8 TV Characters Who Would Have Been Fired In Real Life

5. Michael Scott & Jim Halpert (The Office)

Reason For Termination(s): Harassment Unlike some of the other comedy shows featured on this list, The Office was supposed to feel like a realistic bit of television. (At least in the earlier seasons. Eventually it became an exercise in crafting storylines that would feel right at home in a weekly comic strip.) But for a "realistic" sitcom, it sure dropped the ball on its HR duties. Michael Scott and Jim Halpert are both excellent salesman, as the show consistently reassures viewers that despite their tendencies to goof off (in different ways), they can both get it done when it counts.

And while that might count for a lot at Dunder Mifflin, there's no way Jim's numbers (or the branch sales figures, as spearheaded by Michael) are high enough to overlook the staggering amount of harassment charges that would be leveled against the two of them. Michael's transgressions are well-documented by the mortified responses of his employees, though they're usually explained away by his close relationships with whoever his boss is at the moment. (The high turnover in that position also helps.) But you can't ignore the constant complaints of a dozen employees for more than seven years. In the real world, he'd be out the door as soon as one employee threatened to sue on the grounds of sexual harassment.

As for Mr. Halpert, we're introduced to this charming goofball when it's revealed that he likes to prank his desk mate, Dwight. A lot. Sometimes it's lighthearted things, like putting his stapler in a gelatin mold, but often it's intensely personal "pranks" that would end in serious injury and emotional trauma. (Even for someone as emotionally stunted as Dwight.) This constant string of bullying wouldn't be viewed very kindly by HR, even at its silliest.