It’s an unfortunate truth thatTV nerdshad a bad rap in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Most shows depicted them with characters like Steve Urkel fromFamily Matters —thick glasses, nasally voice, suspenders, and pants pulled up to the chest. But thanks to the technical revolution of the 21st century, more and more nerds have gotten the appreciation that they deserve, and that includes accurately representing them on TV.
Shows likeThe Big Bang Theory, The I.T. Crowd,andCommunityhave not only created some of TV’s best nerd icons, but they’ve made nerds cool again. The definition of the word “nerd” has evolved to more than just a super-smart person. Nerds are passionate about their interests, proud of their knowledge and skills, and no longer fear retribution for being themselves, and a lot of that is thanks to the positive portrayal of beloved nerdy TV characters.
15Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel)
New Girl
Starring Zooey Deschanel as Jessica, the doe-eyed protagonist ofNew Girlproves that social awkwardness can be a charming personality trait. True, she may not be a prodigy or a scientific genius, butJessica isn’t afraid to let her nerd flag fly with her impromptu singing sessions and her quirky fashion sense.While she might be bad in awkward social situations, she is also passionate, caring, and a loyal friend who is always there for the ones she loves.
What makes Jessica so appealing isn’t just her nerdy personality, but her relatability. Many TV shows feature a female lead who is sophisticated and savvy, butJessica speaks to the generation of 30-somethingswho are still trying to figure things out — and that is totally okay. Like Jessica, women can be sweet and nerdy and still rule the world.
14Malcolm (Frankie Muniz)
Malcolm In The Middle
One of the best family sitcoms of the ‘90s,Malcolm in the Middle’sFrankie Muniz defined what it was like to be a nerd and a middle child. Surrounded by dysfunctional family members who failed to match his superior intellect, Malcolm was forced to find unique ways to hone his genius. With some help from his nerdy best friend, Stevie Kenarban,Malcolm explores ways to challenge authority while surviving the pitfalls of being a child prodigy.
Not only wasMalcolm in the Middlehilarious, but it also broke the mold byfeaturing a nerdy character as the star of the show.
Though wemay not see much of Frankie Munizthese days, the actor will forever be in the hearts and minds of nerds everywhere. Not only wasMalcolm in the Middlehilarious, but it also broke the mold byfeaturing a nerdy character as the star of the show rather than a comedic supporting role. With his wit, sarcasm, and smarts, Malcolm was truly a character whom nerds could relate to.
13Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson)
The X-Files
Just as not all heroes wear capes, not all nerds wear glasses — well, not all the time, anyway. One half of the original power couple from ‘90s TV, FBI Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder uncovered government conspiracies and alien abductions in the hit sci-fi series,The X-Files.Notable for both her beauty and her brains, Scully was integral to Mulder’s search for the truth.Thanks to Scully’s scientific know-how and medical expertise, she pulled Mulder out of the fire more than once.
Dana Scully’s 10 Best Quotes From The X-Files
Dana Scully was one half of The X-Files, and kept the show entertaining with her lines, both hilarious witticisms and deeply philosophical quotes.
While she might not have been a stereotypical nerd as often portrayed on TV, Agent Scully was a role model that many nerds aspired to be. She was cool, smart, and always managed to keep her head in the direst situations. She balanced out Mulder’s overactive imagination, keeping him grounded while also being a true friend.
12Charlie Bradbury (Felicia Day)
Supernatural
Salt and silver aren’t the only ways to fend off things that go bump in the night, as proven bySupernatural’sCharlie Bradbury, played by nerdy girl mascot Felicia Day. An expert hacker, Charlie first met Sam and Dean while working for Richard Roman Enterprises. She later became a hunter, and helped the Winchester brothers fight against terrifying evil forces, such as the Leviathans, ghosts, and even the Wicked Witch from Oz.
Fans ofSupernaturalfell in love with Charlie for her unapologetic nerdiness, courage, and intelligence. She became like a sister to the Winchesters, and demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice by giving up her life to protect them. Although Charlie’s alternate from another reality was a formidable force in her own right,no one could replace the Charlie fans all know and love, and much of that is due to the exceptional talent of Day.
11Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi)
Community
There’s a good chance that everyone has met someone like Abed Nadir at some point in their life. He’s the weird kid that you might think to avoid at first, but once you get to know him, you’re glad to call him a friend. Featured in the often-overlooked comedy seriesCommunity,Abed manages to bewilder and confuse his friends as much as he impresses them with his knowledge and skills. In every episode,Abed has a way of surprising the study group and the audience with a new and interesting quirk. He can rap, dance, and is an adept filmmaker.
From his constant quoting of TV and movies to his alien-like observation of human social interactions, Abed is a one-of-a-kind nerd and a beloved TV icon.
What sets Abed apart from other TV nerds is not only his unpredictability but his innate magnetism. He’s surprisingly good with the ladies, and even once unintentionally formed a cult. From his constant quoting of TV and movies to his alien-like observation of human social interactions, Abed is a one-of-a-kind nerd and a beloved TV icon.
10Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
She may seem sweet and innocent, but Willow Rosenberg knows how to do some serious damagewhen she needs to. Willow is the nerdy best friend of Buffy in the iconic ’90s teen seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayerand is beloved by those in the fandom. While she comes across as shy at first, she learns to open up as the series goes on, unafraid to voice her true feelings and stand up for herself. Her powers as a witch are unmatched, though things nearly turned catastrophic when she became addicted to magic andtransitioned to Dark Willow.
While Alyson Hannigan was later known for her role in the hit sitcomHow I Met Your Mother,it was playing Willow inBuffy the Vampire Slayerthat many fans still love her for. Nerds are drawn to Willow for many reasons, among which is that she is one of the first major TV characters to come out as a lesbian. Extremely loyal, powerful, and kind, there is a lot to love about Willow.
9Maurice Moss (Richard Ayoade)
The IT Crowd
As one of the stars ofThe IT Crowd,Maurice Moss is the quintessential computer nerd. His shirt, tie, glasses, and trousers all scream “nerd,” and in the best possible way. He works in the I.T. department at Reynholm Industries, which is, naturally, in the basement. Despite being looked down on by the other employees, Moss is dedicated to his work and is often overlooked for his contributions. Most fans will remember how he once sent out an email to inform the authorities that a fire had broken out in the basement, even as the flames burned before his eyes.
Despite his lack of social awareness, Moss exudes confidence when it matters the most. He once entered into a street mathematics competition with some serious contenders, yet still came out on top. He can be childish at times and overly sensitive, but that just makes him all the more lovable.
8Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson)
The Office
Beet farmer, martial arts “master,” and Jim Halpert’s nemesis, Dwight Schrute is one of TV’s most infamous nerds. The character dominated on the U.S. version ofThe Office, as he terrorized the other Dunder Mifflin employees while brown-nosing like a true champ. His role as Assistant to the Regional Manager was a badge of honor, and no one else could compete with his sales record. The “talking head” scenes with Dwight were always a hoot, as the audience came to appreciate his twisted way of thinking.
Dwight Schrute’s 7 Side Jobs In The Office Explained
Dwight Schrute is one of The Office’s most versatile characters, which is demonstrated by the seven side jobs Dwight works throughout the series.
While the character began as an evil genius thatThe Officefans loved to hate, Dwight evolved over the years to someone to root for. True, he could be irritating, condescending, and downright creepy at times, yet in the later seasons, he mellowed out somewhat. He showed that he could be protective, kind, and caring while still maintaining his authoritative manner. No one deserved that Regional Manager position more than Dwight, and it was thrilling to see his dream come true.
7Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik)
The Big Bang Theory
Introduced in season 3 ofThe Big Bang Theory,Amy Farrah Fowler soon became a beloved character on the CBS series.As a neurobiologist and physicist, she is the perfect match for Sheldon— the Leia to his Han, if you will. With her social awkwardness and enduring pursuit of Sheldon’s affection, fellow nerdy girls can’t help but sympathize. Thankfully, Sheldon finally gets a clue and realizes what a great woman Amy is, and how the two of them are made for each other.
Bialik even has a PhD in neuroscience, so she already has a lot in common with her character.
Once known for her titular role in the 1990s’ TV showBlossom,Mayim Bialik was the perfect casting choice as Amy. Bialik even has a PhD in neuroscience, so she already has a lot in common with her character. She also brought just the right amount of nerdiness and charm to the role to make Amy a fan favorite.
6Abby Sciuto(Pauley Perrette)
NCIS
The epitome of the nerdy goth girl,NCISfans were bound to love Abby from the moment she appeared on screen. Her trademark black hair, pigtails, tattoos, and makeup made her a fashion icon, and her unique quirkiness was a highlight of the series. Not only is she adept as a forensics expert, but she is also a loving and caring person that everyone adores. Even with her magnetic personality, the scientist isn’t afraid of kicking some serious butt when she or her teammates are threatened.
Because she was such a fan favorite,NCISviewers were devastated when Abby resigned. Sadly, it seems that actor Pauley Perrette’s falling out with Mark Harmon led to her leaving the series. Harmon reportedly brought his dog on set multiple times, which on one occasion attacked a crew member, leading to Perrette having nightmares.
