Top 10 TV Nerds We Love
#10: Felicity Smoak
"Arrow" (2012-20)
Introduced in the first season, Felicity Smoak was originally meant to be a one-off character that we’d never see again. But thanks to Emily Bett Rickards performance and the impression she made on the audiences and her fellow cast mates, she soon became a series regular. There’s so many reasons to love this character. Not only is she an incredible hacker, but she’s great at providing crucial tech and communication support while her allies are in the field. Felicity also has a habit for throwing out incredibly funny or inappropriate jokes without realizing it. From hacking the bad guys to cracking up the good guys, she’s the best of both worlds.
#9: Dr. Temperance Brennan
"Bones" (2005-17)
Top 10 Female Nerds in TV
Dr. Temperance Brennan is the brilliant forensic anthropologist that lies at the heart of the show. Although she’s great at explaining the complex scientific details of important cases, she might have some trouble understanding your movie references. Brennan went through a lot of changes through the course of 12 seasons. Through her interactions with Booth and Angela, we got to see a brand new side of this smart forensic anthropologist. She’s far more than just another “squint” spouting off facts. Brennan has a deep passion for the truth and those who mean the most to her.
#8: Abby Sciuto
"NCIS" (2003-)
Although Abby’s consistent dedication to her goth aesthetic would be enough to make her awesome, what really makes her stand out is her scientific and technical talents. For most of “NCIS”, her forensics and computer science knowledge came in clutch. And Abby’s sunny personality always made visiting her lab into a pleasant experience. Her comfort with sleeping in a coffin and ability to consume large amounts of caffeine made her one of the show’s quirkier characters. However, those quirks and more don't change the fact that she was absolutely instrumental to NCIS for over a decade while never failing to be true to herself.
#7: Chuck Bartowski
"Chuck" (2007-12)
Top 10 Times Chuck Bass was the Worst on Gossip Girl
One of the single biggest reasons why the show “Chuck” resonated with us was due to Zachary Levi’s pitch portrayal of the geeky Chuck Bartowski. He’s a relatable guy who’s great with technology and not so good with romantic relationships. But Chuck's ordinary life suddenly changes when he accidentally gets spy secrets embedded into his brain. As he’s pulled further into a life of espionage and danger, he upgrades his physical and social skills. Audiences rooted for Chuck as he became more well-rounded and developed a sweet relationship with his ally Sarah. They kept tuning in week after week to see what new heights this lovable nerd would reach.
#6: Ben Wyatt
"Parks and Recreation" (2009-15)
Top 10 Exact Moments We Fell Out of Love with a TV Character
During season 2, Ben Wyatt became one of the breakout characters of “Parks and Rec. He started out as a no-nonsense government official who was a stickler for every single rule. But after learning about his deep love of calzones and intensive knowledge of pop culture phenomenons, we realized there was a quirky geek underneath the surface. And the more time he spent with Leslie, the more comfortable he became with expressing all his nerdy qualities. Ben notably used his eccentric talents to create a popular and successful board game called Cones of Dunshire. It was remarkable to watch Ben go from a character we thought we'd hate to someone we'd love to invite to our next game night.
#5: Carlton Banks
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-96)
Top 10 Will & Carlton Moments on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Carlton was an intelligent yet sheltered young man who grew up in Bel-Air. While he had plenty of smarts and money behind him, he was far from the coolest kid in school. Fortunately, his cousin Will was there to help him become more social. Carlton became a fan favorite because of how endearing the character became over time. He also formed a brotherly bond with Will, overcame many relatable issues, and eventually made it into Princeton. And it didn’t hurt that he had a signature dance that we all tried to imitate. It would have been easy for the show to use Carlton as just a punchline. But in the end, he became one of the best parts of the Bel-Air based show.
#4: Alex Dunphy
"Modern Family" (2009-20)
Top 10 SAVAGE Alex Trebek Moments
“Modern Family”’s Alex Dunphy has an unwavering commitment to education. She repeatedly wins academic awards, excels in classes, and participates in many intellectual extra-curricular activities. But one of her most fun characteristics was her tendency to use her intelligence to mess with her family. How could anyone possibly believe you could charge your cell phone by rubbing it on your hair? Well if you’re Alex, you can convince anyone of just about anything. Although she doesn’t always relate to her family, it’s plain to see that she cares for all of them. Alex’s good heart and booksmarts make her a standout member of the Dunphys.
#3: Dr. Spencer Reid
"Criminal Minds" (2005-20)
Top 10 Best Derek & Spencer Moments on Criminal Minds
Over the course of 15 seasons of “Criminal Minds”, fans got to know and love the character of Spencer Reid. His incredible ability to remember vast amounts of facts at any given time made him a superb special agent. And while this genius initially struggled to empathize with others and show his feelings, his coworkers helped him to be more of a social person. Reid’s work allowed him to develop a great dynamic with fellow nerdy character Penelope Garcia. While Garcia was more social and technologically savvy, Reid was a much more awkward intellectual. Although he didn’t always see eye-to-eye with her and other team members, it was still great to see this genius slowly come out of his shell.
#2: Sheldon Cooper
"The Big Bang Theory" (2007-19)
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With everything Sheldon does to his friends, one might wonder why they continue to tolerate him. He could be snobby at times and drive some people away. However, Sheldon does have hidden depths. He has a big heart and can understand when his friends really need some help. And Sheldon shows a huge amount of growth as he continues his relationship with the nerdy and amazing Amy. Jim Parsons did a great job of portraying this constantly evolving genus throughout the show’s run. For all his quirks, Sheldon loves the people in his life, and we love what he’s given to us.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Seth Cohen, “The O.C.” (2003-07)
We Identified With This Smart Character’s Awkwardness & Nerdy References
Willow Rosenberg, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
We Loved Watching This Bookworm Become a Ridiculously Powerful Witch
Chidi Anagonye, “The Good Place” (2016-20)
The Biggest Philosophy Nerd in the Afterlife
Chidi Anagonye https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5c1e8c99-eaf2-4524-8d75-f4977e19e2d3
Abed Nadir, “Community” (2009-15)
This Unique Filmmaker Was One of Our Favorite Members of the Study Group
Abed Nadir https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/d0294545-1df4-4f8b-9da4-9cc4449b517f
Paul, “The Wonder Years” (1988-93)
It Great to Know That This Loyal & Smart Kid Eventually Became a Lawyer
#1: Steve Urkel
"Family Matters" (1989-98)
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Steve Urkel fit every nerd stereotype imaginable when he was first introduced. He was awkward, clumsy and exceedingly intelligent. Urkel also seemed to be the cause of many problems at the Winslow family household. But fans were still drawn to the character long after the show ended because of his kindness and ability to keep us laughing. And although a few of his inventions were too absurd to believe, they gave us great physical comedy and his suave alter ego Stefan Urquelle. His signature suspenders and bright clothes also make for a great Halloween outfit. The fact that Steve Urkel left a lasting impression on pop culture without majorly changing his personality was inspiring to nerds everywhere.
