A common sitcom trope is the eccentric, irritating neighbor that lives near the main character. While these characters’ bothersome traits and intrusive behavior are played for laughs, they often make viewers cringe. If we had a neighbor like Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld, who enters Jerry’s apartment without knocking, or Kimmy Gibbler from Full House, who gets on the Tanner family’s nerves with her oddball antics, many of us would be tempted to move.
Though these quirky supporting characters exist to create comedic situations that drive the plot, their bothersome qualities are precisely what we are relieved not to deal with in real neighbors. (Click to read about the most iconic duos in television.)
To compile a list of the most iconic sitcom neighbors, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous entertainment sources. These include IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Here are 10 annoying sitcom neighbors that would make you want to move.
Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World)
It’s hard to imagine anything more uncomfortable for a young kid than living next door to their teacher. Even though Mr. Feeny does get Cory from “Boy Meets World” in trouble with his parents from time to time, their relationship develops throughout the show as well. By the end of the show, he ends up being more of a mentor to several of the characters, including Cory.
Ned Flanders (The Simpsons)
Even though Ned Flanders is a pillar of the community in Springfield, his hyper-friendly demeanor and “perfect” family make him the target of Homer Simpson’s hatred. While most people who are familiar with the show and characters would tell you Homer only hates Flanders because he’s jealous of him, Flanders quickly becomes a caricature of himself as the show goes on, making him an annoying character to many viewers as well.
Cody Lambert (Step by Step)
While technically not a neighbor since he lived in a van in the driveway, Cody Lambert from “Step by Step” was still annoying enough to make the list. His Valley teen accent was enough to drive the Lambert family crazy, but he was known to surprise the other characters with some wisdom now and then as well. Although Cody does start to get along with Karen and Mark, it takes Dana a while to get used to him being around.
Mr. Heckles (Friends)
You might consider Mr. Heckles from “Friends” more bizarre than annoying, he was an annoyance to Monica and Rachel, especially when he was banging on his ceiling with a broom to get them to quiet down. Unfortunately, Mr. Heckles dies in Season 2, but you might have forgiven any dislike toward Mr. Heckles when you found out he’s the real reason why Joey and Chandler became friends.
Frank and Marie Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
SANTA MONICA, CA - APRIL 28: Actress Doris Roberts (L) and actor Peter Boyle attend the Everybody Loves Raymond Series Wrap Party at Hanger 8 on April 28, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In real life, living next to your in-laws could either be a blessing or a nightmare. When the neighbors in a sitcom are the main character’s in-laws, you can usually guess which one it’s going to be. While Frank is more of a downer than anything else, Marie is the source of most of the conflict on the show. Her desire to be over-involved and highly critical of everything Debra does is enough to make anyone want to move.
Gladys Kravitz (Bewitched)
Another required qualification for being one of the most annoying neighbors is being the gossip of the neighborhood. And when it comes to neighborhood gossip, Gladys from “Bewitched” definitely fits the bill! While Gladys has an idea that something strange is going on with Samantha, she can’t seem to rest until she digs her nose into it and proves that she’s right. Witch or not, nosy neighbors are the most annoying kind!
Newman (Seinfeld)
Some people would say Kramer was the most annoying neighbor to Jerry on “Seinfeld,” but Kramer ends up being a pretty well-loved character and a good friend to the other characters on the show. Unlike Kramer, Newman from “Seinfeld” is an annoying and yet less endearing character. Every time he shows up, it’s hardly ever for a positive reason and you can even hear this contempt in Jerry’s voice when he greets Newman. (If you love the show “Seinfeld,” read about how the show is the most-loved show set in New York.)