I've got a theory...

[Munjibunga]

Troy on "Swamp People."

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Klinger.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Mike in Breaking Bad.

Peter Griffin.

Uhh...

Hmm...

Only 2 shows I really watch(ed).

Cept for the 70s. Feel I should state that I never really liked Gomez when I was a kid, for some reason. Easier to think of annoying characters, too.

Alan, as already mentioned. I think he's the most dislikable TC character to ever have any success. Especially in the later episodes. Used to watch that show, couldn't take it for long after Charlie Sheen was gone.

The Skipper goes on my most annoying list for sure.

Along with Dr. Smith.

Was never really a fan of Endora, Samantha's mother... Dr. Bellows... hey, I gotta go to work.

Oh yeah, but before I go, I LOVED Dennis the Menace as a kid. Can't handle that show now for 5 minutes.

And I believe most people liked Adam West, as Batman.

 

[Darth Handsome]

Ralph Furley.

And I should know. I hate everything.

 

[charlie monroe]

Dr Johnny Fever from WKRP
Sgt Schultz from Hogan's Heroes

I agree with Joe. Much easier to choose annoying characters

 

[Immigrant]

Any character Bernie Koppel (sp?) played was played was enjoyable except that insufferably horny doctor on the Love Boat. Zeigfried, leader of KAOS was lovable. Even that master criminal he played on Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp was cool.

I recently saw an episode of that on Hulu. I can imagine the animal rights folks had a lot to gripe about concerning that show, but a chimp on skis or driving a car is just plain funny.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

That theory states this: There are just certain characters on television that you cannot truly hate.

...

What arguments against this theory? Expand on the theory or try to denounce it, just keep it civil.

Well, first of all, it isn't a theory. More of a conjecture because it doesn't explain why. Unless you have observed that everyone likes these characters and your explanation is that they are impossible to hate. In that case, it would be a hypothesis. Ultimately, your observation was incorrect, as a number of posters commented that they hate certain characters on your list.

I only point this out because the word "theory" is frequently misused and misunderstood in popular culture.

The next step would be to change your observation to "some TV characters are more likeable than others. The hypothesis could be there are certain traits in characters that decrease the probability of individuals finding those characters unlikeable.

You could test your hypothesis by creating a list of characters, and making a list of their traits (both positive and negative). Then ask a random selection of people to rate the likeability of the characters. Then with statistical analysis you could determine which traits are the most likeable.

Then you have your theory. Favorable opinions of TV characters show a positive correlation with the following traits: _________, __________, and ________. In contrast, the following traits show a negative correlation to viewers having a favorable opinion of a TV character: __________, ___________ and ______________.

 

[mellowinman]

You can't hate Endora, because she was played by the legendary Agnes Moorhead.

Now Darren? Please hate him all you want.

 

[Darth Handsome]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Littlest_Hobo

 

[michael_atw]

Pretty much every show has characters you can't hate - and for good reason. That's how they draw viewers. Nobody wants to see antagonists that constantly irritate you. Even Archie Bunker was beloved by viewers and he was created to be an antagonist. Perhaps that was more because he was relate-able to a generation of racist, over-masculine, anti-pinko whites...heh.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Yeah but which Darren to hate? Dick Sargeant or dick York? Which Dick? Both Dicks?

 

[stratovani]

It's impossible to hate Jed, Granny, Jethro, and Elly May. Mr. Drysdale was an avaricious buffoon, and Miss Hathaway was hilariously prissy, so there was nothing to hate there. Now Mrs. Drysdale was the one I really couldn't stand.

 

[Tituscrow]

How could anyone not love Niles Crane?

 

[mellowinman]

How could anyone not love Niles Crane?

If I ever meet anyone who doesn't love Niles Crane, I will punch them, on your behalf. (and on behalf of my wife, who considers him the single greatest character in the history of TV-in no small part due to David Hyde Pierce's brilliant portrayal of him)

 

[Darth Handsome]

I don't love him.
I can take you and your wife.

 

[mellowinman]

I don't love him.
I can take you and your wife.

You might be able to take ME, but I have my doubts about you handling my wife.

 

[slobake]

Mr. Ed from Mr. Ed (Mr. Ed)
Dr. Smith from Lost In Space
Marlowe Thomas in That Girl
Oprah Winfrey
Fred Mertz in I Love Lucy. If you look up "old fart" in the dictionary you will find a picture of Fred Mertz
Now I am going to commit Sacrilige here. Captian Picard has a stick up his patootie. The guy needs to loosen up.
I never liked "Maud" with Bea Arthur. But I did like the Carol Burnette Parody called "Broad"

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Well, first of all, it isn't a theory. More of a conjecture because it doesn't explain why. Unless you have observed that everyone likes these characters and your explanation is that they are impossible to hate. In that case, it would be a hypothesis. Ultimately, your observation was incorrect, as a number of posters commented that they hate certain characters on your list.

I only point this out because the word "theory" is frequently misused and misunderstood in popular culture.

The next step would be to change your observation to "some TV characters are more likeable than others. The hypothesis could be there are certain traits in characters that decrease the probability of individuals finding those characters unlikeable.

You could test your hypothesis by creating a list of characters, and making a list of their traits (both positive and negative). Then ask a random selection of people to rate the likeability of the characters. Then with statistical analysis you could determine which traits are the most likeable.

Then you have your theory. Favorable opinions of TV characters show a positive correlation with the following traits: _________, __________, and ________. In contrast, the following traits show a negative correlation to viewers having a favorable opinion of a TV character: __________, ___________ and ______________.

You may have to perform a factor analysis of those traits, because there's a strong likelihood of multicollinearity existing in the model if certain traits are highly correlated with one another. Um wow...we're really thinking too much about this.

My vote would be Hyde from That 70s Show. Even when he's being a scoundrel, he's a total bad ass.

 

[Stewie26]

Some of you older guys might remember "Eddie Haskell " from "Leave It To Beaver."
When I was a kid I thought he was really cool, even though he played the part of a smart a** teenager.

 

[tangentmusic]

You cannot hate

Mr. Spock - Leonard Nimoy

That would just be illogical