TV is full of memorable characters with lots of unique characteristics. Our favorite characters stand out amongst others.
This list of TV’s most unshakable optimists presents the most upbeat, positive people on television. These optimists are known for their bubbly disposition, happy thoughts, and obnoxious perkiness.
No matter what life throws at these eternally optimistic TV characters, they refuse to lose their positive outlook.
Check out our top unshakable TV optimists, and then jump into our comments section and tell us your favorite optimistic TV character.
How We Spot TV’s Most Unshakable Optimists
Characters with unshakable optimism always find the silver lining in the clouds and the bright spot in the bad.
Happy, upbeat, and sometimes neurotic optimists often try to spread their positive demeanor to others. Happy people love to be around them, and cranky people love to hate them.
But loved or hated, optimistic people live their lives to the fullest and never give up.
They inspire others and us to find the good in every situation and never stay down too long. Check out our selection of TV’s most unshakable optimists.
Jess Day – New Girl
Jess Day is an annoyingly perky elementary school teacher with an envigorating thirst for life on New Girl. Her quirky personality, crazy dance moves, and bold, colorful clothing make her endearing to her close friends and roommates.
She also proves that people of the opposite gender can have a strong, successful platonic relationship.
Day’s eternally optimistic outlook rubs off on her four male roommates and snarky best friend, helping them through tough times.
Jess kept a positive outlook, no matter what crisis she went through — from her cheating boyfriend to losing her job to having to live with her (annoying AF) ex (that becomes her current at the end) BF.
Luther Hargreeves – The Umbrella Academy
Luther Hargreeves is also affectionately known as Number One to his adopted father and family of seven adopted children who had unnatural abilities.
Number One was half man, half ape, thanks to a life-saving serum given to him by his father. Despite Reginald causing the massive physicological malformation, Luther kept a deep, unwavering loyalty to his father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves.
When all the other children left their abusive, morally compromised father and the Umbrella Academy, Luther stayed out of misplaced family duty.
Despite physical deformities, spending time alone in space, and massive family dysfunction, Luther retains a happy, positive attitude.
Even when he and the other members of the Umbrella Academy team faced the destruction of all life, Luther stayed optimistic and always tried to find the positive.
Betty Suarez – Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty follows the life of Betty Suarez, a uniquely different “internally beautiful” ugly duckling amid a world of beauty.
Her nerdy looks often get her dismissed and insulted by her co-workers. But she never lets it get to her.
She finds a way to look past the ugly of people’s personalities and see the good within them, no matter how vile they behave.
Betty’s optimism and friendliness are fresh air in a world of yucky people. Her willingness to overlook being dismissed for her appearance rather than valued for her personality makes her optimism unshakable.
Phil Dunphy – Modern Family
Phil Dunphy is one of those annoyingly unapologetically positive people, a complete contrast to his snarky, bitchy wife and brash father-in-law.
Dunphy is very in touch with his inner feelings and isn’t afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve — good or bad.
He’s very optimistic and uber-excited about everything. His general joy of life and nails on a chalkboard voice are great in small quantities on Modern Family.
Frequently, his over-exuberant personality rubs everyone in his family the wrong way, although strangers don’t seem to mind his too muchness.
Janine Teagues – Abbot Elementary
Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) is a second-grade elementary school teacher at Abbott Elementary who is on a mission to improve the lives of her students.
Her plucky positivity inspires her students and some of her co-workers. She stays happy and keeps a bright outlook, while the rest of the staff becomes jaded from the hustle and bustle of the school’s inner workings.
Ms. Teagues embraces and inspires her students to be their best, even when everyone around them gives up and punches the clock.
Her optimism was infectious, and a bright spot in an otherwise blah school system to keep the show entertaining and the audience captivated.
Max Goodwin – New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam gave viewers a new spin on the traditional medical series. It had the same complex medical cases, an expansive group of talented doctors, and memorable patients.
But what stood out amongst its relatives was that the show focused on medical cases in a public hospital, meaning no insurance didn’t mean no care.
Max Goodwin was a different kind of doctor. He cared about his patients and his hospital staff. When problems came up, he created solutions, no matter what it took.
Even while he was battling life-threatening cancer and single parenthood, Max stayed optimistic about things working out.
He was the best hospital administrator because instead of worrying about how much medical care a person could afford, he cared about what treatment the patient needed and how to get it to them.
Glenn Sturgis – Superstore
Glenn was the high-pitched, devout Christian co-manager of a large superstore with an optimistic disposition.
Between his religious beliefs and his naive, push-over nature, Glenn often finds himself at odds with his assistant manager over expressing his Christian views at work.
Despite the stress of having eleven foster children with his wife, Glenn stays happy and keeps a positive outlook.
Erin Hannon – The Office
The Office was full of memorable characters, from the often inappropriate manager, Michael Scott (Jim Carell), to the chirpy receptionist, Erin (Ellie Kemper).
Erin took over the position from Pam Beesly, replacing the snarky older receptionist with her happy, silly, and often childlike demeanor.
While Pam despised her job and many of the people she worked with, Erin adores her co-workers, including the exceptionally annoying antics of Michael and Dwight.
Erin often participated in office shenanigans, giving in to having fun at work. While the rest of the staff had become jaded to the work environment, frequently acting snarky and miserable at work, Erin thrived in her positivity.
Ray Palmer – Legends of Tomorrow
Brandon Routh portrays the playful, overly positive Ray Palmer in Arrow and the Legends of Tomorrow.
Brilliant and cheerful, Palmer made everyone around him want to do the right thing and be a better person, including the villain who fell in love with him.
Even while he and his gang of good guys travel through time to stop uber-bad guys from committing heinous events, he finds a way to look on the bright side.
No matter what timeline he’s in or what situation he’s dealing with, Ray finds the silver lining and inspires those around him not to give up.
Ella Lopez – Lucifer
You don’t expect humor, honor, justice, or perkiness when watching a show about the Devil. But then again, you don’t expect to see the Devil be a good guy.
Lucifer was a series that put an awesome spin on an overdone trope. We didn’t just like the devil. We loved him, as did everyone except criminals.
Including devout religious forensic scientist Ella Lopez. Ella saw spirituality differently than others, including how she viewed the devil, Lucifer Morningstar, as he called himself.
Ella’s sweet demeanor and bubbly persona make her a delightful breath of fresh air amid death and evil.
The Lucifer series tackled religion, crime, justice (vengeance), romance, and more in a light, comedic yet entertaining dramedy. Most of the bright spots in the darkness came from Miss Lopez, the ray of sunshine.
Elsbeth Tascioni – Elsbeth
Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) isn’t just unconventional in her wardrobe, obsession with one too many bags, and all things NY touristy.
She’s also a brilliant attorney who uses her keen sense of perception to help the Chicago PD solve casts alongside her partner and best friend, Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson).
But Tascioni isn’t meant to solve cases. She was sent to Chicago as a spy to determine whether the police captain, C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce), was a corrupt cop on the loose.
Elsbeth maintains a positive disposition even when confronted with criminals, horrible crime scenes, or heinous illegal activity. It’s admirable — if a bit creepy — how she confronts killers and crooks in such an off-handed, optimistic way.
Kimmy Schmidt – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The premise of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) turns a horror story — living with a cult — into a comedy as she starts over in New York City after escaping her kidnappers.
She faces dozens of trials and tribulations as she tries to get on with her life post-cult. Kimmy has to overcome her lack of exposure to the outside world and delve headfirst into all that life offers.
From normal, everyday activities like getting a job or going outside to more advanced life adventures like having a love triangle and going to court.
Everything was a source of bewilderment and amazement as Kimmy embraced living independently and exploring the world.
Throughout it all, she had the most amazing optimism and an inspiring way of overcoming severe traumas without letting them affect her future.
Leslie Knope – Parks & Recreation
Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is the Deputy Director of the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation Department and a dedicated public servant.
She aims to become the first female President and, as part of her civic duty, sits on multiple action committees for her town.
Despite having a lot on her plate and huge political ambitions, Leslie stays upbeat and optimistic about everything in her life.
She feels a deep loyalty to those she considers her friends and fellow townsfolk, and she strongly desires always to do the right thing.
What Do You Think About TV’s Most Unshakable Optimists?
While there are many different TV characters tropes, optimists are the ones we tend to remember the most. Happy, perky people tend to catch our eyes, whether because their optimism is infectious or their cheerfulness is annoying AF.
Are you the type of TV viewer who likes cheerful, optimistic characters, or do you prefer the relatable grumps and their disdain for people?
Leave your thoughts in the comments and weigh in on your favorite unshakable TV optimist. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for all things TV Fanatic delivered to your inbox, and follow us on social for more cool TV stuff.
