So our receptionist at work is currently encumbered with being the highlight of my day - straight down the line, blunt honesty and a sense of humour rare in creatures constructed on an abandonment of all limits of taste. Talking about some bit of work related rubbish the other day we lost our steam simultaneously thinking how life suckingly boring the topic was and she asked what my mother tells her friends I do, surely she tells them I’m in prison rather than admitting I’m a public servant. So in honour of her willingness to cut me down into bite size pieces and her policy of saying nothing about anyone she wouldn’t say to someone’s face today we celebrate the Top 6 Receptionists.

I want to start with two honourable mentions (1) the long running joke of Murphy Brown having a new receptionist for each episode of the long running show, with over 93 secretaries in all including Kramer from ‘Seinfeld’, a crash test dummy and John F. Kennedy Jnr and (2) the receptionist in excellent B-movie ode ‘Slither’ delivering an unfortunate message to a dead pan Nathan Fillion over the radio as Elizabeth Banks ignores his embarassment. Cue laugh out loud from moment from CK.

Shelby: [to Bill, over the car radio] Your momma called. She said the toilet’s all backed up again, wants you to come over as soon as you’re finished there… She said it’s what you done in there on Sunday caused the backup.

6. Janine (Ghostbusters)

Often times taking up Ghostbusting duties, playing a role in a standard unrequited love story (she had a thing for Egon) and of course performing the all important duties of keeping the Ghost Busters business afloat Janine earns her mention for working for the coolest organisation on the list.

5. Carole Parkinson (The Brittas Empire)

A receptionist, as the public face of an organisation has important duties being the public face of the organisation. Ms. Parkinson, recently abandoned by her husband, blubberingly welcomes clients to the leisure at the centre of the TV show, finding time to tend to the babies she keeps in her desk drawers. Making it through the day without an emotional breakdown is a big ask.

4. Dolores Landingham (The West Wing)

Witty repartee, a long history meaning you can willingly scold the leader of he free world and sagely advice on tap means Mrs. Landingham more than deserves her place here and proved a difficult vacancy to follow after the characters untimely death at the end of Season 2.

3. Dawn Tinsley (The Office)

Along with Tim, Dawn forms a part of the straight pair that base the story of ‘The Office’. Amidst the dysfunction on show in the inner workings of the Wernham-Hogg Paper Company theirs is a story of a charming and effective ‘will-they won’t they’ story and Dawn is a more than worthy objective of affection.

(See also: Pam Beesley - The US Office)

2. Lee Holloway (Secretary)

Now here is investment in your job. To describe Lee’s commitment to her boss as unhealthy is perhaps the greatest use of the word ‘understatement’ in modern English language. Undiluted devotion, willing submission to physical subjection and abandonment of basic toileting needs are each job requirements.

1. Miss Moneypenny (James Bond)

Was there any other contender? Mostly desk bound for 21 films she is nevertheless one of the few constants in Commander Bonds life. Until Casino Royale you could rely on her to maintain much class while delivering often cringe worthy double entendres and playing a part of the smooth running of MI6.

See also: Mary Goodnight (secretary to the 00 section - Bond novels)