Charlene is my favorite character on the show, and one of the best on TV. Few sitcoms have someone who could be naive as well as poignant. Charlene could be ditzy and easily distracted, but she also carried most of DW's dramatic moments. She was just as convincing talking about a visit with her psychic as she was in dealing with loss of faith in her minister. How many other sitcom characters showed so many dimensions? Charlene also seems like the most realistic character, thanks to the superb acting of Jean Smart and the brilliance of the writers.

I love her exuberance, enthusiasm and, most of all, heart. She was such a caring person, always concerned with others and never dismissive. She was equally as interested in a stranger on a singles cruise as she was in her friends. She could always find something interesting about a person, even if she had just met them. Charlene always found something good about everyone.

No wonder the show pretty much fell apart when Jean Smart left. DW could have survived without a character like Suzanne, but Charlene was the heart and conscience of the show. No matter how funny Jan Hooks was, can you picture her character Carlene dealing with a cancer scare or offering shelter to an abused friend?

Jean Smart is one of my favorite actresses. i don't think she gets enough credit for how good she is. I'd love to see her back on television in a regular role. (now that Samantha Who is cancelled)

I also agree Charlene is such a loving character! I think out of every character in tv i can relate most to her we are both very naive and we both love random stories and i love finding something in someone to! ^-^