Do sitcom characters have to be likeable?

Having just bombed out of the Sitcom Trials I'm looking closely at the feedback. There are a lot of reviewers stating that they don't like the lead character, how much this affects the script overall is a different matter but I want to get to the bottom of why this is so important.

My character Luke is somewhere between Cartman and Jeremy from Peep Show. That's not what I set out to create initially I just wrote then got a feel for where he was going but I have to say that neither are especially likeable or have much in the way of redeeming features yet both feature in massively popular sitcoms.

Now obviously I'm not saying my Sitcom is to their standards, otherwise I wouldn't be crashing out of an amatuer scriptwriting competition but it's proof that a character doesn't have to have saving graces other than making the audience laugh at their monstrosity and eventual commupance.

Thoughts please.

Sympathetic perhaps rather than likeable.

He can be a monster but the audience have to be able to relate to them.

Quote: sean knight @ July 15 2012, 12:15 AM BST

My character Luke is somewhere between Cartman and Jeremy from Peep Show.

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That's where you went wrong. You haven't created a character, you've hashed other people's.

And yes sitcom characters have to be likeable. Watch the New Jack City episode of Father Ted. The character of Father Stack who comes in to replace Father Jack is so obnoxious all the comedy is lost. You just want to kill him and when he doesn't even get his come-uppance the viewer is left hanging and frustrated. Just because Stack is meant to be an arsehole that doesn't mean his character should be unlikeable.

The writers made a similar error in Entertaining Father Stone, where they made the infamously boring Father Stone actually boring. A massive error and surprising from such inventive writers.

Wasn't it resolved when Father Stone smiled at the end? Or at some point, can't remember.

I enjoyed both those episodes...

Quote: Godot Taxis @ July 15 2012, 12:37 AM BST

That's where you went wrong. You haven't created a character, you've hashed other people's.

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I haven't intentionally hashed other peoples characters, the idea came from the silliest little thing that popped into my head and grew from there. I didn't want to give him a soul I wanted him to try and steal everyone elses which is where the conflict comes from. As it developed I noticed the similarities with Cartmans complete lack of humanity and Jeremys twisted moral code.

My struggle is compromising and giving him any sympathy or humanity other than his need to be a micro-celebrity again and failing at every turn.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that he's unrelatable to the audience. I need to do some major re-writing or kill the bastard and move on.

I think the lead should have some charm or something about them so we care what happens to them, we aren't just repulsed, and so we can root for them sometimes. I like Larry David in Curb because he's highly principled (in his own way), George Costanza because he's so painfully aware of his shortcomings, and Alan Partridge because he's so pitifully unaware of his

I don't know South Park very well, but I'd say that Jeremy in Peep Show is quite deluded & sometimes very insecure, so he has our pity, and at times he does at least try to be a good friend.

It may well be possible to make a lead who is just plain awful, but I expect it would be difficult to pull off., if nothing else the character would be at risk of seeming simplistic/2 dimensional.

Quote: Tursiops @ July 15 2012, 12:39 AM BST

I enjoyed both those episodes...

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Yup.

It is tricky, but really you have to show some chinks, some humanity, some weakness in the armour if this is your lead character. It's okay if they're one of an ensemble, or a side character, but if it's the lead, they cannot be just wall to wall horrible. Even in Eastbound And Down, with one of the biggest dicks in sitcom history in the lead in Kenny Powers, right from the first episode you see the weakness and fear beneath the stupidity, bullshit and bluster.

Can't say I found Basil Fawlty 'likeable'.

The obscure American sitcom 'Delocated' has one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever seen yet manages to be the funniest thing in years.

I don't know.

Quote: Jinky @ July 15 2012, 11:38 AM BST

Can't say I found Basil Fawlty 'likeable'.

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But he's deeply flawed and we can see that, even if he can't. He get's into trouble and makes a fool out of himself; even if it's his own fault, this makes us as an audience sympathise. The original poster mentions Cartman as a character he drew on for his main character; well Cartman is pure evil, not a fool, there's nothing to hang on to in that way. Yes he's very funny, but he's just one part of a cartoon ensemble, and so you can get away with it.

I think you have to have some kind sympathy for the character even is he isn't likeable. Enough to spend half an hour in their company at least.

Quote: Jinky @ July 15 2012, 11:38 AM BST

The obscure American sitcom 'Delocated' has one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever seen yet manages to be the funniest thing in years.

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That's Adult Swim, you can play by different rules in there!

I love Cartman. I think he's probably everyone's favourite character. Even though he is by far the most immoral/evil.

Quote: zooo @ July 15 2012, 2:14 PM BST

I love Cartman. I think he's probably everyone's favourite character. Even though he is by far the most immoral/evil.

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Yep.