Worst Simpsons character

[Leej88]

Mine would have to be Roy, I know he was a joke about adding useless characters too long-running shows but he is annoying.

[dead-ced-dead]

Gill unattached from the memory of Lionel Hutz would be funny, but as I understand, he was added to fill the bumbling-buffoon gap of Lionel Hutz after Phil's murder, and all I can think of him as is, "not Phil Hartman."

It's unfair to the character since on his own he's fine, but that's all I see when he's on screen.

[Leej88]

Gil was funny in his first few appearances but the joke got old.

[dead-ced-dead]

The Comic Book Guy as a one joke per appearance character = pure genius

The Comic Book Guy being given plotlines and subplots = pure shit

[Leej88]

Yeah, when he dates Agnes was icky.

[Steven88]

Duffman, Lindsay Neagle, Disco Stu.

[Leej88]

I do love one of Duffman's lines, Duffman cant breathe oh no.

[pigamus]

I find everything involving Abe Simpson to be irritating and not funny

[The Culture Bunker]

Gill unattached from the memory of Lionel Hutz would be funny, but as I understand, he was added to fill the bumbling-buffoon gap of Lionel Hutz after Phil's murder, and all I can think of him as is, "not Phil Hartman."

It's unfair to the character since on his own he's fine, but that's all I see when he's on screen.

Wasn't Gill's first appearance in the episode Marge gets a real estate job at an office run by Lionel Hutz, with Gill as a parody of Jack Lemmon's character from 'Glengarry Glen Ross'?

[Leej88]

His first appearance was when they steal his hot air balloon?

[Jumblegraws]

Of characters who have been around since the golden era, I'd say Sam and Larry the barflies, purely because they don't really do anything, which of course is their whole point, so really it's a default answer rather than their being characters I actively dislike.

Beyond the golden age, Booberella is shit. I generally like the deliberately one-note characters, and Bumblebee Man is proof that a parody of a parody can be funny, and I find the story about how he was conceived as a character quite interesting*. Booberella otoh is just dated and her catchphrase is grating.

*For those who don't know, he was inspired by re-runs of the Mexican superhero spoof El Chapulin Colorado that, to an English-speaking channel surfer, gave the impression of being constantly on on Spanish-language channels in America.

[Video Game Fan 2000]

Characters that are just one mannerism of a famous celebrity and nothing else, like the Yes Guy and Booberella are the pits.

Probably far from the worst nowadays but the mid-00s attempt to clean up Smithers made him into an embarassing stereotype and any b plot involving him was truly painful. What makes it worse is that they were essentially confessing to something they never did - the joke was supposed to be that he liked Mr Burns exclusively. So they made the character more offensive retrospectively by saying "yeah, he was a stereotype but we've cleaned him up a bit now", instead of just phasing out the "women and sea men don't mix" stuff. Considering Apu and others were starting to get negative attention around the same time its bizarre the put effort into cleaning up what was an absurdist joke about a guys crush on his boss. But whatever keep the fat jokes coming guys.

Duff Man becoming a regular was absolutely pathetic.

I repeat what I said about Flanders turning into a bigotted fundie being total bullshit in too many ways to count. Its not even culturally accurate, all that ex-hippy smiles and hugs Christianity associated with aspirational middle class families in the 80s/90s like the Flanderses is fairly remote from Limbaugh listening fire and brimstone Baptists, isn't it? If anything Homer and Marge should be wanting homosexuals to burn in hell and Flanders should be wearing his pronouns on a pin button. He drinks import beer and plays pool, but won't let his kids watch violent cartoons. Everything so well observed about Flanders being the neighbour who has it better than Homer and inspires oafish resentment down the fucking toilet from season 9ish onward.

[Small Man Big Horse]

Gill unattached from the memory of Lionel Hutz would be funny, but as I understand, he was added to fill the bumbling-buffoon gap of Lionel Hutz after Phil's murder, and all I can think of him as is, "not Phil Hartman."

It's unfair to the character since on his own he's fine, but that's all I see when he's on screen.

That's who I thought of as well, the first appearance wasn't too bad but the character's never done it for me since.

[mippy]

Boobarella is an Elvira spoof, I thought?

[mippy]

Any celebrity playing themselves is usually shite, but Elon Musk I think was the worst.

I think Sideshow Bob has really worn thin.

[chveik]

I find everything involving Abe Simpson to be irritating and not funny

no u

[madhair60]

Lisa

Don't fucking argue, you should see her in any episode past about season 9. Fucking state of it

[Wonderful Butternut]

Haven't the writers ruined nearly all of the ensemble by now?

I haven't watched a full episode of The Simpsons in something like 10 or 15 years, but I saw clips from the episode that features Crazy Cat Lady's backstory cos uTube recommendations are weird. Yes, we really needed to know that a recurring gag character had a nervous breakdown from trying to show how strong a working and independent woman she could be by simultaneously being a doctor and lawyer. Is there a joke in there somewhere?

Lisa

Don't fucking argue, you should see her in any episode past about season 9. Fucking state of it

One for the "we're now incapable of writing this character so let's make them shit" collection. Same thing happened with Homer, but not as badly cos the writers probably like him more. But he's a total fuckbag compared to earlier Homer, who's well meaning but just a bit thick. Something that has been covered widely by better people than me.

[Leej88]

Chief Wiggum is awful not only is he an incompetent cop but corrupt as well.

[Jumblegraws]

Boobarella is an Elvira spoof, I thought?

Yes, who in turn was a parody of Bride of Dracula-type horror characters, hence my "parody of a parody" description above.

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

Haven't the writers ruined nearly all of the ensemble by now?

I haven't watched an episode of The Simpsons in at least 15 years, but I saw clips from the episode that features Crazy Cat Lady's backstory. Yes, we really needed to know that a recurring gag character had a nervous breakdown from trying to show how strong a working and independent woman she could be by simultaneously being a doctor and lawyer. Is there a joke in there somewhere?

I quite like that joke tbh just because it's not obvious immediately who Eleanor is. As a one-off joke for a rarely seen character it's fine. But I'm sure they either have or will ruin her by having her move in with the Simpsons because EVERYONE IN THE FUCKING TOWN KNOWS THIS FUCKING FAMILY AND CRASHES ON THEIR COUCH FOR SOME REASON.

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

gil/neagel

[Sebastian Cobb]

Spiderpig.

[Brundle-Fly]

Yes, who in turn was a parody of Bride of Dracula-type horror characters, hence my "parody of a parody" description above.

and I believe the 'Boobarella' name was already taken before The Simpsons for an adult movie title parody of Barbarella (1968) which in itself was a camp take on the French comic strip of the same name. So, a parody of a parody of a parody of a parody? ish.

[Brundle-Fly]

Yeah, when he dates Agnes was icky.

Remind me what happens in that ep?

[willbo]

Tony Blair cameo and the Mexican Bee Man

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

don't think there's any legitimately poor characters through seasons 3-8

[Leej88]

They both shouting at each other then it turns into a relationship and I forget how they break up.

[Jumblegraws]

Tony Blair cameo and the Mexican Bee Man

Away you go, Bumblebee Man is great. If I ever go out of my way to watch The Simpsons again before the final episode, it will be because they do a 'Bee Man-centric plot.

[Catalogue Trousers]

Bart.