After realizing my favorite “antihero” for the Favorite Anti-Hero thread wasn’t an anti-hero, but a hapless loser, I thought I’d start a new thread.
My favorite hapless loser is Toby Flenderson from The Office. Michael Scott always disliked him and had it in for him, for no obvious reason other than to have someone lower than himself on the totem pole to pick on. Toby never seemed to have done anything to deserve his rank, but seemed resigned to accept it nonetheless. And eventually even embraced it.
He ran for president 9 times. I voted for him many times, too bad he wasn’t on any ballot I had in those years. I am surprised to learn he was alive until 2001 and last ran for president in 1992.
I would say Hans Beckert, Peter Lorre’s character in M. He’s a serial killer of children, despised by not only society, but also the criminal underground for making them look bad. They eventually staged an intervention by luring him into an abandoned distillery and putting him on trial. There’s a scene where all the criminals balefully stare at him as the camera slowly spins to the right, showing the many scowling faces united in their disdain.
When even the criminal underground can’t stand you, you really are a loser.
How about ol’ Gil Gunderson from the Simpsons? Based on Jack Lemmon’s character Shelley Levene in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross. I suppose I could go with Levene himself, but I guess I prefer my hapless losers at a level or two of ironic remove.
Can an entire non-fictional NFL team be nominated? If so, I submit the 1991-1994 Buffalo Bills. A record 4 consecutive Superbowl appearances and all losses. The NFC was Lucy Van Pelt
Jane Hathaway from The Beverly Hillbillies. She’s constantly having to do damage control for her boss Mr. Drysdale, who can’t see past his own avarice and constantly blames her for his screwups. She’s also the only one willing to guide the Clampettes through their constant culture clashes, but is hardly rewarded for her generosity. She flirts with Jethro, but he’s oblivious to her charms. She stays an old maid throughout the series.
I think Gil Gunderson is one of the worst blights the Simpsons have faced, especially since he has been used in what seems like untold dozens of episodes.
