The worst characters to ever appear on our television screens are guaranteed to spark a debate. With the addition of new characters, many casting directors have improved a series. There were times, however, when they didn’t get it right. In the opinion of many, these are some of the characters who ruined otherwise excellent television shows! We sincerely hope you will not find your favorite on this list.
These Awful Characters Ended Up Ruining Otherwise Great TV Shows
Cindy – Three’s Company
In the fifth season of Three’s Company, we met Cindy Snow in the midst of a dramatic plotline. Suzanne Somers had just left the show, so the producers tried to make up for it by casting Jenilee Harrison to play Cindy. Her portrayal as an irritating and sassy blonde irritated fans more than anything else. Later, she landed a better part in Dallas.
Cindy – Three’s Company
Randy Pearson – That ’70s Show
Many fans of That ’70s Show despised the addition of this character in the eighth season. Josh Meyers created Randy Pearson to replace the main cast staple Eric when Topher Grace left the show. Throughout the season, the character dated Donna and worked at the record store with Hyde. He was compared to Kelso and Eric, both of whom had left the show. The character was not made any more likable by the fact that he had big shoes to fill.
Randy Pearson – That ’70s Show
Seven – Married… With Children
Seven proved to be such an unpopular character that they later turned him into a missing person whose face was added to a milk carton. He was the seventh kid of Zemus Wanker and Ida Mae. How fitting is it that he appeared in the seventh season of Married… with Children? Viewers thought he was even nastier than a typical young boy. Fans so disliked the character that the producers decided to kill him off in the middle of the season. He didn’t want to leave after going to the neighbor, according to the cover story.
Seven – Married… With Children
Nellie Bertram – The Office
Catherine Tate first appeared in The Office during a seventh-season guest appearance, but we only knew more about her in the following season. Andy was fired mainly because of her character! Not only that, but she was an outsider who would have made an awful boss. We must admit, the actress did an excellent job portraying the character. Fans began to warm up to her after she and Andy reconciled in the ninth season. However, by that time, it was too little, too late.
Nellie Bertram – The Office
Ted Mosby – How I Met Your Mother
Yes, Ted Mosby is the main character of How I Met Your Mother. Josh Radnor brought him to life, but a lot of people hated the character! He not only took nine years to share a single story, but he also got away with a lot on the show. Viewers also criticized his character for being too cheesy and sensitive. Aiden Mason of TV Over Mind said, “type of guy that guys can’t stand—and women can’t either.” There is even a website made by his haters called Tedmosbysucks.com. Ouch.
Ted Mosby – How I Met Your Mother
Wesley Crusher – Star Trek: The Next Generation
Wesley Crusher was one of the regular characters on Star Trek: The Next Generation for the first four seasons. However, he only made sporadic appearances in the next three thanks to the fans’ negative reception. In a show like this, viewers simply did not buy into the “genius kid” trope. To be fair, it appeared that the writers were unable to communicate effectively with young people. Because of the mediocre writing and his California diction, people perceived him as smug and dismissive.
Wesley Crusher – Star Trek The Next Generation
Nikki And Paolo – Lost
According to E! Online, Nikki and Paolo make up one of the “Worst TV Couples Ever.” Fans despised these Lost characters because their plot did not fit in with the rest of the cast. The show was already perplexing enough, so this only added to the confusion. The con artist and actress were only on the show for a short time before being paralyzed and buried alive. Oh, and did we mention they killed someone on the way to the island? The writers hoped to be redeemed, but their hopes were dashed. Damon Lindelof, the show’s creator, even admitted how unlikable the two are.
Nikki And Paolo – Lost
Priya Koothrappali – The Big Bang Theory
Aarti Mann showed up in The Big Bang Theory to play Raj’s younger sister. Many fans regard her as the fourth season’s main antagonist. Since her first appearance on the show, she was a corporate lawyer, the fans have despised her. Part of it stems from the way she cheated on Leonard. The breakup occurred in the fifth season’s seventh episode. She and Penny, of course, did not get along!
Priya Koothrappali – The Big Bang Theory
Cousin Oliver – The Brady Bunch
Robbie Rist played Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch. However, people disliked the character so much that it developed into a trope called” Cousin Oliver Syndrome.” This term refers to a young character introduced to an old show and needs to shake things up. Unfortunately, many people believe that typecasting only degrades shows. Oliver acted as if he were a human disaster magnet. He caused a slew of issues and threw the series off balance. Today agrees that Cousin Oliver “killed” the series. Oof.
Cousin Oliver – The Brady Bunch
Stephanie Mills – All In The Family
Up next, we have another child character that was despised by the fans. Stephanie Mills was introduced as the niece of Archie Bunker in All in the Family. Her alcoholic father abandoned her and left her on their front porch. Unfortunately, her tragic backstory did not warm the hearts of her fans. People believed she had ruined the family’s dynamic. On the other hand, some viewers thought she was an excellent counterpoint to Archie’s liberal views. He was initially dismissive of her because she was Jewish.
Stephanie Mills – All In The Family
Emily – Friends
To be fair, Emily was a popular character on Friends when she first appeared. This did not last long, however, as fans assumed she was stealing Ross from Rachel. The couple was about to tie the knot when he addressed her as “Rachel” during their vows! Fans were relieved when the relationship ended because she was irrational and jealous. She not only wanted him to join her in London, but she also wanted him to cut ties with the rest of the gang. We can see why fans thought he escaped with his life!
Emily – Friends
Nathan Riggs – Grey’s Anatomy
Many fans despise this character because it was poorly conceived, according to Ellen Pompeo. Patrick Dempsey’s character was her love interest for a long time. Nathan Riggs appeared on the show way too soon, according to fans. Martin Henderson played the character, though the timing could have been better. Later, the actress stated that ABC made a mistake by doing so. They wrote him out in 2017 to be with his fiancée and start a new life with her.
Nathan Riggs – Grey’s Anatomy
Billie – Charmed
TV viewers simply adored Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory. It was for that role that she became one of the most well-known stars in the television industry! Penny did not have the same appeal as Billie in Charmed, to put it mildly. The actress made her first appearance in the eighth season’s first episode. She possessed telekinesis and projection in addition to basic witch abilities. Fans disliked her right away, but things got even worse after reuniting with her sister and joining the dark side.
Billie – Charmed
Reagan Lucas – New Girl
Reagan Lucas was brought to life on New Girl by Megan Fox. Fans openly despised the character and blamed her for Nick’s “gross behavior.” The reality is that this isn’t correct. Reagan, in any case, vanished from the show after her breakup with Nick. Their inability to show emotions was a factor in their breakup. She was written as a cool and confident woman with a no-nonsense attitude. The actress appeared on the show while Zooey Deschanel was on maternity leave.
Reagan Lucas – New Girl
Dawn Summers – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dawn Summers was the sister of Buffy on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played by Michelle Trachtenberg, she was a potential slayer herself. However, fans did not take them to her. They thought the introduction upset the status quo because she suddenly appeared in the fifth season and played a big part in the storyline. On top of that, they just found her plain annoying because she was always complaining. In hindsight, however, she was clearly trying to step out of the shadow of her sister!
Dawn Summers – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Castiel – Supernatural
We are confident that many people will object to his inclusion on the list. During the fifth season, Castiel became a regular on the show. There were a few things about the character that fans didn’t like. For starters, remember that he absorbed the souls of the Leviathans and declared himself God. There was also “Cassifer,” the Castiel who allowed Lucifer to take over this body. Fans were outraged at how he agreed to such a destructive act. Even though he could be amusing at times, he was hit or miss.
Castiel – Supernatural
Ramsay Bolton – Game Of Thrones
According to The Atlantic, this guy was “the worst character on television.” A quick poll also confirmed this. Not only in the fantasy series but also in real life, people thought his crimes were outrageous. Let us not forget that he tortured Theon Greyjoy to the point where he lost half his weight, and his hair turned white, giving him the appearance of an older man. Unfortunately, the actor’s hatred for the character appeared to have spilled over into his hatred for the character. This, according to Iwan Rheon, was the case!
Ramsay Bolton – Game Of Thrones
Criss Chros – 30 Rock
Chris Chros made his first appearance on the show in an episode called “Idiots are People Two!” People thought Liz Lemon, who James Marden played, could do better. Well, they were not wrong about that. The protagonist was a hot dog vendor who studied ethnomusicology in college. There was a lot of backlash on Twitter when he joined the cast. On the other hand, fans thought it was a good idea to pair her with someone who wasn’t quite as ambitious.
Criss Chros – 30 Rock
Marc Brendanawicz – Parks And Recreation
It is not a secret that many fans are devoted to Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation. This is most likely why they despised Mark Brendanawicz, who appeared on the show for the first two seasons. The city planner was brought to life by Paul Schneider. Despite Leslie’s strong feelings for him, he dismissed her and went on to date her best friend! Many fans were relieved when the character was killed off after the second season. According to the actor, he left due to “creative differences” about how his character should be written. Leslie and Ben work well together, so it was probably for the best.
Marc Brendanawicz – Parks And Recreation
Scrappy Doo – Scooby-Doo
In the 1970s and 1980s, Hanna-Barbera added Scrappy Doo to the Scooby-Doo cast to boost the show’s ratings. He was our favorite great Dane’s nephew, and he actually helped boost the ratings at first. However, fans eventually soured on this animated puppy. Viewers found him unlikable, frustrating, and rude. They made him the main villain in the live-action Scooby-Doo adaptation. This was apparently at the director James Gunn’s request!
Scrappy Doo – Scooby-Doo
Cole Aaronson – Scrubs
It felt like Cole Aaronson of Scrubs was tailor-made to be hated by fans. Dave Franco portrayed him as a snobby, disrespectful intern who only got the job because of his parents. They did, after all, construct the hospital! Furthermore, he was constantly hitting on Denise and claiming that he could get away with it because of his parents’ influence. He served as a comedic foil for the rest of the crew, despite having his own funny lines. Fans despised him, but he did provide a lot of laughs!
Cole Aaronson – Scrubs
Madison ‘Badison’ Murphy – Orange Is The New Black
The Orange Is the New Black fandom united thanks to its hatred of Madison. According to The Guardian, she is “the most annoying character on television.” Meanwhile, Screen Rant said that it had been a “casting decision that hurt the show.” Also known as “Badison,” the character was introduced as a villain during the sixth season. She was unpopular due to her snobbishness and self-centered attitude. On the show, there were villains that people seemed to despise, but she surpassed them all!
Madison ‘Badison’ Murphy – Orange Is The New Black
Screech – Saved By The Bell: The College Years
Dustin Diamond brought Screech to life during season one of Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the show’s only season. His college iteration sparked hatred among fans, even though he was a beloved character in the original series. It turned out that the actor was aware that this was the case. In an interview in 2000, he stated that the writers tried to “destroy” the character on purpose. Oh well, maybe it was just him showing up at an inconvenient time.
Screech – Saved By The Bell The College Years
Declan Porter – Revenge
On Revenge, Declan Porter was introduced as Jack’s younger brother. He was also Charlotte Clarke’s boyfriend, and he turned down Amanda’s romantic advances. He had always encouraged his older brother, Emily, to date. In the end, he was killed in a bombing attack shortly after learning that he and Charlotte were expecting a child. Despite his tragic story, fans were unconcerned about his death because he was already disliked at the time. His fans thought he was whiny and had strange hair!
Declan Porter – Revenge
Hades – Once Upon A Time
Greg Germann brought Hades to life in Once Upon a Time. People despised his relationship with Zelena, which they thought was illogical. After all, he wreaked havoc on the show while attempting to reclaim the title of King of the Underworld. He made his debut in the twelfth episode of the fifth season. He pretends to love her because he believes he can make his plan work. It is a good thing that she realized that this was the case before it was too late. She killed him in the end by plunging a crystal into him!
Hades – Once Upon A Time
Lila West – Dexter
Since Lila West was evil and insane, we doubt anyone liked her with the protagonist. When she died, fans were ecstatic, but they did not enjoy the second season because of her. A fan described it as “cringe-worthy”! In any case, Dexter got rid of her by killing her in a remote location. Jamie Murray portrayed the character as an “unhinged mistress,” according to Digital Spy. While some fans defended her as an antagonist, others objected to her being the main character’s love interest.
Lila West – Dexter
Maya Herrera – Heroes
Maya Herrera did not ruin the show, but she did have a strange superpower! She could create a lethal poison that would kill any nearby human in a matter of seconds. Her eyes would turn black, and a stream of black tears would flow whenever she did this. People in her immediate vicinity develop the same symptom and die. Her superpower, which got out of hand whenever she was stressed, required the assistance of her twin brother to be deactivated. It felt like a liability rather than a useful ability! When her power was taken away, she was reduced to a plot device.
Maya Herrera – Heroes
April Nardini – Gilmore Girls
According to the AV Club, this storyline was “the worst thing” to ever happen on Gilmore Girls. Luke and Lorelai had broken up because of her, but she was his daughter! Vanessa Marano, who played her, said she disliked the character because it caused the couple to break up. Despite her dissatisfaction, she continued to play the part because she knew it would benefit her career. According to her, it was crucial for her not to “care” that the show’s fans despised her.
April Nardini – Gilmore Girls
Andy Bernard – The Office
Who would have thought that we would get another entry from The Office? Andy Bernard, played by Ed Helms, was a fantastic character who lasted until the ninth season. You might say that the fault is with Nellie Bertram since she ruined his life, but he was undeniably unlikable in the ninth season. He ditched Erin after chasing her down in Florida and being fired as a result. He then went on a boat trip and abandoned the rest of the team to pursue a career as an actor-singer, even though he was terrible at it…
Andy Bernard – The Office
April Rhodes – Glee
When it comes to April Rhodes, the Gleeks are split. She was a former star who had returned to the club to lend a hand. She was a guest star in the first two seasons of the show. Her fans found her obnoxious and repulsive. In fact, Buzzfeed said she was “dumb, so annoying, [and] selfish.” The NY Times agreed and said that she was an “inconsistent” character. They thought it was strange that her admission to the Glee Club was based on the fact that she had not completed high school.
April Rhodes – Glee
Anna – One Tree Hill
Fans generally adored the entire cast of One Tree Hill, save for Anna Taggaro. Sadly, the writers made her a flat character that brought neither “heart nor humor,” according to Screen Rant. She failed to make an impression on viewers, which was unfortunate because she was one of the few LGBTQ+ characters on the show. She didn’t have any chemistry with Lucas, and she wasn’t a good friend to Peyton either. She was unlikable, which is why fans were relieved when she vanished in the middle of the series.
Anna – One Tree Hill
Joffrey – Game Of Thrones
Do we really need to go into detail about how many unpleasant characters there are on Game of Thrones? Joffrey, on the other hand, has to be one of the most despised. He was a self-centered, spoiled brat who rose to the position of king. Imagine your typical bully being elevated to the position of King of the Country. He began as an annoying character before transforming into a murderer. Many people, including Sansa Stark, exhaled a sigh of relief when Olenna Tyrell finally poisoned him at his own wedding.
Joffrey – Game Of Thrones
Jenny Humphries – Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl’s Jenny Humphries was not a fan favorite. The characters all acted badly, but no one was more obnoxious than this one. This is why so few people were willing to put up with her bad behavior. Furthermore, she kept repeating the same pattern. She’d start by doing something that would annoy her family. She came to her senses and made amends when she realized she had been wrong. On the other hand, she never learned and continued to do the same thing repeatedly!
Jenny Humphries – Gossip Girl
3J – Family Matters
On Family Matters, Orlando Brown portrayed Jerry Jamal Jameson, also known as 3J. He later developed a meth addiction. Many fans thought he was disrespectful and rude because, despite taking him in, he showed no gratitude to the family. What Culture said he was an “annoying character” that was there to “boost ratings.” Introduced in season eight, his introduction jarred viewers. By season nine, it was pretty much “The Steve Urkel Show” and got canceled before 3J got a conclusion.
3J – Family Matters
Nicky And Alex – Full House
We agree that Alex and Nicky Katsopolis were both adorable, but they weren’t the best Full House characters. Without the subtitles, you wouldn’t be able to understand them! On top of this, they did not have a lot to do with the real plot. They were Uncle Jesse’s children, but not as bad as Michelle Tanner’s. Michelle acted up and messed with his musical instruments. While she was adorable, many people believed she acted in ways that their own parents would not have tolerated.
Nicky And Alex – Full House
Gertrude – Frasier
Indeed, they did not make Gertrude Moon a likable person on purpose. While staying with Daphne and Niles, she was an overbearing guest who overstayed her welcome. She was able to get a job at a café, but everyone despised her. Millicent Martin, a British actress, did an excellent job portraying her, but the character was written as whiny and domineering. Her fans believed she was far too one-dimensional.
Gertrude – Frasier
Dana Brody – Homeland
Netizens were not very kind to Dana Brody of Homeland either. The Daily Beast said that she was “TV’s most annoying character.” Morgan Saylor played her as a whiny adolescent who claimed she wanted to “provoke fans.” People thought she was annoying because she had the same expression all the time. Buzzfeed even made a list of her expressions, which were all the same!
Dana Brody – Homeland
Janine – Friends
Joey’s roommate, Janine, was introduced. Fans did not like her even though she only appeared in five episodes in the fifth season. To be fair, she did try to break up the group by saying that once Chandler and Monica started dating, she didn’t want him around them. He was too “blah,” she said, and she was too loud. Joey, fortunately, did not agree with her request! That was quite a relief, wasn’t it?
Janine – Friends
Marina Nunier – Elite
Elite is a fairly new Spanish high school drama. Marina Nunier Osuna is not one of the most popular characters on the show. She gets together with Samuel, which ends when he realizes that the child’s father is actually his brother. Fans, as you might expect, thought she was being too sneaky. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter because she died in the end. We won’t tell you who killed her, though!
Marina Nunier – Elite
Paige Jennings – The Americans
NJ.com said Paige Jennings was “the most hated character” on The Americans. The least liked character in a spy show is the main character’s teen daughter. Maybe her fans don’t like her ugly jeans and sweaters. If not that, perhaps it’s how she lists her accomplishments without anyone asking her about it. This show is critically acclaimed, but it did not perform well in the ratings.
Paige Jennings – The Americans
Dr. Jo Wilson – Grey’s Anatomy
We can’t deny that Jo Wilson was cool and calm in several scenes. However, there were far too many times when she was simply not herself. She found it hard to express her emotions and bottled up her feelings. In the eyes of many fans, this made her annoying. Did you know that Camilla Luddington, who played her, also starred in the Tomb Raider games as Lara Croft? That’s fantastic!
Dr. Jo Wilson – Grey’s Anatomy
Hazel Wassername – 30 Rock
When Kristen Schaal played Hazel Wassername in 30 Rock, Liz Lemon said that character was “just another weird page,” and she already had one. The side character was brought in to spice it up, but fans were not yet over Kenneth. Hazel’s desire to have Liz all to herself didn’t help matters. EW launched a campaign to oust her and reintroduce Kenneth! She appeared in two seasons of the show.
Hazel Wassername – 30 Rock
Marie – Breaking Bad
On Breaking Bad, Marie Schrader has to be one of the most annoying characters. People thought she was arrogant, neurotic, and untrustworthy. She also thought she was better than others, even though she was a kleptomaniac. Some people seemed to find this more irritating than dealing meth, but oh well! Many also thought it was messed up that she told Walt to end his life.
Marie – Breaking Bad
Tori – Saved By The Bell
Tori appeared in the fifth season of Saved by the Bell. How annoying was she? Well, Funny or Die created a skit about the character asking why she did not get an invite to the reunion special. The only reason for this was that her fans disliked her. Tiffani Thiesen and Elizabeth Berkley were supposed to be replaced by Leanna Creel, but let’s just say it wasn’t a popular choice.
Tori – Saved By The Bell
Andrea – The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead had a high turnover rate, which explains why many of the characters were disliked by fans. Fans typically did not see a lot of backstories. Andrea, played by Laurie Holden, is one such example. She appeared in a lot of scenes with overs, and fans thought she was annoying and didn’t add much to the show. After the third season, the producers decided to fire her. The actress said she felt “like [she] got shot.”
Andrea – The Walking Dead
CJ – 8 Simple Rules
David Spade joined the cast of 8 Simple Rules in 2004. C.J., Cate Hennessy’s nephew, was played by him. He was always getting himself into mischief and giving his cousins bad advice. On the show, the character got into a lot of mischiefs. It’s difficult to say whether or not fans disliked the actor or the character. Even though he broke away from the typical sitcom format, the novelty did not last long.
CJ – 8 Simple Rules
Sherloque Wells – The Flash
Sherloque Wells was such a divisive character that fans started a “Sherloque hate post.” On the show, he was Harrison’s doppelganger. Many fans thought he was far too one-dimensional, particularly as the main antagonist. Was there anything redeeming about this character? Not to mention the fact that he revealed Nora’s secret to the entire crew. According to Digital Spy, even Cavanagh, the actor, expressed “doubts” about the character’s longevity.
Sherloque Wells – The Flash
Kennedy – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
It was wonderful to see Willow fall in love again after the loss of Tara, but it’s a shame it had to be with Kennedy. The writers probably failed to flesh out this potential slayer because she was rude and arrogant. He was the one to make the first move with Willow, but fans were surprised to see her return his feelings. He and Tara, after all, had nothing in common. Her arrogance, according to fans, was unjustified.
Kennedy – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cousin Rose – Downton Abbey
Rose kept the adultery of Lord Sinderby a secret because, as Gretchen Wieners of Mean Girls said, it was “totally against the rules of feminism.” Cousin Rose did not appear in the movie since she relocated to New York. The actress who played the character, Lily James, stated that she was not in the film because there was “no space.” We do know, however, that she married Atticus and spent her honeymoon in Venice. Even on the show, the character wasn’t particularly popular. Mrs. Hughes went so far as to say she wasn’t a true “lady.”
Cousin Rose – Downton Abbey