Inspired by a character in “Smash,” presumably, EW has curated a slide show presenting the 20 Most Annoying TV Characters Ever. In addition to the numerous omissions, it’s the “ever” that I have the biggest problem with. What? 100 years of television and the most annoying character they can come up with is Lutz from “30 Rock”? What about Barney’s dopey girlfriend in “The Andy Griffith Show” or Chrissy’s cousin in “Three’s Company” or, hell, WHERE IS KATE FROM “LOST”?
If you leave off the “ever,” then people understand that you’re really only talking about contemporary TV shows because contemporary TV shows are all that anyone really cares about. But, the “ever” suggests that the writer of the post has never seen a television show that aired before 1999 (except “Welcome Back Kotter.”)
It’s also an annoying list for all that was left out. I thought I’d pass along the annoyance. You can view the entire slideshow over on EW if you want images, but here is a list of those characters.
20. Ellis Boyd, “Smash”
19. Kim Bauer, “24”
18. Nikki and Paulo, “Lost”
17. Janice Litman, “Friends”
16. Sam McKinney, “Diff’rent Strokes”
15. Oliver Trask, “The O.C.”
14. Kimmy Gibbler, “Full House”
13. Arnold Horshack, “Welcome Back Kotter”
12. Lutz, “30 Rock”
11. Will Schuester, “Glee”
10. April Kepner, “Grey’s Anatomy”
9. Susan Mayer-Delfino, “Desperate Housewives”
8. Screech, “Saved by the Bell”
7. Henry Mills, “Once Upon a Time”
6. Dawn Summers, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
5. Eriq LaSalle, “ER”
4. Janice Soprano, “Sopranos”
3. Meg, “Supernatural”
2. Georgina Sparks, “Gossip Girl”
1. Kennedy, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
I know at least one person that will agree with EW on Oliver from “The O.C.”. But what about Lori? And may I put forward Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm”? She drives me insane.
