Archie Bunker is the best example I can think of. It seemed that each season he got dumber than the one before.

That's right. He used to drink in the bar, too with Hawkeye, Trapper John and Spearchucker. After the first season or two, it was all Grape Nehi.

Good call on Screech.

Sam from Cheers is the one that sticks out the most with me. In the beginning, he was actually a pretty smart guy, regularly holding his own against Diane. By the end of the show he was reduced to a walking penis.

Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle started out as a genius savant and ended up being as dumb as his brother Reese. This has to be the most extreme example.

Matthew (Andy Dick) on Newsradio. He became dumber and dumber as the show went on. I even recall Andy Dick in an interview once saying that as the seasons progressed he thought Matthew was bordering on mental retardation.

The obvious answer is Homer Simpson.

Yeah, it is really weird watching early episodes of The Simpsons, where Homer is portrayed as ill-tempered and unambitious. And then they started portraying his him clueless, and he just got dumber and dumber until he comes off as being brain-damaged.

Locke from Season One to Season Two of Lost, however they seem to have reinstated him a little since. He's still not regained the Obi-Wan-esque air about him that he had in the debut season, though.

A few people have mentioned heroes, but I think that the only one who has gotten dumber is Suresh. The others, like Peter and Claire, simply haven't gotten smarter from the first season. They werent dumb then, but with two and a half seasons worth of experience, they should be smarter. Thats why they seem to be getting dumber. Suresh is just a moron now though.

Kate in Lost.

Not sure if I agree with this one either. She's just been domesticated. She used to be a fugitive, but she still can track people through the jungle like nobody's business. She still handles a gun quite competently. She's just had three months of living without fear of a US Marshall on her tail, which allowed her to fall for two guys. Without ruining anything, same goes for her current flashbacks. She still doesn't take shit from anyone, including Jack.

I don't think we know enough of her pre-fugitive character to see a progression.

More pompous and pretentious... but definitely not dumber.

Randy is the main reason why I don't watch My Name is Earl, his character is just too stupid.

I also have a agree with Michael Scott, he should do stupid things but since he is their leader he has to be the one that fixes them. They have that happen from time to time but nowhere near the amout they should.

Michael Scott has become over the top and ridiculous.

Boner from Growing Pains

Not so much dumber, but his character has undergone a shift: David Caruso's Horatio Caine. When CSI: Miami first started, he had a strong melodramatic touch, but he was also down to earth. These past few years, he's become a ridiculous parody of his former self.

He rarely does anything but stand around, pose, and deliver one-liners while putting on or removing his sunglasses. Yes, he's done that since the beginning, but not like now. He barely even participates: He sees something on the floor, wonders aloud what it is, and then waits for someone else to pick it up and examine it. I don't imagine Gil Grissom or Mac Taylor doing that.

Horatio is now this untouchable force. He gets "shot" in the season finale, and I had hopes that something had finally happened to bring him down a bit. But, no, he planned the whole thing. Because nothing can ever happen to him!

--THX

::

"uh oh, spaghethi-o's"

Edit-Ha so The Simpsons is on now, and it's the clip show where they show the montage of Homer getting dumber as the seasons progress.

Kelso from That 70s Show started out dumb but managed to get dumber as the show went on.

I'd say Fez was heading down that road as well.

Locke being a putz was been built into the character since his first flashback in the third episode of season one. While he was displaying leadership qualities on the island, he was shown to be a complete loser in his flashback.

Yeah I know, sometimes I have to turn away or change the channel as he is just so stupid. The first season was horrible but the second and third season he got better but now is starting to regress.

That's what Ricky Gervais was so skilled at. David Brent would do things because he thought it would make people like him more. But Michael doesn't care. He's clueless and rude.

Potsie from Happy Days. He was originally supposed to be Richie's cool friend before the Fonzie character took off. As the years went by, he became less intelligent AND a loser. Except when he memorized that pump your blood song for class.

Randy on My Name Is Earl is a good one.