Lessons from Michael Scott, Mr. Burns and 8 Other TV Bosses

1. Michael Scott, 'The Office.' As regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, PA, Michael Scott has what every one of us should strive for -- the ability to be a social outcast woefully lacking in people skills but still holding an extremely high opinion of himself. Just think of the power! No more feeling bad because you're a complete loser. No more diving into a carton of Haagen-Dazs when your day doesn't go right. Plus, you can do anything, including drive a forklift in the warehouse.



2. Mr. Burns, 'The Simpsons.' Sure, he may be known as an evil capitalist who forgets the names of his employees, but we like to think of this power plant boss as simply resourceful. After all, he's Springfield's richest man (with a net worth estimated at $1.3 billion by Forbes), and he got that way by eschewing safety, shunning public opinion and pursuing wealth at all costs. He even knows how to run for office -- by assembling the finest campaign team money can buy. Excellent!



3. Jack Donaghy, '30 Rock.' The Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Programming proves that all you need to make it in business is a great idea for a Trivection oven. Jack's had his ups and downs, but anyone who can write a book called 'Jack Attack: The Art of Aggression in Business' is bound to come out on top. Sometimes all you need is a laser shield.



4. Wilhelmina Slater, 'Ugly Betty.' Sometimes a boss's best asset is her ability to make life miserable for anyone who gets in her way. As the creative director of MODE Magazine, Wilhelmina has pulled many tricks out of her couture hat, including seducing the mag's chairman and working over its hospitalized owner. Let's do this!



5. Gordon Ramsay, 'Hell's Kitchen.' It's a wonder that Chef Ramsay is still alive at this point, after dishing out his infamous temper tantrums and expletive-filled outbursts. He even wrote the book on offensive insults, but can you blame him? Is it that hard to follow simple orders? Step outside, man!



6. Buck Strickland, 'King of the Hill.' If you're going to be a boss, you'd better learn how to delegate. Nobody does it better than Mr. Strickland, head of Strickland Propane. Let's face it, though -- there's no better person to run things than the propane-obsessed Hank Hill. In fact, he often serves as Buck's lone guidance counselor, but sometimes that task is too much even for Hank.



7. Ari Gold, 'Entourage.' Violent temper tantrums, racial slurs and making people miserable is all part of a day's work for Vincent Chase's back-stabbing agent. But hey, sometimes that's what it takes to get your client the best deal possible at the end of the day. Keep in mind that he's a very calm person.



8. Mal Reynolds, 'Firefly.' Seriously, who wouldn't want to work with (or be, for that matter) Mal Reynolds? The scrappy captain of the Serenity is handsome, witty, charming and resourceful. He's got it all, and he's also a powerful negotiator. Go, Space Cowboy!



9. Tony Soprano, 'The Sopranos.' It's good to have a backup plan, and for the boss of the DiMeo crime family, that's a waste management business. Because when your work involves covering up misdeeds, murdering malcontents and collecting hefty fees under the table, you just never know what the day might bring, including a car chase.



10. Rupert Giles, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' As the vampire slayer's watcher, Giles has some tough roles to play, including protector, trainer, friend and sage. Anyone would be thrilled to have such a dedicated person looking out for them. Even so, sometimes it all comes down to delivering bad news.



Who are your favorite TV bosses?

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