30. Will Schuester, Glee (Matthew Morrison)
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Despite being Glee’s central character, Will Schuester comes across as bland as a featureless canvas and as unremarkable as a pair of generic trousers. It’s not entirely Matthew Morrison’s fault that Will is portrayed as a demanding, complaining teacher whose demeanor seems to run on negativity and a probiotic yogurt brand. Whenever Will grumbles or interferes with the student’s enjoyment, the overall mood takes a hit, and the gleefulness wanes.
29. April, Gilmore Girls (Vanessa Marano)
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Just when we thought that Luke and Lorelai were going to FINALLY settle down and have the beautiful relationship we always knew they’d have, the writers had to come up with this devil child. Out of nowhere, Luke finds out he fathered a child years ago. Suddenly, this brainy know-it-all kid wouldn’t leave them alone. It’s not exactly the kid’s fault, but could they have at least made her a bit less annoying?
28. Screech, Saved by the Bell (Dustin Diamond)
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Screech never seemed to be annoying when we watched this show as kids. However, watch it now and bloody hell…how did we manage to get through it at all with this guy on screen? His name is highly apt. The loudmouthed git was meant to be a geeky hero. If anything, he probably deserved all the wedgies and wet willies.
27. Wesley Crusher, Star Trek: TNG (Wil Wheaton)
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Wesley could have been a really cool character. Instead, he constantly meddled and got in the way. Wesley was constantly praised for his “good behavior” (which irritated everyone). Even actor Wil Wheaton hates him — as he frequently shouts, “Shut up, Wesley!” during his Next Generation reviews.
26. Oliver Trask, The O.C. (Taylor Handley)
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Oliver (Taylor Handley) graced our screens for a mere six episodes, but his presence felt far more enduring. In his stint in Newport Beach, the Marissa-obsessed wealthy young man feigned having a girlfriend and orchestrated a fake suicide attempt. His descent into TV-villain territory was solidified when he held Marissa hostage. Even the mere utterance of Oliver’s name continues to evoke a brooding response, reminiscent of Ryan Atwood’s contemplative demeanor.
25. Kimmy Gibbler, Full House (Andrea Barber)
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The Tanners’ wacky next-door neighbor and DJ’s best friend was the Urkel of Full House. Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) and Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) always wanted Kimmy (Andrea Barber) to go home. Her outfits — she was fond of neon, patterns, and horizontal stripes — were as loud as her blaring voice. One of her most defining traits included her especially stinky feet. Gibbler, go home!
24. Dawn Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Michelle Trachtenberg)
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Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) had issues and with good reason. The people she loved kept abandoning her. Her sister was an ultra-enviable superhero. At age 14, Dawn then found out that everything she thought she knew was a lie. Still, it was tough to feel sympathy for Dawn as she sulked, complained, and developed an irritating shoplifting problem. Maybe if the teen had whined less, viewers wouldn’t have yearned to see her get eaten by some Hellmouth beast.
23. Karen Jackson, Shameless (Laura Slade Wiggins)
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Where do I even start? She played Lip like he was her favorite board game, forced Frank to have sex with her, and sent a video to her dad…who then committed suicide. Karen also told Lip she was pregnant — but forgot to mention it wasn’t his. She then tried making a profit off her baby, ran away from home because her mom wanted to keep her baby, and then tried to sabotage her mom’s happiness. Yep, Karen is a keeper.
22. Dawson Leery, Dawson’s Creek (James Van Der Beek)
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Dawson Leery sure makes everyone weary. On his sixteenth birthday, Dawson lands face first into his birthday cake because KARMA! This happens after he insists on going to a jazz club to get his drink on. That’s what happens when you blow off your BFF, Dawson! When he isn’t moping around and grunting like a baby, Dawson is busy trying to make it into the Celebrity Cry-Face Hall of Fame. Congrats, buddy. You did it.
21. Susan Mayer-Delfino, Desperate Housewives (Teri Hatcher)
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To uncover the essence of why Susan (Teri Hatcher) is a source of irritation, one must delve into the hapless foliage of Wisteria Lane. Susan first landed there, in the buff, back in season 1, an incident deemed ”zany and adorable” at the time. However, as the residents faced life-threatening situations, Susan persistently engaged in similarly ludicrous escapades reminiscent of that defining moment for seven more seasons. It’s a gentle reminder, dear Susan, that the world doesn’t always revolve around you.
20. Lee, Westworld (Simon Quarterman)
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In a show full of robots, it’s actually the writer-character who comes across as the most cartoonish and ridiculous of the lot. We’re not sure if it’s the character or the way actor Simon Quarterman plays him. Either way, he’s highly irritating. He got better in season two, but the damage was already done by that point.
19. Andrea, The Walking Dead (Laurie Holden)
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Andrea (Laurie Holden) became increasingly vexing in Season 3, sporting a personality that seemed to undergo weekly reinventions. While the show embraced a more action-packed direction, Andrea clung to the last remnants of Dead‘s moralizing soliloquies and darker undertones. Her penchant for lengthy speeches and constant self-justifications often brought the unfolding events to a grinding halt. Adding to the frustration, Andrea, following a not-so-grand tradition reminiscent of Marissa Cooper, tended to gravitate towards all the wrong romantic entanglements.
18. Rachel Berry, Glee (Lea Michele)
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I lost count of how many times I wished I could crawl through the TV screen and talk some sense into her. We get it, you think you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. However, there’s a reason you had no friends. Selfish, ego-centric, self-absorbed, conceited, loves playing the victim… just to name a few of many traits we couldn’t stand about Lea Michele’s character, Rachel.
17. Janice, The Sopranos (Aida Turturro)
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Janice Soprano was one of the most irritating characters in TV history. In many ways, she was a mirror of her brother Tony. However, the fact that she didn’t have his power forced her antics to seem much more dirty outside the mafia construct. She was a liar, a backstabber, a thief, and a con. In essence, Janice was simply not a good person. She also didn’t possess Tony’s likability factor.
16. Serena van der Woodsen, Gossip Girl (Blake Lively)
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The Upper East Side’s crustiest blonde is also quite the bore. While Blair Waldorf keeps the show afloat, Serena essentially serves as a pretty face whose lack of self-awareness is boundless. Remember when she treats Rufus like dirt and chooses to forgive her dad for being a horrible person?!
Girl, bye.
15. April Kepner, Grey’s Anatomy (Sarah Drew)
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While I’ll concede that April showed a glimmer of improvement in her demeanor, a handful of episodes featuring sympathetic behavior can’t obliterate the lingering recollections of Seattle Grace-Mercy West’s most exasperating doctor. Even with her ascent to the role of chief resident, April failed to shed her inherent insecurities and shrill tendencies. Instead, she elevated her dullness to unprecedented levels. Brimming with nauseating innocence and a self-righteous penchant for dampening spirits, April appeared to exist solely to accentuate the captivating allure of every other character on Grey’s Anatomy.
14. Eric Forman, That 70’s Show (Topher Grace)
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There’s a reason why That ‘70s Show was able to carry on after Eric left. The truth is that Eric isn’t that great. At first, he seems like the most normal and morally inclined member of the group. However, Eric is just as self-absorbed as the rest of his crazy friends. Eric loves catering to his wacko mother, but not after she starts that whole menopause thing. Apparently, natural biological changes are so not Eric’s jam. Instead, he nurtures his borderline psychotic love for Donna and has no problem lying to her after killing her cat. What a guy!
13. Jeremy Jamm, Parks and Recreation (Jon Glaser)
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Leslie Knope’s ongoing struggle with Councilman Jeremy Jamm epitomized a constant hindrance to her aspirations for Pawnee’s progress. His persistent attempts to thwart Leslie were fueled by a misogynistic, irksome, and condescending demeanor. Jeremy’s unwarranted sense of superiority cast a shadow over any collaborative efforts. Moreover, his cringe-worthy catchphrase, “You just got jammed,” only added to the overall disdain for his character.
12. Priya, The Big Bang Theory (Aarti Mann)
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It’s bad enough when you bring a wooden and non-funny character into an over-the-top sitcom like Big Bang. It’s even worse when they’re horrible too. Priya arrived in the early seasons, soon began dating Leonard, and generally treated him really badly (bossed him about, mean about Sheldon, cheated on him). At some point, she just kinda left without any fanfare. Considering she’s Raj’s sister, it’s weird that she’s never returned (not that we’re complaining).
11. Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory (Jim Parsons)
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Spanning over a decade, Sheldon has stood out as one of the most thought-provoking characters in sitcom history. Despite his brilliance in science, he grapples with concepts like sarcasm, showcasing a unique blend of genius and social ineptitude. His occasional selfishness and insensitivity don’t deter his friends, who endure his quirks. Sheldon’s elevated IQ contributes to a sizable ego, often manifesting as arrogance and belittlement toward those he deems acquaintances. In essence, not everyone finds themselves enamored with his character.
10. Kate, Lost (Evangeline Lilly)
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While Jack narrowly avoided making our list, thanks to some moments of badassery, Kate, on the other hand, paints a different picture. Initially, her “fugitive given a second chance” storyline intrigued us, but as the show progressed, she became increasingly disagreeable. Even setting aside the vexing love triangle she found herself in, Kate consistently proved to be a hindrance, complicating situations simply by being present. The icing on the cake: her penchant for the dreaded Kate stare.
9. Piper, Orange Is the New Black (Taylor Schilling)
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It took us a while, but eventually, we came to realize that the lead character Piper is the one we care the least about. Annoyingly enough, you have to keep her there. Well, maybe? Could we get rid of her and carry on? It didn’t help that she was constantly whining and being generally awful to everyone else. Then there was that ‘accidental’ white-power group she started.
8. Janice Litman, Friends (Maggie Wheeler)
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If irritation could be tapped as a fuel source, our reaction to Janice’s laugh could power a midsize city. The curly-haired cackler (Maggie Wheeler) ruined any number of events in the Friends’ lives. She popped up throughout Chandler’s courtship/marriage to Monica and even crowded into Rachel’s hospital room when they went into labor at the same time.
7. Andy Bernard, The Office (Ed Helms)
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Well, brace yourself for the Nard dog saga. Andrew Bernard’s relentless fixation on Cornell, coupled with his toxic insecurities and anger management quirks, initially provided comedic gold. However, as The Office’s nine-season journey drew to a close, Andy had worn out his welcome. In the grand tapestry of unlikable personalities that the series wove, he somehow emerged as the pinnacle of obnoxiousness and selfishness.
6. Ned Flanders, The Simpsons (Voiced by Harry Shearer)
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Ned Flanders grew increasingly more irritating as The Simpsons went on over the years. He started as Homer’s neighbor with an annoyingly optimistic outlook on most things. Eventually, his religious views led him to look down on others who didn’t align with his beliefs. Given his disposition, it’s not surprising that Homer wrote a song called “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders” — explaining why he dislikes his neighbor. The track even got nominated for a Primetime Emmy for outstanding music and lyrics.
5. Ross Geller, Friends (David Schwimmer)
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Ross Geller embodied a discontented individual who felt entitled to everything he desired, resorting to whining when things didn’t go his way. His demeanor was conceited, selfish, and marred by sexism. While women don’t owe men anything, Ross epitomized the type who believed otherwise. He held an unwarranted expectation for Rachel’s love, all the while incessantly complaining and assuming the role of a victim. He actively undermined Rachel’s romantic endeavors with others. In the end, he managed to secure the girl he didn’t rightfully deserve.
4. Jenny Humphrey, Gossip Girl (Taylor Momsen)
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Little J’s reign as Queen Bee should’ve ended faster than it started. She wanted to be Blair Waldorf incredibly badly. From the popularity, fashion, friends, and let’s not forget about the boys. Please tell us what were you thinking, Chuck. I never thought anything could ruin How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but Cindy Lou Who’s association with Taylor Momsen makes me cringe.
3. Serena Joy, The Handmaid’s Tale (Yvonne Strahovski)
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Episodes in the second season of the Hulu drama tried to make us understand why Serena Joy is so evil. Guess what? We don’t care. Maybe by the time the show wraps up, I’ll change my mind. For now, however, I cannot stand Serena.
2. Pete Campbell, Mad Men (Vincent Kartheiser)
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Pete Campbell exuded an arrogant demeanor, convinced that the world owed him its favors from the moment he entered it. His inherent sense of entitlement persisted throughout his life and career, leading him to misuse his power and mistreat women. His condescending attitude towards women, coupled with infidelity and a penchant for acting out like a jealous child, painted a troubling picture of Pete’s character.
1. Hannah Horvath, Girls (Lena Dunham)
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The young woman who once claimed to be the voice of her generation turns out to be a total dud. Not only is Hannah Horvath painfully clueless, but she just might be the most self-absorbed fictional character of all-time. For most of the series, we see her fumbling through life — wholly self-absorbed and aloof to the world around her. Hannah’s most frustrating quality is her inability to see anything outside of herself. Even by the end of Girls, we see little to no growth. Yet, the series insists that she has experienced some hard-earned, graceful ending.