Television has been a part of our lives since its invention in the early 20th century, though early broadcasts were infrequent. It wasn’t until the late 1940s, with the start of commercial broadcasting, that TV began gaining widespread traction. The 1947 World Series played a significant role in boosting TV sales across America. However, it was in 1948, when the first weekly variety show aired, that broadcasters fully realized television’s potential to captivate audiences and attract advertisers, locking in its place as a powerful medium for entertainment and commerce.
Since the advent of the TV set, it has become a staple in many households, with a significantly higher portion of the population now having a set, or two, or three, in their homes. We’ve all grown accustomed to coming home after school, or a long day at work, and sitting down to relax on the couch to immerse ourselves in the fictional worlds of our favorite characters. (Some hated characters also appear in video games, like that of Wario in the Mario and Luigi RPG – although you won’t find Wario in the new game “Mario & Luigi: Brothership” set to release this fall.)
But not all characters are beloved by all. Certain personalities leave us feeling annoyed or irritated the moment they step onto the screen. This might be a true testament to the actors that portray them, giving us a person that is so despised, that we form intense feelings about them. Although, just because a character is disliked, this doesn’t make them a villain. (If you want to read about hated TV villains, click here to discover the most evil villains in TV history.)
Choosing TV characters audiences love to despise can be rather difficult since we all have different opinions. However, while scouring the internet, we’ve landed on a certain set of names that remain consistent. To compile this list of TV characters audiences love to despise, 24/7 Tempo reviewed multiple websites including IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. We also spent time reading through Reddit posts, comments, and listings where character names were repeated.
Here are television’s best of the worst characters:
Ross Gellar (Friends)
Ross Gellar can be considered whiny and annoying. He’s also quite possessive and jealous of Rachel and has some mean moments. In quite a few episodes, Ross has also lied, and even lied and stayed married to Rachel.
Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
Don’t be fooled by the high intellect of this character from “The Big Bang Theory.” He can be very socially awkward and rude. Fans love to hate him for his unnecessarily mean comments and obnoxious need to prove that he’s better or smarter than everybody.
Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Joffrey was unnecessarily cruel and practically a little tyrant. During his run on the show, he kills many people. Fans loved to hate this character, which is a testament to the talent of actor Jack Gleeson, who portrayed this violent brat.
Elena Gilbert (Vampire Diaries)
Elena is a human female caught in a love triangle with two vampire brothers in the TV series “Vampire Diaries.” Many fans didn’t like her because of her whiny, but passive actions, and she is often painted as a damsel in distress on the show.
Andy Bernard (The Office)
Most of the characters in the very popular TV series, “The Office,” were written to be rather annoying characters but there is one that really stands out – Andy Bernard. Throughout the show, Andy shows his insecurities, coming off as desperate.
Emily Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)
Emily Gilmore, played by Kelly Bishop, is the mother of Lorelai and her relationship with her daughter is tense throughout the series. Although viewers can see that Emily loves and cares for her family, she is also very manipulative and hurtful.
Piper Chapman (Orange is the New Black)
At first, Piper Chapman seems innocent, nice, and naïve in “Orange is the New Black,” but it doesn’t take long for her true nature to reveal itself. She is a flawed character who is a known cheater and in the later seasons has an ‘I’m better than everyone’ attitude.
Rachel Berry (Glee)
Rachel Berry is one of the few annoying characters from the TV series “Glee” that fans love to hate. Although an excellent singer, her personality can be annoying, and even though she also has a good heart, this isn’t enough to make her less annoying. Multiple times throughout the series, Rachel tries to help other characters, but her actions make things worse.
Dawn Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Dawn Summers first appeared in season 5 of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Many people can’t stand Dawn as she’s immature and whiny, sometimes calling her a brat. Although, to be fair, she is a teenager in the series.
Ryan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Howard from “The Office” goes through a lot of changes in his time on the series, first starting as a confused and quiet intern. By the last season though, Ryan has changed a lot and is power and money-hungry. In the last episode, he abandons his baby and runs away to be with Kelly, who is in a relationship.
Will Schuester (Glee)
Will Schuester, a teacher who probably shouldn’t be, is a character from the TV series “Glee,” who is very hated. Even as early as the first episode, Schuester blackmails Finn, a football player student, into joining the Glee Club.
Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
Skyler White is a frustrating female character who doesn’t know how to take responsibility or accountability. She is also very unsupportive and can be condescending. While some fans hate her, others sympathize with her for trying to keep the family together and out of trouble.
Scrappy-Doo (Scooby-Doo)
Scrappy-Doo is the nephew of Scooby-Doo and was in many series, including “Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo,” “The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show,” and “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.” So, why is this small dog easy to hate? Some fans say it’s his voice, which is whiny and high-pitched.
Jack Shephard (Lost)
The character of Jack Shephard makes his first appearance in the first episode of “Lost.” He is arrogant, controlling, and impatient yet somehow, becomes the leader of the group, although he does make some questionable choices.
Ezra Fitz (Pretty Little Liars)
In the series “Pretty Little Liars,” he was a charming teacher, and the show capitalized on his charm by romanticizing teacher-student relationships. A lot of red flags surrounded Ezra Fitz, starting with his relationship with Aria. For instance, Aria was 16 and Ezra was at least 22.
Jenny Humphrey (Gossip Girl)
Many fans of the show “Gossip Girl” loved Humphrey at the start but began to hate her during the third season of Gossip Girl. At the start of the show, Jenny is 14 and dealing with a lot of changes in her life and some fans continue to love Jenny, letting her negative moments slide because of her age.
Dr. Robert Romano (ER)
“ER” fans know Dr. Robert Romano for his incredibly funny and snarky one-liners, but these one-liners are also a reason many fans of the show hate him. Romano, portrayed by Paul McCrane, makes nasty comments and puts down other characters in the series, which makes him easy to despise.
Dawson Leery (Dawson’s Creek)
Dawson Leery is the main character in “Dawson’s Creek” and despite being a main character, he is widely disliked for his whiny and obsessive personality. Throughout the show, he is controlling and manipulates Joey.
Oliver Trask (The O.C.)
Oliver Trask was a character in the FOX television series “The O.C.” This recurring character is insufferable and is one of the easiest characters to dislike. Josh Schwartz based Oliver Trask on someone he knew who faked cancer out of desperation and loneliness. Thankfully, Oliver was only around for a handful of episodes.
Dennis Reynolds (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Dennis Reynolds from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is such an easy character to hate, but it’s even harder to keep your eyes away from the screen when he’s there. He’s funny and witty, but also creepy, constantly using women throughout the show, using their insecurities against them. He is also an awful friend and sibling, except for a handful of times. (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is one of the most popular comedies on the small screen. Click here for a list of the most popular TV comedies according to IMDb.)