TV shows wouldn’t be very interesting without adversity for protagonists to deal with. The main character of every TV show is surrounded by supporting characters who help their storylines move along. Sometimes supporting characters can be annoying and frustrating to watch. Other times, it’s the main characters who leave viewers feeling exasperated and irked.
There are annoying characters written into nearly every single TV show, whether we’re referring to shows that were recently released or shows that premiered back in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. Read up on these 10 TV lines every kid from the 90s will still remember!
24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites for insight when gathering this list of the most annoying TV characters ever. Some of those publications include ScreenRant, TV Guide, and Digital Spy.
Georgina Sparks from “Gossip Girl”
As soon as Georgina Sparks was introduced as a character on “Gossip Girl,” she immediately started wreaking havoc. Georgina, played by Michelle Trachtenberg, drugged Serena van der Woodsen, tricked Dan Humphrey into believing he was the father of her child, and blackmailed just about every other character on the show. No matter how many times Blair Waldorf tried to exile Georgina by kicking her out of Manhattan, Georgina always popped back up to create more chaos within a social circle that never actually wanted her around.
Cathy Simms from “The Office”
Lindsey Broad played Cathy Simms.
Cathy Simms was well aware that Jim Halpert was married to Pam, but that didn’t slow her down from trying to strike up a secret affair with him. She tried to tempt Jim whenever she had the chance to get him alone. Fortunately, he never broke his vows to Pam. Cathy was so desperate for attention that if she had it her way, he definitely would have. Fans of “The Office” will always root for the relationship between Jim and Pam, which makes it so much easier to loathe a character like Cathy.
Todd Alquist from “Breaking Bad”
Jesse Plemons played Todd Alquist.
Todd Alquist is certainly one of the most annoying character from “Breaking Bad.” The scene when Todd showed up at Andrea Cantillo’s house really says it all. Andrea was in a relationship with Jesse Pinkman and she was one of the reasons Jesse was motivated to do something better with his life. Unfortunately, Todd shot her in the head. Her death broke Jesse’s heart and instantly turned Todd into the most hated “Breaking Bad” character of the entire series. His condescending tone and annoying way of talking added fuel to the flames.
Beatrice Horseman from “BoJack Horseman”
Wendie Malick voiced Beatrice Horseman.
“BoJack Horseman” is an animated series intended for an adult audience. After all, the themes of the show can be incredibly dark and thought-provoking. Beatrice Horseman is the most annoying character from the show based on all of the childhood torment and bullying she put her own son through. Even after BoJack grew up to be a full adult, she never held back from spewing hateful insults in his direction. The character was voiced by Wendie Malick.
Joffrey Baratheon from “Game of Thrones”
Jack Gleeson played Joffrey.
Joffrey Baratheon is one of the most despised characters from the entire “Game of Thrones” series. It’s suspected that one of the reasons he turned out so twisted and dreadful is that he’s the product of incest. His mother, Cersei Lannister, secretly became pregnant by her own twin brother, Jaime Lannister. Joffrey grew up to become an abusive young man who would routinely have his wife, Sansa Stark, beaten. He also was happy sign off on the beheading of her father, Ned Stark.
Mr. Big from “Sex and the City”
Chris Noth played Mr. Big.
There’s no denying that Mr. Big is the most annoying character from “Sex and the City.” Fans of the show are convinced that Mr. Big was never anything more than a covert narcissist. He exuded charm at every possible moment, but the truth about him was actually pretty dark. He emotionally dragged Carrie Bradshaw along for years without ever fully committing to her. He knew she wanted love and marriage, but he continually played mental games with her.
Ursula Buffay from “Friends”
Lisa Kudrow played Ursula and Phoebe Buffay.
Pheobe Buffay’s twin sister on “Friends” was named Ursula Buffay. She’s one of the most annoying characters in TV history because of her lack of a conscience. She knew the truth about Phoebe’s biological mother, but never felt the need to divulge that information. She also used Phoebe’s name to pursue a career in the adult film industry, which means she had no regard for the future of Phoebe’s professional reputation.
McPoyle Siblings from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Jimmi Simpson plays the main McPoyle sibling.
Plenty of characters from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” will make you squirm when they come on screen. None do it quite like the McPoyle siblings, though. These inbred family members create some of the most awkward and cringe-worthy moments on screen. From the amount of milk they drink to their attraction to each other, seeing the McPoyle siblings show up makes everyone’s stomach churn.
Rachel Berry from “Glee”
Lea Michele played Rachel Berry.
Despite the fact that Rachel Berry is the lead character in “Glee,” she’s still one of the most annoying TV characters in history. Rachel, played by Lea Michele, was obsessed with being absolutely perfect. Whether she was focused on her preppy outfits, her hairstyle, or her vocal talents, she was willing to annoy just about everyone around her until every detail fell perfectly into place. Her powerful singing voice was a redeeming quality, but she was still an annoying character to follow.
Ezra Fitz from “Pretty Little Liars”
Ian Harding played Ezra Fitz.
Ezra Fitz from “Pretty Little Liars” is the most annoying character from the show. The reason he’s one of the most annoying characters in TV history as well is that he was willing to pursue an inappropriate student/teacher relationship with a girl who was well under age. His ill-timed relationship with Aria Montgomery should’ve come to a screeching halt after learning she was enrolled in his high school English class. Instead, they kept it going.
Cal Jacobs from “Euphoria”
Eric Dane plays Cal Jacobs.
Pretty much every character from “Euphoria” is flawed in one way or another. Cal Jacobs happens to be the most flawed character of all compared to the rest, though. The reason Cal is so annoyingly terrible is that he was willing to cheat on his wife and destroy his family. He was meeting up with random strangers he matched with on LGBTQ dating apps inside hotel rooms. Leading a dangerous double life makes him shady and despicable.
Elena Gilbert from “The Vampire Diaries”
Nina Dobrev played Elena Gilbert.
Elena Gilbert is another example of a leading character viewers never resonated with. As the star of “The Vampire Diaries,” it might be easy to assume that Elena was a beautiful and intriguing force to be reckoned with in a supernatural realm. In reality, this character left viewers feeling annoyed most of the time. Worst of all? The actress behind the role, Nina Dobrev, left the show during Season 6 instead of finishing it out.
Abby Day from “New Girl”
Linda Cardellini played Abby Day.
One of the reasons Abby day is considered one of the most annoying characters in TV history is that she brought out the worst in everyone on “New Girl.” As Jess Day’s older sister, viewers might’ve guessed she would be a positive and pleasant character added to the mix. Instead, she brought was chaos and unnecessary drama at every turn. She thrived off making Jess’s life more difficult and confusing.
George Mendez from “Orange is the New Black”
Pablo Schreiber played Mendez.
George Mendez was one of the correctional officers from “Orange is the New Black.” He was a power-hungry character who loved his position being in charge of powerless women. As a correctional officer in a penitentiary full of female inmates, he was always abusing his power through threats and intimidation. He went on terrorizing the women at his facility until he landed in prison himself.
Jimmy (Steve) Lishman from “Shameless”
Justin Chatwin played Jimmy/Steve.
Fans of “Shameless” were never sure if they should refer to Fiona Gallagher’s first love interest as Jimmy or Steve. He’s one of the most annoying characters in TV history because of all the lying he did from the start. His first lie was his own name! Ironically, a character like Fiona would have appreciated him for telling the truth about his shady money-making practices. Instead, he never figured out how to stop lying to her – or anyone.
Hiram Lodge from “Riverdale”
Mark Consuelos played Hiram Lodge.
One of the worst an most annoying TV characters in history is Hiram Lodge from “Riverdale.” Although he was a grown man, he was always wrapped up in the affairs of teenagers. His determination to wage war between Jughead Jones and Archie Andrews was absolutely ridiculous. He was supposed to be a loving father to Veronica Lodge, yet he was always picking fights with her. His failure at fatherhood is another reason why he was the worst.
Kirk Gleason from “Gilmore Girls”
Sean Gunn played Kirk Gleason.
Kirk Gleason is easily the most annoying character from “Gilmore Girls.” The popular TV show shed light on Kirk being an annoying townie with random mood swings and rude outbursts. As the show progressed, Kirk’s character only seemed to get worse and worse. The best way to describe him? He became a mean-spirit antagonist by the time “Gilmore Girls” was officially over.
Paul Stadler from “Grey’s Anatomy”
Matthew Morrison played Paul Stadler.
Paul Stadler is certainly one of the most annoying characters in TV history after being written into “Grey’s Anatomy” as a major jerk. His relationship with Jo Wilson was out of control because he struggled to show her any signs of respect. Paul was physically abusive behind closed doors, but in the public eye, he did his best to come across as a sweet, thoughtful, and charming gentleman.
Kimmy Gibbler from “Full House”
Andrea Barber played Kimmy Gibbler.
“Full House” is supposed to be one of those feel-good shows that always ends with an uplifting message. While that sentiment remained true through every episode, one character in particular was always annoying viewers. Kimmy Gibbler, played by Andrea Barber, was always sticking her nose into business that didn’t involve her. She was supposed to be DJ Tanner’s best friend, but she often did things that were beyond infuriating.
Lonnie Byers from “Stranger Things”
Ross Partridge played Lonnie Byers.
“Stranger Things“ is arguably one of the biggest shows of this generation. An annoying character in TV history comes straight from “Stranger Things” in the form of a dismissive and horrible father. Lonnie’s obsession with “being a man” caused him to push the narrative of toxic masculinity at every opportunity.
He treated his sons badly if he ever felt they were acting “too soft.” His outdated mindset and poisonous belief system are clear signs that he’s one of the most annoying TV characters in history. Not every show is riddled with problematic characters, by the way! “Good Times” is an example of a show with amazing characters to follow and root for. Find out more about what the cast of “Good Times” is up to now.