Worst Lead Character in a TV Series
With rare exceptions, most television series want you to like their lead characters. They want you to identify with the lead, or invest in their journey, or find them charming or endearing. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Over the past few decades, television has seen an explosion in deeply unlikable main characters. So join us as the Great Pop Culture Debate considers the Worst Lead Character in a TV Series.
Characters discussed: Rachel Berry (“Glee”), Piper Chapman (“Orange is the New Black”), Ross Gellar (“Friends”), Kate Austen (“Lost”), Jerry Seinfeld (“Seinfeld”), Andy Bernard (“The Office”), Dr. Meredith Grey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Hannah Horvath (“Girls”), Carrie Bradshaw (“Sex and the City”), Ted Mosby (“How I Met Your Mother”), Sheldon Cooper (“The Big Bang Theory”), Alan Harper (“Two and a Half Men”), Dawson Leery (“Dawson’s Creek”), Ally McBeal (“Ally McBeal”), Rory Gilmore (“Gilmore Girls”), Zack Morris (“Saved by the Bell”)
Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Amma Marfo, Kara Austin, and Kevin Dillon as they discuss 16 of the biggest jerks to ever helm a TV series.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: Rachel Berry, “Glee” (1) vs. Piper Chapman, “Orange is the New Black” (4)
Match-Up 2: Ross Geller, “Friends” (3) vs. Kate Austen, “Lost” (2)
Match-Up 3: Jerry Seinfeld, “Seinfeld” (1) vs. Andy Bernard, “The Office” (4)
Match-Up 4: Dr. Meredith Grey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) (3) vs. Hannah Horvath (“Girls”) (2)
Match-Up 5: Carrie Bradshaw (“Sex and the City”) (1) vs. Ted Mosby (“How I Met Your Mother”) (4)
Match-Up 6: Sheldon Cooper (“The Big Bang Theory”) (3) vs. Alan Harper “Two and a Half Men” (2)
Match-Up 7: Dawson Leery (“Dawson’s Creek”) (1) vs. Ally McBeal (“Ally McBeal”) (4)
Match-Up 8: Rory GIlmore (“Gilmore Girls”) (3) vs. Zack Morris (“Saved by the Bell”) (2)
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panelists: Amma Marfo, Kara Austin, Kevin Dillon
Producer: Derek Mekita
Editor: Bob Erlenback
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
