I want to make illustrated characters like on this page
http://www.celebrityscore.com/
scoll down and see the lady at the bottom left.

Can I do this in Poser? If not is there something cheaper than Adobe Illustrator that I can do them in?

thanks,

You should take a look at this tutorial on rendo:

http://www.Renderosity.com/tut.ez?Form.ViewPages=894

and learn that technique, then there was a phyton script somewhere that reduced the z-scale of all the thing on a scend in order to let it look like a cartoon, but I'm not able to find it, it was on rendo...

thanks I will start with that.

Painting and illustration type programs.  Well, several have recommended "free" Deep Paint.  

http://posetteforever.com/viewtopic.php?t=1981

I have it but haven't tried it yet since I have photoshop. I think Deep Paint would be more like PSP or PS than Illustrator, tho.

Thanks I will check that out. I have PSP8 and photoshop CS but hey what's another program right??LOL

If you are looking for 2D paint program, there option.  gimp, that is the program I use for my 2D work, texture painting and postwork, you can find it at this link http://www.gimp.org

Looking at illustrations on the page you linked too, yes they can be done. With Poser and perhaps with some postwork support from a paint program.  I have been wanting to do some experiments in this style.  There is another program that I have heard reference to, but have not found.  It could be of help too. New research and experiments to add to the list of things to try.