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TV Character

Butters Stotch

Leopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a third- then fourth-grade student at the fictional South Park Elementary School. Butters is depicted as more cheerful, naive, optimistic, gullible, and passive compared to the show's other child characters and can become increasingly anxious, especially when faced with the likelihood of being punished, which is usually just being grounded, to which he is extremely terrified of. As a result, he is often sheltered and unknowledgeable of some of the suggestive content his peers understand. His name is a play on the confection butterscotch.
Butters debuted as an unnamed background character when South Park first aired on August 13, 1997; his role gradually increased, becoming one of the series' most recurring characters beginning with Season 3. Creators Parker and Stone have stated that he is one of their favorite characters.

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

Fictional Characters

Throughout the annals of TV history, cartoon stars have shone&nbsp;brightly, bringing joy to children and adults&nbsp;alike.&nbsp;With so many classics out there,&nbsp;from Looney Tunes to&nbsp;Hanna-Barbera&nbsp;to the likes of The Simpsons, South Park, Spongebob, and even He-Man, it seems impossible to create a definitive list of the&nbsp;greatest&nbsp;cartoon&nbsp;characters&nbsp;on TV. Yet it must be done. We owe it to these animated characters to compile them, vote, rerank, debate, and scream at our screens in agony at&nbsp;the tyranny of democracy. Have your say and support your favorite cartoon TV character by voting them up. Whether they be old cartoon characters or simply the most popular and famous, you&#39;ll find all the biggest names from classics below. And remember, just because a character is on a great show doesn&#39;t mean that character, alone, is one of the greatest of all time.

Scooby Doo

The Greatest Cartoon Characters in TV History

Fictional Character

The 100+ Best Cartoon Characters in Television History

Greg Hahn

After spending so very many hours watching a TV show, we form strong attachments - and revulsions - to certain characters. Let's rank 'em.

TV Characters We Love & Hate

Look, you watch enough of a show, you get to know the characters. Maybe you even care about them. Maybe you even love them. Or hate them. Or want to read tons of lists about them.

The People in Your TV

Entertainment

Who are the funniest current TV characters on air right this very moment? This is your chance to vote up the small screen characters you truly believe are the funniest on the tube in 2019-2020. Sitcom superstars like Sofia Vergara on Modern Family and Rachel Brosnahan&nbsp;on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel&nbsp;are represented by their respective characters, the hilarious Gloria Delgado-Pritchett and Midge. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-animated-series/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Current cartoon characters</a> like Eric Cartman from South Park and Pam Poovey from Archer are also included. In fact, other animated series have given us some of the funniest characters on television right now. For instance, Bob&#39;s Burgers brought audiences Louise Belcher, while Family Guy introduced the world to Stewie Griffin.

Funny characters <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-shows-currently-on-the-air?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">currently on TV</a> span from comedic network TV characters like Detective Jake Peralta (played by comedian Andy Samberg) on FOX&#39;s Brooklyn Nine-Ninge&nbsp;to <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-very-best-of-premium-cable-original-programming?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">premium cable</a> dramas characters like Jensen Ackles&#39;s Dean Winchester on The CW&#39;s Supernatural.

Which of these current TV show characters in 2020 do you think are the funniest and most laugh out loud hilarious? Cast your votes below and be sure to add any other funny television characters, provided they are on a current show (network or streaming).

Phil Dunphy

The Funniest Characters Currently on TV

The 50+ Funniest Characters Currently on TV

Ranker TV

poll

List of TV's most memorable characters, of all time, chosen by the Ranker community. What makes a character live on in the public's memory, even years after the original run of their respective TV programs? In some cases, it's the amount of depth that the show's writers, actors and other creators were able to bring to the character over the course of many years. For many of the greatest TV characters of all time, audiences feel like they get to know personalities like Dexter Morgan from &quot;Dexter.&quot; Even after the show leaves the air, they may not want that relationship to end. (Thankfully, they don't have to, as many shows live on for years after their cancellation on DVD and in syndication.) The best TV characters are ones that you feel like you know and that you'd want to be friends with.TV has brought many famous characters to life who have been extremely compelling, even if they are not entirely likeable. Viewers may not wish to know dangerous, shadowy figures like Tony Soprano, Vernon Schillinger, and Omar Little in reality, but following their exploits safely from the comfort of your living room can be appealing. Likewise, people who might be aloof or downright unpleasant in real life - think &quot;Mad Men's&quot; Don Draper or Al Swearengen of &quot;Deadwood&quot; - can prove charming, even admirable, when seen at a distance, with the subtext and intricacy that a top long-running TV show can provide.Who is the greatest TV character ever? This list contains the names of the greatest, most fascinating, and most enduring fictional characters from TV of all time. Be sure to vote for your favorites, and if some of your favorite popular characters aren't represented, go ahead and re-rank the list to contribute to the discussion.

Jerry Seinfeld

The Greatest TV Characters of All Time

Favorite TV Characters | List of Television's Greatest Characters

Ranker Community

Best TV

These are the funniest television characters ever created, as determined by the votes and selections of Ranker users. Lots of things make up truly iconic, timelessly funny characters... the actor, the writing, the supporting cast... but in the end, it's just the character that makes you laugh yourself weak.What are the funniest characters on TV? These are the characters that still make you roll on the floor no matter if you are watching new episodes or reruns from 20 years ago. A lot of the funniest TV characters of all time, like Homer Simpson and Stewie Griffin, tend to be cartoons but there are lots of funny characters that are real-life people too. Vote for your funniest picks and add any characters you see missing. If you want to really impact this list's order, make your own ranking and add it!

Cosmo Kramer

The Funniest TV Characters of All Time

Funniest TV Characters of All Time | List of Funny Television Roles

When a long-running and/or popular&nbsp;TV show adds a new character to the ensemble, some TV snobs might scoff. It&#39;s considered a sign that a show has lost the spark that made it special. Adding a new face is a&nbsp;desperate attempt to inject new creative energy into the series, these critics assume. And yes, TV history is full of late additions that did derail the show. (Looking at you, <a href="https://www.theloop.ca/the-highs-and-lows-of-cousin-oliver-syndrome-tvs-most-shameless-ploy-for-ratings/" target="_blank">Cousin Oliver</a>.) (Also looking at you, <a href="https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Poochie" target="_blank">Poochie</a>.)&nbsp;

But sometimes, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-tv-characters-who-werent-in-the-first-season/randy-miller" target="_blank">a new character can actually save the show</a>. There are also plenty of examples of late-to-the-party additions that became just as beloved as the core cast, and sometimes even more popular. Here are 12 times a TV series leveled up with the addition of one character. Remember to vote up your favorites.

12 Times A TV Series Leveled Up With The Addition Of One Character

Times TV Shows Leveled Up By Adding One Character

Jim Rowley

The world of entertainment is fickle. Sometimes we see <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/tv-characters-killed-because-writers-didnt-like-actors/jonathan-sherman">television stars who were&nbsp;killed off their own shows</a>, while other times we see one-off TV characters promoted to series regulars. Many would be surprised to find out that their favorite television characters of all time started out as a guest actor intended for one episode. But many of those singular&nbsp;appearances have led to long-running characters that became institutions unto themselves.These small stints becoming massive series arcs&nbsp;all come down to the charisma of the actors playing the characters. Can you imagine Dr. Frasier Crane without Kelsey Grammer portraying him? That character was only&nbsp;meant to be in&nbsp;a handful of episodes, but he eventually became a television institution. There are several shows that have promoted&nbsp;guest stars to series regulars, including South Park,<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-the-office-u-s-characters"> The Office</a>, and Happy Days.

Chiana

What Would Buffy Be Without Spike?

14 Fan-Favorite TV Characters Who Were Never Supposed To Have Major Roles

TV Characters Who Were Only Meant To Be In A Few Episodes

Aaron Edwards

The 1990s brought a wave of amazing, unforgettable programming designed specifically for kids. Let's rank 'em.

'90s TV for Kids

Animated Characters

The 1990s was a time when all types of cartoons were introduced to the general public and thrived within the the realm of pop culture. 90s cartoon characters are some of the most beloved of all time and certainly some of the most iconic. Characters range from more mature characters like Homer Simpson to Beavis and Butthead to classic children's cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue, Rocko, and Doug Funnie.During the '90s, mature cartoons started to become popular with many teens and young adults. Mike Judge was at the forefront of this movement creating the aforementioned Beavis and Butthead TV show along with King of the Hill, whose main character Hank Hill can be seen on this list. These famous cartoons are the forefathers to characters like Peter Griffin, Stan Smith and the rest of the Seth MacFarlane universe. The same goes for the Nickelodeon cartoons of the same time period.Anyone can contribute to this list of who the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-cartoon-characters-on-tv/greg-hahn?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best cartoon characters</a> of the '90s is, which makes this ranking an accurate, real-time reflection of the crowd's collective opinion.If you have a favorite–boy or girl, blue, green, black, or yellow– that is not on the list, be sure to add it. It can be disputed that the '90s was the best time for edgy cartoon characters and this Ultimate List sets out to settle the dispute over who was the best character of that time. Rank your favorites or add whoever you see missing.

Tommy Pickles

The Best Cartoon Characters of the 90s

Best Cartoon Characters of the 90s | List of Top 1990s Cartoons

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When a television show first starts, the writers of the program already have the star in mind. They write for the characters they think the audience will relate to and like the most and design the show around those characters. However, once the show hits the airwaves, the viewers don&rsquo;t always agree. Sometimes the true star of the show is the unlikeliest candidate. The breakout character is usually a character who was introduced as part of the supporting cast, but for one reason or another became a fan favorite. This list of the greatest breakout characters in TV history includes characters from both comedies and dramas and has been ranked by the community.

The breakout character on a TV show usually becomes the most discussed and most loved part of the show. He or she has the funniest lines, the best stories, and is portrayed by the favorite actor. After a positive audience reaction, these breakout characters suddenly start to get more screen time and story lines. Characters like <a href="https://groovyhistory.com/aaay-fonzie-happy-days-stories" target="_blank">Fonzie</a> and Ben Linus were never meant to be huge parts of their shows, but after their introduction, it was inevitable that they&rsquo;d become pivotal to the show&rsquo;s success. Some breakout characters, like Frasier Crane, even go on to star in their own series.

&nbsp;

Who are the greatest breakout characters on TV? Vote up the best breakout television characters below or add the best breakout star if he or she isn&#39;t already on the list.

Fonzie

The Greatest Breakout Characters in TV History

Greatest Breakout Characters in TV History | List of Breakout TV Characters

List of the funniest kid characters in TV history. This page lists the greatest child characters on the greatest TV shows ever. These kids, ranked here, kept us laughing for entire episodes and entire seasons. Some on the list had their own television series entirely devoted to them. Example? A young doctor by the name of Doogie Howser. Or Mister Beaver Cleaver, who brought colorful comedy to the black-and-white era. So who are the best child characters on TV? Try Stewie Griffin from &quot;Family Guy&quot; even though he is not a live action human being -- and has a head shaped like Arnold's from &quot;Hey Arnold!&quot; In fact, Helga Pataki made our list -- and feel free to add any other characters from that hilarious child ensemble. Sometimes these characters annoy us to death, but, like Louis Stevens from &quot;Even Stevens,&quot; they are most comedic when they are annoying their own TV families to death.

Rudy Huxtable

The Funniest Kid Characters in TV History

Funniest Kid TV Characters | List of Funny Children on Television

We&rsquo;re ranking the best yellow characters of all time. From Spongebob to Johnny Bravo, Pikachu&nbsp;and Tweety Bird, this list also includes fan-favorites like Sailor Moon, Naruto Uzumaki, and more.

As the lightest hue on the color spectrum, yellow is often associated with warmth and happiness. It&rsquo;s no surprise so many cool characters wear yellow.

Who&rsquo;s your favorite yellow character? Vote up the best yellow characters, and vote down the ones you don&rsquo;t like.

The Best Yellow Characters

The 30+ Best Yellow Characters In Movies & TV, Ranked By Fans

Ranker Entertainment

The greatest only children in TV history have many talents, little competition for their parents’ affections, and – unless they are the title character of their respective shows – a lot of free time. Some only children bear great responsibilities, bestowed on them either by their parents (Veronica Mars) or a teenage serial-killer ghost (Violet Harmon, American Horror Story). Other great only children characters are short, towheaded maniacs who like to terrorize elderly neighbors (Dennis the Menace).Only children on TV have the best of two worlds: They don’t have to share screen time with annoying siblings; plus, they usually get a pet. (Though, sadly, that pet will probably die to teach the only child about death.) TV moms and dads love to lecture only children about how the world works (Opie Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show), but turnabout is fair play, so sometimes only children get to deliver the lectures (Alexis Castle, Castle). Life can be confusing for an only child, especially when he or she is adopted into a nontraditional family (Punky Brewster; Webster), is reunited with an estranged parent (Henry Mills, Once Upon a Time), has magical powers (Tabitha Stevens, Bewitched), or has a sexual deviant as a parent (Eric Cartman, South Park). Luckily, only children are usually of above-average intelligence, or might even be child prodigies (Doogie Howser, M.D).The storylines for the best only children in TV history are as varied as the shows in which they star. Yet, they are all beloved, thanks to syndication, from one generation to the next.

The Greatest Only Children in TV History

Greatest Only Children in TV | Best Single Child Characters

Some of the best TV shows - the ones that eventually soar to critical acclaim and garner millions of die-hard fans - don't always hit the ground running. It can be pretty hard to find your footing that first year. In fact, there are a lot of TV characters added after Season 1 that went on to become integral to their shows.One of the most tried and true methods that showrunners use to stabilize a shaky first season is introducing new characters. A new character can energize a lagging plot line, or even lead to a new plot line entirely, taking the show in directions that may not have been originally intended.Not all new characters work. Many are summarily dismissed. But some of these new characters feel so enmeshed in the fabric of the show, it's hard to believe that there was a time when they weren't a part of it at all.This is a list of the greatest <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-tv-characters/matthewcoleweiss?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">television characters</a> who weren't in the first season. Vote up the series regulars who became most integral to their series. And if you don't like the order this list is in, feel free to rerank it. In fact, it's highly encouraged. Make your voice heard for the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/best-tv-characters?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">best TV characters</a> who weren't in Season 1.

Woody Boyd

The Greatest TV Characters Who Weren't in Season 1

Randy Miller

Featuring the funniest pop cultural references, Cartman's most diabolical schemes, the most controversial episodes, and more! 

Goin' Down to South Park

Animated TV Series

With so many funny South Park characters, it&#39;s tough to say who the greatest really is without everybody weighing in on the discussion. Vote for your favorite South Park characters and help make this list the ultimate resource for longtime fans and newcomers alike. The list of South Park characters draws from the array of personalities who have appeared on various seasons of the show, along with the names of the actors who played them.&nbsp;

Among high-ranking names on the list are characters&nbsp;like Eric Cartman and Butters Stotch, as well as fan-favorites like Towelie,&nbsp;&nbsp;Randy, and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-goth-kids-episodes-south-park/mike-bedard?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the Goth Kids</a>. That said, one of the more popular up-and-coming&nbsp;South Park characters is PC Principal, a frat boy-ish white man with a love for social justice and PC culture. You can click each image for a larger picture, and in some cases you can click the character&#39;s name for a more detailed description. If you&#39;re looking to laugh at similar characters, check out other <a href="/list/what-to-watch-if-you-love-south-park/watchworthy" target="_blank">shows like&nbsp;South Park</a>.

Wondering who all the funniest South Park? Scroll down to see&nbsp;all the top&nbsp;South Park characters readers have voted up, and if your favorite character is&nbsp;missing, add them below.

Stan Marsh

The All-Time Best 'South Park' Characters, Ranked

The 50+ Best 'South Park' Characters of All Time

Looking closer at movies, TV shows, and even characters based on and "inspired by" reality.

Based on a True Story

TV characters based on real people are as popular as ever. What better source to draw upon than real life?&nbsp;After all, real life is stranger than fiction. People who inspired&nbsp;TV characters can be horrifying while some can be inspirational.&nbsp;Some, like Lady Gaga's character on American Horror Story: Hotel are based off one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-serial-killers/tool100?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most notorious serial killers</a> in history.&nbsp;Others, like Moe from The Simpsons, are based off famous athletes who retired from the sport but kept their feisty spirit alive. They are politicians, mob bosses and even an eccentric next door neighbor. What all of these people have in common is their mark as inspirations for some of the most memorable characters on television.&nbsp;Let's check out some fictional characters based on real people and see if you guessed they were real all along.

29 Popular TV Characters Who Were Based on Real People

Lisa Waugh

Who do you think you are? Let these fictional characters who match up with your zodiac sign teach you a little more about the real *you.*

Star-Cross'd

Spellbook

Fans of both astrology and offensive humor, rejoice! With a South Park character based on your zodiac sign, you'll be instantly paired with your inner 4th grader. Even though the show the writers of South Park,&nbsp;Matt Stone and Trey Parker, created revolves around a bunch of kids, that&nbsp;doesn't stop them from being dirty, vile, and downright insulting. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-controversial-south-park-episodes/daniel-kohn" target="_blank">South Park's controversial </a><a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-controversial-south-park-episodes/daniel-kohn" target="_blank">jokes</a>&nbsp;take&nbsp;satire to the next level&nbsp;and have helped the show make animated history.Even though nobody probably wants to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/south-park-lookalikes/nathandavidson" target="_blank">be like&nbsp;the degenerate people&nbsp;of South Park</a>, CO, there's a little bit of Cartman's&nbsp;jerkyness&nbsp;or Jimmy's witty humor in everyone. Being a terrible person isn't all bad, though. Sometimes, the awful ideas and unpopular opinions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/times-south-park-made-a-good-point/zack-howe" target="_blank">South Park characters share actually make a good point</a>. Join the atrocious misadventures of South Park on a celestial level by letting the zodiac pair you with your own personal, abominable, spiritual, cartoon companion.

Which South Park Character Are You According To Your Zodiac Sign

Which South Park Character Are You According To Your Zodiac Sign?

Crystal Brackett

General

The Best Comics Lists - Find or Make a Fictional Characters List  | Ranker  | Ranker - A World of Lists

Top 10 TV Lists: Television Lists and Rankings of Every Facet of Television

If you're a fan of South Park, you already know that some of the best episodes feature the loveable Butters Stotch. For this list we're ranking all the Butters episodes of South Park, and we want you to vote for your favorites. Starting as a background character, Butters had his first speaking role in the episode&nbsp;&quot;Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub&quot; from season 3, and even starred in his own episode at the end of season 5 that would cement him as an important regular character. Many of these episodes involve Butters and Cartman getting together for some kind of scheme or adventure, usually ending with Cartman tricking Butters and taking advantage of him.Vote for the best episodes of South Park starring Butters, and downvote any episodes you didn't enjoy.&nbsp;

AWESOM-O

Ranking Every Butters Episode of South Park, Best to Worst

TV Episode

The 18+ Best Episodes of South Park Starring Butters

Anime Chris

TV Quotes

Let&#39;s take a look at the&nbsp;best Butters Stotch&nbsp;quotes of all time. Butters is different from the other kids of South Park. Not only&nbsp;is he preciously&nbsp;innocent, he believes anything you tell him. Butters seems to be afraid to try anything the other kids suggest&nbsp;because it may result in his biggest fear:&nbsp;being grounded by his parents.&nbsp;

The first line almost everyone can remember is Butters&#39; classic catchphrase, &quot;Oh Hamburgers!&quot; Butters gets his hands on Wendys new breasts and doesn&#39;t seem to be a big fan, &quot;Eew! They&#39;re all hard and oogy!&quot; Sometimes&nbsp;Butters can show a different side of&nbsp;himself, like when he becomes the pimp of the school playground,&nbsp; &quot;You were made for the playground, b*tch&quot;.

Help us rank the funniest Butters quotes from South Park by voting up your favorites on the list!

Butters Stotch

Lists about Butters Stotch

Butters Stotch is listed on