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1%%Administrivia/{{Zero Context Example}}s are not allowed on the wiki. Please add additional context before removing the comment tags (%%).
2
3Like the FiveManBand, there are certain character archetypes who just seem to fit together, a sort of UniversalAdaptorCast, if you will. In any given SitCom (especially an ensemble), you are likely to find at least two of the archetypes listed below.
4
5As an example of how these characters mesh, consider the following sample, from ''CommediaDellArte'':
6
7* '''The Wisecracker:''' Arlecchino
8* '''The Bully/Charmer:''' Il Capitano
9* '''The Square:''' Columbina
10* '''The Dork:''' Il Dottore
11* '''The Goofball:''' Scaramuccia, sometimes Pulcinella
12
13These archetypes generally work best when the characters have no familial relationships, as in a DomCom; Dom Com characters, being family, tend to have a completely different dynamic to their relationships. On the other hand, nothing could (nor, really, ''should'') prevent a Dom Com from utilizing any, or all, of these character types.
14
15It is important to note that, unlike the FiveManBand, it isn't strictly necessary for each show to have a representative member for each archetype. Keep in mind that, just as in RealLife, the world of Sit Coms is awash in many various and diverse personalities, of which this is hardly an exhaustive list; so there's no need to shoehorn characters into these categories. Some shows will utilize certain archetypes and leave out others, or may have characters who don't fit into ''any'' of the listed types.
16
17And, of course, there's always plenty of room for overlap.
18----
19%%Examples have been alphabetized. Please add yours in the correct order.
20
21[[foldercontrol]]
22
23'''The Square''' -- Often the central protagonist, and usually TheEveryman or the OnlySaneMan. Essentially the StraightMan; this doesn't mean necessarily that The Square gets no funny lines, but a large portion of the comedy from such a character comes from his/her reactions to the situation or other characters. In a DomCom, this role will usually be reserved for the CloserToEarth mother figure.
24[[folder:Examples of "The Square"]]
25%%* The title character in ''Series/{{Alice 1976}}''.
26%%* Mike "Meathead" Stivic in ''Series/AllInTheFamily''.
27%%* Hayley in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.
28* Yomi and Nyamo from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. Yomi is a level-headed and studious girl surrounded by considerably wackier friends.
29%%* The title character in ''Series/BarneyMiller''.
30* Leonard and Penny of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''. Leonard is a physicist like his friends but is a fairly normal guy who is constantly nonplussed by the eccentric and geeky antics of Sheldon and other characters. Penny, their neighbor and an aspiring actress, is even more foreign to their world, and the two strike up an odd friendship as the odd ones out in their geeky social circle.
31* ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'': The various Baldricks, starting with series 2, who are all loyal, kind-hearted and somewhat dim-witted servants to Blackadder. As Blackadder's accomplice, Baldrick reacts to Blackadder's scheming and abuse.
32%%* Bob and Emily in ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow''.
33%%* Cory Matthews in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''.
34* Sergeant Terry Jeffords in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' is the 99th Precinct's TeamMom and is often the OnlySaneMan in the other main characters' zany schemes. Compared to the others, he's rather well-adjusted and can actually hold his own in social situations.
35%%* Dr. Frasier Crane in both ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' and his SpinOff show ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
36* Annie and Britta in ''Series/{{Community}}.'' Annie is a kindhearted, former overachiever/GoGetterGirl who is often the voice of reason amidst wackiness, though her own neuroses are also a source of comedy. In earlier seasons, Britta was amongst the most serious-minded of the study group, and she often has a contrarian take that goes against the rest of the group or plot.
37%%* Captain Mainwaring and Sgt. Wilson in ''Series/DadsArmy''.
38%%* Greg in ''Series/DharmaAndGreg''.
39* Debra in ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''. The no-nonsense wife and outsider in the eccentric Romano family.
40%%* Lois in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
41%%* The title character in ''Series/FatherTed''.
42* Monica Geller in ''Series/{{Friends}}'' is the group TeamMom who is always caring for the other main characters.
43%%* David Lewis in ''Series/GoodMorningWorld''.
44* Kyon in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''. The tolken normal guy amidst a cast full of people with supernatural powers, and the only one willing to stand up to Haruhi. He's a lazy slacker and the protagonist who nevertheless finds himself dragged into all sorts of situations due to Haruhi's RealityWarper powers and her unacknolwedged crush on him. Also overlaps with The Wisecracker a bit, as he's rather sarcastic.
45* Jeffrey Fairbrother in ''Series/HiDeHi''. [[FishOutOfWater A university professor taking a job as Entertainments Manager at a holiday camp]], he is hopelessly out of touch with his job and useless at entertaining his guests. Most of the time he tries to get a laugh out of the campers, he fails miserably thanks to Creator/SimonCadell's deadpan delivery ([[SoUnfunnyItsFunny which only serves to make it funnier to the real-life viewers]]). He's not much better with his staff either; while he likes them all, finds himself frequently exasperated and dumbfounded by them, such as how he reacts to Ted's blue humour and money-making fiddles, Gladys' never-ending flirtation, or Mr. Partridge's drunken misbehaviour.
46%%* Ted and sometimes Lily in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
47%%* Toby in ''Series/TheOfficeUs''.
48%%* Carly and Freddie in ''Series/ICarly''.
49* Simon in ''Series/TheInbetweeners'' is the StraightMan of the group. A somewhat nervous and sensible normal guy, he generally gets bullied into doing whatever his friends' ZanyScheme of the episode, despite his reservations. Although Will is the narrator, Simon could be considered the true protagonist as many plots focus on his goals and issues.
50%%* Maya in ''Series/JustShootMe''.
51%%* Kagami in ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
52%%* Aiko in ''Anime/MagicalPokaan''.
53* The title character in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''. Malcolm is the put-upon protagonist who's constantly reacting to the antics of his annoying and wild brothers, terrifying mother, and various school bullies.
54%%* Mary Richards in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
55%%* Ben Harper in ''Series/MyFamily''.
56%%* Maxwell Sheffield in ''Series/TheNanny''.
57%%* Dave Nelson in ''Series/NewsRadio''.
58%%* Joel in ''Series/NorthernExposure''.
59%%* Tim Canterbury in ''Series/TheOfficeUK''.
60%%* Victor Meldrew in ''Series/OneFootInTheGrave''.
61* Ann Perkins in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' is the least quirky member of the main cast and generally acts as the StraightMan to some of the more eccentric characters on the show.
62%%* Norman Stanley Fletcher in ''Series/{{Porridge}}''.
63%%* Kryten in ''Series/RedDwarf''.
64%%* Dan of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}''.
65%%* Zelda in ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' (can also occasionally be the Stick depending on the situation).
66%%* Monica Hall in ''Series/SiliconValley''.
67* Marge in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. An earnest, good-hearted housewife who has to deal with her oafish husband and misbehaving children.
68%%* Kyle and Stan in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
69%%* Tim in ''Series/{{Spaced}}''.
70%%* Albert Steptoe in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon''.
71%%* Alex in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
72* Eric Forman in ''Series/That70sShow''. The mildly nerdy protagonist, who is constantly put down by his father, exasperated by his wacky mother, and reacts to his wilder friends.
73%%* Dr. Mary Albright from ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
74%%* Will the StraightGay in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
75%%* Tim Daly's character Joe Hackett in ''Series/{{Wings}}''.
76%%* Andy Travis in ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati''.
77%%* Creator/FredSavage's character in ''Series/Working1997''.
78%%* Mike in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
79[[/folder]]
80
81'''The Wisecracker''' -- The domain of the DeadpanSnarker or the PungeonMaster. This character just ''lives'' to make fun of others (not usually mean-spirited, like The Bully) or to find the humor in any given situation. Is usually something of a thorn in the sides of the others, particularly in more serious situations. Expect this character to have an especially conflict-laden relationship with The Bully, though the two can be (and often are) good friends underneath. If the protagonist isn't a Square, s/he is most likely a Wisecracker (and the two can easily overlap, as the DeadpanSnarker and OnlySaneMan often do).
82[[folder:Examples of "The Wisecracker"]]
83%%* Flo, and her various {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s, in ''Series/{{Alice 1976}}''.
84* Yukari from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. The sassy, easily-annoyed, immature teacher who butts in on the main ensemble from time to time.
85* The various Edmunds in ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'', whose FatalFlaw that keeps them from advancing higher is their sharp tounge and smart mouth. In each series, the Edmunds serve a much dumber boss who they tolerate while attempting to exploit and outsmart, but get overconfident and over-snarky, usually preventing them from getting too much success.
86%%* Shawn Hunter in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''
87* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': Jake Peralta is the fun-loving PungeonMaster kind, while Rosa Diaz is the surly DeadpanSnarker kind. Jake Peralta is constantly making jokes and does not take his job too seriously, while Rosa is a rather sarcastic woman who nonetheless cares for others.
88%%* Norm and Carla in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
89* Jeff in ''Series/{{Community}}'' is a sarcastic cynic with a heart of gold, who constantly makes quips. He starts off as the protagonist/POV character before the series shifted to more of an ensemble focus.
90%%* Private Walker in ''Series/DadsArmy''.
91%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': Daria.
92%%* Jo Polniaczek in ''Series/TheFactsOfLife''.
93%%* Brian in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
94%%* Jim in ''Series/TheOfficeUs''.
95%%* The title character of ''Series/FatherTed''.
96%%* Roz, Bulldog, Martin, and Frasier himself in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
97%%* Geoffrey in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
98* Chandler Bing in ''Series/{{Friends}}'' is a sarcastic DeadpanSnarker who is constantly making jokes at his friends' expenses. Nevertheless, he ''is'' a good friend to them.
99%%* Bender in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
100%%* Dorothy Zbornak in ''Series/TheGoldenGirls''.
101%%* Larry Clark in ''Series/GoodMorningWorld''.
102* Kyon in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', also the Square. He's deeply sarcastic and the only one willing to stand up to Haruhi.
103* Ted Bovis in ''Series/HiDeHi''. The Camp Host at Maplins, Ted is always on the ball with his wisecracks and smart remarks. His most frequent targets are the snobby ballroom dancers, Barry and Yvonne, who look down on him with disdain, not only for his snappy comments but also for the blue humour he uses with the campers. As Barry puts it in "It's a Blue World", with Ted, it isn't even innuendo. He ''says'' it.
104%%* Barney and Robin in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
105* Will in ''Series/TheInbetweeners'', mixed with The Dork. He's the protagonist/narrator and is stubborn, has little tolerance for idiocy, and always has to have the last word. Has a smart mouth in the form of long rants and snarky comebacks that tends to get him into trouble, but he's much less of a jerk than Jay.
106* Roy in ''Series/TheITCrowd'' is full of snark and sass. He gets very put-upon when asked to do his job as IT support ("Have you tried turning it off and on again?"), but is generally good-natured other than his predisposition towards sarcasm.
107%%* Dennis Finch in ''Series/JustShootMe''.
108%%* Konata in ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
109%%* Liru from ''Anime/MagicalPokaan''.
110* Francis on ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''. Earlier on the show he's a prankster who is the only one willing to stand up to Lois; outsite of the home he engages in snark wars with various goofy authority figures, from the teachers at military school to his German cowboy boss on a ranch.
111%%* Mama in ''Series/MamasFamily''
112%%* Murray Slaughter in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
113%%* Hawkeye Pierce in ''Series/{{Mash}}''.
114%%* Niles the butler in ''Series/TheNanny''.
115%%* Beth in ''Series/NewsRadio''.
116%%* Jack and Stan in ''Series/OnTheBuses''.
117* Tom Haverford and April Ludgate in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation''. Tom is a campy aspiring mogul who often makes jokes at the expense of others, while April is a more outright belligerent DeadpanSnarker.
118%%* Dave Lister in ''Series/RedDwarf''.
119%%* ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'': Roseanne and her daughter Darlene.
120%%* Salem and later Roxie in ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch''.
121%%* Dr. Cox in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
122%%* Jerry in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}''.
123%%* Bertram Gilfoyle in ''Series/SiliconValley''.
124* Bart from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', a mischievious kid known for sassy catchphrases, getting in trouble, and general mayhem.
125%%* Hyde in ''Series/That70sShow''.
126%%* Tommy from ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
127%%* Jack (Just Jack!) in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
128%%* Creator/StevenWeber's character Brian Hackett in ''Series/{{Wings}}''.
129%%* Johnny Fever in ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati''.
130%%* Vyvyan in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
131[[/folder]]
132
133'''The Bully''' -- Despite the name, The Bully is oftentimes not an actual bully per se, but ''is'' usually a {{Jerkass}}, or sometimes a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Typically more outright beligerent than The Wisecracker, The Bully will have the least patience with The Wisecracker (who isn't afraid to stand up to him/her) or The Goofball (who is more often than not oblivious to the animosity); on the other hand, if written as a complete Jerkass, The Bully may actively dislike ''all'' the other characters. If female, this will be the AlphaBitch or the RichBitch. In {{Work Com}}s, The Bully will be excessively driven to climb the corporate ladder and/or dominate the others, whether a PointyHairedBoss or a co-worker.
134[[folder:Examples of "The Bully"]]
135%%* Short-order cook Mel in ''Series/{{Alice 1976}}''.
136%%* Archie Bunker in ''Series/AllInTheFamily''.
137* Tomo from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. A hyper-energetic GenkiGirl who's always trying to push her agenda and desires on all her friends. Coins Osaka's nickname through her relentless demands that Osaka behave like a stereotypical Osakan despite the reality.
138%%* Harley Keiner from ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''. Also his underlings, Joey 'The Rat' Epstein and Frankie 'The Enforcer' Stecchino.
139* Gina Linetti in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' is a self-absorbed AlphaBitch who outright berates her coworkers and is constantly teasing and pranking them, though it is suggested that deep down she does care for them.
140%%* Carla and Lilith in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
141* Pierce from ''Series/{{Community}}'' flip-flops back and forth between this and The Sage. As an old man he holds some politically incorrect views, and often throws fits or is transparently manipulative in order to get his own way. For example, in one episode he pretends to be dying and divides up the study group with final bequeathals to get back at them for ignoring him in previous episodes.
142%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': Helen (mother of Daria).
143* ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'':
144** Frank Barone, a loudmouth complainer.
145** Marie Barone is also a Bully, but is much more passive-aggressive in her tactics.
146%%* Blair Warner in ''Series/TheFactsOfLife'' is a a mild version to begin with, she mellowed out further as the series progressed.
147%%* Father Jack in ''Series/FatherTed'', when he's coherent enough.
148%%* Stewie from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
149%%* Bulldog in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
150%%* Eleanor Shellstrop in ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', though after her CharacterDevelopment she becomes more of a Wisecracker.
151* Haruhi in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' pushes everone in the SOS club around and forces them to do her bidding. For example, she frequently forces Mikuru into humiliatingly sexy costumes to exploit her body for various ventures.
152%%* Sam (who is also a Wisecracker in her less {{Jerkass}} moments) in ''Series/ICarly''.
153* Jay in ''Series/TheInbetweeners''. A crude and somewhat sexist CasanovaWannabe, he's constantly making fun of his friends and frequently gives Simon a hard time. For example, Jay's actions led to Simon acquiring the humiliating nickname "Boner".
154* Series One of ''Series/TheITCrowd'' has Denholm Renham, a BadBoss who puts everyone on edge by constantly threatening to fire people for arbitrary reasons.
155%%* Pachira from ''Anime/MagicalPokaan''.
156* Reese and Lois from ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', the former also the Goofball. Reese is a trouble-maker who constantly bullies Malcolm and is a meance to everyone. Meanwhile Lois is a borderline-abusive mother who is constantly at the end of her rope and screams at everyone.
157%%* Lou Grant in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
158* Frank Burns in ''Series/{{Mash}}'' is a supreme {{Jerkass}} ridiculed by Hawkeye as a quack doctor and {{Eagleland}}'s second flavor incarnate.
159%%* Bill [=McNeal=] from ''Series/NewsRadio''.
160%%* Blakey in ''Series/OnTheBuses''.
161%%* Boycie in ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'' and its SpinOff ''Series/TheGreenGreenGrass''.
162%%* [[TheOtherDarrin (Lecy Goranson's version of)]] Becky from ''Series/{{Roseanne}}''.
163%%* Libby, Willard Kraft, and sometimes Salem and Roxie (before her {{Character Developement}}) in ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch''.
164%%* The Janitor in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
165* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': George is this in terms of being the Jerkass. And there's Newman too, and Elaine in later seasons. Other than Kramer, Seinfeld's whole cast basically qualifies as they're all neurotic, complainy jerks.
166%%* Erlich Bachmann in ''Series/SiliconValley''.
167* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
168** Nelson and Jimbo are both school bullies who bother Bart.
169** Homer often fills this role as well, especially during his {{Jerkass}} period.
170%%* Eric Cartman on ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
171%%* Louie in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
172* Jackie Burkhart in ''Series/That70sShow''. A LovableAlphaBitch and popular girl who tends to put down the frumpier Donna.
173%%* Sally of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
174%%* RichBitch Karen in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
175%%* Roy Biggins in ''Series/{{Wings}}''.
176%%* ''Series/Working1997'':
177%%** Liz.
178%%** Also, to an extent, Delaney.
179%%* Rik in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
180[[/folder]]
181
182'''The Dork''' -- A nerd. The Dork need not be stereotypically nerdy or geeky, at least [[HollywoodHomely not visually]], but should be such [[StrawLoser relative to the other characters]]. In a cast full of such characters, The Dork will be the most obviously "dorky" of them. Often has NoSocialSkills. In shows with no obvious Goofball, The Dork may fulfill that role as well. And if a show needs a ButtMonkey, who better than The Dork?
183[[folder:Examples of "The Dork"]]
184%%* Jim Belushi's brother-in-law in ''Series/AccordingToJim''.
185%%* Steve from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.
186%%* Just about everyone in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' with the exception of Penny.
187%%* Stuart Minkus in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''.
188* Amy Santiago in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' presents herself as a GoGetterGirl, but in reality is a rather ineffectual woman who is also the outright dorkiest member of the main cast.
189%%* Private Pike in ''Series/DadsArmy''.
190%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': Daria's Father, Jake.
191%%* Diane Chambers and Dr. Frasier Crane in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
192* Abed from ''Series/{{Community}}'' (who can also be a Goofball.) He's an exceptionally, almost robotically awkward guy who only understands anything through the lens of television.
193%%* Big brother Robert in ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''.
194%%* Meg from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
195%%* Steve Urkel in ''Series/FamilyMatters''.
196%%* Tootie Ramsey started out this way in ''Series/TheFactsOfLife'', though she may have been closer to The Precocious.
197%%* Dr. Frasier Crane and Dr. Niles Crane in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
198* Ross Geller from ''Series/{{Friends}}'' is a rather neurotic StrawLoser who can get caught up in his own neurosis.
199%%* Chidi Anagonye in ''Series/TheGoodPlace''.
200%%* Ted in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
201%%* Freddie in ''Series/ICarly''.
202* Will in ''Series/TheInbetweeners'', though he's also The Wisecracker. He's frequently called a "posh twat", with highbrow affectations that in a teenager just seem incredibly nerdy. He wears a suit and carries a briefcase to school, believes in the power of politeness, and approaches many social situations in an inappropriately formal manner. Overall this makes him seem like an nerd.
203* Moss in ''Series/TheITCrowd'' is a dork even among the "standard nerds" of the IT department. He's very technically proficient but extremely bad at basic social interactions, with an inability to lie that causes him to overcommit to bizarre deceptions. He dresses meticulously in high-waisted pants and button downs, and seems physically incablable of swearing.
204%%* Soujirou in ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
205%%* Rhoda in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
206%%* Michael Harper in ''Series/MyFamily''.
207%%* Rodney Trotter in ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses''.
208%%* Olive in ''Series/OnTheBuses''.
209%%* Matthew Brock from ''Series/NewsRadio'' is this along with being The Goofball.
210%%* Gareth Keenan in ''Series/TheOfficeUK''.
211* Ben in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' has NoSocialSkills, has lots of geeky interests, and is generally rather well-versed in Geek culture.
212%%* Lennie Godber in ''Series/{{Porridge}}''.
213%%* Jackie of ''Series/{{Roseanne}}''. David in later seasons.
214%%* Valerie in earlier seasons and Miles in later seasons of ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch''.
215%%* J.D. in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
216* Milhouse from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Bart's nerdy, bespectacled, and constantly-bullied sidekick, with a father who's even more of a sad sack than him.
217%%* Jared Dunn in ''Series/SiliconValley''. Really, ''most'' of the main characters could fit this role, but Jared is the one that stands out the most among the rest.
218%%* Daisy in ''Series/{{Spaced}}''.
219%%* John Burns in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
220* Fez in ''Series/That70sShow''. A NonspecificallyForeign horndog who constantly commits minor social faux pas due to being from another country and being unfamiliar with American ways.
221%%* Harry from ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
222%%* Alan Harper in ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen''.
223%%* FagHag Grace Adler in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
224%%* Les Nessman in ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati''.
225%%* Neil in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
226[[/folder]]
227
228'''The Goofball''' -- This role is typically filled by TheDitz or the {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, but the character could also be generically zany or a BlitheSpirit rather than outright ditzy. Could also be a {{Pollyanna}}, with naivety serving as the defining trait; if so, expect this to be the youngest character (see also The Precocious) or a NaiveNewcomer. In {{Dom Com}}s this can be an air-headed child -- [[AlwaysFemale typically a daughter]] -- and a (sometimes) milder incarnation can take the form of a BumblingDad.
229[[folder:Examples of "The Goofball"]]
230%%* Vera in ''Series/{{Alice 1976}}''.
231%%* Edith Bunker in ''Series/AllInTheFamily''.
232%%* Francine in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.
233* Osaka from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. A textbook {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who's constantly bringing up non-sequiteurs, has strange fantasies, and often seems out of touch with everything around her.
234%%* Raj and to an extent Sheldon in ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''.
235* Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine''. Jake, also a Wisecracker, is a fun-loving, wisecracking cop, while Charles is a CreepyGood man with several odd interests.
236%%* Eric Matthews in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''.
237%%* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' has Cliff, Coach, and later on Woody.
238* Troy and Chang in ''Series/{{Community}}''. Troy is a lighthearted goofball who oscillates between ditziness and unexpected brilliance. He goes along with Abed's fantasy zaniness and has his own wacky tendencies, like his relationship with a monkey he named Annie's Boobs or inexplicable inferiority complex towards Creator/LeVarBurton. Meanwhile Chang is a darker version of this. He's a ConsummateLiar who built an entire life as a Spanish instructor based on lies, and as the series went on progressed deeper into megalomaniac fantasies, such as a NoirEpisode in his head that burned down the cafeteria.
239%%* Dharma in ''Series/DharmaAndGreg''.
240%%* ''Series/FatherTed'' has both Father Dougal and Mrs. Doyle.
241%%* Peter in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.
242%%* Daphne in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
243%%* Hilary Banks in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
244* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' has Phoebe and Joey. Phoebe is the wacky {{Cloudcuckoolander}} kind, while Joey is a rather [[KindheartedSimpleton dumb but well-meaning buddy.]] He also gets worse as the show goes on, becoming the show's main goofball.
245%%* Rose Nylund in ''Series/TheGoldenGirls''.
246%%* Sandy Kramer in ''Series/GoodMorningWorld''.
247%%* Jason Mendoza in ''Series/TheGoodPlace''.
248* Haruhi from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' has very little interest in conventional people and spends her time coming up with {{Zany Scheme}}s to force the S.O.S. club to do which usually involves making fiction come to life in some way. Unbeknownst to her she's also probably [[spoiler: God]]
249%%* Marshall and occasionally Barney in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
250%%* Spencer and Gibby in ''Series/ICarly''.
251* Neil in ''Series/TheInbetweeners'' is a ditz who is rarely bothered by, and seems barely aware of the crazy things going on around him.
252* Douglas in ''Series/TheITCrowd'' is a highly affable guy who is unintentionally the world's worst boss. Due to his incompetance, lust, and general ditziness, finds himself in weird siuations such as losing his hand or getting a woman he's interested in divorce his wife for him.
253%%* Charlie Kelly in ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia''.
254%%* Jerry Stiller's character in ''Series/TheKingOfQueens'' is a dangerous combination of The Goofball and The Bully.
255%%* Tsukasa in ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
256%%* Yuuma from ''Anime/MagicalPokaan''.
257* Reese and Dewey in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', sometimes Hal as well. Reese and Dewey are both simple-minded kids whose schemes and pranks lead to trouble. Reese is legitimately stupid, while Dewey is more of a DitzyGenius. Meanwhile Hal is a BumblingDad whose antics don't usually drive the plot, but sometimes causes strange situations with his unusual hobbies.
258%%* Ted Baxter in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', who is also a SmallNameBigEgo.
259%%* Nick Harper in ''Series/MyFamily''.
260%%* Matthew Brock in ''Series/NewsRadio''.
261%%* Trigger in ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses''.
262* Andy Dwyer in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation''. After CharacterizationMarchesOn, he becomes a goofy, zany {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who is nevertheless friendly towards most people he meets.
263%%* The Cat in ''Series/RedDwarf''.
264%%* Sabrina, Hilda, and occasionally Harvey in ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'':
265%%* J.D. in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
266%%** Turk can be this too, though not nearly on J.D.'s level's.
267%%* Kramer in ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}''.
268%%* Nelson "Big Head" Biggetti in ''Series/SiliconValley''.
269* Homer in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. An impulsive ditz and BumblingDad whose laziness and frequency to change jobs lead him into many a ZanyScheme and wacky situation.
270%%* Reverend Jim, Tony and Latka in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
271* Fez and Kelso in ''Series/That70sShow''. Kelso is a good-natured DumbJock, while Fez is a silly FunnyForeigner whose lack of familiarity with American culture is a source of zaniness and humor.
272%%* Dick from ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun''.
273%%* Jack in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
274%%* ''Series/{{Wings}}'' had two: Fay Cochran and Lowell Mather.
275%%* Arden Myren's character Abby in ''Series/Working1997''.
276[[/folder]]
277
278!!Since the above are basic archetypes, they can (and are often) supplemented with one or more of the following:
279
280'''The Charmer''' -- This character comes in two varieties: First, TheCasanova, the lover, the player. Enough said. Second, a more classically refined character, someone who is a devout adherent to old-fashioned politeness, grace and decorum (but not nearly so uptight or demanding of others as The Stick).
281[[folder:Examples of "The Charmer"]]
282%%* Eric Matthews in the earlier seasons of ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'' and Shawn Hunter in the later ones.
283%%* Sam Malone in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
284%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'': Daria's little sister Quinn plays this in addition to The Precocious.
285%%* Roz in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
286* Joey Tribbiani from ''Series/{{Friends}}'' is definitely the Casanova version, as he's always hitting on women and easily has the most success with them out of the three male main characters.
287%%* Blanche Devereaux in ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' combines both aspects.
288%%* Ryoko Asakura from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''.
289%%* Barney Stinson in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
290%%* Dennis Reynolds in ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelpha''.
291%%* Sterling Archer in ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''.
292%%* Dan Fielding on ''Series/NightCourt''.
293%%* Bobby Wheeler in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
294* Fez is a wannabe version of this in ''Series/That70sShow'', though it seems to be pretty legitimate in the final season.
295** [[ReplacementScrappy Randy]] is a more refined Charmer.
296* Charlie Harper in ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'', a consummate ladies' man.
297%%* Brian Hackett on ''Series/{{Wings}}'' is also the Casanova variation.
298%%* Mike in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
299[[/folder]]
300
301'''The Stick''' -- Crank The Square up to eleven, and you have The Stick. This character is extremely [[BritishStuffiness uptight and stuffy]], a stickler for the rules if you will, a stick in the mud as it were. Usually humorless, [[TheComicallySerious often humorously so]]. Not unlike The Square, the humor from The Stick generally results from his/her dismay or outright horror at the antics of the others, and s/he may frequently insist (usually to no avail) that everyone should adhere to his/her mile-high standards. Oftentimes The Stick can overlap with The Bully, or even The Dork. On those shows wherein The Stick co-exists with The Square, The Square is more likely to be the central character.
302[[folder:Examples of "The Stick"]]
303%%* Stan in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.
304%%* Sheldon of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''.
305%%* Dwight Schrute and Angela Martin in Series/TheOfficeUS
306%%* Captain Darling in ''Series/{{Blackadder}} Goes Forth''.
307%%* Topanga Lawrence in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'' after they ditch her GranolaGirl persona.
308%%* Frasier was The Stick in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''; but Niles took over this role in ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', relegating Frasier to The Square. This is why Niles is a ReplacementFlatCharacter. But Frasier would become the Stick again whenever playing off against his father.
309%%* Diane and Rebecca on ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
310%%** Lilith on ''Cheers'' and ''Frasier''.
311* Shirley in ''Series/{{Community}}''. As the TokenReligiousTeammate, Shirley sometimes has a HolierThanThou attitude and often tries to force the rest of the main characters to adhere to her morals.
312** Frankie in Season 6 also counts.
313%%* Bill Hodges in ''Series/DadsArmy''.
314%%* Amy [=MacDougall's=] parents, Hank and Pat, in ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''.
315%%* Bishop Brennan in ''Series/FatherTed''.
316%%* Carlton Banks in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
317%%* Uncle Phil in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
318* ''Series/{{Friends}}'':
319** Ross.
320** Monica, on countless occasions, had outright stifled any fun being had by bombarding everyone else with rules.
321%%* Hermes Conrad in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.
322%%* Roland B. Hutton in ''Series/GoodMorningWorld''.
323* Nagato in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', an alien robot and EmotionlessGirl with no sense of humor who who underreacts to everything.
324%%* Al Borlin of ''Series/HomeImprovement''.
325%%* Lily in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
326* Hank on ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', a stubbornly wholesome, honest, conservative man whose dogged adherence to principle contrasts with everyone else on the show.
327%%* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''Series/{{MASH}}''.
328%%* C.C. Babcock in ''Series/TheNanny''.
329%%* Lisa Miller in ''Series/NewsRadio''.
330%%* Bob in ''WesternAnimation/TheOblongs''.
331%%* Felix in ''Series/TheOddCouple1970''.
332%%* Dwight Schrute and Angela Kinsey in ''Series/{{The Office| US}}''.
333%%* Arthur in ''Series/OnTheBuses''.
334%%* Mr. Mackay in ''Series/{{Porridge}}''.
335%%* Arnold Rimmer in ''Series/RedDwarf'', also acting as The Dork and The Bigmouth.
336%%* ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'': Roseanne's [[MyBelovedSmother mother]] Beverly.
337%%* Dr. Kelso in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
338* Post-{{Flanderization}} Flanders in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', an obnoxiously square religious conservative who raises his children in a comedically strict fashion.
339%%* Angela of ''Series/WhosTheBoss''.
340[[/folder]]
341
342'''The Sage''' -- Usually an older character, this person acts as a sort of [[{{Mentors}} Mentor]] to the main characters, dispensing advice and AnAesop or two. Though close to the main group, The Sage generally exists outside that group, for example a neighbor, or an authority figure such as a teacher. In {{Sit Com}}s of old this position was typically filled by a wise, calm-voiced father figure, but that character type has been largely supplanted by the BumblingDad. Indeed, The Sage himself is becoming a [[ForgottenTrope forgotten character type]] these days, as the main characters tend to share the Aesop-dispensing chores rather than get them from a singular source.
343[[folder:Examples of "The Sage"]]
344* Sakaki from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' often fulfills this role. She's not actually older, just taller, but her quietness and serious personality causes all the other girls to respect her.
345%%* George Feeney in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''.
346%%* Mike Brady in ''Series/TheBradyBunch''.
347* Captain Raymond Holt in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine''. The oldest member of the main cast, Holt has been on the force longer than anyone else and often has wisdom to dispense when referring to the job.
348%%* The Coach was this in the first 3 seasons of ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
349* Pierce Hawthorne in ''Series/{{Community}}'' flipflops between this and The Bully. He likes to view himself as a mentor to the study group, and often has quiet moments where he dispenses wisdom, particularly to Annie and Jeff.
350%%* Corporal Jones in ''Series/DadsArmy''.
351%%* Mr. Drummund in ''Series/DiffrentStrokes''.
352%%* Mrs. Garrett in ''Series/TheFactsOfLife''.
353%%* Martin Crane in ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
354%%* Itsuki in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''.
355%%* Wilson in ''Series/HomeImprovement''.
356%%* Ward Cleaver in ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver''.
357%%* Jimmy James in ''Series/NewsRadio'' manages to be the Sage and the Goofball simultaneously.
358%%* Grandad and Uncle Albert in ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses''.
359* Ron Swanson in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation''. The cyncical, libertarian head of the Parks Department, Ron Swanson is nevertheless a noble patriarchal figure for the rest of his co-workers who puts a great emphasis on self-reliance.
360%%* Dr. Cox in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''.
361%%* Harold Steptoe in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon''.
362%%* Alex is also often the Sage in ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
363%%* Leo in ''Series/That70sShow''.
364%%* Rosario in ''Series/WillAndGrace''.
365[[/folder]]
366
367'''The Bigmouth''' -- A (sometimes) softer, less-hateful alternative to The Bully, The Bigmouth is an annoying, um, bigmouth. Whether s/he is a KnowNothingKnowItAll; an overbearing egotist like the SmallNameBigEgo; or an intrusive NosyNeighbor, The Bigmouth just has a knack for getting on everyone's nerves (with the possible inclusion of the audience!). Much much humor is milked from the fact that The Bigmouth isn't nearly as smart as s/he presumes to be. In shows with an EnsembleCast they will often be TheFriendNobodyLikes. Oftentimes crosses over with The Dork (and if The Dork isn't a ButtMonkey, the Bigmouth most definitely is).
368[[folder:Examples of "The Bigmouth"]]
369* Tomo from ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', and to some degree, Kagura as well. Tomo is a KnowNothingKnowItAll who does poorly in school yet constantly draws attention to herself and instists she knows things. Kagura is a DumbJock with a high level of confidence, though she's not as outspoken as Tomo.
370* Norm Scully and Michael Hitchcock in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine''. Hitchcock is an InsufferableImbecile and a DirtyOldMan who is almost never respected by the other members of the precinct. Scully is largely the same, but less so, and he has a HiddenHeartOfGold.
371%%* Cliff Clavin in ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
372* Britta in ''Series/{{Community}}'' constantly and ineffectually lectures the other members of the study group about whatever cause she's stumbled onto that week. Other characters use her name as a verb meaning "ruined."
373* Pheobe and sometimes Ross in ''Series/{{Friends}}''. Phoebe's {{Cloudcuckoolander}} antics can occasionally be grating for her friends, and she can sometimes be preachy about them, while Ross can sometimes be an overbearing know-it-all, especially towards his main love interest Rachel.
374%%* Ted Mosby in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
375%%* Dee Reynolds in ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'', post-CharacterizationMarchesOn.
376%%* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill''.
377%%* Paul Kinsey in ''Series/MadMen''. Joan, the smoking-hot girl Friday, even tells him this to his face in one episode.
378%%* Ted Baxter in ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow''.
379* Jean-Ralphio Saperstein in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' is an obnoxious, slimy millionaire with several rather annoying habits such as breaking into song unprompted and [[CasanovaWannabe hitting on every woman he meets.]] He's at best tolerated and at most loathed by everyone he meets with the exception of Tom Haverford.
380%%* Rimmer in ''Series/RedDwarf''.
381%%* Russ Hanneman in ''Series/SiliconValley''.
382%%* Rik in ''Series/TheYoungOnes''.
383[[/folder]]
384
385'''The Precocious''' -- The (usually) youngest, cutest member of the cast (this character ''really'' flourishes in {{Dom Com}}s), this sweet, adorable little angel's principal reason for existence is to make the audience go "awwwww" (not to imply the tyke doesn't deserve it, natch). Usually fulfills the {{Pollyanna}}, {{Kawaiiko}} or {{Moe}} role, but can get in a few [[DeadpanSnarker sharp quips]] as well. Also, this [[ChildrenAreInnocent kid's pure innocence]] can bust through the toughest Aesops imaginable.
386[[folder:Examples of "The Precocious"]]
387* CheerfulChild Chiyo is the obvious choice in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', but Sakaki also fills this role.
388%%* Morgan Matthews in ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld''.
389%%* Bobby and Cindy (more usually Cindy) in ''Series/TheBradyBunch''.
390%%* Frederick in later seasons of ''Series/{{Cheers}}''.
391%%* Rudy, and later Olivia, in ''Series/TheCosbyShow''.
392%%* Alice in later seasons of ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
393%%* Ashley Banks in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir''.
394* Ben and later on Emma in ''Series/{{Friends}}'', both of whom are children of various main characters. Ben, later on in the series, becomes a MouthyKid, while Emma remains a simple baby.
395%%* Michelle in ''Series/FullHouse''.
396* Mikuru in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', resident [[{{Moe}} Moe Blob]] and ironically ''oldest'' member of the cast. Kyon's little sister is another example from the same series.
397%%* As of the end of season 7, Marvin in ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
398%%* Miyuki in ''Manga/LuckyStar''.
399* Dewey in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle''. The youngest and cutest family member. As the show progressed and his charcater got older, he moved out of this somewhat, especially after baby Jamie is born.
400* Maggie in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. The baby of the family, with no lines. In later seasons her TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior becomes a source of comedy.
401%%* Leopold "Butters" Stotch in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
402%%* Tina in ''Series/StillStanding''.
403%%* Charlie in the final season of ''Series/That70sShow''
404* Dominic, Logan and Sammy in ''Series/YesDear''; most especially Dominic, the only one of the three old enough to handle dialogue with the adults.
405[[/folder]]

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