TV’s 25 Most Reprehensible Characters
If you’re a TV-head like some of us here at Popcrunch, you’ll recognize the loathsome characters listed below. They’re some of TV’s most reprehensible characters – lacking in moral values or sometimes simply common sense. And they don’t just err once in a while but pretty much all the time. They’re the characters we love to hate.
1. Bender, Futurama.
Bender is the ultimate of thieving, selfish, and crude robots is Matt Groening-created cartoon show Futurama. The show was temporarily cancelled, but fan demand brought it back.
2. Syler, Heroes.
A superhuman who gets his power by stealing it from others, which kills them, desires to destroy the world.
3. Archie Bunker, All In The Family.
A highly prejudiced, bigoted blue-collar worker, who believes everyone should feel the same way he does. This was Carroll O’Connor’s greatest role, and so surprising because he was the absolute opposite of the character he played.
4. Mr. (Charles Montgomery) Burns, The Simpsons.
A rich, cruel, evil, money-loving business owner. The video clip below is set to Voltaire’s “When You’re Evil.”
5. Frank Costanza, Seinfeld.
Screaming lunatic that emotionally crippled George Costanza.
6. Dr. Perry Cox, Scrubs.
A sarcastic and bitter but great doctor who cruelly teases his patients and his interns/coworkers alike, even though he wants to be liked.
7. Denny Crane, Boston Legal.
A proud, self-centered, founding partner of the film, who insists he has never lost a case.
8. Red Foreman, That 70’s Show.
Father who mentally and verbally abuses his son while worshipping his stupid, slutty daughter. Watch out for his foot in your ass.
9. Tommy Gavin, Rescue Me.
A self-destructive, manipulative character who is an ill-tempered former alcoholic.
10. Emily Gilmore, Gilmore Girls.
The rich, shallow, bigoted mother who makes life miserable for her daughter and granddaughter.
11. Dale Gribble, King of the Hill.
Self-centered and so incredibly stupid that he doesn’t realized how stupid he really is. Maybe it’s all the insect repellant he’s used for his extermination business. Here’s a live-action interpretation of Dale Gribble, below.
12. Stewie Griffin, Family Guy.
A weapon and sex-obsessed baby baby who dreams of sex, world takeover and killing his mother.
13. Grace Hanadarko, Saving Grace.
A lying, incredibly promiscuous, frequently adulterous, practically alcoholic incredibly competent police woman.
14. Dr. Gregory House, House.
A bitter, loathsome, selfish, nasty and often terrifying doctor who frequently cures his patients through questionable means, and treats his coworkers horribly.
15. Samantha Jones, Sex and the City.
A selfish, confident, and beautiful woman who would willing have sex with anyone that moves at least once. Warning, video below portrays mature subjects.
16. Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld.
Crazy and erratic, loud and obnoxious, seemingly unaware of social norms. Suprisingly befriended by Jerry Seinfeld over Newman. Michael Richards portrayal of Kramer was enhanced by his Vaudevillian-style physical comedy.
17. Vic Mackey, The Shield.
The leader of a police station and a man who will do anything to maintain justice and profit for himself.
18. Dr. Gregory Pratt, ER.
A cocky, proud, and successful physician who takes unnecessary risks, but in his personal and career life.
19. Michael Scofield, Prison Break.
A cold but empathetic creative genius who is trying to break himself and his brother out of prison.
20. Dwight, The Office.
A naïve, barely competent salesman who has an over-important view of himself and thinks the world should worship him.
21. Homer Simpson, The Simpsons.
Horrifyingly stupid person who is also lazy and self-centered, but who loves his family dearly.
22. Arvin Sloane, Alias.
The leader of SD-6, calculating, cold, cruel, and manipulative. The ultimate bad guy.
23. Christian Troy, Nip/Tuck.
An overpaid womanizer who spends his money on big-name products to make himself look as important as he thinks he is, and cares only about himself. The ultimate hedonist. (Warning: coarse language and mature topics in video below.)
24. Donald Trump, The Apprentice.
Trump is a rich, senile, toupeed old man who gives himself more credit than he’s worth. And after uttering “you’re fired” to numerous Apprentices, the king of real estate bankruptcy was fired himself, with CBS cancelling the show.
25. Kerry Weaver, ER.
An ambitious, cold and abrasive, lesbian physician who has a son of whom she is highly protective.
Not enough loathsome characters? Here’s a bonus short list, below.
Bonus 3-Pack of Reprehensibility
Technically, Seinfeld had a whole crew of reprehensible characters due to their apathy. And Bender first appeared on a Simpson’s episide, if we’re not mistaken. But King of Queens is a show where all three of the main characters are reprehensible in their own right (with the talented Jerry Stiller appearing in this article twice).
- Carrie Heffernan. Pretty and intelligent, but manipulative, bossy, mouthy, mean and often selfish.
- Doug Heffernan. Lazy, self-centered and stupid, but with a good sense of humor.
- Arthur Spooner. Screaming lunatic – see “Frank Costanza, Seinfeld,” above. Arthur Spooner must be one of the worst dads in the history of TV, with Archie Bunker and Homer Simpson coming close.
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On November 15th 2007, james wrote:
HOW COULD YOU FORGET BARNIE FROM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER?!?!
On November 15th 2007, Daniel wrote:
Cool list I guess…
Although Dwight is actually an exceptional salesman. Kinda kills your credibility when you describe him as “barely competent”.
On November 15th 2007, IPTV Spy wrote:
@James
ughh because no one watches that show lol.
On November 15th 2007, DNA wrote:
Certainly not an “… of all time” list.
On November 1st 2008, sydney wrote:
I COMPLETELY agree with the first commenter.
Although I don’t watch the show that much,
he has to be on this list. Really.
On November 23rd 2008, Noah Hunter wrote:
These lists are little too off-hand to be good. If you are going to sit down and do the thing, do it right. And, once you’ve got your list, at least spend a little time on the comments to justify it an please don’t get things wrong.
Notes:
As previously mentioned, part of the funny thing about the obnoxious Dwight is that he and Jim are by far and away the best salesman despite polar opposite personalities. Plus, Dwight has become fairly simpathetic in the latest season.
Perry Cox is a complicated guy (for a sitcom). He’s really not that awful. He saves a lot of patients, is tough on people, but usually in a tough love/drill sargeant kind of way and loves his son. Not deserving of the list.
How is Kramer on this list? He was a goof, but by no means loathesome. And, his child like qualities were rather endearing. You wouldn’t want him as a dad, but he’s a pretty great wacky neighbor.
Greg Pratt from ER? I’m not even sure how to make a case for him being loathesome, but suffice it to say that he wasn’t even the most loathesome character on the show. Dr. Romano, anyone? The redhead idiot who becomes chief resident? The cheating ex-husband, Al, who gave Jeanie AIDS? The drug-addled, baby bearing sister? The perpetraters of genecide in Rawanda. Okay, that one’s a bit of a stretch…
And, how is Michael from Prison Break loathesome. This is a guy who throws away a successful life and career to save his brother from prison and then tries to defeat an evil organization that whats to mess with the world. Sure, he’s got a screw loss (or, perhaps, many screws way too tight,) but his heart is in the right place.
On February 21st 2009, Amanda wrote:
Dr. House should NOT be on this list!!
How about George Hearst on DEADWOOD played by GERALD MCRANEY? Does anyone have ANY sympathy for him??
On April 27th 2009, Stephanie wrote:
Did the writer of this article even watch any of these shows? Dr. Kerry Weaver was one of the most compassionate characters on the show. At least do your homework. Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy is way less likeable then Kerry Weaver.
On October 10th 2009, Annie wrote:
Dan Scott from One Tree Hill is pretty damn nefarious himself. Dan is so evil, he neglects or threatens his eldest son, Lucas, whom he abandoned while the mother was still pregnant; he bullies and psychologically abuses his younger son, Nathan, until the kid nearly becomes a selfish, angry, malevolent S.O.B. himself; he emotionally batters his wife, driving her to attempted murder and a substance abuse problem. Worst of all, in season 3, Mr. Scott murders his own brother in cold blood.
Dan Scott has “reprehensible” in spades.
On November 11th 2009, Kerry wrote:
I like Samantha Jones..