#10 – Jack Rudolph

Actor: Stephen Weber

Show: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

The Chairman of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’s fictional network NBS, Rudolph is the shameless, cutthroat TV executive who cares about nothing more than ratings and profits, quality be damned. He’s already butted heads with network president Jordan McDeere on numerous occasions, as well as with head writers Matt Albie and Danny Tripp. He also sneers a lot, which can be annoying.

#9 – Chef Gordon

Show: Hell’s Kitchen

Have you seen Hell’s Kitchen? Chef Gordon Ramsay yells at contestants, then yells some more. Feelings are of little concern to Gordon and he has no problem aboslutely belittling anybody in front of a large crowd.

#8 – Wes Bergmann

Show: Real World, The Duel

Oh, Wes, how you annoy me. Some may disagree, but Wes is possibly my least favorite Real Worlder in history. I just…I can’t explain with words the annoyance and frustration Wes has caused me on both his season of Real World and now on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel. Trust me.

#7 – Jack Donaghy

Actor: Alec Baldwin

Show: 30 Rock

The new network executive/microwave entrepreneur of a fictional NBC is the nightmare of all bosses, especially for Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon on 30 Rock. Alec Baldwin plays Jack Donaghy as an egotistical, abrasive, ruthless man who, much to the chagrin of everyone, gets the job done. Add to this that he’s also one of the funniest new characters on TV this season, and Jack is a a spectacular villain.

#6 – Agent Mahone

Actor: William Fichtner

Show: Prison Break

Detective Mahone is going to be despised by fans of Prison Break simply because he is the one leading the manhunt to catch our beloved protagonists. Someone had to do it, and I’m glad Prison Break crafted a character like Mahone. He is quirky, ruthless, and wants to do more than just catch his prey.

#5 – Dr. Will Kirby

Show: Big Brother

Breaking into his second top ten list is Dr. Will Kirby, the bad boy of Big Brother. After lying and conniving his way to victory on Big Brother 2, Will almost replicated his feat by lying and conniving some more on Big Brother 7: All-Stars. He is unafraid to lie to people’s faces or manipulate others in a ruthless manner, and seems to genuinely enjoy doing so. I’m a big fan of the doctor, but there’s no sense in trying to argue that he isn’t a villain.

#4 – Eric Cartman

Actor: Trey Parker

Show: South Park

With his second appearance on a top ten list in as many weeks, Eric Cartman is easily the most enjoyable villain on TV. He is outwardly evil and diabolical but, since it’s South Park, Cartman is also hysterically funny. This does not take away from all the terrible things he’s done. For example, what other character on TV has made a rival literally eat his own parents, via a bowl of chili?

#3 – President Charles

Actor: Gregory Itzin

Show: 24

For the past two seasons on 24, Itzin has portrayed President Logan as the weaselly, almost worthless leader of 24’s USA. I’ve never yelled at a character as much as I have at Logan. He would, undoubtedly, be the worst president in the history of America. His only saving grace is that, in his fictional universe, a man named Jack Bauer exists.

#2 – Ben the Other

Actor: Michael Emerson

Show: Lost

While the depths of his evil have not yet completely been mined, Ben, as the leader of The Others on Lost, is the most mysterious member on this list. How bad is he? Is he really that bad at all? Regardless, it’s hard for me to get that picture of Ben shaking the hell out of that poor bunny out of my head.

#1 – Simon Cowell

Show: American Idol

This is a man who truly loves to be hated. He basks in the limelight, has no problem crushing the dreams of young performers, and will say the things that others are only thinking. Without Simon Cowell, there is no way that American Idol would be as popular as it is. But that doesn’t mean you can’t hate him.

 

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