Making its debut at some point in the 1950s was the American sitcom. Short for “situational comedy,” sitcoms rose to fame along with the boom of the post-World War II era.
One of the main reasons why televisions rose to fame in this era was due to the increased number of households who could purchase them. TV replaced radios as the main source of entertainment in the 1950s. In 1946, only 8,000 households had a TV. But by 1960, that number had increased to 45.7 million.
One of the first and most well-known TV sitcoms to emerge in the ’50s was “I Love Lucy.” As this type of family entertainment began to grow, one thing was common among them all. Each sitcom needed a villain. A villain leaves room to challenge the main character, often becoming a lovable fan favorite all on their own. For more reading on supporting roles, check out this article on supporting characters who deserve to be the lead.
To create this list, 24/7 Tempo compiled information from various entertainment sources including IMDb, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. Here are 15 of the best sitcom villains we’ve seen on TV.
Mr. Burns
- TV Show: The Simpsons
- Played By: Christopher Collins, Harry Shearer
While “The Simpsons,” one of the longest-running TV shows still on the air, is largely known for Homer and his family, one character stands out as a villain: Mr. Burns. Also known as Charles Montgomery Burns, this character is known for the evil way he says “excellent” as he finalizes each of his master plans. Mr. Burns is also the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant where Homer works. Portrayed as a greedy and devious man, he is often feared by the residents of Springfield.
Dwight Schrute
- TV Show: The Office
- Played By: Rainn Wilson
As one of the series regulars, Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) makes his presence known with his quirky and unrealistic take on numerous different scenarios. From falling for every prank Jim throws his way, to his outdated beliefs on life, Dwight isn’t afraid to make life uncomfortable for those he works with. Though we see softer sides of Dwight throughout the 9 seasons of the show, we also see Dwight’s dark side when he gains too much power. However, his iconic and beloved character continues to bring laughter to viewers nearly 20 years after the show’s pilot episode.
Newman
- TV Show: Seinfeld
- Played By: Wayne Knight
Jerry Seinfeld’s arch nemesis, Newman, brings delight to the popular sitcom. Though Newman (excellently portrayed by Wayne Knight) isn’t afraid to make Jerry’s life miserable, the sparring between the two characters is fun for viewers to watch. Additionally, Newman is close to Kramer, making for hilarious schemes between the two characters. “Hello, Newman” is a popular quote still used in pop culture today as well.
Madeline Wuntch
- TV Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Played By: Kyra Sedgwick
Though she was only in 12 episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Madeline Wuntch (played by Kyra Sedgwick) was always pitted against her rival, Raymond Holt (played by Andre Braugher). Though Wuntch is a respected commissioner within the NYPD, she and Holt struggle to get along. Whenever the two characters meet, however, their quick-witted insults bring humor and delight to the audience.
Sue Ann Nivens
- TV Show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Played By: Betty White
Though Betty White was a beloved actress most known for her role as Rose in “The Golden Girls,” her acting career began much earlier. From 1973-1977, she appeared in 45 episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as Sue Ann Nivens. Sue Ann appears to have a happy life on the outside but shows herself to be sarcastic and somewhat mean to others on the show. However, Betty White’s portrayal of Sue Ann is still fun to watch, with her arguments with others on the show bringing delight to viewers.
Tammy 2
- TV Show: Parks and Recreation
- Played By: Megan Mullally
Though Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman are married in real life, their relationship on “Parks and Recreation” is nothing other than disastrous. Given the nickname “Tammy 2,” Mullally plays Tammy Swanson, Ron Swanson’s (played by Offerman) second ex-wife who carries the same first name as his first ex-wife. Anytime Tammy 2 makes an appearance or gets near Ron, her hold on him is hard for him to overcome, leading to hilarious adventures and stories as the two work through their on-again, off-again relationship.
Michael
- TV Show: The Good Place
- Played By: Ted Danson
Though the main antagonist is Shawn from The Bad Place, Michael’s work to try to manipulate the main characters of the show makes him an initial villain. Michael (played by Ted Danson) attempts to make the main characters believe they are in The Good Place until they discover his secret. Throughout the show, viewers watch as Michael begins to question his beliefs, making him a lovable and hilarious character.
Eric Cartman
- TV Show: South Park
- Played By: Trey Parker
“South Park” portrays the life of 4 grade school children in a fictional Colorado town. The children often experience disaster and extreme situations, usually created by one of the main characters, Eric Cartman. Eric (voiced by Trey Parker) is incredibly smart, but can also be selfish, narcissistic, and unkind. His extreme character often leads others to trouble and a few outrageous scenarios throughout this long-running sitcom.
Wil Wheaton
- TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
- Played By: Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton is most known for his roles in “Stand By Me” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” However, he portrays a fictionalized character of himself as Sheldon Cooper’s (Jim Parsons) arch-nemesis at the beginning of “The Big Bang Theory.” Wheaton isn’t afraid to mess with Sheldon, even going as far as to fake the death of his grandmother in order to win a card game. While the two characters bring hilarity to the show by sparring with each other at the beginning of the series, Wheaton and Sheldon eventually make amends.
The McPoyles
- TV Show: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Played By: Jimmi Simpson, Nate Mooney
While “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” brings hilarity with each character’s unusual antics, two regular characters always bring trouble: Brothers Liam (played by Jimmi Simpson) and Ryan (played by Nate Mooney) McPoyle. The McPoyle’s have become more deranged and extreme as the series moves on, always upping the over-the-topness of the show’s plot. Their extended family doesn’t help things either. Whenever the McPoyles arrive, viewers are sure to be surprised by their shenanigans.
Devon Banks
- TV Show: 30 Rock
- Played By: Will Arnett
Though Devon only makes an appearance in 9 episodes of “30 Rock,” his character’s over-the-top friendliness and extreme desire to get ahead of Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) make him a hilarious character to watch. Throughout the series, Devon makes random appearances, always attempting to bring Jack down. Though he never succeeds, Arnett’s portrayal of Devon makes him a classic arch-nemesis on the show.
Sue Sylvester
- TV Show: Glee
- Played By: Jane Lynch
As the track suit-wearing coach of the cheerleaders, Sue Sylvester (played by Jane Lynch) is the biggest antagonist on “Glee.” This musical comedy follows the lives of high schoolers who participate in the school’s glee club. However, funds for the club are shared with the cheerleaders, leaving Sylvester constantly at odds with the group. A regularly recurring character, Sue is ruthless in attempting to get what she wants, adding hilarity and dynamics to the sitcom.
Ben Chang
- TV Show: Community
- Played By: Ken Jeong
Though Ben Chang (played by Ken Jeong) begins the series of “Community” as a Spanish teacher, it isn’t long before the truth about his teaching degree comes to light and he is fired from his role. Chang goes on to hold several different roles within the Greendale Community College system including a security guard and sandwich shop worker. Throughout the series, Chang can be a bully and narcissist, but his constant sparring with other characters makes him hilarious to watch.
Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne
- TV Show: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
- Played By: Jon Hamm
Throughout the four seasons of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (portrayed by Jon Hamm) makes various appearances. As the senior prophet of Savior Rick’s Spooky Church of the Scary Apocalypse, we learn that Richard is the one who lured Kimmy Schmidt (played by Ellie Kemper) and three other female teenagers into his bunker by telling them the apocalypse has happened and they are the only survivors. Richard’s comical beliefs in the bible and himself bring a level of humor to show as its greatest villain.
Stewie Griffin
- TV Show: Family Guy
- Played By: Seth MacFarlane
Joining “The Simpsons” as one of the longest-running sitcoms on television, “Family Guy” portrays the life of the Griffin family who, in every episode, deal with one wacky experience after another. Stewie (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) is the baby of the family and a secret evil genius. His goal in much of the show is to attain world domination, though he never actually succeeds in his endeavors. For more reading on sitcoms, here are 15 sitcoms that we could have done without.