The Simpsons: 10 Most Underrated Characters

10. Sideshow Mel

Somewhat overshadowed by both Krusty the Clown and his murderous predecessor Sideshow Bob, Sideshow Mel is in his own right a brilliant recurring presence on the show.

With his theatrical accent and trademark bone, Mel is one of many characters whose humour comes not just from some solid one-liners, but from how horribly he is mistreated by Krusty both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes.

Mel is the ultimate punching bag, put in harm's way countless times just so Krusty can pull out all the stops to hit his audience with a violent rush of slapstick humour.

On top of the tragicomedy of his role, Mel is often very vocal at town hall meetings, often indulging his Shakespearean voice in some hilarious melodrama.

He may not be as memorable as Sideshow Bob, but thanks to his consistency and the striking voice work of Dan Castellaneta, he's impossible not to love.