove
88. Pygmalion
89. Madame Butterfly
90. Hans Beckert
91. Dorothy Gale
92. The Wandering Jew
93. The Great Gatsby
94. Buck (Jack London, The Call of the Wild)
95. Willy Loman
96. Betty Boop
97. Ivanhoe
98. Elmer Gantry
99. Lilith
100. John Doe
101. Paul Bunyan

[MissMillie]

1. I don't suppose it occurs to whoever compiled this list

that the list is comprised of entries that are (1) not people and (2) never lived.

[Kutjara]

2. Indeed, a number of the entries...

...are either historical figures or are characters based on historical figures.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Well, even a character based on a historical figure is still a character.

Is there any outright real person in that list? Don Juan perhaps?

[Kutjara]

11. Hmmm, I think there are historical grounds for the existence of...

...some of the ancient Greek characters, although it's unlikely their real exploits were anything like those recounted by Homer, etc.

Some would say that King Arthur and Robin Hood were real, but again, their stories have grown considerably in the telling.

And of course Santa Claus is completely real.

[NewJeffCT]

6. Isn't that the point of the list?

"people who never lived"?

[MissMillie]

10. I read it too quickly

I thought it said "ever"

It's a good thing I'm not an editor.

[YankeyMCC]

4. Buffy listed above Capt Kirk?

I find that hard to believe.

And the "American Cowboy" never existed? Perhaps not the stereotype but certainly there were American Cowboys somewhat resembling what little boys and girls imagine when they play.

And who says Nessie doesn't exist! ;)

[liberal hypnotist]

5. 101 famous types.

I always suspected Kirk and spock were the same person. but, i was afraid to admit it. Bravo for you. I wish Bucky fuller would get some recognition.

[Bassic]

7. The jury is still out on King Arthur,

but even if he did exist, he was surely nothing like the legendary Arthur.

[Maine-ah]

8. what do you mean Santa Claus never lived?!?!

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Prince Charming Lives!!!