History Main / SicklyNeuroticGeek

%%* Carl from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius''

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend]] Milhouse Van Houten is this -- in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies -- but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy, and ''his own tears.''

* Harold from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' has shades of this. A lot of it is [[AllThereInTheManual confined to his online bio]], though he also has NerdyNasalness and is very scrawny (not that this keeps him from [[BadassBookworm having some badass moments]].) [[CoolLoser Cody]] and [[HomeschooledKids Ezekiel]] are two other nerdy characters who mention having allergies at some point in the series.

->'''Joel:''' Do you know what happens if my mother uses a fabric softener?
->'''Wednesday:''' What?
->'''Joel:''' I die.
* Cameron from ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'', who spends much of the film sick and congested.

This character is frequently seen as a sidekick to the lead. Think of him as the guy who will grow up to become a neckbearded BasementDweller. He will likely speak as though [[NerdyNasalness his nose is constantly congested]], be allergic to practically everything in existence, pack a NerdyInhaler for his asthma, and go to absurd lengths to avoid any further ailments. Expect him to talk about his long list of medical issues openly and graphically whether he's asked to or not. His health issues are often implied to be psychosomatic, or {{Hypochondria}}: If this character [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]], expect them to clear up pronto.

* In a creepy example, Cousin Arnie from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. He's pale and has postnasal drip/sinus problems, and he's also a CreepyChild with some kind of AmbiguousDisorder.

* Melman from ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}''. The first thing he does after finding out that he and the gang are leaving N.Y. is to panic over his health treatment.

* ''StargateSG1'': [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] severely with Dr. Daniel Jackson. He wears glasses, is often referred to as a "nerd" by Jack (albeit [[InsultOfEndearment affectionately]]), and takes allergy pills (said pills were a plot device in an early episode when they provided the key to curing an alien disease). Despite that, he is a BadassBookworm with plenty of combat experience and knows how to use all manner of firearms very well, he has refused to break under torture multiple times, and he's at least in the same ballpark as the rest of the team when it comes to physical and athletic skills.

* Tino's cousin in ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' is a subversion: when they were younger his health problems were so demanding that he slept with a humidifier ''and'' dehumidifier on for each nostril, and Tino dreads hanging out with him because of it. Once he finally lets his cousin get a word in edgewise, though, it turns out that he's now both healthy and cool.

* In a creepy example, Cousin Arnie from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. He's pale and has postnasal drip/sinus problems, and he's also a CreepyChild with some kind of AmbiguousDisorder.
** Also [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Brainy]]. WordOfGod says that the reason he talks so little is that he has extremely bad asthma, but that otherwise he would be just as articulate and poetic as Helga.
* Harold from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' has shades of this. A lot of it is [[AllThereInTheManual confined to his online bio]], though he also has NerdyNasalness and is very scrawny (not that this keeps him from [[BadassBookworm having some badass moments]].) [[CoolLoser Cody]] and [[HomeschooledKids Ezekiel]] are two other nerdy characters who mention having allergies at some point in the series.

* Subverted by Gretchen from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}''. She has the nasal voice but otherwise doesn't have any known illnesses. Although she did catch a cold in the episode where Gus [[CompressedVice became]] TerrifiedOfGerms.
* Andrew on ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'', who is JewishAndNerdy, apparently suffers from eczema, hemorrhoids, plantar fasciitis, and a number of obscure allergies. Colophony in particular triggers a very bad allergic reaction. His Kangol hat causes him to suffer from blisters that literally sizzle and ultimately causes his skin to bond with the hat so that when it is ripped off his hair goes with it.
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe Depending on the needs of the plot]], Dexter may be a short weakling averse to physical contact and activity or an outright BadassBookworm.

* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'':
** Ed is a sci-fi and comic book geek who has been known to have multiple allergies, like rabbits, dandelions, eels, and butterscotch pudding. It's implied in "Mission Ed-Possible" that he's allergic to cats as well.
** Double-D is yet another Filburt-inspired example, becoming most prevalent whenever he's in panic (in other words, [[NervousWreck every few minutes]]).

* Cyrus from ''Series/AndiMack'' complains of low blood sugar, needs an inhaler in order to participate in physical activity, and becomes nauseous to the point of vomiting from motion sickness... ''riding a merry-go-round''.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Garrett Lambert. This Greendale student is usually an UnluckyExtra whenever he gets involved in the protagonists' antics. His appearance is dorky and awkward, and his manner seems perpetually flustered, anxious, and out of breath.
* Chidi Anagonye from ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' is a nerdy professor of philosophy who's TheDitherer to an extreme degree and is prone to psychosomatic stomachaches whenever things go wrong.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'': [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] severely with Dr. Daniel Jackson. He wears glasses, is often referred to as a "nerd" by Jack (albeit [[InsultOfEndearment affectionately]]), and takes allergy pills (said pills were a plot device in an early episode when they provided the key to curing an alien disease). Despite that, he is a BadassBookworm with plenty of combat experience and knows how to use all manner of firearms very well, he has refused to break under torture multiple times, and he's at least in the same ballpark as the rest of the team when it comes to physical and athletic skills.

* Lester Crest, the geeky MissionControl from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. Justified since he actually has a wasting disease, and needs a cane to walk short distances.

* Dr. Mendel Craven from ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries''. He's got allergies to ''everything''.
* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend]] Milhouse Van Houten is this -- in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies -- but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy, and ''his own tears.''
* Arnold from ''Literature/TheMagicSchoolBus'', though his claims of illness/allergies ''could'' be a desperate attempt to avoid being taken on the (frequently bizarre and sometimes ''very dangerous'') field trips that Ms. Frizzle seems to be so fond of. The bus's trip inside a flower did trigger nonstop pollen-induced sneezing from him, though.
* Filburt from ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' who becomes physically ill even from the most mundane of tasks. [[OverlyLongGag "I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous..."]]
* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': Samson is a nerdy guinea pig who has to resort to his "asthma buddy" (his inhaler) once an hour. His ideal camp is one where everything, from the plants to the campers, [[BubbleBoy is contained in a bubble.]]

%%* Cameron from ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff''
* There's one in ''Film/NationalLampoon's Film/VanWilder: Party Liaison''; He just goes by the name of "Sick Boy" most of the time.
* Matt Farrell in ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard''. He spends most of the movie complaining about his asthma and blood sugar levels to John [=McClane=] but later becomes a BadassBookworm.
%%* Joel Glicker from ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily Addams Family Values]]''.

* Eddie in Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/{{IT}}'', courtesy of his [[MyBelovedSmother mother's]] apparent case of Munchausen by Proxy.

%%* Felix from ''Series/TheOddCouple1970'', especially the TV series which {{Flanderized}} his allergies.
* All of the Dorfmans from ''Series/ICarly'', also Jeremy. Freddie's mom treats him as though he is; this has gotten more and more ridiculous as his actor has gotten bigger and her character has gotten {{Flanderized}}.
* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'': Lisa Zemo, who started off with {{braces|OfOrthodonticOverkill}}, NerdGlasses, and a perpetually-stuffy nose. Subverted, however, because a season or two later, she [[BeautifulAllAlong comes back looking less nerdy]] and on a new allergy medication. One episode has her temporarily revert to this, as she had allergies again and had to wear hypoallergenic clothing and glasses. This time without the curly hair and braces, though.

* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Garrett Lambert. This Greendale student is usually an UnluckyExtra whenever he gets involved in the protagonists' antics. His appearance is dorky and awkward, and his manner seems perpetually flustered, anxious and out-of-breath.

** Double-D is yet another Filburt-inspired example, becoming most prevalent whenever he's in panic (in other words, every few minutes).

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend]] [[{{Nerd}} Milhouse Van Houten]] is this -- in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies -- but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy, and ''his own tears.''

[[folder:Films]]

* Melman from ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}''. The first thing he does after finding out that he and the gang are leaving N.Y. is to panic over his health treatment.

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/{{Community}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/garrett.png]]]]

%%Image Pickin' thread did not produce a suitable page pic: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=2n22jbz3v8jgxmrcy7vq5fq0&page=1

-> ''"That guy's just a mess, it's like God spilled a person."''
-->-- '''Troy''' describes '''Garrett Lambert''', ''Series/{{Community}}''

Whatever the actual level of [[IllGirl ill health]], it will be a sign of physical incompetence and social awkwardness -- or at least that's what everyone will assume.

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend]] [[{{Nerd}} Milhouse Van Houten]] is this -- in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies -- but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy, and ''[[UpToEleven his own tears.]]''

-> ''That guy's just a mess, it's like God spilled a person.''

** Howard Wolowitz. He is asthmatic, allergic to peanuts, almonds, and walnuts, prone to canker sores and pink eye, succumbs to seasickness, has an incredibly high genetic risk of heart illness, and has transient idiopathic arrhythmia.

Compare GeekPhysique, where a geeky character is comically weak or awkward. GeniusCripple can be this taking to its logical extreme. Compare FatComicRelief, another character whose physical awkwardness is the butt of jokes. These can overlap, of course.

Compare GeekPhysique, where a geeky character is comically weak or awkward. Compare FatComicRelief, another character whose physical awkwardness is the butt of jokes. These can overlap, of course.

Sister Trope to FatComicRelief, another character whose physical awkwardness is the butt of jokes. Can overlap, of course.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': Being an {{expy}} of Filburt, Samson is naturally this, having to resort to his "health buddies" once an hour.

Whatever the actual level of [[IllGirl ill health]], it will be a sign of physical incompetence and social awkwardness - or at least, that's what everyone will assume.

* [[Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide Lisa Zemo]], who started off with {{braces|OfOrthodonticOverkill}}, NerdGlasses, and a perpetually stuffy nose. Subverted, however, because a season or two later, she [[BeautifulAllAlong comes back looking less nerdy]] and on a new allergy medication. One episode has her temporarily revert to this, as she had allergies again and had to wear hypoallergenic clothing and glasses. This time without the curly hair and braces, though.

* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] severely with Dr. Daniel Jackson in ''Series/StargateSG1''. He wears glasses, is often referred to as a 'nerd' by Jack (albeit [[InsultOfEndearment affectionately]]), and takes allergy pills (said pills were actually a plot device in an early episode when they provided the key to curing an alien disease). Despite that, he's had plenty of combat experience and knows how to use all manner of firearms very well, he has refused to break under torture multiple times, and he's at least in the same ballpark as the rest of the team when it comes to physical and athletic skills.

%%** Who is almost a carbon copy of his father, Wayne.

* [[Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide Lisa Zemo]], who started off with {{braces|OfOrthodonticOverkill}}, NerdGlasses, and a perpetually stuffy nose. Subverted, however, because a season or two later she [[BeautifulAllAlong comes back looking less nerdy]] and on a new allergy medication. One episode has her temporarily revert to this, as she had allergies again and had to wear hypoallergenic clothing and glasses. This time without the curly hair and braces, though.

* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] severely with Dr. Daniel Jackson in ''Series/StargateSG1''. He wears glasses, is often referred to as a 'nerd' by Jack (albeit [[InsultOfEndearment affectionately]]), and takes allergy pills (said pills were actually a plot device in an early episode, when they provided the key to curing an alien disease). Despite that, he's had plenty of combat experience and knows how to use all manner of firearms very well, he has refused to break under torture multiple times, and he's at least in the same ballpark as the rest of the team when it comes to physical and athletic skills.

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend,]] [[{{Nerd}} Milhouse Van Houten,]] is this--in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse, since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies--but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy and ''[[UpToEleven his own tears.]]''

** Also [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Brainy]]. WordOfGod says that the reason he talks so little is because he has extremely bad asthma, but that otherwise he would be just as articulate and poetic as Helga.

* Andrew on ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'', who is JewishAndNerdy, apparently suffers from eczema, hemorrhoids, plantar fasciitis and a number of obscure allergies. Colophony in particular triggers a very bad allergic reaction. His Kangol hat causes him to suffer from blisters that literally sizzle and ultimately causes his skin to bond with the hat so that when it is ripped off his hair goes with it.