History Main / SitcomCharacterArchetypes

Like the FiveManBand, there are certain character archetypes who just seem to fit together, a sort of CommediaDellArteTroupe, if you will. In any given SitCom (especially an ensemble), you are likely to find at least two of the archetypes listed below.

As an example of how these characters mesh, consider the following sample, from ''[[CommediaDellArte commedia dell'arte]]'':

* '''The Goofball:''' Scaramuccia, sometimes Pulcinella

It 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.

* Carly and Freddie in ''{{iCarly}}''.

* Lois in ''FamilyGuy''.

* Brian in ''FamilyGuy''.

* Hawkeye Pierce in ''{{Series/Mash}}''.
* Dr. Cox in ''{{Scrubs}}''.

* Sam (who is also a Wisecracker in her less {{Jerkass}} moments) in ''{{iCarly}}''.

* Stewie from ''FamilyGuy''.

* Frank Burns in ''{{Series/Mash}}''.

* The Janitor in ''{{Scrubs}}''.

* [[{{TheOtherDarrin}} (Lecy Goranson's version of)]] Becky from ''{{Roseanne}}''.

* Freddie in ''{{iCarly}}''.

* Meg from ''FamilyGuy''.

* J.D. in ''{{Scrubs}}''.
* Olive in ''{{On The Buses}}''.

* {{Hollywood Dateless}} {{Fag Hag}} Grace Adler in ''WillAndGrace''.

* Spencer and Gibby in ''{{iCarly}}''.

* Peter in ''FamilyGuy''.

* Dick from {{Third Rock From The Sun}}.

* Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney in ''HowIMetYourMother''.

* Lisa Miller in ''{{NewsRadio}}''.

* Hank on ''KingOfTheHill''.

* ''{{Roseanne}}'': Roseanne's [[{{MyBelovedSmother}} mother]] Beverly.

* Dr. Cox in ''{{Scrubs}}''.
* Jimmy James in ''{{NewsRadio}}'' manages to be the Sage and the Goofball simultaneously.

* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''KingOfTheHill''.

'''The Precocious''' -- The (usually) youngest, cutest member of the cast (this character ''really'' flourishes in {{Dom Com}}s), this [[TastesLikeDiabetes 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 MoeMoe 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.

* Yomi and Nyamo from ''AzumangaDaioh''.

* Yukari from ''AzumangaDaioh''.

* Tomo from ''AzumangaDaioh''.

* Osaka from ''AzumangaDaioh''.

* Sakaki from ''AzumangaDaioh'' often fulfills this role.

* Tomo from ''AzumangaDaioh'', and to some degree, Kagura as well.

* CheerfulChild Chiyo is the obvious choice in ''AzumangaDaioh'', but Sakaki also fills this role.

* Dave Lister in ''RedDwarf''.

* The Cat in ''RedDwarf''.

* Mr. Drummund in ''Diff'rent Strokes''.

* Wilson from ''HomeImprovement''.

* Frasier was The Stick in ''{{Cheers}}''; but Niles took over this role in ''{{Frasier}}'', relegating Frasier to The Square. This is why Niles is TheNiles. But Frasier would become the Stick again whenever playing off against his father.

* Kryten in ''RedDwarf''.
* Marge in ''TheSimpsons''.

* Hayley in ''AmericanDad''.

* Steve from ''AmericanDad''.

* Milhouse from ''TheSimpsons''

* Francine in ''AmericanDad''.

* J.D. in ''{{Scrubs}}''.

* Topanga Lawrence in ''{{BoyMeetsWorld}}'' after they ditch her GranolaGirl persona.

* Arnold Rimmer in ''RedDwarf''.
* Stan in ''AmericanDad''.
* Post-{{Flanderization}} Flanders in ''TheSimpsons''.
* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''{{MASH}}''.
* Dr. Kelso in ''{{Scrubs}}''.

* Hawkeye Pierce in ''{{MASH}}''.

'''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 TheLibby 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.

'''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, [[{{Unfunny}} 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.

* Tim Daly's character Joe Hackett in ''Series/{{Wings}}''
* Fred Savage's character in ''Working''
* Cory Matthews in ''BoyMeetsWorld''
* the title character in ''Alice''
* the title character in ''FatherTed''
* Maya in ''JustShootMe''
* Mary Richards in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''
* Monica Gellar in ''{{Friends}}''
* Joel in ''NorthernExposure''
* Greg in ''DharmaAndGreg''
* Debra in ''EverybodyLovesRaymond''
* Will the StraightGay in ''WillAndGrace''
* Maxwell Sheffield in ''TheNanny''

* Yomi and Nyamo from ''AzumangaDaioh''
* Kryten in ''RedDwarf''
* Marge in ''TheSimpsons''
* Lois in ''FamilyGuy''
* Hayley in ''AmericanDad''
* The title character in ''MalcolmInTheMiddle''
* Kagami in ''LuckyStar''
* Dave Nelson in ''NewsRadio''
* Andy Travis in ''WKRPInCincinnati''
* Alex in ''{{Taxi}}''
* Kyon in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi''
* Aiko in ''MagicalPokaan''
* The title character in ''BarneyMiller''
* Jeffrey Fairbrother in ''HiDeHi''
* Mike "Meathead" Stivic in 'AllInTheFamily''
* Dr. Mary Albright from ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''
* Dan of ''Roseanne''

* Steven Weber's character Brian Hackett in ''Series/{{Wings}}''
* Chandler Bing in ''{{Friends}}''
* Flo, and her various {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s, in ''Alice''
* Mama (Vicki Lawrence) in ''[=~Mama's Family~=]''
* Murray Slaughter in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''
* Jack (Just Jack!) in ''WillAndGrace''
* David Spade's character in ''JustShootMe'' (or, really, just about anything he's in)
* Dorothy Zbornak in ''TheGoldenGirls''
* Jo Polniaczek in ''TheFactsOfLife''
* Jerry in ''{{Seinfeld}}''

* Niles the butler in ''TheNanny''
* Dave Lister in ''RedDwarf''
* Johnny Fever in ''WKRPInCincinnati''
* Brian in ''FamilyGuy''
* Bart from ''TheSimpsons''
* Konata in ''LuckyStar''
* Hawkeye Pierce in ''{{MASH}}''
* Dr. Cox in ''{{Scrubs}}''
* Kyon in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi''
* Beth in ''NewsRadio''
* Jack and Stan in ''{{On The Buses}}''
* Yukari from ''AzumangaDaioh''
* Liru from ''MagicalPokaan''

* {{Daria}}
* Tommy from ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''
* {{Roseanne}}, and her daughter Darlene

* Roy Biggins in ''Series/{{Wings}}''
* short-order cook Mel in ''Alice''
* Lou Grant in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''

* Debi Mazer's character Liz in ''Working''
** Also, to an extent, Steve Hytner's character Delaney
* Father Jack in ''FatherTed'' (when he's coherent enough)
* Blair Warner in ''TheFactsOfLife'' (a mild version to begin with, she mellowed out further as the series progressed)
* Frank Barone in ''EverybodyLovesRaymond''
** Marie Barone is also a Bully, but is much more passive-aggressive in her tactics
* Stewie from ''FamilyGuy''
* Reese and Lois from ''MalcolmInTheMiddle'', the former also the Goofball
* Nelson and Jimbo from ''TheSimpsons''
** Homer often fills this role as well, especially during his {{Jerkass}} period
* Archie Bunker in ''AllInTheFamily''
* Bill [=McNeal=] from ''NewsRadio''
* The Janitor in ''{{Scrubs}}''
* Louie in ''{{Taxi}}''
* Haruhi in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi''
* Blakey in ''{{On The Buses}}''
* Tomo from ''AzumangaDaioh''
* Harley Keiner from ''BoyMeetsWorld''
** As well as his underlings, Joey 'The Rat' Epstein and Frankie 'The Enforcer' Stecchino.
* Pachira from ''MagicalPokaan''
* {{Rich Bitch}} Karen in ''WillAndGrace''
* {{Daria}}'s mother Helen
* Elaine from {{Seinfeld}} in the later seasons.

* [[{{TheOtherDarrin}} (Lecy Goranson's version of)]] Becky from {{Roseanne}}.
* Sally of {{Third Rock From The Sun}}

* Of course, [[TheUrkel Steve Urkel]] in ''FamilyMatters''
* Tootie Ramsey started out this way in ''TheFactsOfLife'', though she may have been closer to The Precocious
* Jon Cryer's character Alan in ''TwoAndAHalfMen''
* Jim Belushi's brother-in-law in ''AccordingToJim''
* Big brother Robert in ''EverybodyLovesRaymond''
* Rhoda in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''
* Freddie in ''{{iCarly}}''
* Les Nessman in ''WKRPInCincinnati''
* Stuart Minkus in ''BoyMeetsWorld''
* Steve from ''AmericanDad''
* Meg from ''FamilyGuy''

* Ross Gellar from ''{{Friends}}''
* J.D. in ''{{Scrubs}}''
* Olive in ''{{On The Buses}}''
* Soujirou in ''LuckyStar''
* {{Hollywood Dateless}} {{Fag Hag}} Grace Adler in ''WillAndGrace''
* {{Daria}}'s Father, Jake
* Jackie of {{Roseanne}}. David in later seasons.
* Harry from ''Third Rock From TheSun''

* ''Series/{{Wings}}'' had two: Fay Cochran and Lowell Mather
* Similarly, ''FatherTed'' had both Father Dougal and Mrs. Doyle
* ...and ''{{Friends}}'' had Phoebe and Joey
* Vera in ''Alice''
* Spencer and Gibby in ''{{iCarly}}''
* Kramer in ''{{Seinfeld}}''
* Rose Nylund in ''TheGoldenGirls''
* Eric Matthews in ''BoyMeetsWorld''
* TedBaxter in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''
* Jack in ''WillAndGrace''
* Arden Myren's character Abby in ''Working''
* Dharma in ''DharmaAndGreg''
* Daphne in ''{{Frasier}}''
* The Cat in ''RedDwarf''
* Jerry Stiller's character in ''KingOfQueens'' is a dangerous combination of The Goofball and The Bully

* Homer in ''TheSimpsons''
* Peter in ''FamilyGuy''
* Francine in ''AmericanDad''
* Tsukasa in ''LuckyStar''
* Matthew Brock in ''NewsRadio''
* J.D. in ''{{Scrubs}}''
* Reverend Jim, Tony and Latka in ''{{Taxi}}''
* Osaka from ''AzumangaDaioh''
* Yuuma from ''MagicalPokaan''
* Edith Bunker in ''AllInTheFamily''
* Dick from {{Third Rock From The Sun}}

* Eric Matthews in the earlier seasons of ''BoyMeetsWorld'' and Shawn Hunter in the later ones.
* Blanche Devereaux in ''TheGoldenGirls'' combines both aspects
* Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney in ''HowIMetYourMother''
* Roz in ''{{Frasier}}''
* Charlie Sheen in ''TwoAndAHalfMen''
* Bobby Wheeler in ''{{Taxi}}''
* Ryoko Asakura from ''SuzumiyaHaruhi''

* {{Daria}}'s little sister Quinn plays this in addition to ''The Precocious''.
* Dan Fielding on {{Night Court}}

* Felix in ''TheOddCouple''
* Ross in ''{{Friends}}''
** Both of the Gellers, really. Monica, on countless occasions, had outright stifled any fun being had by bombarding everyone else with rules.

* Bishop Brennan in ''FatherTed''
* Amy [=MacDougall's=] parents, Hank and Pat, in ''EverybodyLovesRaymond''
* Lisa Miller in ''{{NewsRadio}}''

* C.C. Babcock in ''TheNanny''
* Arnold Rimmer in ''RedDwarf''
* Stan in ''AmericanDad''
* Post-{{Flanderization}} Flanders in ''TheSimpsons''
* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''{{MASH}}''
* Dr. Kelso in ''{{Scrubs}}''
* Bob in ''TheOblongs''
* Nagato in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'', though she doesn't enforce it
* Hank on ''KingOfTheHill''
* Sheldon of ''TheBigBangTheory''
* Al Borlin of ''HomeImprovement''
* {{Roseanne}}'s [[{{MyBelovedSmother}} mother]] Beverly.
* Angela of {{Who's The Boss}}?
* Diane on {{Cheers}}

* Wilson in ''HomeImprovement''
* Ward Cleaver in ''LeaveItToBeaver''
* Mike Brady in ''TheBradyBunch''
* Mr. Drummund in ''Diff'rent Strokes''
* Mrs. Garrett in ''TheFactsOfLife''
* George Feeney in ''BoyMeetsWorld''
* Alex is also often the Sage in ''{{Taxi}}''
* Itsuki in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi''
* Dr. Cox in ''{{Scrubs}}''

* Rosario in ''WillAndGrace''
* Wilson from ''HomeImprovement''

* Cliff Claven in ''{{Cheers}}''
* ...and TedBaxter in ''TheMaryTylerMooreShow''
* Not complete without Tomo from ''AzumangaDaioh'', and to some degree, Kagura as well.
* Paul Kinsey in ''{{Mad Men}}''. Joan, the smoking-hot girl Friday, even tells him this to his face in one episode.
* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''KingOfTheHill''

* Rudy, and later Olivia, in ''TheCosbyShow''
* Tina in ''Still Standing''
* Michelle in ''FullHouse''

* Bobby and Cindy (more usually Cindy) in ''TheBradyBunch''
* Dominic, Logan and Sammy in ''YesDear''; most especially Dominic, the only one of the three old enough to handle dialogue with the adults
* Dewey in ''MalcolmInTheMiddle''
* Miyuki in ''LuckyStar''
* Maggie in ''TheSimpsons''
* Morgan Matthews in ''BoyMeetsWorld''

----

<<|{{Characters}}|>>

* Flo, and her various {{Jonas Quinn}}s, in ''Alice''

* Tim Daly's character Joe Hackett in ''{{Wings}}''

* Steven Weber's character Brian Hackett in ''{{Wings}}''

* Roy Biggins in ''{{Wings}}''

* ''{{Wings}}'' had two: Fay Cochran and Lowell Mather

* Brian Hackett on ''{{Wings}}'' is also the Casanova variation.

* Mikuru in ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'', resident [[MoeMoe Moe Blob]] and ironically ''oldest'' member of the cast, as well as Kyon's little sister

* William Daniels in ''BoyMeetsWorld''

* Lisa Miller in ''{{NewsRadio}}''

* [[strike: Newman]] Elaine from {{Seinfeld}}

* George in ''{{Seinfeld}}''

* Ross from ''{{Friends}}''

* Matthew in ''NewsRadio''

* Spencer in ''{{iCarly}}''

* [[strike: Karen]] Jack in ''WillAndGrace''

* Jane Lane in ''Daria''

* Sally of {{ThirdRockFromTheSun}}

* Harry from ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''

* Dick from {{ThirdRockFromTheSun}}

* Sally from {{ThirdRockFromTheSun}}

* Harry from ''ThirdRockFromTheSun''

* Al Borlin of 'HomeImprovement'

* Newman from Seinfeld

* Mike "Meathead" Stivic in 'All In The Family''

* Dr. Mary Albright from ''Third Rock From The Sun''

* Tommy from ''Third Rock From The Sun''

* Sally from {{Third Rock From The Sun}}

* Edith Bunker in ''All In The Family''
* Harry from ''Third Rock From The Sun''

* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''King Of The Hill''

* ''Daria''

* Quinn plays this in addition to ''The Precocious'' and ''The Goofball''

* Karen in ''WillAndGrace''

* Karen in ''WillAndGrace''