When New Girl's Jess (Zooey Deschanel) hit the sitcom scene, she was touted as the ultimate in adorable, excuse us, "adorkable." Those doe eyes, romantic notions and made-up songs — so cute! To a point, that is. And we've reached that point where we want to slap her overactive jazz hands and strangle TV's resident manic pixie dream girl once and for all. Sorry, Jess, but your appeal has turned into utterly annoying shtick, and there's only so much cluelessness we can excuse. In fact, several other TV characters are more lovable than what Jess has become. Keep on clicking to see the possible usurpers of the throne of adorableness.

Leslie Knope is the epitome of adorkable. Whether it's her pun-tastic election campaign slogan — Knope We Can! — or her extreme love of waffles at all hours of the day, the former Parks Department worker-turned-Councilwoman always has a shiny outlook on life.

Although the youngest Stark daughter has been parted from her family, that's not the only reason we want to adopt her. The wide-eyed tween moppet won us over with her fierce and unwavering loyalty, brutal honesty (to the horror of glam older sis Sansa) and tomboyish ways in a land where girls are often relegated to second-class status. She may be small, but her spirit is mighty, and with her pipsqueak-sized sword Needle, she has this adorable contest all sewn up.

While New Girl's Jess is a regressing, mentally pre-pubescent girl who can't even say "penis," Mindy is perfectly comfortable with any and all anatomical terms (and not just because she's an OB/GYN). Both confident and yet somehow insecure, the contradiction that is Mindy always goes after what she wants and very often fails spectacularly. But Mindy has enough self-awareness to realize her shortcomings and doesn't beat herself up too much over mistakes. No whining here!

Although she's grown up around her country star uncle, Scarlett has maintained a refreshing naivete about just how cutthroat the world of music can be. Now that she has cut her awful wannabe rocker boyfriend loose, Scarlett has begun to blossom in an exciting and empowering way. Beneath that innocent, curly-haired demeanor lurks a proud but strongly principled woman who can speak her mind, write a heartbreaking song and warble out a twangy ballad with the best of them. We're rooting for this feisty Southern belle!

This ginger-haired high schooler pursues her social and educational ideals with such earnestness and energy, we can't help but join her weekly fight against suburban mediocrity. But despite her high-minded standards, she is still a teenager and embraces it. Girl, there is no shame in loving your hot boyfriend or selling pretty crystal. Also, can we please raid Tessa's closet? How many perfectly fitted sweaters, colored tights and Peter Pan-collared shirts does one girl need?

Sure, this 9-year-old Ohio transplant is adorable purely based on her looks, but Shania really is the whole package. She's brainy and articulate without being a know-it-all, and she can do impressions! Oh, so many impressions! Although she looked pretty fierce with that Cher wig and she did a divine Dowager Countess, it’s always her spot-on Grey Gardens impersonation that really warms our hearts.

Plain and simple, Alex is the dumb one of the group. But that's exactly why she's become one of our favorite characters on television. Her complete lack of common sense and knowledge — like being the last one to figure out why the "bank" refused to let Max make a deposit (it was a sperm bank) — is so endearing, we can't help but embrace her. But it was her Keyser Soze-esque turn as the group's merry prankster that made us fall in love: "I'm not as dumb as I am."

Her haircut notwithstanding, Haddie is almost the perfect imperfect daughter. She's not as edgy as Amber, but she's also nowhere as cloying as Jess. After all, who hasn't smoked a little pot and dated a homeless recovering alcoholic? No?

In a TV landscape full of cynical, sarcastic characters, Sue is a breath of fresh air. Sure she's socially awkward, but her bubbly optimism comes through in everything she does. (Not many people would be smiling after learning that they need braces — for a second time!) She may be often overlooked or excluded by her peers, but her warmth and her genuine personality makes us wish she was part of our circle of friends right now!

Erin is the absolute essence of "adorkable." Like a wide-eyed woodland creature, Erin approaches everything — from her mundane job as a receptionist to a mild flirtation with new office hottie Pete — with charming positivity and enthusiasm. Sure, she may be a little naive at times (remember: you develop the pictures before throwing away a disposable camera) but that's part of the reason we love her.

When Sam first joined New Directions in Season 2, he was little more than a shirtless trouty mouth who knew how to play guitar. Two years later, Sam is one of the biggest standouts on Glee thanks to his beautiful singing voice, arsenal of silly impressions, unwavering enthusiasm and complete cluelessness about… well, pretty much everything. It also doesn't hurt that viewers have seen firsthand just how adorable White Chocolate's chest and abs are too.

HankMed's overly eager and aggressive CFO could come off as utterly annoying, but Costanzo makes Hank's self-involved baby bro the supportive and enthusiastic sibling everyone wishes they had. Although he can be corny and a little lacking in the self-awareness department at times, Evan is utterly charming — which is an accomplishment next to the effortlessly charismatic Dr. Hank.

We're not going to sugarcoat it: Any child would look adorable next to the well-meaning but completely annoying Grace, who has caused too many parental headaches to count. But it's also Zach's loyalty to his parents in their time of need that has always made him the dream teenage son that melted our hearts. In Season 1, he consoled his mom during both economic and personal hard times and lied to a police officer to keep his dad out of jail. Here's hoping he stays close to home for college — we're just not ready to let go!

Luke and Alex Dunphy (Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter), Modern Family The two younger siblings in the Dunphy family have each successfully toed the fine line in child acting between being cute and being annoying. Luke takes after his father Phil: He reminds us of a dumb puppy who means well but is always getting into mischief. (Fun fact: Gould is actually a member of Mensa. Seriously!) Alex, on the other hand, is like the nerdy little sister we all wish we had to coax through her growing pains and science projects.

It's impossible not to love the OMG-talking sidekick to the odd and quirky Jenna. Whether she's pining for her ex Ricky or just trying to fit in, you can't help but root for her and laugh along with her.

Things aren't easy for Boo, but that never stops her from going after what she wants (no matter how misguided). An awkward marriage proposal, her disguise-riddled Joffrey auditions, dumpster diving — Boo can do just about anything and make it endearing!

Annie is completely delusional and a tad neurotic, but we love her all the more for it! Whether she's daydreaming about Jeff or hanging in the Dreamatorium, our favorite Adderall addict is adorably optimistic (albeit a little a lot naive). Her collection of cardigans and floral dresses don't hurt her charm either.

In all honesty, the kid really has no friends. If you think about it, he comes home every weekend from college just to hang out with his mother and her wine-swilling friends. But he's the youthful comedic relief. We can't help but root for him as he pines for Laurie. MFEO, right? And remember when he was stuck wearing a helmet for a whole season? Poor guy.

It's easy to understand why companion Amy Pond waited for the alien Time Lord for so long: It takes two hearts to be that lovable (and to pull off a fez)! Plus, he's quirky, adventurous and will always save you in the nick of time. Though, he is usually the one who put you in danger in the first place, but who can hold a grudge? Plus, bowties are cool!

This fresh-faced, spunky teen oozes adorableness. Even when she's trying to play adult in the city with her fashion-forward style and "grown-up" conversations, she still exudes an aura that manages to be innocent, cute and self-confident at the same time.

With all the scheming and backstabbing that occurs at Downton, this 1920s-era downstairs assistant cook is a breath of fresh air. Unlike everyone else in this buttoned-up time period, she wears her heart on her sleeve and is brimming with good intentions. Though, she does have terrible taste in men. But it's this cluelessness that just makes us love her more!