HBO MaxSitcoms are known for their lovable, quirky characters who bring humor and heart to our screens. But for every beloved character, there’s often one who grates on our nerves, pushing the boundaries of irritation and sometimes even becoming the character we love to hate. Whether it’s their catchphrases, antics, or sheer obliviousness, these characters have earned their spots as the most annoying in sitcom history.
Janice Litman-Goralnik (“Friends”)
Janice, Chandler Bing’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, is one of the most memorable side characters in “Friends,” largely due to her grating voice and infamous catchphrase, “Oh. My. God.” Her nasal tone, exaggerated laugh, and tendency to show up at the worst possible times made her a thorn in the side of both Chandler and viewers alike. Her knack for popping up unexpectedly, especially when Chandler thought he was done with her Her loud, nasally voice, and the over-the-top “Oh. My. God.” catchphrase
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Steve Urkel (“Family Matters”)
Steve Urkel is a classic example of the nerdy neighbor who means well but consistently wreaks havoc. His high-pitched voice, clumsiness, and constant refrain of “Did I do that?” made him both an iconic and irritating character. While his heart was always in the right place, his disastrous inventions and obsessive crush on Laura Winslow made him a source of endless frustration for the Winslow family—and sometimes the audience. His relentless pursuit of Laura, despite her lack of interest. His squeaky voice and nasal laugh. Constantly causing problems with his inventions.
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Kimmy Gibbler (“Full House”)
As DJ Tanner’s best friend, Kimmy Gibbler was the epitome of the annoying next-door neighbor. With her loud fashion sense, goofy demeanor, and tendency to invade the Tanner family’s personal space, she often drove Danny Tanner and the rest of the family crazy. Her lack of social awareness and constant presence made her a polarizing character—either you loved her quirks, or you couldn’t stand them. Her often clueless and obnoxious behavior. Her bizarre, mismatched outfits and incessant and unwelcome visits to the Tanner house.
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Newman (“Seinfeld”)
Newman is Jerry Seinfeld’s arch-nemesis and the ultimate annoying neighbor. As a conniving, petty postal worker, Newman embodies everything irritating—he’s lazy, scheming, and always looking to one-up Jerry. His grudge against Jerry, combined with his overall smarminess, made him a character you loved to hate. His long-standing, unexplained feud with Jerry. His constant scheming and meddling and his smug, self-satisfied attitude.
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Debra Barone (“Everybody Loves Raymond”)
Debra Barone is the long-suffering wife of Raymond, and while her complaints about Ray’s childishness are often valid, her nagging tone and constant dissatisfaction make her a bit of a buzzkill. Her exasperation, while understandable, often comes across as whining, especially when she’s clashing with Ray’s overbearing mother, Marie. The constant tension with Ray’s family, especially Marie. Her persistent nagging, especially towards Ray and her frequent frustration and complaining.
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Ross Geller (“Friends”)
While Ross is one of the main characters in “Friends,” he’s also one of the most divisive. His whiny nature, obsessive tendencies (like his relentless pursuit of Rachel), and frequent jealous outbursts made him a character that could easily get on your nerves. His infamous “We were on a break!” line became the ultimate symbol of his inability to move on and his tendency to dwell on the past. His obsession with Rachel and inability to let things go. His constant whining and neediness and his tendency to overreact, especially in relationships.
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Screech Powers (“Saved by the Bell”)
Screech is the quintessential nerd character, complete with awkward social skills, a high-pitched voice, and a seemingly endless supply of bad luck. His desperate attempts to fit in with his cooler friends, combined with his bumbling nature and lack of self-awareness, made him a frustrating character at times. His unrequited crush on Lisa and his habit of getting into bizarre situations only added to his annoying traits. His tendency to create problems for the group with his clumsiness. His awkwardness and lack of social skills, and his unrelenting crush on Lisa, despite her clear disinterest.
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Meg Griffin (“Family Guy”)
Why She’s Annoying: Meg Griffin is the black sheep of the Griffin family, constantly bullied and ignored by her parents and siblings. While this might make her a sympathetic character, her constant whining, self-pity, and lack of confidence make her hard to root for. The running joke of everyone in the show disliking Meg sometimes translates to the audience, making her one of the most irritating characters on “Family Guy.” Her lack of development beyond the “unpopular” character trope. Her constant self-pity and whining .The way she’s treated as a punching bag by her family
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Fran Fine (“The Nanny”)
Fran Fine, the flashy, nasal-voiced nanny from Queens, is a character you either love or find incredibly annoying. Her loud fashion sense, over-the-top personality, and distinctive voice are her trademarks, but they can also be grating. While her heart is always in the right place, her lack of boundaries and often clueless behavior make her a source of frustration for the more refined Sheffield family. Her tendency to overstep her bounds with the Sheffield family. Her nasal voice and loud laugh and her flashy, over-the-top fashion sense.
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Larry (“Three’s Company”)
Larry, Jack Tripper’s sleazy best friend in “Three’s Company,” is the stereotypical womanizer who’s always on the lookout for his next conquest. His smooth-talking, sleazy attitude, and endless scheming to get women often lead to trouble for Jack and the gang. His lack of respect for boundaries and relentless pursuit of women make him a character that can be hard to like. His lack of respect for women and boundaries. His sleazy, womanizing ways and his constant scheming, often causing problems for his friends.
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