10 TV Shows Whose Leads Are The Worst Character

10. New Girl - Jessica Day

Zooey Deschanel was the hook used to bring people into New Girl. The advertising was heavily based around the “adorkable” qualities that she and her character Jessica Day shared, and indeed New Girl’s Jess did seem a natural extension of Deschanel’s persona.

The series, however, quickly evolved beyond the initial episodes’ focus on Jess and her attempts to re-enter the L.A dating scene as a quirky, melodious singleton. The characters with whom she shared the loft - Nick, Schmidt, and Winston, along with best pal Cece - embarked on their own adventures with and without Jess’ involvement.

The issue was that these were without exception more interesting than whatever Jess was doing. She was relegated to the straight woman on her own show, such were the wacky qualities of the other characters and their more comedically gifted actors, particularly the exceptional Max Greenfield.

Jess still works well as an anchor and in no way would you want her removed from the show, but she’s the title character and yet consistently the least important part of the puzzle.