The Ultimate Roster of TV's Most Infuriating Characters Ever
Unbearable and exasperating, these 10 TV characters have left viewers cringing From irritating co-workers to insufferable family members, they have earned their spot as the most annoying in television history
Television is filled with characters that audiences simply can't stand - whether it's intentional or unintentional - and there are a handful of TV characters that are exceptionally annoying. The enduring nature of TV shows means that certain characters are bound to overstay their welcome, unlike in movies where excessively long franchises are rare. Characters may be written as irritating to give audiences a reason to root for their enemies (who are often the main characters), or perhaps there's just something captivating about an aggravating character that viewers secretly enjoy, even if they won't admit it. The annoyingness of characters is subjective, naturally. While some may find irritating traits in a comedy show to be funny or even endearing, others may despise a secondary character who opposes a morally corrupt protagonist, yet some may appreciate the moral superiority that the secondary character represents, finding it a refreshing change after being exposed to the protagonist's nastiness for so long. However, there are instances when everyone agrees on a character's vexing nature. With that in mind, here are the top ten most annoying TV characters of all time, inspired by a Reddit thread.
10 Craig Middlebrooks – Parks and Recreation
One interesting aspect of the Parks and Recreation writing formula was the way certain characters were crafted to have intense personalities in order to be exaggerated and entertaining.
9 Georgina Sparks – Gossip Girl
Craig Middlebrooks, portrayed by Billy Eichner, made his debut in the sixth season of the critically acclaimed NBC sitcom and quickly became a memorable character. With his hyperactivity, larger-than-life presence, and incredibly high-strung nature, Craig fulfilled his role of amusing and irritating viewers. His excessive enthusiasm and perfectionism often got him into trouble, while his boundless energy resulted in many amusing moments. While Craig certainly brought a vibrant presence to the show, there is no denying that his exuberance could be somewhat grating on television.
Georgina Sparks, the character who manipulates and betrays those around her, lacks any endearing qualities. In Gossip Girl, she enters as Serena van der Woodsen's former friend and continuously reappears to create chaos and drama. Georgina's schemes consistently result in conflict and tension, with no positive outcomes for the group. Remarkably, she shows no remorse for her actions and doesn't seek forgiveness from the audience.
8 Sheldon Cooper – The Big Band Theory / Young Sheldon
Despite the franchisement of the megahit comedy series The Big Bang Theory centering around Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons in the main show and Iain Armitage in Young Sheldon), there are few characters who have quite the ability to make the skin crawl like him. Never in television has a character been so oblivious to their own actions and behaviors, displaying an overwhelming level of arrogance and insensitivity, a complete lack of personal growth, and an unwavering rigidity and inflexibility in every aspect of their life that is truly mind-boggling. Sheldon Cooper's Big Bang Theory friendships are consistently marred by his constant antics and idiosyncrasies, which are even more noticeable in the main show, making the decision to have a prequel focused solely on him simply inconceivable.
7 Andrea Harrison – The Walking Dead
The annoying characters we often see on drama shows are usually a result of poor writing rather than thoughtful choices made by the producers. Unfortunately for Laurie Holden, who played Andrea in the television adaptation, her character took a completely different path compared to the one in the comic books, and it did not benefit anyone. Adapting source material is always challenging, but Andrea's storyline in The Walking Dead was almost disrespectful to fans of the comics. They watched as she continuously made illogical, impulsive, and inconsistent choices without any clear motivations. Ultimately, this lack of motivation ruined the character and made it impossible for audiences to relate to her.
6 Robert California – The Office (American Remake)
The Office's American remake experienced a decline in quality during its final two seasons, mainly due to the absence of Steve Carrell's iconic character, Michael Scott. Without Michael, the show struggled to fill the void and resorted to introducing a mix of established and new characters. One of these new additions was Robert California, played by the highly regarded actor James Spader. However, despite Spader's talents, the character of Robert California failed to capture any charm, symbolizing the shift from lighthearted and endearing comedy to a charmless and absurd drama that lacked humor.
5 Ziggy Sobotka – The Wire
Regarded as one of the greatest shows in history, The Wire introduced audiences to a plethora of remarkable characters who have since become iconic figures in the realm of television. It comes as no surprise that Ziggy, portrayed by James Ransone, was purposely crafted to be exasperating. Perpetually inept, immature, reckless, and self-sabotaging, Ziggy was a glaring anomaly amidst a sea of ambitious and capable individuals who consistently overshadowed him. The complexity and skillful writing behind Ziggy's character deserve admiration rather than criticism for his irksome nature.
4 Scrappy-Doo – Scooby-Doo
Part of the brilliance of the character Scrappy-Doo from Hanna-Barbera, who frequently played the role of an antagonist to Scooby and the gang in numerous animated and live-action versions of Scooby-Doo, lay in his diminutive size. He possessed a non-threatening, rat-like appearance, making him easily kickable. However, Scrappy's brilliance ended there, as he failed to garner any serious appreciation from audiences. This became problematic when his presence started to disrupt the dynamic of the gang after his introduction. The excessive exposure to him quickly led to fatigue, his repetitive catchphrases became grating, and his appearances often detracted from the beloved mystery-solving elements of the stories. His brash and obnoxious behavior left many fans feeling that he would have been better off excluded.
3 David Brent – The Office (UK Version)
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's groundbreaking sitcom, The Office, revolutionized the landscape of Western comedy television like few other shows. This drab and dingy mockumentary, set in a small paper merchant in Slough, England, introduced us to the utterly inept, delusional, and utterly repulsive David Brent, flawlessly portrayed by Gervais. Despite his Shakespearean tragic elements, Brent's desperate yearning for acceptance, his oppressive demeanor, and his complete disregard for social norms make him seemingly unforgivable. Nevertheless, he undeniably stands as one of the most impeccably crafted comedy characters of all time, even though the series only spanned fourteen episodes.
2 Janice Soprano – The Sopranos
Though there are numerous instances in television dramas where characters are disliked for rightfully disapproving of the immoral actions of the main protagonists (such as Skyler White in Breaking Bad, who is the most prominent and extreme example), audiences generally found Janice Soprano's conflicts with her brother Tony to be quite irritating. While Janice may attempt to thwart the malevolent Tony, her own manipulative nature, hypocrisy, and sheer arrogance make her impossible to be liked and easy to hate. It seems as though she lacks empathy for others and may even be incapable of experiencing genuine emotions. As an example, she manipulates Bobby Baccalieri shortly after he becomes a widower and eventually marries him partially for financial gain, contributing to her inclusion on this list.
1 Ross Geller – Friends
Few comedy characters have been as polarizing as Ross Geller, the self-pitying, set-in-his-ways, passionate paleontologist brilliantly portrayed by David Schwimmer. While the quality of Friends may have started to decline around the fifth and sixth seasons, Ross's irritating qualities were evident from the very beginning, even in his very first line. The sorrowful and unforgettable "Hi..." instantly made Ross a nuisance, and despite occasional glimpses of personal growth throughout the series, Ross remained the most bothersome of the group. The show's clever comedic writing still makes it enjoyable to watch, even with Ross's presence, and the writers deserve credit for that.
