1 In 10 People Won't Be Able To Name All Of These Sitcom Characters
- by Johnny Reynolds
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Everyone loves a good sitcom, right? Short for situational comedy, the style originated in radio before moving on to the world of TV in the 1940s. Sitcoms can range from any style of comedy as long as they follow specific characters through funny scenarios each episode. They can be the happiest show around with laugh tracks and big moments. Or they can be the darkest of comedies with totally unsympathetic people. As long as they bring the laughs.
The sitcom has become one of the longest running and most-celebrated brands of entertainment. But what really makes a sitcom soar are its characters. They're the reason a show can succeed and a combination of aspects go in to making them memorable. Many popular sitcoms excel in quick paced writing with witty one liners, ridiculous set-ups, and a well-developed, unique cast of characters.
The harmonious merging of hilarious writing and dynamite performances have given the world some of the most popular characters in TV history. Some of these characters are so beloved that they are quoted between friends years and years after the show has gone off air. But only someone with a true connection to their funny bone can remember all the names of these hysterical individuals.
Which "Big Bang Theory" guy married Bernadette?
The Big Bang Theory is in its final season and while fans can't wait to see how everybody winds up, at least one character has arguably already seen it all. Despite being one of the gang's least likely to meet a woman, he managed to marry the woman of his dreams, have two children with her, and propel his career forward (despite a lack of a PhD) by actually going to space! This guy may be a nerd, but there are few who are cooler.
Who is this US "Office" prankster?
This guy absolutely thrives when he puts his mind to it, much to the chagrin of his eventual wife, Pam. However, for the audience, it makes for a whole lot of fun antics, great call-backs, and tons of totally quotable lines. The actor who plays him, John Krasinski, has stepped out of the comedy limelight it seems for the time being though, moving forward with projects like Jack Reacher and A Quiet Place. But who remembers which character cemented this guy as a household name?
What is the name of the trouble-making son on "The Simpsons?"
"The Simpsons" may be a cartoon, but it is still the longest running and, to many, most beloved sitcom of all time. It was the first real instance that a show had dealt with situations one would expect to see in a live-action sitcom, only in an animated format. And at the time that was groundbreaking. The town of Springfield is full of strange and funny characters. But as far as the family goes, the most popular is definitely the trouble-making son. What is his name?
What is the name of Will Smith's nerdy cousin on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?"
The plot of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" revolved around a young guy from Philadelphia whose mother sent him to live with his rich relatives in Bel-Air after he got into a fight. The fish-out-of-water story would go on to provide a lot of laughs throughout the show's six-year run. But the funniest moments came from the friction Will's character shared with his uppity, nerdy cousin. The two couldn't be more different, and his cousin became so popular that he spawned an entire (very dorky) dance move. What is the name of Will's nerdy cousin in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?"
Who is this sarcastic character?
Coming from one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time is the character who stole every scene through his sardonic tone and mockery of his friends. His dry humor played incredibly well off of his dim-witted best friend, and his sarcastic one liners would ascend into pop culture history. Every character brought something unique to the dynamic of the show. But it's this character who shone the most and provided a surprising amount of heart. What is the name of this sitcom character?
Who is the boss at the Dunder Mifflin Scranton, PA branch?
"The Office" took the hilariously deadpan premise of the original UK series and ran with it into sitcom heaven with a wacky cast of characters and tremendous heart. While a show about a company that sells paper sounds like the most boring thing imaginable, the characters propelled it forward. There are too many great ones to list, but the over-the-top boss brought them all together. He wanted to be loved by his employees, though he chased that desire to some pretty extreme scenarios. What is the boss's name on "The Office?"
Who is this over-enthusiastic public servant in "Parks and Recreation?"
"Parks and Recreation" saw just how well the work-place mockumentary style worked on "The Office" and decided to bring it into the world of civil services with one of the most cheerful and determined public office figures ever. Focusing on a character that truly loved her town with a varied cast of wonderful supporting characters, "Parks and Recreation" warmed up the hearts of anyone watching it. It gave the world some memorable characters, but comedian Amy Poehler's lead provided the soul of the show. What was her character's name?
Who is the main character of "Family Guy?"
While "The Simpsons" was the first mainstream grown up cartoon, Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" took the same concept to a completely new level of ludicrous. That set-up, a modern day family whose patriarch is an utter imbecile, would be enhanced by increasingly over-the-top situations and frequent intermissions from the main plot to showcase a clever joke. The absurd stupidity of the main character would make Homer Simpson look clever, but the show certainly wouldn't be the same without him. What is the name of the main character in "Family Guy?"
What is the name of the geek on "Family Matters?"
If ever there was a giant stereotype of a character, it's this polka loving, suspenders wearing nerd. "Family Matters" featured this character that was definitely in a smaller role when the show first started. But he became so popular that they started giving him more and more screen time. He was an absolute klutz, often causing mayhem when he didn't mean to. And this would lead to his signature catchphrase: "Did I do that?" What is the name of this breakout character from "Family Matters?"
Who is this smarmy guy from "How I Met Your Mother?"
The story of "How I Met Your Mother" revolved around the future Ted Mosby telling his children how he met their mother. But more often than not, viewers tuned into see what crazy shenanigans this character would get into. Characterized by a love for women and an even deeper love for suits, he stole every scene he was in, whether he was convincing his friend Ted to do something crazy or being forced to deal with his baggage. What is the name of this popular character from "How I Met Your Mother?"
What is the name of Jerry Seinfeld's downtrodden best friend?
"Seinfeld" is considered by many to be the best sitcom of all time, and there's a strong argument for that case. It really was just a show about nothing. Based on the comedy of star Jerry Seinfeld, it chronicled the humorous situations he and his three friends would get thrown into. One of the four leads was a masterclass in self deprecation, which was a great source for laughs on the show. Things just didn't seem to ever go right for him. What is the name of Jerry's downtrodden friend?
What is the name of the eccentric character on "Friends?"
Each of the six main characters on "Friends" brought something to the table, but this eccentric oddball was definitely the most unique in comparison. Her beliefs were vastly different from the norm, a fact that led to many laugh-out-loud scenes. The fun of this character came from never knowing what odd thing she was going to say next. And it's a good thing the creators decided to make this character so weird as her backstory is actually pretty depressing. What is the name of the eccentric friend?
What is the name of Raymond's sad-sack brother in "Everybody Loves Raymond?"
While it's necessary for many TV shows to feature an exciting plot, it isn't crucial for sitcoms to. They rely more on the jokes, the characters, and the chemistry between the cast. "Everybody Loves Raymond" is about a family who lives next door to the father's overbearing parents. And for a big chunk of the show, Raymond's down-on-his-luck older brother also lived with their parents. He was the character that got made fun of the most, but what was his name?
Which of the "Big Bang Theory" ladies has never had a last name?
This girl changed up the world of four nerds who were minding their own business. All she had to do was movie in and need a little bit of help and they were pretty much all smitten. Only one could have her though, and, breaking the fourth wall here, it was a good thing for her since she finally received a last name. This aspiring actress from Nebraska has gone on to do a whole lot that she probably never dreamed of!
What is the name of the dad on "Rick and Morty?"
While many sitcoms feature the character type of lovable idiot, "Rick and Morty" is no normal sitcom. It doesn't adhere to the rules normal sitcoms do, or even animated ones. So the lovable idiot definitely is intellectually challenged, but he is anything but loved for it. He's the butt of the joke in every scene, but it could also be because he's a huge coward. He usually gets his family members into bad situations in which they have to get themselves and him out of. What is the name of Morty's dad on "Rick and Morty?"
What is the name of the head writer on "30 Rock?"
"30 Rock" is one of the most celebrated sitcoms of recent memory and a lot of it is thanks to the writing talent of Tina Fey. The premise is one she would have been very familiar with through "Saturday Night Live," but her wit shone through with every line. It followed the head writer of a sketch comedy show who had to deal with the ups and downs of the business, including an overbearing boss and zany stars. What is the name of this sketch comedy writer from "30 Rock?"
Who is the Rachel's on-again-off-again boyfriend on "Friends"?
Unagi might be hard to pinpoint. It may be a type of eel dish served a sushi restaurant. It may be an ancient art of self-defense and inner reflection that helps the user to keep their body and soul safe from harm. Who knows? Either way, any true sitcom fan will know exactly which iconic Friends character espoused the use of such an art. Who can remember the name of this Friends guy who was the second half of the greatest love story on TV?
Who is the single father on "Two and a Half Men"?
This show sure took its fans on a roller coaster. With a significant change in casting thangs to the activities of one of the actors, the show changed directions quite a bit when it started nearing its final episodes. This character though, always seemed to get the short end of the stick, having to deal with being a single father to both his son and his wacky and unpredictable brother. Does anybody know who this character, portrayed by Jon Cryer, is?
What is the name of J.D.'s best friend on "Scrubs?"
"Scrubs" was a comedy about three young doctors after they joined the team at Sacred Heart Hospital. But what set it apart from literally every other medical show on TV was its signature brand of comedy. The main character would often daydream and narrate his own life, leading to many funny situations. The show also proved it had more heart than many other comedies, at the center of which is J.D.'s friendship with this surgeon. This may be where the term 'bromance' originated. What is the name of J.D.'s best friend on "Scrubs?"
What is the name of Bob's wife on "Bob's Burgers?"
What makes the humor of "Bob's Burgers" work so well is the main character's straight man persona and how it plays off of each strange and hysterical family member. But the best dynamic on the show is definitely that of Bob and his wife. Where Bob is reserved and business-focused, it's his wife that encourages him to explore a more wild side. But she can also get worked up about a lot of things. What is the name of Bob's wife on "Bob's Burgers?"
What is the name of this jock from "Community?"
Donald Glover has shown that he can find success in virtually every form that lets him flex his creative muscles, whether it be writing, acting, or musically through his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino. "Community," a sitcom about a study group compiled of vastly different characters at a community college, gave him a chance to further develop his comedic chops as the dim-witted jock from the group. The character's educational limits provided for some of the best moments of the show, but what was his character's name?
What's the name of the Captain on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine?"
After Andy Samberg left "Saturday Night Live," he did what many alum did and starred in his own show. That show would be "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," a sitcom about a group of police detectives working in Brooklyn (obviously). Over the years it has built up an extremely loyal fan-base. And a lot of that loyalty can be traced to how great the characters and performances are. The Captain is especially fantastic, with deadpan delivery that helps his lines land every time. What is the name of the Captain on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine?"
What is the name of the cyclops in "Futurama?"
While "The Simpsons" has certainly had a longer run, their are a lot of fans who would argue that "Futurama" is the better show. Its humor comes from exploiting what people think the future will look and be like, and it does that extremely well. Just like every sitcom, "Futurama" has a dynamite set of characters. One of them is the strong-willed and just plain strong cyclops who captains the Planet Express Ship the group uses to travel to new planets. What is the name of this cyclops?
Who is this dumb but lovable goofball from "Modern Family?"
"Modern Family" became an instant hit almost as soon as it started airing for many reasons. The writing, the chemistry, and of course the characters all work so well together. It focuses on three separate families which are all connected, and each of the three features some scene-stealing talent. One of the stand-out characters is this goofy father of three. It seems like every successful sitcom has a lovable idiot, and this character is definitely that. What is the name of this sitcom character?
What is the name of the father on "Full House?"
As beloved as this sitcom from the late 80s and early 90s is, it has a pretty dark premise. It focuses on a a recent widow who moves his three daughters to San Francisco to make a fresh start, but also needs the help of his two best friends to raise them. And though it's a sad start, hilarity only ensues from there on out. "Full House" has such a legacy that Netflix even gave it a sequel series. What is the name of the dad from "Full House?"
What is the name of this spy from "Archer?"
The plot of FX's "Archer" is essentially if James Bond was a complete idiot. Sterling Archer works for a an elite spy organization and is thought to be their very best. And to his credit, he does get out of a lot of tough spots. But his idiocy and unprofessional manner get him into them to begin with, which causes a lot of strain between him and his co-workers. This is especially apparent with his ex, who hates going on missions with him. What is her name?
What is the name of the co-host on "Home Improvement?"
There have been many sitcoms that have been based off of the stand-up comedy of their stars, but few have propelled the comic into fame as well as "Home Improvement" did for Tim Allen. The show ran for the entirety of the 1990s and focused on the star of a home improvement TV show with a live audience and co-host, as well as the star's home life. Many of the funniest moments happened on Tim's show, where he was shown to be inept while his co-host showed off his skills. What was the name of the co-host?
What is the name of the boss in the UK version of "The Office?"
Without this character and the original version of "The Office," American audiences would never have their longer-running and more popular version. This was comedian Ricky Gervais's first big show as he co-created, co-wrote, and co-directed. Michael Scott shares a lot of qualities with this original boss. This character is completely delusional in the way his employees see him, thinking they view him as a mentor and extremely funny. But they really see him as pompous and boorish. What is this sitcom character's name?
Who is Leslie's boss on "Parks and Recreation?"
Of Leslie Knope's supporting characters, of which there are a lot of great ones, the one that makes the biggest impression is her boss. He is the manliest of men, creating everything with his hands. His true passions are meat, woodworking, meat, scotch, meat, hunting, and more meat. He also believes that large governments are useless and likes for his department to do as little work as possible. Though it doesn't seem like he'd be friends with Leslie, the two are rather close. What is the name of Leslie's boss?
Who is this man who can't stand his family?
"Arrested Development" is one of those comedies that was ahead of its time, but garnered a massive cult following over the years. And what helped it gain that following was its uniquely strange cast of characters within an incredibly dysfunctional family. The only character on the show who seems to have his life together is the main one, who tries to keep his family's business afloat after his father gets sent to prison. What is the name of this character?
Who is this illiterate member of The Gang?
The Gang from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" are perhaps the most morally worst people to ever appear in a sitcom. But that's the charm of the show. Where other sitcoms feature characters who are close and care for one another, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" succeeds by doing the complete opposite. One of the break-out characters of the show is definitely the member who essentially can't read or write and is constantly made to do the worst chores around the bar by the other characters. What's this character's name?
Who is the main character in "The Good Place?"
"The Good Place" is the latest to be added to the long list of popular sitcoms, but the creators came up with a unique premise to make it stand out in the crowd. Not every show can just be about friends at a bar or a coffee place. It follows a woman after she passes away and arrives in The Good Place (Heaven), only she very quickly realizes they have her mixed up with someone else as she was an awful person on Earth. And from there, it gets wilder than one might imagine. What is her name?
What is the name of the VP in "Veep?"
HBO's "Veep" follows the incredibly crass second most powerful person in the United States as she vies for power with her bumbling yet hilarious staff. What makes the show so engaging is seeing country-altering events through the ruthless eyes of the VP, as well as how much the staff love to insult one-another. There are a lot of memorable characters in the show, but the lead is the most important. Her hateful demeanor and remarks about her colleagues plays perfectly off the darkly comedic plot lines. What is the name of the Veep?
What is the name of Jess's scene-stealing flatmate on "New Girl?"
"New Girl" may not exactly have the most original premise since it focuses on a woman who moves into an LA flat with three guys after a bad break-up. But the characters and chemistry between the cast made it a hit with a loyal fan-base. Each character had their own unique quirks that played off the ones of the other characters incredibly well. But the character that stole the show was this formerly overweight and overly confident marketing associate. His friends refer to him by his last name, which is what?
Who was the main character of "Happy Days?"
"Was" being the key word, as the focus of who the show's main character was seemed to change as it went on. The massive popularity of the greaser Fonzie seemed to grow overnight. But the show's original focus was on this young teen growing up in the 50s. While the boy had a number of memorable friends, none could hold a candle to Fonzie. And by giving him a bigger role, the show would go on to be much more successful. But what is this young teen's name?