# Do you like "stupid" characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908 "2022-03-11T17:03:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/61 "2022-03-18T14:24:08Z")
If Bertie was an idiot then Lord Peter Wimsey was an idiot savant. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/62 "2022-03-18T14:26:51Z")
> [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > Bertie Wooster. Absolutely what I was going to say. One of the best fictional characters ever created, and an utter moron. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/63 "2022-03-18T14:37:12Z")
And you know Bertie is “too stupid to live”, or at least stay out of jail, if it weren’t for the interventions of Jeeves. And it’s a social commentary by Wodehouse, as well. A look at how the noblesse oblige are useless at best (and often bumblingly dangerous), and need to be constantly rescued by the lower class. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/64 "2022-03-18T14:38:12Z")
One of the classic morons in literature exposed one of the classic morons in real life for me. My brother excoriated me (a class warrior of the old school) for being a fan of a novelist who “glorified the upper classes” He completely missed the point of PGW’s body of work! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/65 "2022-03-18T16:12:58Z")
I can’t believe the Three Stooges haven’t come up yet. What do we all think of them? I still laugh out loud when I watch them. Of course their physical comedy skills were nonpareil, but I also think their verbal banter was often hilarious. Each character was stupid in a different way, making for a solid ensemble dynamic. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/66 "2022-03-18T17:22:37Z")
Some I like, some annoy me. For the record, I consider Jed Clampett ignorant, not stupid, and he did dress up a few times (google “Jed Clampett dressed up”). As to why he remained so, even in later seasons, because it is a 1960s/early 70s sitcom Brian ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/67 "2022-03-18T19:04:51Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I can’t believe the Three Stooges haven’t come up yet. Personally, I was never a huge Stooges fan, but I will always think of them fondly because of my son’s reaction when I introduced my kids to them. He was probably 5-6, and he laughed so hard, he had to run out of the room to pee. I’m pretty sure that is the only instance I’ve ever encountered of someone laughing so hard they were in danger of peeing themself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/68 "2022-03-18T19:20:17Z")
Nice thing is that he knows it, calling himself and buddies “drones”. He isn’t really a bad sort, being loyal and friendly. Just useless and foolish. The best and bravest were siphoned off in two world war, especially the incompetently led Great war with it’s idiotic “over the top” tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/69 "2022-03-18T19:25:15Z")
Woody from Cheers has been mentioned. I think he’s more naive than stupid. I do like Coach from Cheers. Monk: Randy Disher got worse during the series. He was better at the beginning. But, I like the other characters better. Newsradio: Matthew (Andy Dick). He was okay, but I do like other characters better. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/70 "2022-03-18T20:08:26Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > While Michael was supposed to be the dumb one, no one else really impressed me in the brains department either. Michael was clueless but Kevin was mistaken for having an intellectual disability. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/71 "2022-03-18T20:10:19Z")
> [@digs](#): > > And you know Bertie is “too stupid to live”, or at least stay out of jail, if it weren’t for the interventions of Jeeves. Like the Admirable Crichton??? ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/72 "2022-03-18T20:45:55Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Michael was clueless but Kevin was mistaken for having an intellectual disability. I forgot about that, that was hilarious acting from both Kevin and Holly. > [@Wheelz](#): > > I still laugh out loud when I watch them. Of course their physical comedy skills were nonpareil, but I also think their verbal banter was often hilarious. Each character was stupid in a different way, making for a solid ensemble dynamic. Even when they had cast changes they didn’t lose a step. I don’t think their type of comedy translated well to movie length productions, but their shorts are still funny today. Probably helps that I only see one every few years so it’s like rediscovering them every time. > [@Author\_Balk](#): > > Monk: Randy Disher got worse during the series. He was better at the beginning. But, I like the other characters better. He did really did get worse towards the end. When it was revealed that he was moving to be with Sharona I said to myself “Of course he would, he needs to bottom out somehow.” As you can tell, I didn’t think too much of Sharona either. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/73 "2022-03-18T20:52:31Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Michael was clueless but Kevin was mistaken for having an intellectual disability. Yeah, Michael was the Peter Principle in action. As shown when he went on calls, he is a dynamite salesman, just in completely over his head as a boss (and completely unaware of it). IIRC correctly, Kevin got progressively stupider as the series went on, which is not uncommon in sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/74 "2022-03-18T21:36:28Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I feel the same with Burt Lancaster. He tried too hard (I wouldn’t call it overacting, but he pushed too much). But toward the end of his career, he learned how to dial it back and added a new dimension. You have to remember that Burt Lancaster started out as a circus acrobat and didn’t start acting until after serving in World War II. When you’re performing in the center ring of a three ring circus everything has to be big if you’re going to be seen at all. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/75 "2022-03-18T22:30:41Z")
> [@mordecaiB](#): > > As you can tell, I didn’t think too much of Sharona either. I didn’t mind her, and I think the series suffered from her absence. Natalie I _hated._ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/76 "2022-03-19T01:06:14Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > I feel the same with Burt Lancaster. He tried too hard (I wouldn’t call it overacting, but he pushed too much). But toward the end of his career, he learned how to dial it back and added a new dimension. > > You have to remember that Burt Lancaster started out as a circus acrobat and didn’t start acting until after serving in World War II. When you’re performing in the center ring of a three ring circus everything has to be big if you’re going to be seen at all. Lots of actors got their start on stage, which requires a broader acting style. I remember Michael O’Hare demonstrating it at a convention. He gave the example of the actor spotting someone walking across the room. On stage, he would turn his head; in film or TV, he would just use his eyes. Lancaster took longer than usual to learn how to tone down and still be effective. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/77 "2022-03-19T15:55:03Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > IIRC correctly, Kevin got progressively stupider as the series went on, which is not uncommon in sitcoms. The chili opener will never not be funny. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYG-5b7448](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYG-5b7448) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/78 "2022-03-19T17:38:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Lots of actors got their start on stage, which requires a broader acting style. I remember Michael O’Hare demonstrating it at a convention. He gave the example of the actor spotting someone walking across the room. On stage, he would turn his head; in film or TV, he would just use his eyes. I know. I do a little background acting, and once the scene was we were at a post funeral reception, and Abigal Spencer and Ron Perlman were having a tense conversation _sotto voce_. The job of the background was to quietly observe the interaction and slowly and inconspicuously drift away, because in the context of the show, Ron, playing Big Graham, was a serious badass. One stage actor couldn’t manage the “quiet observation”. He’d notice Ron, then jump as if a live tiger had been teleported into the room. He was the first background actor I’d seen sent back to holding for overacting. Normally it’s the other way around, background actors are doing nothing. As they say; acting is reacting. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/79 "2022-03-20T04:14:02Z")
There’s one exception to Not Liking Dumb Characters: the bad guys in a stupid kids’ comedy. When my kids were little, they loved movies like that, and we rented the VHS tape of _The Three Ninjas_ dozens of times. It got to be a thing where they’d want me to say “I lovvvve dumb bad guys!”, mostly because of this scene … These three Bargain-Basement Ted Logans are supposed to kidnap three kids, but the first time they try, the FBI shows up, so the “head surfer dude” gives up, by asking “Slurpee?” So that became our catchphrase. I’d be driving the kids, and the cue for any kind of snack was my asking “Slurpee?” _“Radical…”_ “Slurpee?” _“Duuuuude…!”_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C4rDflJd1NA/hqdefault.jpg "Dudes!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4rDflJd1NA) Of course, I cued this up for you (though for maximum gnarlyism, _be kind, rewind_ to the beginning). eta: Naah, after rewatching this, I’ve realized that no one’s going to like this like we used to. Watch a minute or so, then bail… ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908/80 "2022-03-20T14:54:03Z")
I’m rather fond of the idiot in Ruthless People [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PS6lNDrCi88/hqdefault.jpg "Give the bag to bozo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS6lNDrCi88) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-stupid-characters/960908.md?page=5)