Top 10 Grumpy TV Characters

Top 10 Grumpy TV Characters

Get off my lawn! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 grumpy characters in TV.

For this list, we’re looking at well-written, well-performed and well-loved TV characters that have become come to embody our own grumpy natures. We can’t help but identify with these cranks, and that’s why we love them.

#10: Martin Crane
“Frasier” (1993-2004)

As the patriarch of the Crane clan, this “man’s man” possesses both a love for his favorite reclining chair, and an incredibly stubborn personality that often clashes with the more refined tastes of his sons. A former Seattle cop who was shot in the line of duty, Martin prefers a cold beer and a night at McGinty’s – his favorite sports bar – to a night at the opera. It’s clear that Frasier and Niles couldn’t be more different from their unpretentious and laidback father, resulting in a hilarious butting of heads audiences couldn’t get enough of.

#9: Dr. Perry Cox
“Scrubs” (2001-10)

This cantankerous doctor is one frightening attending physician who’d make us want to have our stay at Sacred Heart Hospital be as short as possible. Not only does he have a tendency for sarcastic comebacks and bitter interactions with his co-workers and subordinates; he’s also got a biting wit and short tempter that cause rants about anything from his hatred of having his workout routine disturbed to his disdain for Hugh Jackman. However, it’s his dedication to his job that allowed him to rise through the ranks of hospital staff despite his grouchy personality.

#8: Squidward Tentacles
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)

This selfish cephalopod is six limbs worth of hot-tempered sarcasm and the perfect antagonist to the carefree and upbeat attitude to his arch nemesis, SpongeBob. While possessing a keen intellect and a misguided love of art – as long as it’s portraits of himself, or the pursuits of his underappreciated talents – Squidward is classic grumpiness brought to the deepest depths of Bikini Bottom. With his short fuse, little is needed to push him over the edge. That, plus his overall pessimistic outlook on life, mean this is one tightly wound scrooge of the sea.

#7: Mr. Heckles
“Friends” (1994-2004)

Rachel, Monica, and – at one point – Phoebe’s cranky downstairs neighbor is not the kinda person you want to bother the next time you need to borrow a cup of sugar. Whether he’s banging on the ceiling with a broom handle because you’re being too loud, or answering the door in his signature bathrobe, this grumpy apartment dweller may have sensitive ears, but certainly does not have a sensitive heart. Just between us, he might just be a lonely man looking to make some new friends…

#6: Archie Bunker
“All in the Family” (1971-79)

The mold upon which all subsequent TV grumps are based, this classic crank became controversial due to his inability to keep his bigoted opinions to himself. A conservative WWII vet who’s got an opinion on everything under the sun, Archie could’ve seemed like a bad guy; but the reality was he was a hard-working family man and a product of his time. Butting heads with his liberal son-in-law over politics and race issues, Archie was originally designed by show creator, Norman Lear, to be hated by audiences. But his unapologetic gruffness and honesty resonated with working-class America, making him one of television’s most remembered characters.

#5: Dr. Gregory House
“House” (2004-12)

Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, this grumpy doctor with the incredibly poor bedside manner brought new meaning to the word “curmudgeon.” His quick thinking, yet seemingly detached form of medical practice see him paying extreme attention to detail in order to properly diagnose his patients. However, while House may be brilliant, he’s not without his flaws. Bitter, moody, and sardonic, this complex medical professional won the hearts of audiences everywhere due to his unorthodox methods and endearingly grumbling personality.

#4: Al Bundy
“Married… with Children” (1987-97)

This Chicago high school football star has it all: A loving wife, a couple of terrific kids, and a successful career that he loves…yeah, right. Al Bundy is the epitome of a man unsatisfied with his life and family, bringing a hilarious sense of dread to the American Dream as the memories of his glory days are juxtaposed with his current daily grind. In some ways Al’s the polar opposite of Ed O’Neill’s more recent TV grump, “Modern Family”’s Jay Pritchett, and in some ways he’s exactly as grumpy. Crud, rude, and incredibly funny, this deadbeat working class grouch is one grumpy underdog we couldn’t help but love.

#3: The Grinch
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966)

The celebration of Christmas has remained forever changed since this TV special first aired in 1966. The embodiment of distaste for the holiday season, with a sneering and sinister smile, this furry green grump became an emblem of greed and menacing motives to destroy the true meaning of Christmas. An outside in the town of Whoville who only has his dog Max as a friend, this iconic Dr. Seuss adaptation is a lesson on how to care for others, discover kindness, and soften the Grinch within us all.

#2: Oscar the Grouch
“Sesame Street” (1969-)

This infamous Muppet has been the grouch we’ve all known and loved since we were big enough to switch on our TVs. Possessing a love for living in trashcans, feasting on unappetizing cuisine, and embodying an unapologetic sense of self-awareness to his need for all things yucky, this green guy hates all things nice. However, Oscar reminds us not to overlook those things we deem “garbage” and remains a beloved character to children and adults alike to this very day.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
- Fred Sanford
“Sanford and Son” (1972-77)
- Ron Swanson
“Parks and Recreation” (2009-15)
- Moe Szyslak
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
- Sue Sylvester
“Glee” (2009-15)
- Ralph Kramden
“The Honeymooners” (1955-56)

#1: Red Forman
“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)

Red is the dad that made you terrified when you wanted to visit your friend’s house after school. This no-nonsense patriarch prefers peace and quiet, and is unrelenting in his disdain for all things out of the ordinary, whether he’s rolling his eyes at his neighbors, or threatening his teenage son’s friends with physical violence. Portrayed flawlessly by actor Kurtwood Smith, this disgruntled father is as frightening as he is funny, making us all relieved to not have his foot in our asses.

Do you agree with our list? Which TV grumps do you love to watch? For more ornery top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.