Nothing brings the magic of a show to a screeching halt like the introduction of a terrible character. If you’re lucky, they’ll only last a few episodes. Unfortunately, some characters overstay their welcome, turning our comfort shows into a chore. Some of these characters are so overwhelmingly lousy that they leave a stain on the entire series itself.
Whether it’s a desperate attempt to boost ratings, a failed attempt to replace a beloved character, or a misguided creative decision, these additions can quickly degrade a once-great show.
Cousin Oliver – The Brady Bunch
You can’t talk about characters who ruin shows without bringing up little cousin Oliver. His introduction coined the term “Cousin Oliver Syndrome,” which refers to a show’s failed attempt to introduce a child to boost ratings.
Cousin Oliver is widely considered to be one of the most hated characters in sitcom history. Some fans even blamed him for the show’s cancellation after his appearance in the six final episodes.
Scrappy-Doo – Scooby-Doo Franchise
The introduction of Scooby’s rambunctious ankle-biting nephew Scrappy-Doo instantly soured fans. His addition to Mystery Inc. was not well received as his annoying antics quickly made him the target of “Boos” from the audience instead of the g-g-g-ghosts.
All that to say he stuck around for over a decade and forever changed the makeup of the gang. Love him or hate him, he’s made his mark in the Scooby-Doo universe.
Seven – Married… with Children
Speaking of Cousin Oliver Syndrome, at the beginning of the seventh season of Married… with Children, the Bundys were given a third child named Seven in an attempt to boost ratings. The addition of Seven did the exact opposite as intended, and the character only made it to episode 18 of the season.
Although he was never mentioned by name, an entire season of the show later, a photo of Seven appears as the missing child on a milk carton. The Bundys seem not to care, if they even noticed at all.
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Cindy Snow – Three’s Company
Everyone knows Threes Company comes in two parts: Chrissy and Cindy. Chrissy fit the ditzy blonde beauty queen role perfectly. After her “cousin” Cindy came and replaced her, you might as well throw the whole show away.
The chemistry was clearly off, and Cindy’s comedic timing paled in comparison to Chrissy’s. If I catch episodes on TV Land, Cindy’s face is my cue to change the channel.
Darrin Stephens (Second Darrin) – Bewitched
I don’t know what it is exactly that rubs me and other viewers the wrong way, but second Darrin is such a buzzkill. The chemistry between Samantha and the original Darrin was palpable. They were cute together, and the original Darrin had a certain charm.
Second Darrin was too cookie-cutter and boring, not someone you could picture as the husband of a witch. Not everyone shares the same sentiment, but his appearance divided the fandom either way.
Shemp Howard (as Curly’s replacement) – The Three Stooges
The introduction of Shemp is another moment that divides a series in two. Everyone loves Curly. He’s synonymous with The Three Stooges, which is precisely why his replacement sent a shockwave through audiences.
Not many people know that Shemp is the real-life brother of Curly and Moe. After suffering a major stroke, Curly asked Shemp to take his place. Shemp agreed to stand in until Curly recovered, but sadly, that day never came, and Curly passed at the age of 48.
Dr. Pulaski – Star Trek: The Next Generation
The departure of the beloved Dr. Crusher and her replacement with the brash and temperamental Dr. Pulaski cast a shadow on the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Pulaski’s constant clashes with the crew, most notably with Data, quickly made her a polarizing figure with fans.
After resolving the contract dispute that resulted in her absence in season two, Dr. Crusher returned for the third season, and all was right in the galaxies.
Becky Conner’s Replacement – Roseanne
You can’t beat the feel of the early seasons of Roseanne. The dynamic was the perfect representation of an average American family until they did the unthinkable. After the end of the fifth season, Lecy Goranson (the original Becky Conner) left Roseanne, and they introduced Sarah Chalke as the new Becky in season six.
It was an instant tone shift, leaving a lot of viewers confused. The Beckys couldn’t be more different from each other. Going from smart and rebellious to naive and bubbly did not sit well. On top of that, the original Becky came back in the last seasons, giving us all whiplash.
Nicki Fifer – The Drew Carey Show
Oh, Nicki. I’ll never understand why shows force characters in that clearly do not mesh. Nicki’s inconsistent range of emotions and constant clashing with other characters made her swan dive into the category of annoying characters.
It was clear to audiences that she was introduced to insert and create drama in the series rather than develop as a character. Her character was written out of the show after two seasons and was not sorely missed.
Dan Dorian – Scrubs
The friendship and chemistry between JD and Turk is flawless, so when the writers decided to throw in JD’s older brother Dan, it shook things up. While JD is a funny character, he’s not ultra carefree and wild like his older brother, making the scales weigh heavily into goofball territory.
Thankfully, Dan only appeared in a handful of episodes, so the balance could be restored, leaving JD and Turk room for their methodically hilarious antics.
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Kayla is a creative force at Outrun Gaming, where she handles image editing with a dash of flair. When she’s not leveling up content, she’s hanging with her family, binging movies, booting up video games, or getting lost in art. With a knack for making people laugh, Kayla brings her playful energy to everything she does, mixing fun with creativity at every turn.
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