There are many things all of your favourite sitcoms have in common but there’s perhaps one character trope (see: film lingo for cliché) that’s more beloved then any other – yes, even more so then the token babe.

Because for every Rachel Green (Friends), Anne Perkins (Park & Rec), Elaine Benes (Seinfeld), Jackie Burkhart (That 70s Show), Betty Rubble (The Flintstones – cartoons can be babes) and Mary Tyler Moore, a serious babe back in the day, there’s the Homer Simpson, the George Castanza, the Andy Dwyer or the Phil Dunphy – otherwise known as the loveable loser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SI_xKEjVvE

It’s Barney Stintson in How I Met Your Mother, Alan in The Hangover, Stiffler in American Pie, Ben Stiller in anything, Randy in South Park or Vince in the The Mighty Boosh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il8aYGjDmzg

There’s a loveable loser in every group of friends – you know who they are, the three per cent spastic ones (Angry Boys) – and while it mightn’t sound as cool as being the Big Dog, chances are if you’re the loveable loser you’re likely more popular than everyone else. Because loveable losers are non-threatening. They’re infuriating as hell to deal with but funny as fuck to watch in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nduf8_iCTOs

Often but not always, they’re combined with another comedy trope – the dumb one. Think Joey in Friends or Kelso in That 70s Show. It’s often that combination that makes for the funniest of characters – they’re gullible, impulsive, naïve and needy. And barring the neurotic George Castanza, they’re typically optimistic.

So as a tribute to said comedy favourites, we’ve compiled a comprehensive checklist to see if you’re the loveable loser/dumb one in your group of friends.

1. Do you believe news from The Onion, Gawker or sites claiming to be both scientific and spiritual? Mostly make-believe…

2. Are you convinced that Ebola is a hoax or that Flight MH370 never really existed in the first place?

3. Is your favourite Gandhi quote “No pain, no gain?” Cause that’s not really a Gandhi quote…

4. Did you save the cool pic of you drunk at Jonno’s Aussie Day piss-up as your profile photo on Facebook?

5. And then wonder why Uber drivers never accept your ride requests at 1am or dudes/babes ignore your friend requests?

6. Do you say ATM machine?

7. If a smoker, do you request packets with specific warning labels? Like if you’re not pregnant ordering the packet that “harms your baby” because you’re confident that won’t affect you…

8. Have you given out personal details to someone offering you a job or a too-good-to-be-true price on Craigslist or Gumtree?

9. Can’t understand why people aren’t taking you seriously even though you’re certain a Visa credit card is all you need to work overseas?

10. Do you think DTP means down to party?

11. Do you constantly mistake irony for coincidence? Like, I was about to run out of fuel and then all of a sudden, like, a service station appeared from nowhere? So ironic. I literally couldn’t believe it. Yes you could, because literally means you actually found it impossible to believe.

12. Have you taken a sickie at work and then uploaded pics from whatever festival you’re at on Insta or Facebook?

13. If someone is pregnant with twins, do you think it’ll take 18 months for the babies to be born?

14. Do you think someone will win the human race?

15. Do you think it’s possible to get double pregnant if you have sex while pregnant?

16. Are you jealous of your best friend’s dog?

17. Do you think purple is a fruit?

18. Have you mistaken a stripper’s attention for genuine sincerity only to lose a wad… of cash?

19. Do you slow down to pass cars in tight streets even though your speed doesn’t affect the width of the street?

20. Do you think buffalo wings come from actual buffalos?

21. Do you think “the clap” is a 1980s emotional rock band?

If you answered “yes” to five or more of these questions, you’re the dumb one and or loveable loser of your group.
If you answered “yes” to more than 15, we recommend seeing a doctor and would like to congratulate you on managing to even read this list.