The lovable loser is a character archetype portrayed as a sympathetic, likable, or well-meaning person for whom bad luck continually prevents their various efforts from succeeding, and from obtaining the things they feel will bring them happiness,[1] particularly an idealized true love.
[2] Examples of lovable losers in media include Charlie Brown, the main character of the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz,[3] whose exploits in futility include an inability to fly a kite without getting it stuck in a tree, never receiving valentines from anyone in his school class, being the pitcher on a winless baseball team, and repeatedly being convinced by Lucy to try to kick a football, only for her to yank it away at the last second; Chandler Bing on Friends, who for most of the show's run was unable to find romance (in contrast with his roommate, Joey Tribbiani, who easily fell into meaningless relationships);[1] and Andy, the main character in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, who must deal with overly forward efforts by his friends and coworkers who want to help him lose his virginity.
[2] At one time it was noted that "[a]lmost every top-rated series has a regular, dependable loser; a patsy who always gets the short end of the stick, a fall guy who is left with egg on his face".
[7][8] A 1961 college football game preview predicting a loss for Indiana University described the team's head coach, Phil Dickens as a "big lovable loser".
In cycling, French rider Raymond Poulidor has been described as a lovable loser: he earned the nickname "the eternal second" as never won the Tour de France or wore the yellow jersey, despite scoring three runner-up finishes and five third places, and was eclipsed by his rival and compatriot Jacques Anquetil.