10 Sitcom Characters Who Somehow Got Dumber Over Time

Well-written sitcom characters naturally change over time. Sometimes they become more confident, more mature, or slightly less likely to make the same terrible decision for the fifteenth time. But they can also move in the opposite direction, meaning they simply get dumber.

Here are ten sitcom favorites who somehow lost a few brain cells along the way.

Kelly Bundy — Married… with Children

Kelly Bundy was never supposed to be a genius, aside from that one episode, but she wasn’t always completely clueless. In the early seasons, she was portrayed as a rebellious teenager who hated studying and cared more about boys, clothes, and having fun. She wasn’t book-smart, but she had plenty of street smarts.

As the show continued, Kelly turned into the stereotypical “dumb blonde,” unable to pronounce basic words, remember simple information, or occasionally even recognize her own name. Her intelligence seemed to drop with every season. Christina Applegate’s comic timing made it funny, but early Kelly and late Kelly barely seemed like the same person.

Homer Simpson — The Simpsons

Homer Simpson may be lazy and impulsive, but he is also a dad who worries about his job, loves his wife and kids, and occasionally has some deep and surprisingly thoughtful advice to give. Or at least, that’s how he used to be before the writers turned his stupidity dial all the way up.

Today, Homer can barely complete a basic task without destroying property or endangering half of Springfield. He’s still one of television’s funniest characters, but he went from a flawed dad to a dangerously stupid joke of a human.

Joey Tribbiani — Friends

Early Joey was a lovable goofball, but he wasn’t helpless. He understood people, had plenty of confidence, and possessed enough charm to talk his way through almost any situation. He was a struggling actor who wasn’t especially educated, not a man who had repeatedly been dropped on his head as a child.

By the final seasons, Joey’s brain was completely gone. The infamous episode in which he tries to speak French is probably the biggest example, but sadly, it wasn’t the only one. Still, people seemed to enjoy the new, dumb Joey, so the writers really did their best to showcase just how dim he was whenever they had the chance.

Woody Boyd — Cheers

Woody used to be an innocent small-town guy with a limited understanding of big-city life — a “fish out of water” kind of character. His “unusual” logic was part of his charm, and he occasionally surprised everyone with moments of genuine insight.

By the end of the series, this guy had somehow been elected to the Boston City Council. Considering just how low his intelligence stat was, we can only pray for the people affected by the choices he made while wielding all that power.