TV Characters That Ruined Good Shows

There's almost always that one character - you know, the one that makes you cringe or scream at your television set, "Go away!" Here are 15 terrible characters who ruined good shows. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. These sometimes annoying, sometimes self-absorbed, sometimes irrelevant, almost always awful characters on great TV shows were perhaps not horrible enough to make you stop watching a program. However, they could be bad enough to get on your last nerve. Base-breaking characters aren't limited to guest stars or the supporting cast. Just as often, it's the main characters who are the worst. Is Hannah from Girls the most self-absorbed person in the history of television? Was Skyler from Breaking Bad the most hated? Any way you slice it, Screech's schtick on Saved By The Bell grew so tiresome that he has to be considered one of the worst TV characters ever. Vote on these shows ruined by crappy characters. Maybe some of these guys and gals don't deserve the dis; perhaps they were simply just misunderstood?

Piper Chapman, 'Orange Is The New Black'

This is Piper's story to tell, so what do we do when the main character of a drama is also the least interesting? Orange Is the New Black is filled with three-dimensional, well-written characters. Initially, Piper is our protagonist; however, it quickly becomes clear that she is totally self-absorbed and toxic to everyone in her life.

Thankfully, the writers and creator Jenji Kohan realized this rather quickly and began to really focus on the many other interesting inmates at Litchfield Penitentiary.

Scrappy-Doo, 'Scooby-Doo'

“Scrappy Dappy Doo!” After 10 seasons, Hanna-Barbera’s Scooby-Doo was beginning to drop in the ratings. As with many TV shows, the writers opted to bring in a fresh new character to spice things up. Scrappy-Doo, Scooby’s nephew, came on board in 1979. The pint-sized Great Dane was everything that his scaredy-cat uncle was not.

The initial backlash was immense; Scrappy was seen by many Scooby fans as annoying and superfluous. However, despite the criticism, the ratings went up and Scrappy remained an important part of Scooby's team.

Pete Campbell, 'Mad Men'

Pete Campbell is a classic weasel. He literally had everything: a beautiful and kind wife, a great job, and a healthy child. But he blew it because that's what weasels do. Pete earns a junior partnership at SC&P because he's really good at his job as an account man. But none of his co-workers seem to like him, and it's a surprise that no one at the firm, other than Layne, ever punched Campbell in his very punchable face.

Pete is arrogant, cruel, and not above crossing moral boundaries to land an account or move up the corporate ladder (he is the one who pushed Joan into sleeping with Herb Rennet in order to land the Jaguar account.) After Pete tries to blackmail Don Draper, Don rejects his attempt and perhaps describes Campbell best: "I thought about what you said, and then I thought about you and what a deep lack of character you have."

Samuel 'Screech' Powers, 'Saved By The Bell'

The utopian existence that was Bayside High was more believable than Screech being BFFs with all the cool kids. But, in the early seasons, Screech was often treated as just another member of the gang rather than simple comic relief, and his character had some surprising moments of humanity.

However, later on, the show used Screech more and more for cheap laughs - a schtick that got old fast.

Hazel Wassername, '30 Rock'

Hazel Wassername did not show up on 30 Rock until Season 6, and thankfully she did not last long enough to totally ruin the usually hilarious sitcom. Hazel has a torrid obsession with Liz Lemon that is more uncomfortable to watch than it is funny.

Lemon says it best - and it's a wonder why Tiny Fey didn't listen to her own character. She tells Hazel point blank that she is just a weird page and she already has one of those. #KennethForever.

Maggie Pierce, 'Grey's Anatomy'

In a show filled with characters prone to giving drawn-out monologues on every feeling they've had since the fifth grade, Maggie Pierce may be the most nails-on-a-chalkboard irritating. Thankfully, most of Grey's characters eventually become endearing (we're looking at you, April Kepner). However, Maggie may never cross over to likable.

She found her real father, Dr. Webber (he didn't know), at Seattle Grace, but refuses to let him into her life. She denied Meredith the opportunity to move on from Derek because of her unrequited school-girl crush on Dr. Riggs. Then, when her poor mother had terminal cancer, her mom knew that she could not tell her daughter about it until the very end, because she realized that even though Maggie is a cardiothoracic surgeon, she's still really immature.

Ted Mosby, 'How I Met Your Mother'

Like Piper Chapman, this is Ted's tale to tell. It's hard to dislike the main character and still enjoy a show. Thankfully, HIMYM's supporting cast picks up the slack. It takes the storyteller nine seasons to finally answer the question, who is the mother? The answer turns out to be a waste of time.

Also, should Ted really be telling his children all about his youthful escapades?

Negan, 'The Walking Dead'

Should a villain as cruel and heartless as Negan really be smiling so much? Jeffrey Dean Morgan goes way, way, over the top in portraying TWD's most vile villain. With all the dramatic lean-backs, ear to ear grins, and loud pontifications, Negan's ramblings became tiresome and ineffective somewhere around the mid-point of Season 7.