History Main / StereotypicalNerd

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Peter Parker]]. A scientific genius from a young age, rather milquetoast from being raised by a loving but elderly couple, and in early appearances socially inept and unfashionable. In his subsequent appearances, though he's gotten ProgressivelyPrettier and more confident, he's retained most of his gadget geek, ScienceHero nerdiness.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Peter Parker. A scientific genius from a young age, rather milquetoast from being raised by a loving but elderly couple, and in early appearances socially inept and unfashionable. In his subsequent appearances, though he's gotten ProgressivelyPrettier and more confident, he's retained most of his gadget geek, ScienceHero nerdiness.
* ''ComicBook/WonderGirl'': Cassie Sandsmark started out fairly nerdy--not spending any time concerned about her appearance and clothing, being very interested in history and feeling awkward in most social situations--but she grew out of this characterization.

** Sheldon: The modernized reconstruction on the classic trope, theoretical physicist Sheldon swaps the overly formal bland clothes for fandom t-shirts, but otherwise is the embodiment of the trope. He has NoSocialSkills but doesn't care as he believes most people to be [[InsufferableGenius intellectually inferior]] anyways and will [[BrutalHonesty tell them this to their faces]]. Among a group of doctors, he is still TheSmartGuy. He's frequently the ButtMonkey and had a HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood filled with [[BullyMagnet bullies]].

* An interest in '''"nerdy" hobbies''' usually to {{Fanboy}} and {{Fangirl}} levels. These are almost always non-mainstream, niche subcultures, though which one changes with the times. Classically this includes interests in [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork academic success]]; anything related to the STEM fields[[note]]Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math[[/note]]; [[GadgeteerGenius building gadgets]]; gaming (particularly computer and tabletop games); anything related to science fiction, speculative fiction, and high fantasy (especially ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', and ''Franchise/StarWars''); {{LARP}}-ing; comic books; anime and manga; and [[NerdHoardcollecting and cataloguing obscure items]].

* An interest in '''"nerdy" hobbies''' usually to {{Fanboy}} and {{Fangirl}} levels. These are almost always non-mainstream, niche subcultures, though which one changes with the times. Classically this includes interests in [[NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork academic success]]; anything related to the STEM fields[[note]]Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math[[/note]]; [[GadgeteerGenius building gadgets]]; gaming (particularly computer and tabletop games); anything related to science fiction, speculative fiction, and high fantasy (especially ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'', ''Franchise/StarTrek'', and ''Franchise/StarWars''); {{LARP}}-ing; comic books; anime and manga; and collecting and cataloguing obscure items.

A prominent StockCharacter of teen comedies of the '70s and '80s, the Stereotypical Nerd is a specific kind of nerd or {{geek}} character that has the following characteristics:

* '''No sense of fashion''' of either the "outdated and bland" or "overly prim and proper" variety. LimitedWardrobe, NerdGlasses and UncoolUndies are a given. Also common are high waisted and belted khaki pants or slacks, loafers and other dress shoes, fully exposed tube or dress socks, button down shirts and polos (plaid and checkered pattern if you really want to stick to the formula, and usually buttoned all the way to the collar), a [[DorkInASweater sweater or sweater-vest]], and nerdy accessories like a pocket protector. This lack of style applies to hairstyles too, and features slicked down and clearly parted hair for boys and long twin plaits for girls. While there's plenty of variation, the two words that should come to mind when looking at the Stereotypical Nerd are "uncool" and "dowdy".

* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', the man from the Ajik Capital and his identical twin brother look very nerdy, with short blonde hair, NerdGlasses, buck teeth, and tacky shirts with vests. They also speak with a nasally voice [[FunetikAksent liiike thiiisss.]]

* ''Film/BackToTheFuture'': In the original timeline, Marty's father George is a meek and introverted adult who wears NerdGlasses, has slicked down, side-parted hair, wears a button down and tie with a pocket-protector. When Marty goes back in time, he realizes that his dad has always been this way, on top of being an ExtremeDoormat and a BullyMagnet who is picked on by Biff and struggles to talk to his crush Lorraine. This does change though as Marty teaches George to stand up for himself.

* ''Series/FamilyMatters''' Steve Urkel is the poster child for a BlackAndNerdy version of this trope. He wears NerdGlasses, speaks with NerdyNasalness, has an obnxious laugh, wears plaid shirts tucked into slacks with suspenders, is a TVGenius, a BullyMagnet, and is considered in-universe to be unattractive and annoying. That's not even mentioning him thinking of himself as a smooth [[CasanovaWannabe ladies man]].

* Music/WeirdAlYankovic has an entire song parodying this trope called "White & Nerdy". According to the song, too white and nerdy to hang out with gangsters because he's an MIT grad, wears braces, a pocket protector, and UncoolUndies, and has a slew of nerdy interests like ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', ''Series/StarTrek'', {{LARP}}ing, math, science, chess, and tech.

* '''Physically unattractive''' partially because of the above, but also because they have a GeekPhysique, BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill or PubescentBraces (or GoofyBuckteeth), extensive acne, YouthfulFreckles, NerdyNasalness and an [[AnnoyingLaugh obnoxious, guffawing, even snorting laugh]] that leaves their frail bodies wheezing hard enough they need to break out the NerdyInhaler. Other often mocked speech impediments like a lisp or a prominent stutter also qualify. Because of the idea that RedheadsAreUncool, red hair is also used as a visual shorthand.[[note]]That said, if the nerd is being portrayed sympathetically, due to BeautyEqualsGoodness they will frequently be revealed to be BeautifulAllAlong, just in need of a haircut, wardrobe change, and [[TheGlassesGottaGo contacts]] to go from geek to chic.[[/note]]

* '''Socially inept''' or '''socially awkward''' with NoSocialSkills. They are often TheQuietOne or a ShrinkingViolet with just the thought of being in a social setting outside of their comfort zone turning them into a NervousWreck. And don't even talk about talking to a love interest, which they [[CannotTalkToWomen struggle to do]], often becoming an AbhorrentAdmirer or HopelessSuitor. Another variation of this is the nerd being [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] or making InnocentlyInsensitive comments because they can't read the room. As difficulty socializing and communicating are characteristics of HollywoodAutism, more recent depictions of the Stereotypical Nerd may actually be autistic or heavily implied to be so.

** Howard: A JewishAndNerdy aeronautical engineer with a bowl cut, often wearing plaid button down shirts tucked into unflatteringly tight and belted pants a la DiscoDan. He's also a pervy ExtravertedNerd and CasanovaWannabe, becoming an AbhorrentAdmirer for Penny early on.

* ''Series/FamilyMatters''' Steve Urkel is the poster child for a BlackAndNerdy version of this trope. He wears NerdGlasses, speaks with NerdyNasalness, has an obnxious laugh, wears plaid shirts tucked into slacks with suspenders, is a TVGenius, a BullyMagnet, and is considered in-universe to be unattractive and annoying. That's not even mentioning his ExtravertedNerd qualities of thinking he's a smooth [[CasanovaWannabe ladies man]].

** Irwin Chung is of [[AsianAndNerdy Chinese]] and [[JewishAndNerdy Jewish]] descent. Appearance-wise, he's [[GeekPhysique thin and weak]], wears NerdGlasses, has a big GagNose, NerdGlasses, carries a NerdyInhaler, and a bowl cut hairstyle. He also wears a sweater vest over a button down and brown slacks. Personality-wise, he's fearful of almost everything and accident-prone. Despite that, he exhibits some ExtravertedNerd tendencies by constantly hitting on Becky, seemingly oblivious to how bad he is at it.

*** Cody, who's title is "[[LampshadeHanging The Geek]]", is a tech-savvy dweeb who is [[ExtravertedNerd oblivious to how much of a dweeb he is]] and a CasanovaWannabe, much to the displeasure of all the girls on the island.

** Bernadette is a glasses-wearing microbiologist with a penchant for [[SweaterGirl cardigans]] and other more conservative clothing. When she was first introduced, she exhibited some DitzyGenius tendencies, not understanding most of the jokes the guys made, but this seems to be more because she doesn't share their interest in nerdy hobbies rather than because she has NoSocialSkills; her kindness and friendliness (pre-{{Flanderization}}) were her defining character traits. However, she has been selected as one of the fifty most beautiful female scientists in California, and she has discussed her rather extensive dating experience in the past.