24 Most Hilarious TV Characters of 2018
24 Most Hilarious TV Characters of 2018 (continued):
17. Frankie Bergstein — Grace and Frankie
Portrayed by Lily Tomlin, Frankie Bergstein from the Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie is as funny as they come, in large part because she’s not afraid to be herself and she’s not willing to put up with anyone else’s crap.
Her eccentric nature, her witty sarcasm, and her free-spirited personality are just a few reasons to adore this character.
18. Bow Johnson — black-ish
The matriarch on black-ish, Bow Johnson, is an everyman character with a twist. She manages to have it all while making none of it look easy, and that’s why we love her. Her struggles are so relatable, but her perspective is always a bit off from what is expected, and that brings in the peals of laughter.
One of the best things about Bow is her inability to be dishonest for long. Whether about her apathy towards her younger kids, or her difficulty going back to work, Bow’s truth will find a way to make a splash.
We’re so glad to have this fierce and funny woman on our screens and on our list of best funny characters of 2018.
19. June — Forever
Maya Rudolph brings her charming humor to her character, June, on Amazon’s Forever, a comedy about a couple whose lives change dramatically (and that’s an understatement) when they try to break from their regular routine.
Even in the moments that aren’t so funny, June’s honesty and frankness make her as endearing as she is hilarious. She’s an absolute joy to watch on this unique, and at times, darkly funny comedy.
20. Sheila the She-Wolf — GLOW
GLOW features a cast chop full of fiercely funny women. Each wrestler packs a punch with her physical comedy and over the top characterization.
But Sheila the She-Wolf stands out because her act is not an act. Her love for her character and for Ruth is so deep and so true that it bleeds into every scene with a howling hilarity.
Sheila finds a deeper connection to her craft and the other gorgeous ladies on GLOW Season 2 and we hope to see even more of her character on GLOW Season 3!
21. Amy Santiago — Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Amy Santiago is the third character from the Nine-Nine to make our list, which shows that Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like The Good Place, is so full of amazing characters that the entire ensemble could make the list.
On the second half of Season 5, Amy made her toit nups dream come true. The people and place she loves so dearly showed up for her and taught her how to let go while never giving up. Melissa Fumero did her own stunt work as Amy Santiago chased down a perp and flew over a car in a wedding dress. That is showing up for the job!
Amy Santiago doesn’t know how to do anything half-way, including loving her team. Amy got promoted and advanced in her career this season, which is always funny to see because of how nervous and nerdy Amy gets. We also saw her take out her fear on an unassuming toilet when she was waiting to hear about Rosa’s safety.
It is all that heart mixed with all that Type A that makes us chuckle and grin while watching Amy Santiago kick butt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
22. Kelli — Insecure
Kelli is so unapologetically herself and it brings an infectious joy to her character on Insecure. She is one of the quickest wits on the show and has hands down the best one-liners. She is blunt but never malicious and she can out quip anyone. She’s the character we all wish we had the confidence to be.
23. Angie D’Amato — Single Parents
Leighton Meester plays Angie on Single Parents as a sleeper straight-(wo)man character. Her weirdness seems to be minimal compared to the other more colorful characters on the show. That initial vanilla, though, is revealed as the season goes on to be much more flavorful.
Due to Meester’s performance, Angie is really very funny. The character’s comedic timing, realistically awkward body language and chemistry with every other character on the show, make her stand out as the most humorous of the bunch.
The situations Angie goes through with her child and the group of ragtag single parents are so normatively strange that it quite perfectly captures the absurdity of parenting in 2018.
24. Hormone Monstress — Big Mouth
Going through puberty is a rip-roaring riot, once you’ve made it out on the other side. While in it, though, it is a real monster.
Maya Rudolph as the Hormone Monstress on Big Mouth taps into the raw anguish and hilarity of becoming a woman.
On a show that has focused much of pubescent boys masturbating and growing pubic hair, the Hormone Monstress brings a balancing perspective that allows us to see the similarities between what boys and girls face during this terrible time.
The storytelling in this area has so commonly featured only the boys’ experiences. It is refreshing, important, and fall-down funny to also get into the bloody details of the girls’ experiences as well.
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What TV characters made you laugh this year? Join the conversation in the comments below!
*Additional contributions by Sarah Fields, Mary Misasi, Ashley Bissette Sumerel, and Erin Allen.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.