10 Terrible TV Characters That Ruined Their Whole Show

[TMC]

https://screenrant.com/worst-tv-characters-ruined-show/

Unfortunately, the behavior of these annoying TV characters diminished the quality of good shows like Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, New Girl, and The Office.

[blueberrymuffin]

For me, I think it's less the characters themselves, and more the writing surrounding them. In a lot of these cases, the new characters were either added in as glorified replacements for previous ones that left (New Girl, That 70s Show) or to generate "drama" to increase ratings (Gilmore Girls with April). The plotlines these characters were introduced into were awful as well.

[icecream]

Those who have read my updated top 1100 scripted characters list (link is in my signature) might have noticed all three main females from One Day at a Time made it, with Barbara easily in the top half despite limited sampling compared to other shows. But Schneider is still creepy pond scum, One Day at a Time would be much more likable without that loser. Pat Harrington Jr. has an obnoxious voice, even back then the Emmys didn't get everything right.

[Edward216]

Originally Posted by icecream

Those who have read my updated top 1100 scripted characters list (link is in my signature) might have noticed all three main females from One Day at a Time made it, with Barbara easily in the top half despite limited sampling compared to other shows. But Schneider is still creepy pond scum, One Day at a Time would be much more likable without that loser. Pat Harrington Jr. has an obnoxious voice, even back then the Emmys didn't get everything right.

I thoroughly disagree with you. I liked Pat Harrington and Dwayne Schneider isn't nearly as creepy as some other characters I can think of.

Ed.

[MikeLutton]

Dont Forget Sam and Maggie Diff Rent' Strokes

[dee2364]

OMG...I am AMAZED that someone mentioned Taub from House. Yes, Yes, Yes, a thousand times YES! He is one of the reasons why I checked out in the last season of House and only dropped in for the finale.

In case anyone hasn't seen the show yet, House MD was about a messed up, but brilliant doctor who would come up with miracle diagnoses, and was surrounded by people who had their various quirks.

At some point, someone introduced Taub, an unattractive, middle-aged balding guy. Nothing wrong with being unattractive, middle-aged or balding. It's just that, from what I hear, a writer had a huge crush on the actor, so what happened was that Taub became a Mary Sue. He became better than each one of the characters, including House himself. The writer made it a point of making him picked for an ad over the resident blonde hottie, beating the black guy at basketball, mentioning that he was oh, so popular in high school, etc.

And, as if this wasn't crazy enough, he was made out to be the resident stud who was screwing two women at the same time because they couldn't get enough of him.

You'd think it would've led somewhere (like maybe there'd be a story arc where it would all come crashing down). But nope--the writer made it a point to have him end up in a Micki and Maude situation, to tell us what a virile, hot stud he was!

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Edward216

I thoroughly disagree with you. I liked Pat Harrington and Dwayne Schneider isn't nearly as creepy as some other characters I can think of.

Ed.

Me too--a character who ruins a show doesn't last nine seasons. The only character that kind of ruined the show (briefly) was Ginny, early on. Fortunately she didn't last long.

[24/7 reruns]

Wow, no one mentioned Oliver on The Brady Bunch.

I would also consider Fonzie on Happy Days. The show changed a lot after he became more than a one off character. Urkel on Family Matters fits this too. J.J. Evans from Good Times fits this too.

All of those shows lost it's focus by being too focused on over the top characters.

[just1paul]

Family ties was ruined when it became the Michael J Fox show.

[James]

How about Wilson from Home Improvement? It would have been a better show had he been invisible like Sarah the telephone operator on The Andy Griffith Show.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by James

How about Wilson from Home Improvement? It would have been a better show had he been invisible like Sarah the telephone operator on The Andy Griffith Show.

I disagree. Wilson with his eccentricities and Tim bungling what he said was fun to see. They still made sure Wilson's whole face was invisible. Weakest of the regular characters was Mark in later seasons and Heidi. The macabre horror movie was too dark for Home Improvement (although the Greased Lightning spoof was cool), and Mark's dog collar friend was not needed. Heidi was so one dimensional, storylines almost never centered around her.

[dee2364]

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

Wow, no one mentioned Oliver on The Brady Bunch.

Because he didn't ruin the show. He was a sign that TTB was running out of steam.

[24/7 reruns]

Originally Posted by dee2364

Because he didn't ruin the show. He was a sign that TTB was running out of steam.

Actually I agree. But the character was awful.

[favoriteshow]

Originally Posted by MikeLutton

Dont Forget Sam and Maggie Diff Rent' Strokes

They also changed the set (i.e. the staircase) but I agree those new characters didn't help. The show was already in decline.

They should have filled in an older sister or another sister character with Dana Plato less involved in the later seasons.

[favoriteshow]

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

Wow, no one mentioned Oliver on The Brady Bunch.

I would also consider Fonzie on Happy Days. The show changed a lot after he became more than a one off character. Urkel on Family Matters fits this too. J.J. Evans from Good Times fits this too.

All of those shows lost it's focus by being too focused on over the top characters.

I agree.

But for FM, while I didn't care for Steve Urkel and would have rather seen a traditional family sitcom and seen Judy episodes, it's hard to say that he ruined the show. He took over the show rather early and the show kept on getting renewed.