It may seem like yesterday but the ’90s was actually more than two decades ago. This was an era known as one of relative peace and prosperity, a time when long-standing tensions were eliminated with the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the launch of the most famous telescope, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the rise of the group band with the introduction of ‘NSync, the Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls.
We were introduced to Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise, traded Beanie Babies, and sent our troops to the Perian Gulf in what became Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. It was also a time that saw iconic television enter our homes. When shows like Friends and Seinfeld became household names and gave us beloved characters like Joey Tribbiani and Elaine Benes.
But while audiences adored many characters that were featured in beloved shows, there were others who didn’t garner any love. It seems as though in almost every show, there was that one character who became the most hated and the most despised. To compile this list of the 1990s most hated TV characters, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment sources, including ScreenRant, Bustle, Collider, Entertainment Weekly, and Rankor. (If you’re felling nostalgic, here are childhood traditions from that decade that we’d love to see make a comeback.)
Zack Morris from “Saved by the Bell”
- Premiered in 1989
“Saved by the Bell” may have come out in 1989 but it continued into the 90s with four seasons. The main character was Zack Morris, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who also happened to be the most hated character. Viewers never seemed to connect with Morris, who seemed to hook up with every girl he saw, cut class frequently, and gave off an air of arrogance. While some “Saved by the Bell” fans gave Morris a pass based on his charm and allure, others found him excruciatingly difficult to watch.
Dawson Larry from “Dawson’s Creek”
- Premiered in 1988
Another show that got its start in the late ’80s but continued well into the ’90s with six successful seasons, was Dawson’s Creek. James Van Der Beek is the actor behind the titular role of Dawson Leery. He was supposed to be a likable character viewers could root for, but he often came across as condescending, judgmental, and immature. His behavior throughout the series is a likely reason why his character didn’t end up with his dream girl.
Fran Fine from “The Nanny”
- Premiered in 1993
The story of an everyday woman who manages to get her happily ever after should resonate with all of us but somehow viewers didn’t take too well to Fran Fine from “The Nanny”. Played by Fran Drescher, her character was written to be outgoing, bubbly, and endearing, but she often came across as obnoxious and infuriating. Her laugh was compared to nails on a chalkboard, although it still managed to run for six seasons despite this.
Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
- Premiered in 1996
It seems as though title characters don’t always fare well with audiences because Sabrina Spellman, played by Melissa Joan Hart, was a character that frustrated audiences. In “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” which premiered in 1996, Spellman was supposed to be a likable teenage witch, getting a wrangle on her magical powers, she was always wrapped up in antics that were too frustrating to understand.
Martin Payne from “Martin”
- Premiered in 1992
Martin Lawrence took on the role of Martin Payne in the sitcom “Martin.” Martin was the culprit who always seemed to get himself in trouble, often involving his girlfriend and friends in his crazy schemes. Fans can agree that “Martin” was a hilarious sitcom to watch, but Payne’s character was difficult to stomach.
Kathy Newman from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
- Premiered in 1997
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” became an instant hit the moment it premiered, paving the way for fan favorites like the Twilight movie franchise’s success. However, not all characters were received well by audiences. Kathy Newman was a character from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” who had an odd obsession with Celine Dion, always acted like a nervous wreck about her eggs, and was comfortable clipping her toenails in public. The hated character was played by Dagney Kerr.
Emily Valentine from “Beverly Hills, 90210”
- Premiered in 1990
This hit show started strong and saw success for ten incredible seasons. It starred Jenny Garth, Jason Presley, Tori Spelling, Luke Perry, and Shannon Doherty in the leading roles. Throughout its run, there were a variety of characters that came and went with the storylines. One of them was Christine Elise McCarthy who joined the cast to play Emily Valentine. Valentine was a frustrating character because she brought a level of unnecessary drama, One of the worst things she did in the show was set fire to a parade float like a pyromaniac.
Dr. Michael Mancini from “Melrose Place”
- Premiered in 1992
This spinoff from “Beverly Hills, 90210″ was a hit when it premiered and went on for another seven seasons. The original “Melrose Place” starred Heather Locklear, Grant Show, Andrew Shue, and Laura Leighton among others in leading roles. Dr. Michael Mancini, played by Thomas Calabro, became one of the most hated TV characters of the 90s after his master manipulator tactics were revealed. His character cheated on his wife and conned others out of money. He always relied on his good looks to get out of trouble whenever he’d get caught.
Steve Urkel from “Family Matters”
- Premiered in 1989
“Family Matters” may have started in the ’80s but it aired well into the ’90s, running for nine seasons. One of the main characters was Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White. Urkel was never a very likable character. Adding to his annoyance was his high-pitched voice set at an ear-splitting pitch, his strange walk, and the fact that he always engaged in awkward interactions. Urkel is remembered for his comical catchphrases including, “Did I do that?”
Janice Litman Goralnik from “Friends”
- Premiered in 1994
Perhaps one of the most iconic shows that debuted in the 90s was “Friends”, a beloved show filled with an incredible cast of characters. Six friends – Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Chandler Bing, Ross Geller, Monica Geller, and Joey Tribbiani – were pleasant characters to watch for the ten seasons it ran. While many side characters were well received, others were not. Janice Litman Goralnik is considered the most hated character out of the entire series. Her voice and the way the character was portrayed came off as irritating and obnoxious and didn’t endear her to viewers.
Kimmy Gibler from “Full House”
- Premiered in 1987
“Full House” may have started in the late 80s but it had an impressive eight seasons that lasted well into the 90s. The cast lineup included the likes of Bob Saget, John Stamos, Mary-Kate, and Ashley Olsen, and most episodes were enjoyable for 90s TV lovers. But not all characters were well received. DJ Tanner’s best friend was Kimmy Gibler, someone who failed to put a smile on viewers’ faces. Gibler, played by Andrea Barber, was always making poorly timed comments and repeating annoying phrases whenever she snagged screen time.
Raymond Barone from “Everybody Loves Raymond”
- Premiered in 1996
Although the show was called “Everybody Loves Raymond,” it didn’t actually mean that everybody loved him. In the show, Raymond Barone was the lead character, played by Ray Romano, but he was a difficult character to support based on his slightly narcissistic attitude and dismissiveness of his wife. He didn’t appear to be a great husband or a great brother. Although his sitcom mother was obsessed with him, she may have been the only one.
Stuart Minkus from “Boy Meets World”
- Premiered in 1993
“Boy Meets World” aired for seven seasons telling the story of a young boy named Cory meeting and falling in love with his best friend, Topanga. Stuart Minkus, played by Lee Norris, was a character from the show who acted like a massive brat whenever he would see Cory and Topanga spending time together. His ultimate goal was to ruin their relationship, which is why audiences loathed him.
Peter Benton from “ER”
- Premiered in 1994
“ER” was once one of the most-watched shows in the country and lasted for 15 seasons through the Aughts. The most hated character from the show was Peter Benton, played by Eriq La Salle. The viewer’s dislike stemmed from his egotistical nature and selfishness. Although he had a few decent moments scattered throughout the series, for the most part, he was blatantly rude when dealing with patients and other medical professionals.
Jill Taylor from “Home Improvement”
- Premiered in 1991
“Home Improvement”, starring Tim Allen in the leading role of Tim Taylor, was one of the highest-rated sitcoms for almost its entire run of almost ten years. Taylor’s wife was Jill Taylor, who was played by Patricia Richardson. She wasn’t a very likable TV character. The reason she’s so hated is that she was constantly belittling her husband, emotionally abusing him, and allowing him to take the blame for her mistakes. The fact that they never divorced is surprising. (Click here to discover the most hated TV characters of all time.)