History Main / TheGenericGuy

** Stahl from the same game. Like Kellam, he doesn't have much personality beyond being a NiceGuy. His supports reveal that all of his performance tests were the exact median among all the soldiers, to the point that whenever he does get stronger, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ARMY GETS PROPORTIONALLY stronger so that he is always the statistical median in every physical attribute. Miriel explains this as everyone else using Stahl as a baseline when figuring out how much they need to improve. That said, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation his actual stats]] lean a little toward being a MightyGlacier.

* Prior to the Women's Evolution, the WWE Women's Division (then known as the WWE Divas) consisted mainly of cookie-cutter former models such as [[Wrestling/KellyKelly Kelly Kelly]], [[Wrestling/EveTorres Eve]], [[Wrestling/CandiceMichelle Candice Michelle]] Wrestling/{{Maryse}} and [[Wrestling/MariaKanellis Maria]], among others ([[Wrestling/BethPhoenix Beth Phoenix and [[Wrestling/AJLee AJ Lee]] were notable exceptions to the rule). These days, the WWE Women's Division has women of all shapes, and sizes and have very distinct characters.

* Prior to the Women's Evolution, the WWE Women's Division (then known as the WWE Divas) consisted mainly of cookie-cutter former models such as [[Wrestling/KellyKelly Kelly Kelly]], [[Wrestling/EveTorres Eve]], [[Wrestling/CandiceMichelle Candice Michelle]] Wrestling/{{Maryse}} and [[Wrestling/MariaKannellis Maria]], among others ([[Wrestling/BethPhoenix Beth Phoenix and [[Wrestling/AJLee A.J. Lee]] were notable exceptions to the rule). These days, the WWE Women's Division has women of all shapes, and sizes and have very distinct characters.

* Prior to the Women's Evolution, the WWE Women's Division (then known as the WWE Divas) consisted mainly of cookie-cutter former models such as [[Wrestling/KellyKelly Kelly Kelly]], [[Wrestling/EveTorres Eve]], [[Wrestling/CandiceMichelle]] Wrestling{{Maryse}} and [[Wrestling/MariaKannellis Maria]], among others ([[Wrestling/BethPhoenix Beth Phoenix and [[Wrestling/AJLee A.J. Lee]] were notable exceptions to the rule). These days, the WWE Women's Division has women of all shapes, and sizes and have very distinct characters.

* Sam from ''Machinima/TheStrangerhood'' is an excellent example of this trope, especially considering how wacky the rest of the cast is.

* Paz and Borma from ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' -- they're not a BadassNormal like Togusa nor can they maneuver vehicles the way he can, they're not as good at info gathering info as Ishikawa, they can't snipe like Saito or fight like Batou, and they aren't [[PositiveDiscrimination awesome at everything like The Major]]. Both characters barely get any dialogue, appearances, or mentions in the manga itself. They'd be classified as scene extras if it hadn't been emphasized that they are indeed members of Section 9. The anime decided to give them at least ''SOME'' sort of defining background. Paz eventually gets ADayInTheLimelight which allows him to evolve past the generic role, though. We learn that he's the team's resident cold-hearted assassin, as well as an equally cold-hearted ladies man. Oh, and he may or may not be his own robot clone. No one seems to care either way, least of all Paz himself. Borma does not get ADayInTheLimelight episode like Paz does, but 2nd Gig has a few instances of terrorist and suicide bombers. Borma's role in Section 9 is revealed as the explosives expert, and he's later brought in to disarm a nuclear device.

* John Fighterman from WebAnimation/{{JoCat}}'s ''A Crap Guide to [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' is designed as an [[ExaggeratedTrope exaggeration]] of this trope, being a middle-aged Human Fighter with basic equipment and little to no personality, a representation of [=JoCrap=]'s perception of the blandness of the Fighter class. [[SubvertedTrope However]], Jo would later give him traits designed to make him a bit more interesting, such as [[https://twitter.com/JoCat105/status/1224153638697869316 a tweet]] revealing that he's gay and in a relationship with Hutrax (the Wizard).

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' plays with this, in the case of Bertolt Hoover. A self-described ExtremeDoormat, there really isn't much distinct about him other than being extremely tall and prone to nervous sweating. He's easily forgotten among the more colorful personalities in the cast, quietly lingering in the background of scenes and not really contributing anything to the plot. Then, he finally gets some attention.....[[spoiler: right before being revealed to be the human form of the Colossal Titan. Him seeming so generic concealed considerable {{Foreshadowing}} that only makes sense upon a second reading, and after the reveal, his personality is shown to be a lot more complex than it initially seemed]].

* ''Anime/YuruYuri'': This is [[DecoyProtagonist Akari's]] main character trait (much to her dismay). Her ability to be forgotten/fade into the background is so pronounced that it's been known to ''[[UpToEleven spread to other characters]]'' (much to ''their'' dismay).

* Rivalz Cardemonde from ''Anime/CodeGeass''. Lampshaded near the end of the series, where Rivalz is disappointed at the fact that most of his close friends have been involved in something interesting while he's still just a student at school. Kaname Ohgi on the other hand, had the benefit of being a high-up member of the Black Knights... who was essentially a glorified secretary for the main character. Until [[spoiler: he betrays him.]] At which point, his greatest accomplishment was still sleeping with the [[spoiler: token enemy chick.]]

* In ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000Mechanicus'', Quartermaster Rho is the only one of Magos Faustinius's advisers who does not have any driving obsessions or ideological axes to grind. He only concerns himself with maintaining supply levels aboard ship, and occasionally recovering valuable lost human technology, both of which are among the few things *everyone* in the Adeptus Mechanicus can agree on.

** Jenna Sanderson was deliberately created with a generic personality and a boring backstory; she's friendly and a little shy, and then average everywhere else. [[SubvertedTrope This changed]] with the advent of her superpower, which turned her into a walking hoarde of insects. Naturally, she's developed a lot of neuroses related to her new form.

* [[AnthropomorphicPersonification Estonia]] of ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' is ''much'' less quirky than most other members of the cast. Compared to them, he seems downright ''normal'': He's [[OnlySaneMan well-adjusted]], mild-mannered and preppy, and while he does have a few features of HollywoodNerd (his glasses and penchant for computers), there isn't much about him that stands out, especially among the more colorful and eccentric personalities around him. Estonia himself [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this at one point:

* In ''WebVideo/RockedReviews'', Luke considers Music/{{Nickelback}} the musical manifestation of The Generic Guy. Both album reviews he has done of the band are filled with criticism that the albums are generic and bland, with many filler tracks.

* Due to the comic's usage of LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters from practically every interpretation of the franchise, some of the Freedom Fighters lean into this in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics''. Rotor in particular, originally TheSmartGuy and something of a dork, couldn't match up to the increasing number of tech experts in the team and, while still getting the odd spotlight, is one of the most normal and non distinct of the main cast personality wise. Also an example of the "generic TokenMinority", though this wasn't revealed until well into the comic's run.

* ''Series/{{ER}}'' had LotsAndLotsOfCharacters and generally did well at filling out personalities for most of them, but nurse Connie Oligario was a regular for ten years without ever being afforded the fuller characterization given to colleagues like Haleh, Lydia and Chuny.

* David, InUniverse in ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk''. A major problem for Jack McGee in his hunt is that he keeps hearing about this mysterious man that shows up at Hulk sightings, but nobody can ever give a useful description since David just comes across as average nondescript guy.

** Madoka's dad, whose only notable trait is being a genderflipped housewife. He never really does anything besides cooking, playing with his son Tatsuya, and talking about his wife, who does all of the non-generic parenty scenes and associated portrayals of AdultFear.

** Snarl of the Dinobots tends to get hit with this in every incarnation. Grimlock is TheLeader, Swoop is TheSmartGuy and/or TheChick, Slug is TheLancer, and Sludge is TheBigGuy. Snarl's defining characteristics are... not being as strong as Sludge or as angry as Slug, mostly.

* ''Anime/TheDisastrousLifeOfSaikiK'': Satou Hiroshi is ordinary to an extraordinary level. He's perfectly average in every single way, from height to test scores to family situation.

* [[LivingProp Maya Matsumoto]] from ''Manga/{{Working}}''. She is seen many times throughout the series and is even in the opening. She isn't even shown talking or interacting with anyone besides customers. In the final episode of the first season, we find out this is [[IJustWantToBeNormal exactly how she wants it]].

* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] by [[NaiveNewcomer Brett Hand]] in ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob''. By his own admission, he has a face so bland and generic that [[TheSpook facial recognition software can't even track it]], and [[AbusiveParents growing up his parents told him he would always be a nobody]]. As a result, he [[DesperatelyCravesAffection goes to extreme lengths to try to get people to like him]] so he stands out to the point he joined ''38'' fraternities in college before working as a YesMan in UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC. Despite his cheerful LovableJock persona, [[SadClown he frequently reveals himself to be deeply insecure]], at one point mentioning he lies awake at night because he fears his lack of a favorite color means he doesn't have a personality.

* ''Series/{{Bones}}'': Booth's RomanticFalseLead, Hannah, in Season 6 really does not have any discernible or well defined character traits. She just sort of smiles and looks pretty. It pretty much CharacterShilling at its most annoying.

* Kurumi Momose from ''Anime/PaniPoniDash''. Her being a forgettable girl with no defining traits (save for having a cute appearance- recognized by the fans, not in the series itself) is used as a RunningGag from the very start. She has absolutely no {{Moe}} factor, despite working at a Moe cafe! Kurumi starts veering into into {{Deconstruction}} territory when Becky continually calls her plain due to said lack of a defining characteristic in her WackyHomeroom and she ends up moping in a CornerOfWoe. [[EnsembleDarkhorse She's actually pretty popular with the fanbase, though.]]