20 Best Characters from TV Comedies in 2022

2022 has been a massive year for TV comedies, from Mythic Quest and Hacks to Abbott Elementary. Viewers have relished the escape that these laughs provide. Everyone has needed this welcome relief from reality more than ever.

At their best, these characters can deliver feelings for every laugh. Some are delightfully naive. Others bring an intense amount of chaos that makes them magnetic. 

In no particular order, here are 20 of the best characters from TV comedies in 2022.

1. Poppy Li (Mythic Quest)

It’s hard to overstate just how chaotic of a boss Poppy has become in Apple TV’s flagship workplace comedy, Mythic Quest. We’ve watched her come from wanting to create her simple shovel, to fully realizing her own potential and branching out to bigger and better things. 

She may still be figuring out the best way to become a leader. As they say, if you support women’s rights, you also need to support women’s wrongs. 

The strength of her character, especially in this season, is that she is coming full circle on a journey to recognize that she doesn’t need anyone’s approval, not even that of her closest friend. Anyone who has struggled with finding validation within will surely find Poppy’s journey relatable.

2. Alberta Haynes (Ghosts)

With an incredible ensemble cast, pretty much any character from Ghosts, living or dead, could have made this list. Danielle Pinnock, however, has been a standout this year in her role as the Prohibition-era, jazz singing superstar that is Alberta Haynes.

Alberta has always been the heart and soul of this spooky crew. She has established herself as someone who is not only incredibly talented, and who is finally being recognized for the boss she is. 

Getting to see more of Alberta’s backstory only makes us appreciate this character more. She’s a woman of many layers, and she deserves all the chances to shine her brightest. One can only hope that she will lead many more jazz-themed shenanigans to come. 

3. Madisynne (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law)

In Marvel’s flagship legal comedy, Madisynne is an absolute stand-out. While we will always defend titular Jennifer Walters, Patty Guggenheim‘s delightfully unhinged character really pulled She-Hulk: Attorney at Law together.

She’s only in the series for a short amount of time, and yet she makes a massive impact.

From her chemistry with Wong, to her ability to fangirl with the best of us, she’s a character worth cheering for. It doesn’t hurt that she very obviously could defeat Thanos.

4. Melissa Schemmenti (Abbott Elementary)

At the end of Abbott Elementary Season 1, the audience knew exactly who Melissa Schemmenti was: a hardcore woman with a tough exterior but a very caring and loving interior. Time and time again, she proved she was always willing to go the extra mile or use one of her guys for her students and her fellow teachers. 

It is her South Philly attitude that makes us as viewers love her so much and at this point, there is nothing she could do that will surprise us. With Melissa, you learn to expect the unexpected because she will always think outside the box.

In Season 2, we get to see a more personal side of her that only pushes us to care about her more. Getting to see her in her house also allowed for Chessy fans to get that moment of reminiscing as she was seen wearing a similar outfit. 

It also helps that Lisa Ann Walter cares deeply about this character and has taken steps in the right direction to keep the accent and the attitude on point every episode.

5. Lenny Bruce (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was always going to have a challenging time balancing fictional stories with a real person whose life ended in a heartbreaking tragedy. The audience has gotten to know the character of Lenny Bruce in a deeply personal way, which makes the inevitable all the more painful. 

In the latest season, Lenny is given the chance to shine a spotlight on Midge and issue a call to action that functions as a wake-up call for the series’ protagonist.

The series is setting up Lenny’s legacy to be an inspiring one. For all of the character’s flaws, he wants only the best for Midge. His inspiration may propel her to new heights. She is so incredibly fortunate to have a force like Lenny Bruce in her corner.

6. Carson Shaw (A League of Their Own)

A League of Their Own is another incredible ensemble show that features any number of characters that could be celebrated on their own. The show, however, is a meditation on Carson Shaw coming into her own and living her most authentic life.

Carson’s naivety is funny, but it’s never played as insulting to the character. Rather, it allows the audience to appreciate this character on a deeper level as she grows in real time. 

Carson is allowed to explore her sexuality, friendship, and her own capacity for love. Seeing her become the leader, friend, and lover she was always meant to be is such an endearing journey to watch unfold. 

7. Shorsey Shore (Shorsey)

For Letterkenny fans, the series off-shoot Shoresy provides the same small-town vibe. There’s a unique rural Canadian flavor that is so heartwarming for anyone privileged enough to grow up in this world. 

The laughs Shorsey illicits are non-stop, but the show never portrays him as a caricature. Instead, he’s shown to be a man with a simple exterior, but an unexpectedly complex interior. He is an example of living one’s best, authentic self.

Shorsey could so easily be the worst example of rural Canadian culture. It‘s the right choice to show him with all of his glaring flaws and still commanding respect and love from those around him. In every way, he is someone who can be looked up to and depended upon.

8. Craig Foster (Killing It)

Craig Robinson is a comedy legend, and it’s a joy to see him return to the small screen. If you loved him as the lovable carjacking rascal of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, you may just appreciate him in Killing It as, well, Craig.

He‘s an underdog who’s easy to love. This character is also a poignant look at the importance of second chances, and letting people reach their full potential at any stage of life. 

What really makes Craig an endearing and relatable character to follow is his commitment to discovering and living the American Dream. His quest may be doomed, but it’s just so delightful to watch him try his best. 

9. Joanna Gold (I Love That For You)

Vanessa Bayer is another whose comedic abilities cannot be denied. In I Love That For You, she’s a childhood cancer survivor who just gets more and more wild as the series continues.

Joanna’s shenanigans never get shamed by the show. She’s allowed to continue being delightfully wild. Each new layer of this character that’s unwrapped is just further proof that she is a woman of complexity.

With any other character, so much of this story would come across as nothing but cringe. In Joanna’s case, however, the audience just wants to keep cheering for her every step of the way. Whether you love her or not, you can’t deny that this character is impossible to look away from. 

10. Úrsula (Los Espookys)

Aside from the spooky hijinks of Los Espookys, Ursula may be one of the most relatable characters on this list. Anyone who has ever had a terrible boss will see themselves reflected in her instantly.

Ursula is a lot more grounded than her fellow members of Los Espookys. She is so often the one that pulls everyone together. The audience has watched her grow into the voice of reason that this group so desperately needs.

Her sisterly energy is just what the doctor ordered to keep everyone on the right track. Her relationship with her sister Tati is incredibly heartwarming and makes the viewer appreciate her all the more.

11. Nikki Newman (Trying)

The entire premise of Trying is a poignant one. Struggling with fertility is still so stigmatized. It’s great to see this sensitive topic being portrayed on TV, and on a comedy no less. 

Esther may not be perfect. The fact that she‘s compellingly human makes her so relatable. Each step in her infertility journey just makes the audience appreciate and sympathize with her more. 

The tragic moments make Esther’s character so much deeper when the comedy comes around. 

12. Mabel Mora (Only Murders in the Building)

Steve Martin and Martin Short have already been recognized for their work in Only Murders in the Building. Mabel as a character deserves at minimum equal recognition for her role in keeping this crew together. 

Her working life as an artist is just fun to watch. Selena Gomez embodies the artists’ struggle to near-perfection.

What makes her character so endearing is that she recognizes what she’s capable of, and never wants to be limited. She knows she’s much more than a true-crime podcast host. She is just waiting for others around her to recognize the same. 

13. Deborah Vance (Hacks)

The Jean Smart renaissance continues, which is something that she undisputedly deserves in spades. Hacks continues to be a venue for her to showcase her incredible talent, including her unmatched comedic timing.

Smart continues to show that comedic talent does not have an expiration date based on age. 

In an industry that idealizes youth, stories of overwhelming talent at any age, especially in women, are important to tell. Jean Smart is the perfect one to tell the story of this hilariously unhinged artist. 

14. Willie Jack (Reservation Dogs)

Reservation Dogs has been hailed as a landmark for representation of Indigenous communities in media. Rather than focusing on the community‘s trauma, each character is allowed to be a complete person. Willie Jack is a stand-out and brings such heart to this story that inspires hope and laughter.

Watching Willie Jack‘s journey throughout this series is heartbreaking at times. Her grief journey is one that’s all too real.

Willie Jack captures so much of what being a teenager is. Everything feels so heavy and it‘s so often hard to see past massive emotions at the moment. However, there is also a boundless optimism that she embodies, that she can have a better life, and that she can be a part of creating a better world. 

15. Jen Harding (Dead to Me)

Christina Applegate is rightfully receiving all of the credit that she is due. Dead to Me is her at the height of her powers as Jen Harding. This character embodies the dark comedy genre that the show plays perfectly.

She is another character who embodies the grief journey in a significant way. It’s validating to watch such a journey that’s not neat and tidy, but rather a long and winding road to come to acceptance.

Watching her descend into disarray as she uncovers each new layer of her husband’s death just makes her easier to cheer for. This also adds deeper dimensions to her relationship with Judy, which is the grounding force of the entire series. 

16. Hannah Korman (Reboot)

In a series filled with dysfunctional characters and relationships, there is no better way to sum up Reboot than Hannah, played by Rachel Bloom. The struggling artist life comes for so many of us. There’s an added layer of chaos when like Hannah, one is tasked with reviving media history that may be best left in the past.

The personal and professional collide in this character, to create even more anarchy and chaos. One can’t help but feel deeply for Hannah, as she is tasked with actually rebooting the series that made her famous. 

This is another character who would be easy to mock and show as pathetic. Instead, the audience is compelled to consider the price of early success, and how previous success does not guarantee a life free of care and worries.  

17. Sarah (Home Economics)

Home Economics captures the very real struggles and joys of modern sibling relationships. No one embodies the plight of a middle child quite like Sarah. Her life and her relationships are so incredibly relatable for anyone who has fallen into their siblings’ shadows.

Although this series is a comedy, it tackles very real issues, in Sarah’s case the experience of living in poverty as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

A lot of Sarah’s arc is incredibly heartbreaking since it’s clear she deserves so much more than what she currently has. Sadly, for so many people, this is how their lives play out. It is sad that the love she is surrounded by will never be able to lift her and her family out of poverty. 

18. Blackbeard (Our Flag Means Death)

While many people in the Our Flag Means Death fandom focus on Stede Bonnet, moody Edward “Blackbeard” Teach deserves a lot of the focus for this comedy series.

His character being so mysterious and broody makes his zingers that much funnier, and his humor and heart have a great way of sneaking up on you and being surprising at just the right times.

This is the perfect character for Taika Waititi to showcase his brilliance.  

19. Darlene Conner (The Conners)

Darlene Conner’s cynical sense of humor just makes everything on The Conners so much more real. Her family may be a bit over the top, but Darlene always manages to keep it real with her one-liners and backhanded compliments. 

Out of the whole Conner clan, Darlene sticks out the most. She’s the one who is always first to help with whatever family trouble that comes their way — usually. The great thing about this year is we got to see Darlene move away from that a bit. She got married to Ben — finally. And with that came a shift in her motivations and responsibilities. 

Darlene is moving away from being singularly defined as a mother, and we love that for her.

20. Shin Ha-ri (Business Proposal)

Business Proposal joins the long line of Korean TV series that have made a massive impact in North America. Shin Ha-ri embodies so much of what makes this series, and Korean TV in general, so much fun to watch.

Kim Se-jeong plays this character brilliantly. Every twist and turn adds such depth to this character, and it’s impossible not to want the best for her. In her wrongs and in her rights, her self-discovery is aspirational. 

—

Who were your top characters from TV comedies this year? Let us know in the comments below!

*Additional contributions by Lara Rosales and Mads Misasi.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

TV We’re Thankful for in 2022: House of the Dragon, Abbott Elementary, A League of Their Own, Ghosts, and More