Some of the most iconic TV shows are sitcoms, such as Friends, Seinfeld, and The Office. These funny series are especially known for their rewatch value, as audiences never get tired of seeing their favorite characters get into the most hilarious situations.
Part of the success of these shows is their characters, who are supposed to resemble relatable real-life people but in an exaggerated and absurd manner. The most common stereotype from sitcoms is the "loser," a character who is often lazy, out of touch with reality, and desperate.
10 Michael Hitchcock Is Lazy And Unreliable
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
One of the most disliked TV characters of all time, Michael Hitchcock is a terrible detective who works in Brooklyn's 99th Precinct. Together with Scully, Hitchcock spends most of his time lazying around. The rest of the hard-working detectives know they can't count on these characters, who are lazy and unreliable.
Hitchcock is a "loser" in most areas of his life; he's been divorced several times, is crude, and is always inappropriate. Most of the jokes about this character revolve around his strange sexual jokes, his poor table manners, and his lack of common sense.
9 Leonard Hofstadter Is Too Insecure
The Big Bang Theory
One of the best modern sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory revolves around a group of intellectuals who hang out at their apartment with their cool new neighbor, Penny. While all the characters in The Big Bang Theory would fit the "loser" TV archetype, Leonard is the biggest one.
While the rest of the group is comfortable with their "nerdy" interests, Leonard tries to fit in with "cooler" groups of people. For example, he constantly tries to hide some of his most nerdy hobbies and is frequently embarrassed by Sheldon. While Leonard is intelligent and kind, his insecurity makes him one of the biggest losers on TV.
8 Andy Dwyer Has Very Little Common Sense
Parks & Recreation
When Andy starts appearing in Parks & Recreation, he has a broken leg and is dating Anne, a nurse who is fighting for the government to fix a dangerous pit in her neighborhood. Andy is a loser; he's lazy, spoiled, lacks common sense, and is a terrible boyfriend.
Throughout Parks & Rec, Andy redeems himself and even becomes one of the most likable characters in the show. His relationship with April is lovely and admirable, and it became one of the best romances in Parks & Rec. However, Andy never really stops being a loser.
7 Craig Pelton Is A Terrible Dean
Community
Community revolves around the Greendale Seven, a group of seven adults who attend Greendale College, a supposedly subpar institution. While most Greendale students could qualify as losers, the biggest loser is its quirky dean, Craig Pelton.
Most of the initiatives Craig tries to take to better the school fail. On top of that, several colleges that he has led have closed. Whenever Greendale needs guidance, Craig tends to panic and even resorts to the Spanish study group for their help. While Craig is a likable, funny character, he isn't exactly good at his job.
6 Andy Bernard Is Always Looking For Validation
The Office
Andy Bernard, self-named the "Nard Dog," became regional manager at Dunder Mifflin when Michael Scott left. In the beginning, he's incredibly annoying, and he only becomes more inept, cringeworthy, and needy as The Office progresses.
Andy has a lot of privileges; he went to a good college and has a lot of money. However, his constant insecurities and need for validation put everyone off. He often acts like a capricious child, which makes him incredibly hard-to-like, even among The Office's very flawed and eccentric character.
5 Gunther Is The Butt Of The Jokes
Friends
Portrayed by the late James Michael Tyler, Gunther is one of the most iconic supporting characters in Friends. He works as a waiter in Central Perk, the emblematic cafe that the main group of friends visits. Even though he's a constant presence in the show, he never becomes part of the core group of friends.
Gunther is a hilarious character, and he's known mostly for his unrequited crush on Rachel. When the latter works in Central Perk, he lets her get away with a lot of mistakes because of his feelings for her. On top of that, he's the butt of many jokes throughout Friends, mainly because of his light blond hair.
4 Ted Buckland Is Always Sad
Scrubs
The lawyer of New Sacred Heart, Ted Buckland, spent many years as the scapegoat for Dr. Kelso's cruel attitude. He's well-intentioned but incredibly insecure, especially due to his baldness. Most jokes about Ted revolve around the fact that his life is constantly a mess. It's also mentioned that he still shares a bed with his mother.
At some point, it seemed like life had given Ted a break when he got into a relationship with Stephanie Gooch. Unfortunately, she left him, which only made him a sadder character. A recurring joke in Scrubs is that Ted can turn any song into a melancholic tune. By the end of Scrubs, however, he retired and moved to Hawaii.
3 Moe Szyslak Has Very Little Going On In His Life
The Simpsons
Moe Szyzlak is one of the most important recurring characters in The Simpsons. He's the owner and bartender of Moe's Tavern, so he's very close to Homer. Moe's life starts and ends at the bar. In general, he has terrible luck in every area of his life, which makes him miserable.
Moe has a longstanding crush on Marge, and none of his relationships has lasted long enough for him to stop being lonely. To make things worse, Bart Simpson often prank-calls him at the bar, which only makes him more bitter.
2 George Constanza Complains About His Life All The Time
Seinfeld
George Constanza is widely known as one of the biggest losers on TV. He spends most of his time complaining about how miserable his life is while doing nothing to solve it. Additionally, he avoids getting a job and victimizes himself for it.
On top of that, George is a misogynist and blames others for his unsuccessful relationships. While most of the jokes between him and Seinfeld are hilarious, this character is truly annoying at times. His arrogance and laziness give way to one of the most obnoxious characters in Seinfeld.
1 Mr. Bean Fails At Everything He Attempts To Do
Mr. Bean
Portrayed by comedy legend Rowan Atkinson, Mr. Bean is the biggest loser on television. However, he's also extremely iconic. His clumsiness, lack of common sense, and absurd behavior have made him one of the most hilarious and popular characters from the '90s and 2000s.
Mr. Bean follows the titular character, who doesn't understand common activities. As a result, he usually handles his daily affairs in unique and extravagant ways that always result in failure. He's also petty, unsympathetic, and sometimes mean, so the audience always feels he has it coming.