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The Ex Files: TV's 15 greatest recurring exes

The Ex Files: TV's 15 greatest recurring exes

From Lilith and Janice to the Tammys and...her(?), these past partners are always welcome on their respective shows

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Image collage of Bebe Neuwirth in Frasier, Max Greenfield in Veronica Mars, Zack Fox in Abbott Elementary, and Maggie Wheeler in Friends
Bebe Neuwirth in Frasier (Chris Haston/Paramount+), Max Greenfield in Veronica Mars (UPN/The CW), Zack Fox in Abbott Elementary (Gilles Mingasson/ABC), Maggie Wheeler in Friends (NBC)
Graphic: Karl Gustafson

You know a love interest is noteworthy when they become integral to a TV show, even it’s only as a recurring ex. Take Frasier’s Lilith Sternin, for example, who returns in Paramount+’s current reboot. There’s a reason past partners like her are hard to get over—or hard to get rid of, depending on the situation. Instead of just reminiscing about our favorite TV exes, we decided to celebrate them. Sure, they’re not regular characters, which means they appear on and off, but these series would be incomplete without them. These are our top 15 picks, in chronological order.

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2 / 17

Artie Ziff, The Simpsons

Artie Ziff, The Simpsons

The Simpsons S02E12 - Marge Goes To Prom With Artie | Check Description ⬇️

Has there ever been a creepy bit of dialogue more perfectly suited for Jon Lovitz’s patented delivery than the following? “Marge, I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anybody about my busy hands. Not so much for myself, but I am so respected, it would damage the town to hear it. Goodnight!” We’re hard pressed to think of another (Lovitz also played a stalker version of himself to similar gross comedic effect on The Larry Sanders Show), and the actor’s vocal calling cards make him a wonderful foil to Homer, driving home the point that he’s his opposite in just about every way (sincerity, money, physical stature, ego). And for all of Homer’s many, many faults, Marge made the right choice. [Tim Lowery]

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3 / 17

Lilith Sternin, Frasier

Lilith Sternin, Frasier

The best Lilith moments on Frasier

The Cheers-Frasier extended universe is largely built on a swirling vortex of recurring exes. It was Sam and Diane’s on-again, off-again relationship that brought Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) into the fray, and when he became Diane’s ex, Frasier married Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth). By the time he had his own spinoff, Lilith was a recurring specter, showing up once or twice a season to remind her ex-husband what he left behind and maybe to propose getting back together. Lilith was cool in the classical sense of the word—that is, cold. Her detached, icy demeanor made her an outcast for the rest of the Crane clan, but a favorite for audiences for nearly two decades—and again on Paramount+’s ongoing reboot of Frasier. [Drew Gillis]

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4 / 17

Janice Litman-Goralnik, Friends

Janice Litman-Goralnik, Friends

The Worst Of Janice | Friends

“Oh! My! God!” With those three words, delivered pitch-perfectly by Maggie Wheeler, all nasal tone and hand movements, Janice Litman-Goralnik became Friends’ most memorable ex. With apologies to everyone else who recurred on the show as a former partner of the six leads, anytime Janice pops up you just know a lot of laughter is about to ensue. As Chandler Bing’s (Matthew Perry) on-again, off-again girlfriend, she appears randomly throughout the NBC sitcom’s 10-season run. Everything about Janice is heightened: her voice, her outfits, and her overbearing nature. She’s always fun to have around. [Saloni Gajjar]

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5 / 17

Jess Mariano, Gilmore Girls

Jess Mariano, Gilmore Girls

Jess Yells At Rory

Whether or not you agree that Gilmore Girls’ Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) was Rory Gilmore’s (Alexis Bledel) best boyfriend (he was!), there is no doubt he was her best ex. Sure, things got off to a rocky start, as he calls her like a creepy stalker from California, declares his love out of the blue, and tries to get her to run away with him. But their time apart allowed Jess to grow and mature—and to swoop in when Rory needed someone who knew her deeply to shake some sense into her. See the “Why did you drop out of Yale?!” speech or his encouragement of her book in A Day In The Life for proof. As a boyfriend, Jess could be flaky, emotionally unavailable, and immature. As an ex, he became a confidant, a sounding board, and a much-needed voice of reason in Rory’s life. [Mary Kate Carr]

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6 / 17

Jake Jagielski, One Tree Hill

Jake Jagielski, One Tree Hill

Jake and Peyton Scenes [ HD LOGOLESS ] One Tree Hill

If One Tree Hill had better planned its seasons-long love triangle between Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), Peyton (Hilarie Burton), and Brooke (Sophia Bush), then maybe Peyton could’ve ended up with someone really freaking good: Jake Jagielski (Bryan Greenberg). Instead, Jake became a recurring ex, appearing in multiple episodes between seasons one and three. His chemistry with Peyton aside, Jake was certain of his love for her, unlike a constantly wavering Luke. That alone makes him a better candidate. [Saloni Gajjar]

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7 / 17

Ann Veal, Arrested Development

Ann Veal, Arrested Development

Gob Tries To Break Up With Ann - Arrested Development

Her? Yes, her! Ann Veal (played by Alessandra Torresani for one episode and Mae Whitman for the remainder of the series), the mayonegg-eating girlfriend of George Michael (Michael Cera), doesn’t leave much of an impression. At least not to Arrested Development’s Bluth family. Our little Ann hog made the rounds with the Bluth boys, eventually hooking up with Gob (Will Arnett) for some reason. Nevertheless, we’re always happy to load Ann up in the car, whether we know she’s there or not. She’s really funny (we hope). [Matt Schimkowitz]

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8 / 17

Leo D’Amato, Veronica Mars

Leo D’Amato, Veronica Mars

Max Greenfield as Leo D’Amato in Veronica Mars

If you get Max Greenfield to play a cute, helpful boyfriend—even if it’s for a short period of time and even if he’s a little bit whiny—it works. In Veronica Mars, he plays Leo D’Amato, the Sheriff’s Deputy who briefly dates Veronica (Kristen Bell) in season one. Now, of course, VM fans know Veronica and Logan (Jason Dohring) were always going to be the endgame. (Let’s not talk about how it blows up in our faces here ). But Leo was a pretty great “non-epic” respite, a gentler partner who kept recurring throughout the seasons. [Saloni Gajjar]

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9 / 17

Jan Levinson, The Office

Jan Levinson, The Office

The Best (Worst) Of Jan - The Office US

Here’s a hot take about The Office: Melora Hardin is easily one of the show’s top five best performers despite appearing only about a fifth of its episodes. She crushed it every single time in her role as Jan Levinson. She went from being the reasonable boss to a woman who eventually hooks up with and dates Michael Scott (Steve Carell), and their ensuing relationship saw her turn her into quite an unhinged person, selling awful candles, being a disastrous dinner party host, and the like. Jan brings unexpected humor and chaos, whether it’s dancing to a song her assistant wrote or performing for her daughter in front of an audience. She’s the perfect crazy ex-girlfriend. [Saloni Gajjar]

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10 / 17

Addison Montgomery, Grey’s Anatomy

Addison Montgomery, Grey’s Anatomy

Addison Montgomery being an icon for nearly 11 minutes straight

You don’t expect to like Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) when she debuts in Grey’s Anatomys season one finale with her icy demeanor, ready to break up Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). Thankfully, with 19 long seasons under its belt, Grey’s gradually evolves Addison into one the franchise’s greatest characters. She’s fun, ambitious, vulnerable, and so easy to root for. She even got her very own six-season spin-off in Private Practice. Still, her appearances on the flagship series are the most rewarding. Any time Addison returns to Seattle Grace to help with a medical case is a good time. [Saloni Gajjar]

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11 / 17

Rickety Cricket, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Rickety Cricket, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia | From Holy to Homeless: Rickety Cricket | FXX

Is there a sadder recurring ex than Rickety Cricket (David Hornsby)? The guy isn’t even an ex; he’s a never was. He’s also the closest thing Dee’s got to one—as long as we don’t count Bill Ponderosa. After a lifetime of harboring a crush on Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Cricket’s downward spiral from the clergy to the gutter is well documented on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, appearing each season with a new wound, injury, or infection. Sadder still, Dee often uses his undying and unrequited love for her against him, which leads to further emotional and physical harm. [Matt Schimkowitz]

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12 / 17

Dennis Duffy, 30 Rock

Dennis Duffy, 30 Rock

Liz Breaks Up With Dennis | 30 Rock

Beeper King. Subway Hero. Coffee vending machine entrepreneur. 30 Rock’s Dennis Duffy (Dean Winters) is a loser, and Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) knows it, but there’s an addictive comfort to having his specific type of chaos in her life. So what if he plays Halo under the name “Slut Banger”—he’ll still grab Liz a couple of cheeseburgers at the end of a long day and not care if she eats them in bed. But, like the TV shelf he set up in the corner of Liz’s living room, the comforting cheeseburger facade tends to come crashing down in spectacular fashion. Maybe he’s trying to re-enact a Balloon Boy scenario and frame himself as the hero. Maybe his cousin Teddy and his great Dane arrive uninvited for an indefinite stay in Liz’s apartment. Maybe he shows up on To Catch A Predator, even though he knew that girl was at least 22. Whatever it is, he’s never going to stick the landing—but god, the routine is entertaining to watch. [Jen Lennon]

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13 / 17

The Tammys, Parks And Recreation

The Tammys, Parks And Recreation

Best of Tammy II | Parks and Recreation

Poor Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) has not one but two recurring exes haunting him throughout Parks And Recreation. And they’re both named Tammy. Tammy 1 (Patricia Clarkson) is cold and calculating, while Tammy 2 (played by Nick Offerman’s real-life wife Megan Mullally) is an endlessly chaotic honeypot who commits the extra unforgivable sin of being a “punk-ass book jockey,” a.k.a. a librarian. Eww. Unfortunately for Ron, it’s kind of hard not to root for his misery throughout the series because both are as delightful as they are absolutely terrifying. [Emma Keates]

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14 / 17

Katherine Pierce, The Vampire Diaries

Katherine Pierce, The Vampire Diaries

the best of: Katherine Pierce (TVD)

Katherine Pierce (Nina Dobrev) is a menace, but oh what an amusing, incredibly funny, and hot menace she is. The build-up to her arrival during The Vampire Diaries is intense—she’s the hyped-up ex of both Salvatore brothers, and they secretly still hold a candle for her deep down. Her arrival is nothing short of a jaw-dropper. And over the course of the series, Katherine’s existence often turns our protagonists’ lives upside down. She’s untrustworthy and selfish, but that’s what makes her the ideal, unforgettable villain for The CW’s vampire drama. Dobrev played several roles in TVD, but her appearances as Katherine will always be the standout. (Sorry, Elena Gilbert!) [Saloni Gajjar]

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15 / 17

Pastor Casey, The Mindy Project

Pastor Casey, The Mindy Project

Casey’s DODGY Tattoos - The Mindy Project

The Mindy Project is littered with notable exes of Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling), as well as actors Kaling clearly enjoyed working with based on the fact that they’d return again and again. Perhaps the most memorable of these is Pastor Casey (Anders Holm), Mindy’s former fiancé and a preacher-turned-DJ. They were an on-again, off-again couple who couldn’t help rekindling their romance every time they reunited, managing to match each other for ridiculousness. A lot of great stars passed through The Mindy Project, but what made Casey the best ex was simply Holm’s commitment to the bit and the zany rapport he developed with Kaling. [Mary Kate Carr]

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16 / 17

Tariq Temple, Abbott Elementary

Tariq Temple, Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary 2x19 | Tariq show and Legendary Charter CEO fails his speech

Before anyone raises eyebrows about Tariq’s inclusion in this list because Abbott Elementary is relatively new, let me ask: Have you seen Tariq? He may not have been a good boyfriend to Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson), but he knows how to chew the scenery whenever he shows up—and usually, it’s to do some kind of song-and-dance performance, which makes it even funnier. Here’s hoping he pops up a lot over Abbott’s sure-to-be-lengthy run. [Saloni Gajjar]

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