Everyone has a favoritesitcom. Most people probably would chooseFriendsas their favorite, withThe Officeas a close second. As well as being funny, they can be a perfect escape from life. Who doesn’t want to spend their days in a coffee shop with their friends while getting into crazy hijinks? More importantly, who doesn’t want to have the kind of fun that makes them forget they have day jobs?
Mostsitcoms follow tropesto fill episode orders. More often than not, they involve the main couple experiencing some sort of drama because the guy was insensitive, and the girl got mad. This isn’t every show, but for most, there also tends to be cheating somewhere along the lines. Obviously, all cheating is bad, but some cheaters are more irredeemable than others. Here is a list of the worst cheaters in sitcom relationships.
10Charlie Harper — Two and a Half Men (2003-2015)
In terms of his treatment of women, Charlie Harper fromTwo and a Half Menmay just be the worst offender on this list. Right from the start of the series, he is depicted as a chronic philanderer and drunkard, who occupies his free time with meaningless hook-ups, most often acquired through lies and manipulation. Leading women on without any intention of pursuing a relationship and outright cheating were standard for the eldest Harper son, one of the many reasons he was hated. But he wasn’t irredeemable, as a part of him wanted to leave his ways behind and settle down.
His attempts ultimately failed when it was revealed to then-fiance Chelsea in the Season 7 episode, “Untainted by Filth” that he had a three-way with Alan and a random woman, and, in the Season 12 episode, “Of Course He’s Dead,” that he had cheated on Rose shortly after marrying her. It was speculated for four seasons after that she had killed him. However, he was later shown to be alive in the series finale with a brief return before being crushed by a piano.Stream on Peacock
9Angela – The Office (2005-2013)
Here’s another character fans loved to hate. Angela fromThe Officehas always been shrewd, short-tempered, and an unlikable woman. Her frigid personality put most of her co-workers on edge whenever she was around, and those who could stand her were often left with a bitter taste in their mouths. Somehow, it wasn’t a shock when she and Dwight were revealed to be an item, and it was even heartbreaking when they split.
However, as evil as Angela could sometimes seem, she showed the worst of herself when it came out in the Season 5 episode “The Duel,” she was cheating on Andy with Dwight, leading the two to nearly come to blows and Andy trying to run Dwight over. Thankfully, the two came to their senses and dumped her, forging one of the best and funniest friendships in any sitcom.
As bad as this situation was, Angela has always been redeemable, and she and Dwight eventually found their way back to each other before marrying and starting a family inThe Office’s final season.Stream on Peacock
8Ted Mosby — How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
Ted Mosby was built as the kind of lead in a om-com that was easy to root for. He was a hopeless romantic and was endlessly optimistic. He believed in love at first sight and encouraged those around him to chase their happy ending. But his entry into this list is just one of the reasons why many fans found him insufferable. Ted had thought he had found his wife in Victoria in the first season ofHow I Met Your Mother, but that changed when she went to Germany. The two thought their love would see them through a long-distance relationship, but the distance was impossible to ignore.
A breakup would have been the appropriate course of action. If only he had done so before cheating with Robin, his longtime love interest in the episode “Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.” Robin was understandably furious, but decided to make her jealous rather than apologize, over the next two episodes, and even more so when she forgave him in “Best Prom Ever.” It’s always hard to root for a character when they get to skirt by on their misdeeds with no consequences, something Ted did often. If there’s any justice, it’s that his relationship with Robin ultimately failed, the first time at least.Stream on Hulu
Related:How Every Main Character in How I Met Your Mother First Met Each Other
7Schmidt — New Girl (2011-2018)
Schmidt may not be the only lovable pretty-boy knucklehead on this list, but he may be the most beloved. Despite that, he’s done some pretty bad things throughoutNew Girl. He’s a constant philanderer and pursued numerous sexual conquests, some of which have been with his bosses. However, his lowest point came in the Season 3 episode “Double Date,” when he confesses tohis on-again-off-again girlfriendCece that he had been cheating with his old college girlfriend, Elizabeth, since the finale of Season 2.
That’s pretty bad in itself, but he was also cheating on Elizabeth…with Cece. Schmidt tried dating both women at the same time behind the other’s back, wanting to have his cake and eat it too. He would later confess his cheating to Cece, and fans thought that was the end of the fan-favorite couple. It probably should have been, too.
The two ultimately find their way back to each other and end the series in a pair of wedding bands with two kids. It was quite the journey to get to this point, and fans didn’t know if they would be able to forgive Schmidt, but love conquers all, and they ended the series as the best versions of themselves together.Stream on Hulu
6Joey Tribbiani — Friends (1994-2004)
Joey was the lovable goofball of the hit ’90s sitcom,Friends, and the group’s resident womanizer. Like Charlie Harper, he would often lie to and manipulate women to get them to sleep with him, and would cheat on them, showing no sense of morality or decency. In a sitcom, the main group can look past this character’s more toxic tendencies, but Joey has crossed more lines than mistreatment.
In Season 10 ofFriends, Joey not only cheated on his then-girlfriend Charlie, but he did so with Rachel in the episode “The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss.” By making out with his close friend, he crosses three boundaries. The cheating was the first, making out with a friend was the second, and that friend, being the ex and love interest of his friend Ross, was the third. The normal standard for having a friend with toxic tendencies is that one can look past them so long as they aren’t involved, but when they hit home, that becomes a problem.Stream on Max
Related:15 Best Celebrity Cameos on Friends
5Cory Matthews — Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
Not everyone got to grow up withBoy Meets World, considered one of the bestshows about being a teenager. But there is one indisputable fact known across every generation: Cory and Topanga were always endgame. Their romance started at the start of the series and only blossomed from there. They started officially dating in the series' third season, and fans wanted them to stay together forever. That being said, it was all the more shocking to see Cory cheat on Topanga in the Season 5 episode “Heartbreak Cory,” resulting in their breakup two episodes later (“Torn Between Two Lovers”). The two do get back together (in “The Happiest Show on Earth”) once they realize they can’t live without each other.
Cory could be a hard person to like sometimes. He could be selfish, antagonistic, and downright smug. It shouldn’t have been too surprising when he lied to Topanga about his infidelity, but at some point, it became questionable if he should have been forgiven. The two had their happily ever after, but fans still debated if they were still the endgame of the series.Stream on Disney+
4Nancy Gribble — King of the Hill (1997-2010)
King of the Hillis a fan-favorite animated sitcom that helped set the pace for shows likeBob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and evenRick & Morty. Most animated sitcoms are, in some ways, inspired by this show. One of the more important traits is the depiction of comically flawed characters. Nancy Gribble, in particular, is a sweet woman and a great mother to her and Dale’s son, Joseph, but what Dale failed to see — and what most knew — was that Joseph was the son of John Redcorn, whom Nancy had an affair with for 14 years.
The affair was a plot point for the series' first four seasons, with Dale often speculated to either be in denial or just too delusional to catch on. Her secret wasn’t Nancy’s only flaw either, as she’s also been shown to have a mean streak and a dark past. Whatever she may be, though, her heart is usually in the right place. She eventually ends her affair permanently to fully commit to Dale when both she and John decide they don’t want to hurt Dale anymore (in the episode, “Nancy’s Boys”), and she maintained her love for him until the series ended in 2010, and he never learned the truth.Stream on Hulu
3Lois Griffin – Family Guy (1999-Present)
For this one, it’s best to acknowledge that everyone inFamily Guyis horrible. Every episode revolves around characters as they make the worst choices possible, to hilarious and often controversial effects. Lois’s husband is the biggest offender. But as bad as Peter may be, he has never been a cheater. Lois, on the other hand, has cheated on Peter numerous times with the most random assortment of characters, like Bill Clinton (S5, E13), Bonnie (The Cleavland Show;S1, E1), Jesus Christ (S6, E13), Meg’s boyfriend (S8, E13), one of Peter’s illegitimate sons (S15, E20), and (almost) Justin Bieber (S11, E6).
Almost every time this happens, Peter forgives her because the series wouldn’t have been able torun for over 20 yearsotherwise. Viewers know not to take anything that happens in this show to heart because of its nature, but for those who choose to look at things in a practical sense (for some reason), Lois doesn’t look too good. Despite this, she’s far from the worst character in the series. After all, it’s not like she has a scandalous history of being a sex fiend with numerous on-screen sex crimes…Stream on Hulu
2Michael Kelso — That ’70s Show (1998-2006)
Michael Kelso ofThat ’70s Showfame may be the most lovable scoundrel in a sitcom. He and his on-off girlfriend, Jackie Burkhart, have had a tumultuous relationship from the series' start. Jackie has always been very high maintenance and had a lot of expectations of Kelso. She would often ridicule and belittle him as her way of getting him to fit her standards, so it is fair to say that Kelso would have been in the right to break up with her, but cheating on her was the worst solution.
One would think that the first time they broke up would have been enough for the two to call it quits permanently, but they just kept trying, and Kelso just kept cheating. His affair with Eric’s sister Lori was the most notable, and officially started in the Season 2 episode “Red’s Last Day,” before their relationship was exposed to Jakie in the episode “Kiss of Death,” and the two break up (temporarily).
It’s later revealed in the Season 4 episode, “The Stupid Helmet,” that he’s cheated numerous times, and not just on Jackie. Despite this, it was hard not to love Kelso. That doesn’t excuse his bad behavior over the years, but he’s always been a character who constantly faced consequences for his actions, even if it doesn’t get him to change. His dopey personality and endless optimism were infectious, and it made it easy to root for him, even in moments when he was up to no good.Stream on Peacock
Related:That ’70s Show: Kelso’s Funniest Moments, Ranked
1Ross Geller — Friends (1994-2004)
Fans have drawn a lot of comparisons betweenHow I Met Your MotherandFriends. There are plenty, one of which is the similarities between Ross and Ted. But there is no denying thatRoss is so much worse. Should any more be said other than “We were on a break.” The catchphrase has become synonymous with the character after he cheats on Rachel in the Season 3 episode “The One With The Morning After,” when Ross famously misunderstands the ground rules of his break from Rachel and sleeps with another woman, which Rachel later discovers and dumps him following a heated argument.
However, he doesn’t stop at just Rachel. Ross cheats on numerous partners throughout the series, and just like he did with Rachel, he refuses to take responsibility for his actions. In everyone’s life, there comes a time to swallow one’s pride and admit to their flaws, but Ross has always been unable to do so. What’s worse is that his cheating is only one of the reasons why Ross is the biggest ever jerk. Is there any need to mention his son?Stream on Max
