Ratings pretty much tell us if a TV show is good or bad. To maintain high ratings, producers play with the storyline and characters. However, changes are not always received well and sometimes lead to a show’s downfall – like these characters that ruined an entire show.
1. Poochie from “Itchy and Scratchy Show”
Poochie was the “cool dog” in the “Itchy and Scratchy Show.” It was supposed to help save the show’s declining ratings but failed. The ratings remained to be alarmingly low. Viewers think the character did not have a personality at all. Instead of completing an iconic mouse-cat-dog trio, people think Poochie ruined the duo.
2. Any Baby in a Sitcom
When an actress playing the mom gets pregnant, babies are usually added to the show. However, many people find this annoying and think that babies are burdensome and not significant. Also, they often grow up too fast – from 1 to 5 years old in a span of 1 year – which is unrealistic and disappointing because the grown-up version is usually less cute.
3. Randy Pearson from “That 70s Show”
Randy Pearson’s character in the “That 70s Show” was a replacement when Topher Grace left. This new persona was not received well by fans because of his sudden entrance. As if nothing happened, he just came into the story as Randy.
He was unrelatable, lacked charisma, and was a bad mix of several other characters. The viewers did not understand his personality and it was like he was injected into the show without careful thought.
4. Velma from “Velma”
Velma in “Velma” came from the “Scooby Doo” show. Although some people liked Velma when she was part of the gang, a lot of people were against her having her own show. Some say she just was not good without Scooby.
People did not find her personality appealing, and her attempts at being funny often failed. Viewers did not share the same humor and were unsure who the show’s target audience was.
5. Sparky from “Fairly Odd Parents”
Thinking that a new addition would help improve the show’s storyline, Sparky was introduced in “Fairly Odd Parents.” He was Timmy Turner’s hyperactive pet.
Despite him being a magical dog, his debut was not received well. He was responsible for other characters’ mishaps, which viewers found annoying. This led to him eventually being removed from the show.
6. Scrappy Doo from “Scooby Doo”
Though a lot of people think Scrappy Doo’s role in “Scooby Doo” is unlikeable, many also believe that he is one of the reasons why the show’s ratings somehow went up. So ultimately, the audience has a love-hate relationship with this character… and maybe you’re one of them.
Scrappy is Scooby’s energetic and aggressive nephew. And despite the criticism, this character had his own catchphrase and theme song.
7. April from “Gilmore Girls”
Many thought adding Luke’s daughter, April, to “Gilmore Girls” made no sense and was out of place. Some viewers say she was merely added to create more drama between Luke and Lorelei. However, there was not enough backstory, and her selfishness was annoying and irrational.
There are rumors that the writer deliberately created her character to put off viewers as an act of rebellion after a rift with the producers.
8. Mork from “Happy Days”
Mork is the alien Mindy, the smart and sweet female main character, meets in Happy Days. Many think he is the reason the show lost its fanbase after a good first season. But others think differently and say the show was already on the rocks before Mork was introduced.
9. James Corden from “The Late Late Show”
The host is the life of talk shows. Craig Ferguson was so good in “The Late Late Show” that people thought he was irreplaceable. That is why viewers did not give the same level of support when he left and was replaced by James Corden. Some even think that Corden killed the show.
To viewers, Corden did not look authentic and was even reported to be not as nice off-cam. He also tends to interrupt guests during interviews, which defeats the purpose of a talk show. So, despite being a good comedian, he just did not receive the same love as a host.
10. Oliver from “The Brady Bunch”
While there are characters to love in the “Brady Bunch,” there is one whom people like to hate. Cousin Oliver was described as a natural disaster. He was the one who often initiated the mishaps, which is probably why viewers hate him.
11. Gazoo from “The Flintstones”
Gazoo, the green alien in “The Flintstones,” is thought to be the reason the show was canceled. But even if the show was not canceled, Gazoo did not seem to have many fans. His character was too snobby, and the thought of a wish-granting alien in the Stone Age did not seem right.
12. Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, and Rajesh from “The Big Bang Theory”
The cast of “The Big Bang Theory” had perfect chemistry and timing. Until Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, and Rajesh were added to the show. At least, this is what a viewer named Cap thinks.
These characters have unlikeable personalities, such as narcissistic, selfish, and controlling. Penny and Leonard’s relationship also reflects societal stereotypes (pathetic guy falls for a not-so-smart but beautiful girl). These characters veered the story’s plot in a different direction, and many fans did not like it at all.
13. Debby from “Shameless”
Debbie, Frank’s daughter in “Shameless,” was portrayed as manipulative and shameless. She was one of the characters people considered “cringe.” Someone even said that she just went from bad to worse. Apart from being selfish and unmindful of other people’s feelings, she was used to getting what she wanted, even if it meant stepping on others’ toes.
14. Brian from “The Office”
Brian, the cameraman in “The Office,” was introduced in the show to add drama to Jim and Pam’s relationship. But people do not get why the lovers needed some shaking when they had a pretty perfect relationship.
It was probably because the writers thought the relationship was too smooth-flowing to be true. They needed to come up with something that would stir viewers’ emotions.
15. Nelly from “The Office”
Nelly is another controversial character in the office. She was one of those who were not believable, and her role was annoying. She was seen as manipulative and often took credit for other people’s achievements.
She was seen as a feminist who always tried to prove she was better than men. She did not care about equality, earning the ire of viewers.
16. Andrea from “The Walking Dead”
Andrea was one of the original cast of “The Walking Dead.” She was the type who acted like she knew it all but failed miserably when she attempted anything. When she finally turned into a zombie, fans were actually glad she did. This meant she would be the controlling character that she was and that she would soon be kicked out of the show.
17. Riley from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
Riley came in “Buffy’s” new season to add twists to the story. But fans were not happy with the change. Someone said he actually ruined “Buffy.” His character was unrealistic and inconsistent with the plot.
The storyline alone does not make or break a TV show. Characters play a huge part and have to be engaging and relatable to prevent a show from going down the drain. So, for shows to stay around, they must be mindful of the characters they’re adding.
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Korina is a licensed English and Journalism teacher. After leaving the academe, she decided to pursue what she loved most – writing. Travel, health and wellness, spirituality, lifestyle, and science and technology are some of the niches she is passionate about. When not working on freelance tasks, she spends her time deciphering the magical journey of being an introvert mom to an extrovert child.