God, I love this show, but hate the lead character/actor!!!!!

[ChitHappens]

 

Agreed, but by the time I warmed up to Meredith/Ellen, I already hated the show.  Tuned out.  Still scratching my head how EP got the gig and now the highest paid woman on a scripted show, but eh..  She seems nice enough. 

[I Am A Swede]

 

I would have agreed with this, but the thread title says that we should have loved the show, and I didn't love SATC. I watched it, but never really loved it, and Carrie was a major reason for that.

 

 

This however I absolutely agree with. I loved ER, but I really, really, really hated Abby. In fact there were quite a lot of characters during ER's final years that I disliked. The show went from must-see-tv to I-think-I'll-skip-it-tv...

 

[Soaplovers]

Dawson on Dawson's Creek.  No more needs to be said on that one

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Carrie on Sex and the City... she was why restraining orders were invented.

[mango]

Grace on Grace Under Fire. Not sure if it's because of the character or Brett Butler.

 

The rest of the cast was great, especially Dave Thomas.

[Faulkner]

It’s funny that the characters we’ve selected are overwhelmingly female. I’m guessing that’s simply because most posters here are primarily drawn to shows with a female focus (not surprising on a board devoted to soaps). But it’s... interesting. I’m certainly not exempt from that observation.

[SoapDope]

Bonnie Franklin on One Day At A Time drove me up the wall.

[DRW50]

 

True. I think it is likely down to me watching more female-led shows. It's difficult to think of others - probably the biggest is Parks and Rec, which I had to quit about halfway through because I was so damn tired of Jean-Ralphio and Tom sucking up so much oxygen (well that and for a comedy, the show had become about as funny as a sock full of marbles).

[ReddFoxx]

Jaleel White on Family Matters. When Urkel was part of the ensemble the show was okay, but when he was essentially made the lead it became terrible and his acting was so over the top idiotic.

[Khan]

 

She was no picnic BTS either.

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Same.  In trying to come up with examples to add to this topic, I was amazed by how many female-led series I've watched over the years.  But, OTOH, it shouldn't be TOO surprising since, after all, the female demographics tend to be the ones advertisers and networks covet most.

 

 

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS.  

[Juliajms]

I wonder if it's possibly down to writing in some cases.  I remember how much hate Skylar from Breaking Bad and Rita from Dexter got.  In those cases I could never figure out if the issue was the writing or the audience, but it was bizarre to see people hate the wives of these characters who were liars and killers because they were obstacles to the lying and killing.

[Huntress]

 

Same here. I only started liking Meredith in season 9, but ironically, that was also the season I quit watching.

 

Some male examples:

Nate Fisher on Six Feet Under

Bill Compton on True Blood

Jon Snow on Game of Thrones

[StepBack]

 

You're right. In that case, I'd like to add Will Gardener on TGW. The show suffered when he died, but that was mainly due to the writing and backstage antics taking a hit.

 

Michael C. Hall on Dexter became insufferable towards the later seasons.

 

Will on The Fresh Prince of Belair. He always worked best with the strength of the secondary characters. 

[ChitHappens]

 

I have always hated this character and felt they killed off the wrong brother.  I would much rather have the handsome charismatic Rob Stark.  I just recently picked GOT back up and I dread seeing this character because he was always a waste of space.  Cut Harrington's hair and you have Orlando Bloom.  Mediocrity at its finest!  

[Faulkner]

Oh Nate Fisher is a great one. 

 

Actually, McNulty on The Wire as well. That was an ensemble show so his presence wasn’t as noticeable, but man did the show drag when he was featured. I was just not interested in his depression and womanizing.

 

Masters on Masters of Sex, at least initially before the show became unwatchable. I was much more intrigued by Virginia and Libby.

 

[Soaplovers]

McDreamy on Grey's.... I didn't see the attraction to be honest.. Addison was too good for him, and Meredith had such self esteem issues thanks to her mother that she didn't recognize that there was better out there for her.