The classic bad girl. The world's best dog. The angst-ridden teen in a world of phonies. The brilliant, murderous villain. The best fictional characters are interesting not only for who they are, but also for what they tell us about who we are. From January through June, NPR presents "In Character," an exploration of the origins and impact of iconic American characters from Atticus Finch to Tarzan.

Coming April 5 on Weekend Edition - Eric Cartman
The potty-mouthed, cut-out fat kid from TV's South Park is the walking personification of political incorrectness. Everything naughty you've ever thought, even fleetingly, he's said or done. And that's the secret of his -- and the show's -- popularity. Cartman isn't afraid to make a fool of himself, or of anyone else, from Brian Boitano to Satan to Elian Gonzales. NPR's Julie Rovner has the profile.

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