7 Nostalgic Shows With Once-Iconic ‘Weird Next-Door Neighbor’ Trope

The 1990s and 2000s series, especially sitcoms, used to exploit identical clichés, which were recurrent from one show to another. Not all of these tropes lived up to these days, and to be frank, we still miss them sometimes.

Remember the “bizarre next-door neighbor” trope (which, for instance, WandaVision has twisted recently)? Here are 7 old shows featuring freaky onscreen neighbors – without a catch or anything like that. Just pure comfort of the 2000s.

1. Friends - Mr. Heckles

Portrayed by Larry Hankin, the downstairs neighbor of Monica and Rachel was definitely an odd man, both by his goofy appearance, including him wearing a bathrobe all the time, and his annoying behavior, as he was always complaining about the noise.

2. Full House - Kimmy Gibbler

This character literally spoiled the lives of the adults of Tanner’s house, even though she was D.J.'s best friend. Known for her inconsiderable decisions, which were raising her neighbors’ questions all the way, she became also annoying for the show’s fans.

3. Desperate Housewives - Edie Britt

Edie, brilliantly portrayed by Nicollette Sheridan, seemed to be the most insufferable woman on Wisteria Lane, with her manipulative, mean and cunning nature, which greatly interfered with the main heroine’s aspirations towards peaceful life.

4. Family Matters - Steve Urkel

Here comes quite a nasty, but, nevertheless, beloved character, the Winslows’ nerdy neighbor, who was originally written to appear as a one-time character. However, he quickly became the show's breakout character, getting in the way of the family.

5. That 70’s Show - Bob Pinciotti

Despite the series’ focus on teenage characters, Bob steals viewers’ attention every time he’s on screen. The Formans’ next-door neighbor is shown in a comically absurd way, with all his songs and eating habits being especially wacky, but extremely hilarious too.

6. Married... with Children - Marcy Rhoades/D'Arcy

The main characters’ attitude towards their freaky next-door woman is divided just like our own perception of Marcy. Sometimes we totally understand her just like Peggy but, however, sometimes it’s difficult to stand her eccentric figure, the same as it was for Al.

7. Everybody Loves Raymond - Frank and Marie Barone

Being the parents for the main show’s character, they gladly decided to reside just across the street, much to their son’s content, of course, and much to our constant laugh of their cringey relationship, with Frank and Mary always criticizing Ray.