“I’m not a doctor, but I play on one TV.” Those words from soap actor Peter Bergman in a 1986 ad for Vicks cough syrup are still some of the most memorable in commercial history, but they also emphasize just how big a role these fake doctors have played in our lives over the years. Medical shows, whether drama or comedy, have always been popular, and the doctors at their core have become some of the most-loved and recognized TV characters of all time.

1. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby, “The Cosby Show”)
Cliff Huxtable was the amiable and bemused center of his household, always ready to deliver advice when he wasn’t at the hospital delivering babies. Bill Cosby’s most indelible character helped the show run for eight seasons from 1984-1992, and it was one of the biggest shows of the 1980s.

2. Doogie Howser (Neil Patrick Harris, “Doogie Howser, M.D.”)
The preternaturally gifted Doogie Howser breezed through school to become a doctor at 16, which meant he had to grapple with the trials of being a teen while also dealing with the adult pressures of the medical world. The show made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, and he’s been in the spotlight ever since.

3. Philip Chandler (Denzel Washington, “St. Elsewhere”)
This NBC drama had its share of young stars on the rise, including Mark Harmon and Howie Mandel, but it was Denzel Washington’s turn as Dr. Chandler that brought an interesting depth to the show and helped catapult Washington to fame.

4. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce (Alan Alda, “M*A*S*H”)
Adapted from Robert Altman’s 1970 film MASH, the long-running TV series was a slightly softened version of the black comedy about doctors in the Korean War (an obvious allegory for the then-current war in Vietnam). Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce acted as the show’s anchor, using humor to deflect the tragedy around him. The series finale was the most-watched program in American history until the 2010 Super Bowl.

5. Doug Ross (George Clooney, “ER”)
“ER” ran for 15 seasons and rotated a huge number of actors through its cast, but initial star George Clooney was the show’s definining presence early on. Doug Ross was a caring pediatrician willing to break the rules to help people. He left the show during its fifth season.

6. Marcus Welby (Robert Young, “Marcus Welby, M.D.”)
Robert Young’s friendly family doctor first appeared in a movie-of-the-week in 1969 before returning as a series later that year and running through 1976. The themes are dated now, but his character remains one of the most indelible TV doctors of the era.

7. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson, “Grey’s Anatomy”)
“Grey’s Anatomy” has been popular since its 2005 debut, and a big part of that is the supporting work of Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey, whose tough persona helps shape the younger doctors.

8. Julius Hibbert (Harry Shearer, “The Simpsons”)
Always chuckling and seemingly indifferent to the ups and downs of life in Springfield, Dr. Hibbert, a spoof of Cosby’s Huxtable, is one of the most enduring and hilarious characters on “The Simpsons,” and a fan favorite. (Plus he’s the long-lost brother of Bleeding Gums Murphy, and how cool is that?)

9. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForrest Kelley, “Star Trek”)
“He’s dead, Jim.” Leonard McCoy was a staple of the original “Star Trek” TV series and later film franchise, known for his dry humor and comic pessimism. He even put in an appearance in the pilot episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

10. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie, “House”)
Hugh Laurie was a well-known comic actor in his native England before his performance as the grizzled Dr. House brought him stateside recognition. House is a tough man, but not without compassion for his fellow doctors and for the sick and suffering. The series has remained popular even after six years on the air.

It can be tough to find straight-forward, honest reporting in today’s heated political world, especially when it comes to hot-button issues like the recently enacted health care reform. Stories that big generate so much coverage that it’s hard to keep it straight. Who’s lying? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s just crazy? Here are ten facts — actual, black and white facts — about health care reform to get you started on the road to truth. This reportage comes from FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan, nonprofit project from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, and PolitiFact.com, a Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking group at the St. Petersburg Times.

1. Health care reform does not mean a “government take-over.” This is one of the trickiest misconceptions about the reform bill. The new law does not place hospitals or doctors under government control, nor does it mean the government will cover all costs. Major things like Medicare, Medicaid, and the insurance you get from your employer won’t change. What’s happening is that the government is creating private exchanges to help people compare prices on insurance policies, and its offering subsidies for poorer families to help them buy insurance. That’s it.

2. Your premium will probably stay the same. For people in the individual market, who do not get their insurance from an employer, the cost of premiums might rise or fall depending on what level of coverage they choose; for example, the greater access to coverage might lead to a bigger plan being purchased. But most Americans get their insurance through an employer, and for those people, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of premiums will hold steady, and mightt decline by a small amount (up to 3 percent).

3. Most abortions will not be federally subsidized. The new law says that a woman receiving federal subsidy money must use her private money to pay for an abortion unless it’s in an instance of rape, incest, or to save the mother’s life. Neither side of the debate is thrilled with the set-up — one group claims that denying funds for a legal medical service is wrong, while the other points out that it’s only elective, non-life-threatening abortions that aren’t federally funded — but the truth of the matter is that the number of abortions would likely stay level.

4. Illegal immigrants aren’t covered. Congressman Joe Wilson became briefly famous for shouting “You lie!” during a joint session of Congress in which President Obama said that health care reforms wouldn’t cover illegal immigrants. But the president’s statement is true: Only legal immigrants will be eligible for the federal subsidies being offered. Anyone here illegally isn’t eligible.

5. You have to have health care. By 2014, everyone must have health care coverage or pay a fine. For many workers who receive coverage through their employers, nothing will change, but for others, they will need to purchase insurance from private companies. However, subsidies will be available for lower income families to help them afford the insurance. Those who don’t have it will pay a fine of $95 in 2014 that will rise to up to 2.6 percent of income by 2016.

6. Pre-existing conditions are a thing of the past. Starting immediately, children under 19 can’t be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and by 2014, no adults can be denied coverage for their pre-existing conditions. Additionally, children can remain dependents on their parents’ plan until they turn 27.

7. Rescissions are also gone. A rescission is the legal unwinding of a contract, and in health care contexts, it means cancellation of coverage. However, from now on, people with insurance won’t lose their coverage because they get sick.

8. Regulation of insurance companies will increase. For instance, preventive care must now be offered to all.

9. Medicare patients will see some price reductions. The so-called “doughnut hole” is a gap in prescription medication costs for seniors, and the health care reforms address that by offering a $250 rebate to help people on Medicare pay for prescription drugs. In 2011, those on Medicare will be able to receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs to help lower their expenses.

10. Congress has to abide by the reforms. Despite claims by opponents, members of Congress must obtain insurance like the rest of us. The new law includes a Republican amendment that members of Congress take themselves out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan and purchase coverage from private exchanges in 2014.