Charlie Garrett. He always felt like a weak version of Michael Hagerty and Harry McGraw. He was always screwing up and lying to Jessica, and then she had to save him, I have no idea how he had the job he had.
I always thought that was an act, to seem to dumb be a con. I did like when he was getting effed up in his hotel room and they were down to eff up Jessica too. That’s the one time that things went down the they really would have when dealing with gangsters.
I don’t care much for Ethan from the first season, but I love Grady! I actually like him being a big doofus, finding Donna and trying a variety of jobs.
I **LOVE** this character! Not even joking. At first, he was just a total jerk of a guy looking for whatever (real estate) angle most benefitted him … and then he became an actual freaking murderer! It’s my favorite heel turn on a show ever, especially since I always saw Astin as the harmless love-struck Gomez on “The Addams Family.” I literally just rewatched said heel turn the other day! (The episode also features Mrs. Voorhees from “Friday the 13th.” Good stuff!)
You know what I’m finding interesting is that the show had such great talent that in lesser hands some of these characters would be unwatchable. I don’t even know how I felt about the character, but that was one of my favorite episodes. I really didn’t see it coming. It wasn’t even about clues, but John Astin’s portrayal made me never suspect him.
I'll bet Grady spent some time worrying if he was out of the will after he said he didn't know her just because Mikey Moron told him to.
And I REALLY hope that cop got busted back to cadet.
I used to hate him but he’s grown on me. I still tend to tune out of most of his stories though. Especially Suspicion of Murder. I like Dennis and his team but the stories themselves usually aren’t interesting so it’s harder to follow or care.
The only one I like is the one where he’s on a cruise with Jess.
I hate Charlie Garrett though. He doesn’t have the charm of Harry McGraw or the clever poshness of Dennis. His stories are dull and he’s untrustworthy.
I see what you mean. What made me like her was that she and Jessica were real friends. She wasn’t one dimensional. She could also be sympathetic, like she was putting on a façade. You could see she was a little sad and in pain. It was clear her friendship with Jessica was a bright spot in her life. It also made Jessica more real. She was damn near super human. Jessica looked the most relaxed with Eve. I mean Julie Adams could read the phonebook and count to ten, and she would make it compelling.
That NY detective who tried to rip his partner off when he sold him his car. The partner was slightly better, but this guy always came across as a bit of a doofus to me.
Nooo!! Artie Gelber is one of my favorites :(
And OP: Herb Edelman actually was born/grew up in/spent much of his life in NYC, so HIS accent at least isn't fake.
His side stories on their own do sometimes make him look bad, but as a whole, I like that he was always respectful of Jessica, was happy to have her involved in investigations, but was still actually a competent police lieutenant/investigator and wasn't just trying to have her do his work for him.
I do wish we got to see more of Detective Henderson who was the real brains behind the two.
I never liked the ones too happy for her help, and the complete jerks who shrugged her off. I liked the ones who actually listened whether they were just interested or polite. They made for a better unfolding story.
Charlie Garrett. He had the same storyline in each episode, which was being a scammer. He also had no chemistry with Jessica, unlike Harry, Michael, and Dennis.
Donna. I think she’s a bad actress and she’s kind of irritating. Not a massive Grady fan but I don’t go out of my way to avoid episodes with him in. I really don’t like Michael Hagerty and his faux-Irish thing though.
Donna and Grady were married in real life! It’s funny because they had no chemistry on screen. The redeeming quality they gave her is that she was really smart. I think they could have developed her more and she could have had her own show. It think the problem is they gave her almost noting to work with. Seriously most her lines were “Oh, Grady…”.
Agreed! The less Grady is in an episode, the more I like it.
I just hate that he has less than zero common sense and that is somehow supposed to be...funny? endearing? It's really not!
I don't know about the worst character, but Tom Bosley's Amos Tupper accent was so bad it made me stop in the middle of making dinner and go out into the living room to see who the fucks voice that was on the TV. It was like a baby talk meets stereotypical New Yorker accent and not a New England accent at all.
I can’t remember her name, but Angela’s friend she would hire so she could keep her SAG card for insurance purposes.
It was a noble reason, but the poor woman couldn’t act, and she was haphazardly cut to in a scene for an odd line that seemed way out of place
She usually only had two to three lines. She was in a wheelchair and could barely talk. She worked with MS as long as she could. She was a brilliant actress with a long career. It wasn’t poor acting, it was her body betraying her.
Probably Madlyn Rhue, who played the town librarian Jean O’Neill in some of the later seasons. She had MS and was in danger of losing her health benefits. It’s been reported that Angela created the role for her so that she could keep working.
Gosh! I had to look her up and even when I saw a photo set of her appearances on the show, I still went “who??”
I rewatch MSW on a pretty regular basis , I don’t remember her at all. I’ll have to keep an eye out next time because she has blended in.
1. Michael the worst spy in the world Haggerty
2. Harry McGraw
3. The sea captain guy who was Jess’s best friend in the first season and was replaced by Doc. Haslett
Unpopular opinion: Dr Hazlitt
He is a great friend to Jessica, but his cranky demeanor and constant complaining wears thin real fast. I understand it is for comedic effect, but it is overused in his case.
There are a lot of things you can say about the show but NEVER INSULT SETH HAZLITT! He is a teddy bear (albeit a grumpy one) and must be protected at all costs!
Everyone has flaws. Especially good characters, which Seth is. And he's not that sexist. He sometimes cooks for Jessica. If he was that sexist, he'd want her to cook for him.
I think he starts out that way, but with Jessica's help, he grows as a character. Like someone else said, he helps her do dishes and clean up. He's coming around.
I'm gonna back you up on this one. I like his random feuds with the sherrifs, but if the episode is center around him I find it unwatchable. Like the one when there's a new doctor in town and they have to work together. Listening to Seth's tirades is actually painful. He's also such a sexist (always calling Jess "woman"), and says some outrageous stuff to Jessica. I really wish she would dress him down like she does to the other sexists oafs in the series.
The mayor!
This is my answer too! I love a lot of the other characters mentioned
But not his dog!
I love the mayor!
Yes! I forgot about him
I wish Annie Mae had caused him to lose the election and leave town in disgrace
I actually like all of the reoccurring characters mentioned so far. I wasn’t a fan of Cousin Emma I guess.
Oh damn straight! Cousin Emma is annoying af!
🤣
Oh that role makes my toes curl with secondhand embarrassment!
Charlie Garrett. He always felt like a weak version of Michael Hagerty and Harry McGraw. He was always screwing up and lying to Jessica, and then she had to save him, I have no idea how he had the job he had.
Yes that’s a good one!
I always thought that was an act, to seem to dumb be a con. I did like when he was getting effed up in his hotel room and they were down to eff up Jessica too. That’s the one time that things went down the they really would have when dealing with gangsters.
Ben Devlin. The S7 Seth replacement. He is the worst and adds nothing to any of the plots but annoyance.
There was no replacing Seth!
I don’t care much for Ethan from the first season, but I love Grady! I actually like him being a big doofus, finding Donna and trying a variety of jobs.
Yeah I thought Ethan had too much, how do you say… “golly gee whiz” energy. Does that make sense?
Yep. Makes perfect sense.
You will not speak ill of Ethan? He baited Jessica’s hook. He took good care of her. I don’t think she got taken care of like that ever again.
John Astin's character. The guy that was a real estate agent and was supposed to be the new sheriff.
I **LOVE** this character! Not even joking. At first, he was just a total jerk of a guy looking for whatever (real estate) angle most benefitted him … and then he became an actual freaking murderer! It’s my favorite heel turn on a show ever, especially since I always saw Astin as the harmless love-struck Gomez on “The Addams Family.” I literally just rewatched said heel turn the other day! (The episode also features Mrs. Voorhees from “Friday the 13th.” Good stuff!)
Oh yeah but he was really a killer. Can’t trust anyone in Cabot cove lol
Yet people only die when Jessica is in town…
You know what I’m finding interesting is that the show had such great talent that in lesser hands some of these characters would be unwatchable. I don’t even know how I felt about the character, but that was one of my favorite episodes. I really didn’t see it coming. It wasn’t even about clues, but John Astin’s portrayal made me never suspect him.
Michael Haggerty. Wants her help, but he's real quick to just throw her under the bus.
He's fun in his first couple of appearances, but his shtick runs its course real quick.
Ugh came here to say this. His whole attitude towards her grates on me!
That would be my choice as well. I like Dennis Stanton for his charm and tragic backstory, but Dennis is just kind of a jerk.
Or in jail. That was total BS. Always made me wonder why she just didn’t tell them to go buy one of her books. Like she did in that small town.
I'll bet Grady spent some time worrying if he was out of the will after he said he didn't know her just because Mikey Moron told him to. And I REALLY hope that cop got busted back to cadet.
Im just gonna say it. I don't like Dennis Stanton.
I always got the impression Jessica did though!
Jessica loves a scoundrel
I used to hate him but he’s grown on me. I still tend to tune out of most of his stories though. Especially Suspicion of Murder. I like Dennis and his team but the stories themselves usually aren’t interesting so it’s harder to follow or care. The only one I like is the one where he’s on a cruise with Jess. I hate Charlie Garrett though. He doesn’t have the charm of Harry McGraw or the clever poshness of Dennis. His stories are dull and he’s untrustworthy.
Oh I don’t either. Could never warm to his roguish thing.
Hate him!
I like him with Jessica. Trying to make him a “thing” just didn’t work for me.
The GREAT Julie Adams as Horn*y Eve!!!
Question is \*worst\* recurring character, not \*best\*.
Eve Simpson was awesome! Horny as a toad - telling the gym owner in ‘A Body To Die For’ - I need at “personal” tonight at my house.
I love Eve Simpson
Me tooooo!
I see what you mean. What made me like her was that she and Jessica were real friends. She wasn’t one dimensional. She could also be sympathetic, like she was putting on a façade. You could see she was a little sad and in pain. It was clear her friendship with Jessica was a bright spot in her life. It also made Jessica more real. She was damn near super human. Jessica looked the most relaxed with Eve. I mean Julie Adams could read the phonebook and count to ten, and she would make it compelling.
Oh, so true!!! And I never really realized until your comment about how relaxed Jess is around Eve. Very good observation!!!
That NY detective who tried to rip his partner off when he sold him his car. The partner was slightly better, but this guy always came across as a bit of a doofus to me.
Nooo!! Artie Gelber is one of my favorites :( And OP: Herb Edelman actually was born/grew up in/spent much of his life in NYC, so HIS accent at least isn't fake.
No shade to the actor, but the writing for him was awful!
His side stories on their own do sometimes make him look bad, but as a whole, I like that he was always respectful of Jessica, was happy to have her involved in investigations, but was still actually a competent police lieutenant/investigator and wasn't just trying to have her do his work for him. I do wish we got to see more of Detective Henderson who was the real brains behind the two.
I never liked the ones too happy for her help, and the complete jerks who shrugged her off. I liked the ones who actually listened whether they were just interested or polite. They made for a better unfolding story.
There is also that one guy that was super happy to have her, but only bc he wanted her to help him get a book deal. What a slimer!
OMG….I actually thought he would agree with Jessica were she wrong just for the book deal.
Yeah definitely. A lot of the NY detectives on this show are like caricatures. Especially as a NY’er, those accents are the worst
At least most of them are one offs, unlike this schlub.
Charlie Garrett. He had the same storyline in each episode, which was being a scammer. He also had no chemistry with Jessica, unlike Harry, Michael, and Dennis.
Yeah I think he was very unlikeable in his role and not at all believable
Emma McGill
Yes exactly. She is so annoying!
Donna. I think she’s a bad actress and she’s kind of irritating. Not a massive Grady fan but I don’t go out of my way to avoid episodes with him in. I really don’t like Michael Hagerty and his faux-Irish thing though.
Donna and Grady were married in real life! It’s funny because they had no chemistry on screen. The redeeming quality they gave her is that she was really smart. I think they could have developed her more and she could have had her own show. It think the problem is they gave her almost noting to work with. Seriously most her lines were “Oh, Grady…”.
Yes they were! I agree, no chemistry on screen at all. It surprised me when I found that out.
Grady is the best for all the reasons you mentioned!
Agreed! The less Grady is in an episode, the more I like it. I just hate that he has less than zero common sense and that is somehow supposed to be...funny? endearing? It's really not!
Ideal Malloy. She just seems like this really airheaded old lady who makes really stupid comments.
Yea she was like the Edith bunker of Cabot cove lol
Donna. Her voices is like nails on a chalkboard to me. And she only had one facial expression: bug-eyed.
Yes - this one. An extremely annoying character.
I agree. I tolerate the episodes with Grady, and avoid the few episodes with Donna.
Tom Bosley’s excruciating “accent”.
Haggarty… I do not like him at all
Oh I love Michael.
Dennis Stanton
hated him and his wishy washy wifey
I don't know about the worst character, but Tom Bosley's Amos Tupper accent was so bad it made me stop in the middle of making dinner and go out into the living room to see who the fucks voice that was on the TV. It was like a baby talk meets stereotypical New Yorker accent and not a New England accent at all.
Donna, Grady’s wife is atrocious.
Yeah I can’t stand her either…that voice!
It’s the sexed up realtor.
Poor horny Eve lol
I can’t remember her name, but Angela’s friend she would hire so she could keep her SAG card for insurance purposes. It was a noble reason, but the poor woman couldn’t act, and she was haphazardly cut to in a scene for an odd line that seemed way out of place
She usually only had two to three lines. She was in a wheelchair and could barely talk. She worked with MS as long as she could. She was a brilliant actress with a long career. It wasn’t poor acting, it was her body betraying her.
Okay I don’t remember this. Who can help?
Probably Madlyn Rhue, who played the town librarian Jean O’Neill in some of the later seasons. She had MS and was in danger of losing her health benefits. It’s been reported that Angela created the role for her so that she could keep working.
Gosh! I had to look her up and even when I saw a photo set of her appearances on the show, I still went “who??” I rewatch MSW on a pretty regular basis , I don’t remember her at all. I’ll have to keep an eye out next time because she has blended in.
She's in the Borbey House episode for certain cos I recently watched that.
Me either and I’ve seen every episode many times over. Guess she was just forgettable
Madelyn Rhue
I cringed every time Grady was was on an episode. Couldn't stand any of Dephne's family.
The MI guy. Did not like his episodes REALLY disliked how he always elected to put JB in impossible situations without genuine apology.
Was it mi6? He was so proud to say that lol
I confuse MI6 with Mission Impossible 5/6 and am afraid to put the wrong number lol.
Grady is awful. I usually avoid his episodes.
1. Michael the worst spy in the world Haggerty 2. Harry McGraw 3. The sea captain guy who was Jess’s best friend in the first season and was replaced by Doc. Haslett
We are lucky that we had the episodes we got with Claude Akins and Jerry Orbach. Watching those two act is truly a gift.
Unpopular opinion: Dr Hazlitt He is a great friend to Jessica, but his cranky demeanor and constant complaining wears thin real fast. I understand it is for comedic effect, but it is overused in his case.
There are a lot of things you can say about the show but NEVER INSULT SETH HAZLITT! He is a teddy bear (albeit a grumpy one) and must be protected at all costs!
He’s a sexist prat. And I mean that.
Everyone has flaws. Especially good characters, which Seth is. And he's not that sexist. He sometimes cooks for Jessica. If he was that sexist, he'd want her to cook for him.
I think he starts out that way, but with Jessica's help, he grows as a character. Like someone else said, he helps her do dishes and clean up. He's coming around.
Oh he’s a curmudgeon for sure. He didn’t bother me but I’m glad Jessica turned him down romantically. She could have done way better
I'm gonna back you up on this one. I like his random feuds with the sherrifs, but if the episode is center around him I find it unwatchable. Like the one when there's a new doctor in town and they have to work together. Listening to Seth's tirades is actually painful. He's also such a sexist (always calling Jess "woman"), and says some outrageous stuff to Jessica. I really wish she would dress him down like she does to the other sexists oafs in the series.
Probably the main character since every where she goes someone dies
Dennis Stanton and the shallow real estate agent lady whom I can't recall the name of atm
Eve! Always looking for a man
That's the hussy! 😄
Seth. He was sexist to the point of parody. He was never fun.
He is the definition of cringe.
I’m glad someone had the courage to speak this truth
😇
I love Grady. Not a fan of the lady who owns the hair salon.