Top 10 Funniest Characters Currently on TV

It used to be so easy. Lucy, George Costanza, Al Bundy. So many funny and memorable characters in the past, but then comedy changed. It became faster and smarter than ever before. Soon it went beyond the laugh track because we didn’t need to be told when to chuckle at a joke anymore, we laughed because the jokes and characters were funny. New characters like Tobias Fünke, Michael Scott, and Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys gave us reasons to laugh again, but it’s 2011 and they’re all gone now. So who’s left? Who are the funniest characters on television? Well, we’ll tell you because WVG has compiled a list of The Top 10 Funniest Characters Currently on TV….Enjoy

 

10. Moe Szyslak – The Simpsons

Favorite Quote
“Well, I’m better than dirt. Well, most kinds of dirt. I mean not that fancy store bought dirt. That stuffs loaded with nutrients. I… I can’t compete with that stuff.”

Favorite Episode
“Bart Sells His Soul” – Season 7 Episode 4

Moe Szyslak may be the most cynical and pessimistic character in the history of television. Occasionally, things will go right for the bar owner, but even when they do Moe sees the negative side. His one liners are endless and priceless, “It’s a car hold”. When you’re having a bad day Moe is always there to remind you that things can and will get even worse.


 

9. Antoine Batiste – Treme

Favorite Quote
“Antoine Batiste is strictly a cooked fish eating motherfucka. You got to roll that shit in some batter and drop it in some grease before you talk to me bra.”

Favorite Episode
“On Your Way Down” – Season 2 Episode 3

Wendell Pierce is a fantastic actor, he stole the show in David Simon’s The Wire as the great homicide detective William “Bunk” Moreland. It’s no surprise that Simon decided to go with Pierce as one of the main characters on in his new show, a look at the musicians of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in Treme. As Antoine Batiste, Pierce has the same subtle humor as Bunk did. A disagreement is met with a gargle noise of disappointment and a sharp humorous look. He’s particularly funny when dealing with women or children. Batiste is consistently funny in a role that’s not meant to be.


 

8. Kenny Powers – Eastbound & Down

Favorite Quote
“Honey, I love you…I think you’re a terrific girl — but you got clothes like a fuckin’ dickhead.”

Favorite Episode
“Chapter 2″ – Season 1 Episode 2

What can you say about Kenny Powers? He’s selfish, arrogant, rude, and just plain mean. So why do we like him? …Well, it’s because we’re rooting for him. We want him to succeed, we want him to get back in the Majors. Kenny Powers is the asshole ballplayer we always wanted to be. We’ve seen him at his lowest point, we’ve seen him cry, he’s not fooling us and that’s what makes him funny. You can’t ever take his tough guy act seriously especially with that mullet. His vernacular is contagious, after a few episodes you’ll be spewing out Kenny Power lines on the reg. His wordplay and self destructive attitude continue to make him one of the funniest characters on television. Season 2 ended with Kenny Powers signing a contract to play for the Texas Rangers minor league affiliate in Myrtle Beach and Danny McBride has confirmed that season 3 will be the last. We can only guess what Kenny will get into in the show’s final season.


 

7. Brent Wilts – The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret

Favorite Quote
“I will literally rip your fucking balls off and feed them to you through your fucking ass! You got that! Come on Todd let’s go sniff out some Beev.”

Favorite Episode
“Where Todd and Brent Misjudge the Mood of a Solemn Day” – Season 1 Episode 5

Gob Bluth will go down as one of the funniest TV characters ever and nothing will ever compare, but Brent Wilts comes pretty darn close. He’s got that arrogant guy-wearing-a-$4000-suit(C’mon!) attitude that is all too familiar with Arrested Development fans, but Brent Wilts is a much darker character than Gob. Wilts is a cold hearted businessman with a gambling addiction and an affinity for prostitutes. He’s also hilarious. His angry profanity driven verbal assaults are some of the funniest scenes on television and his character has gotten better with every episode, but is Brent Wilts really the hard-ass he’s led us to believe? The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is a hidden gem that has been overlooked by many. The good news is that IFC has greenlit a second season so Brent Wilts is coming back for more laughs.


 

6. Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock

Favorite Quote
Kenneth: “Oh I don’t vote Republican or Democrat, choosing is a sin, so I always just write in the Lord’s name.”
Jack: “That’s Republican, we count those.

Favorite Episode
“Rosemary’s Baby” – season 2 episode 4

30 rock is best written show on television and one of the funniest thanks to it’s ensemble cast of characters. All great, but Jack Donaghy is the funniest character on the show. Every time he’s on screen I feel like I’m watching that scene from Glengarry Glen Ross. The guy has a presence about him. The writing for his character is incredibly subtle and smart. From his witty light-hearted jabs at ethnic groups to his republican send-up Jack Donaghy truly is one of the funniest characters on TV.


 

5. Leon Black – Curb Your Enthusiasm

Favorite Quote
“I Danny Dubersteined the FUCK out the man in that room! Fuckin’ voila”

Favorite Episode
“The Table Read” – Season 7 Episode 9

Although Larry David is funny in his own sense, it’s his reaction to the situations he gets into that make the show hilarious. Leon Black on the other hand spits out gold every time he opens his mouth and takes over every scene he’s in. In Season 6 Leon Black enters the home of the whitest guy on television. Leon is the Ying to Larry’s Yang. Two polar opposites, but when they’re onscreen together it’s magic. His lisp, his slang, the irrational advice he gives Larry. Everything about the guy is genuinely funny. Thankfully Leon Black will be bringing the ruckus for season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm.


 

4. Creed Bratton – The Office

Favorite Quote
“I’m not offended by homosexuality. In the 60s I made love to many, many women – often outdoors in the mud and the rain – and it’s possible that a man slipped in. There’d be no way of knowing…”

Favorite Episode
“Dunder Mifflin Infinity” – Season 4 Episode 3/4

Creed gets more laughs per line than any other character on The Office, maybe any character on television. He’s a string of hilarious quotes one after another. Never the focal point of the show, yet he still manages to steal every scene he’s in. You never know when Creed will show up, but when he does it’s always funny. Unlike most characters on The Office, Creed has no equivalent in the original BBC series. A completely unique character with probably the deepest back story on the show. He’s strange, mysterious, and now that Michael Scott is gone he’s the funniest character on the show.


 

3. Randy Marsh – South Park

Favorite Quote
[Randy on Wheel of Fortune]
Randy: “I know the answer, but I don’t think I should say it.”
Pat Sajak: “10 seconds, Mr. Marsh.”
Randy: “Oh, alright. Niggers!!!”
**bzzzzzzz**
Randy: “Oh, naggers, of course. Naggers, right.”

Favorite Episode
“Over Logging” – Season 12 Episode 6

There could be any number of characters to choose from in Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park, but Stan Marsh’s father Randy brings the funny and ridiculous funny on a constant basis. A classic off the wall character with extreme overreactions to the most insignificant things. Whether it be going to every length possible to prove that he took the biggest shit in the world or losing his mind over the loss of an internet connection Randy Marsh brings the laughs like no other. Unfortunately judging from the last episode South Park may be coming to end soon, but we can hope it was all another brilliant elaborate joke that we have come to expect from Matt and Trey.


 

2. Charlie Kelly – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Favorite Quote
[Ordering in a fancy restaurant]
“Yes, my good man, I’ll have the milk steak, boiled over hard, and your finest jelly beans … raw.”

Favorite Episode
“The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis” – Season 4 Episode 2

His sudden outbursts, the freakouts, and genuine stupidity. Charlie Kelly is the reason you watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, his physical comedy and verbal bantering are hilarious, but it’s the little things that make him one of the funniest characters on TV. His malapropisms remind me of Ricky from the classic Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys. The episodes where he takes on a different persona like Serpico or Green Man show what a great character he really is. His poor grasp on common sense and reality has taken his stupidity to Michael Scott status and beyond. But Charlie’s mental issues are all specifically addressed on the show, he’s a very developed character and not just another “dumb guy.” Charlie steals every scene and has continued to be consistently funny even when the show hasn’t.


 

1. Ron Swanson – Parks and Recreation

Favorite Quote
“The less I know about other people’s affairs, the happier I am. I’m not interested in caring about people. I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes.”

Favorite Episode
“Ron & Tammy: Part Two” – Season 3 Episode 4

He hates people, he hates vegetables, and when he’s hungry he just about hates everything else. Parks and Recreation has the best ensemble cast on TV and Ron Swanson leads the pack. His Libertarian and misanthropic attitude combined with his love of meat make him one of the greatest scripted characters on television. Everything he says is hilarious and episodes based around him become god-tier. There’s very few characters that can make you laugh with just a look beyond breaking the 4th wall. The hair, the mustache, everything about the character is perfect. Ron Swanson, great American hero or greatest American hero? Not sure, but he is definitely the funniest character currently on TV.

Honorable Mention
-Abed/Troy – Community
Together Troy and Abed are the funniest duo on television. Apart, they don’t make the list.
-Adam Demamp – Workaholics
Great comedic timing and funny vernacular, almost made the list.
-Jay – Inbetweeners
Unfortunately the show won’t be coming back for a 4th season, but Jay was hilarious. “Bus Wankas!”
-Roger – American Dad
Funniest alien on TV on the funniest Seth MacFarlane show on FOX
-Leo Spaceman – 30 Rock
A great character that needs more screen time.