It’s mind-boggling to realize that the 90s ended a little more than two decades ago. The 90s was an era known for the fall of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of the internet. It was the time when people were reading books from the Harry Potter franchise, listening to music from boy bands, and playing video games on their Nintendo Game systems.
It was also a time when folks were tuning into their favorite TV shows to pass the time. The ability to binge-watch TV shows wasn’t possible in the 90s, though. Everyone had to wait to see new episodes of their chosen TV shows with each passing week. Now that the world has streaming options like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, waiting for new episodes of TV shows each week isn’t a factor. Back in the 90s, TV lovers had to exhibit true patience.
Beloved TV shows featured characters audiences adored, but there was also a slew of characters nobody had any respect for. The most hated 90s TV characters still get criticized today. While we’re talking about the 90s, click here to uncover childhood traditions from that decade that we’d love to see make a comeback.
To compile this list of the most hated TV characters from the 90s, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment sources. These include ScreenRant, Bustle, Collider, Entertainment Weekly, and Rankor.
Zack Morris from “Saved by the Bell”
Although “Saved by the Bell” came out in 1989, it went on for four seasons into the early 90s. The most hated character from the show happens to be Zack Morris, played by Mark Paul Gosselaar. Morris put a bad taste in viewers’ mouths by hooking up with every girl in sight, ditching class all the time, and giving off arrogant vibes in most cases. 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”
Plenty of teenage drama shows have followed the tips and tricks of “Dawson’s Creek” from the 90s. It premiered in 1988 and ran for six successful seasons. James Van Der Beek is the actor behind the titular role of Dawson Leery. although he was supposed to be a likable character viewers could root for, 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”
Fran Fine comes from the sitcom “The Nanny,” and she was played by Fran Drescher. Although her character was written to be outgoing, bubbly, and endearing, she often came across as obnoxious and infuriating. The sound of her laugh has collectively been compared to nails on a chalkboard. The show premiered in 1993 and ran for six seasons, despite the fact that the main character got on everyone’s nerves.
Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
Sabrina Spellman is a character from the sitcom “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” It premiered in 1996 starring Melissa Joan Hart in the titular role. Although 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. Instead of being a relatable TV character, she became someone audiences would get frustrated by.
Martin Payne from “Martin”
In 1992, “Martin” premiered on television. Martin Lawrence is the actor behind the role of Martin Payne. One of the reasons he’s considered such a hated character is that he was always the culprit in getting himself into deep trouble. To make matters worse, he often got his girlfriend and friends wrapped up in crazy drama as well. 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”
When “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” premiered, it became an instant hit. It’s part of the reason why the Twilight movie franchise did so well years later. Kathy Newman was a character from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” who was never well-received by audiences. She had an odd obsession with Celine Dion, she always acted like a nervous wreck about her eggs, and she was comfortable clipping her toenails in public. The hated character was played by Dagney Kerr.
Emily Valentine from “Beverly Hills, 90210”
“Beverly Hills, 90210” landed on television in 1990. It went on for 10 amazing seasons starring Jenny Garth, Jason Presley, Tori Spelling, Luke Perry, and Shannon Doherty in the leading roles. Christine Elise McCarthy joined the cast to play Emily Valentine. Valentine was a frustrating character to watch based on the level of unnecessary drama she would always cause. One of the worst things she did in the show? She set fire to a parade float like a pyromaniac.
Dr. Michael Mancini from “Melrose Place”
The original “Melrose Place” premiered in 1992. It went on for seven seasons starring Heather Locklear, Grant Show, and Laura Leighton in the leading roles. Dr. Michael Mancini was a hated character played by Thomas Calabro. He became one of the most hated TV characters of the 90s after his master manipulator tactics were revealed.
He was a character who cheated on his wife with several different women, conned others out of their money, and relied on his good looks to get out of trouble whenever he’d get caught.
Steve Urkel from “Family Matters”
Even though Steve Urkel was one of the main characters in “Family Matters,” that fact doesn’t make him a likable character in the slightest. He was hated because his voice was always set to a terrible pitch, he always engaged in awkward interactions, and his walk was especially aggravating to witness.
Urkel is remembered for his comical catchphrases including, “Did I do that?” He’s also remembered for being one of the most hated 90s characters ever. The actor behind the cringe-worthy role was Jaleel White.
Janice Litman Goralnik from “Friends”
“Friends” was a beloved show in the 90s full of an incredible cast of characters. Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Chandler Bing, Ross Geller, Monica Geller, and Joey Tribbiani were pleasant characters to watch for 10 seasons. The magic of “Friends” started in 1994. Some of the side characters from “Friends” weren’t as easy to love, though. Janice Litman Goralnik is considered the most hated character out of the entire series. The way she would yell, “Oh My God!” so often was horrendous.
Kimmy Gibler from “Full House”
“Full House” premiered in 1987, but it pressed on through the early 90s with eight seasons in total. With a cast lineup including the likes of Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, most episodes of the show were pleasant for 90s TV lovers. The character of Kimmy Gibler wasn’t someone who put a smile on viewers’ faces, though. 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”
Raymond Barone might’ve been the lead character in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” but that doesn’t mean everybody actually loved him. In the show, he was a difficult character to support based on his slightly narcissistic attitude and dismissiveness of his wife. He wasn’t a great husband, nor was he a great brother.
One character in the show who was absolutely obsessed with him was his own mother. Ray Romano is the actor who took on the role starting in 1986 for nine seasons that finished out in the early 90s.
Stuart Minkus from “Boy Meets World”
“Boy Meets World” hit television screens in 1993 with its first episode. It went on for seven seasons telling the story of a young boy named Cory meeting and falling in love with his best friend, Topanga. Stuart Minkus 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. Minkus was played by Lee Norris.
Peter Benton from “ER”
Medical dramas tend to do well among audiences. “ER,” in particular, premiered in 1984 and lasted for 15 seasons through the 90s. The most hated character from the show was Peter Benton. External hatred of him stemmed from his egotistical nature and selfishness. He had a few decent moments scattered throughout the series, but for the most part, he was blatantly rude when dealing with patients and other medical professionals. Benton was played by Eriq La Salle.
Jill Taylor from “Home Improvement”
“Home Improvement” premiered for the first time in 1981 starring Tim Allen in the leading role of Tim Taylor. The fictional wife, Jill Taylor, 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. Now that we’ve gone over the most hated TV characters of the 90s, click here to discover the most hated TV characters of all time.