It’s hard to think of a TV show that is more of a guilty pleasure than the ’90s drama Melrose Place (besides anything in the reality TV genre, that is). The show aired for seven seasons from 1992 until 1999 and followed a group of young people in an apartment building.
While the first season began as a fairly typical young adult drama and the characters were all struggling with money and their personal lives, that quickly changed. Before too long, Melrose Place was known as a show where anything could and did happen. Every episode is wildly entertaining (and just plain wild). Let’s take a look at the MBTI of the main characters on this soapy show.
Jo Reynolds: ESFP
Daphne Zuniga’s Melrose Place character is Jo Reynolds, who has a passion and talent for photography. She doesn’t have the best luck in her dating life and is trying to get away from her husband, who didn’t treat her well.
Her MBTI would be ESFP or “Energetic Problem-Solver.” She’s “alert” and has “good humor” but is also someone who will “apply common sense and experience to problems.” Jo is someone who puts up walls and seems very tough, but she’s got a sweet, artistic soul since she’s such a great photographer. She’ll do what has to be done, like when she stops her former lover Reed Carter from ending her life and, instead, ends his.
Jake Hanson: INFJ
Jake Hanson (Grant Show) is quite the ladies man in the apartment building on Melrose Place. He dates Jo for a while and they’re so similar that it’s a pretty passionate relationship. He also dates Alison and Sydney.
Jake is an INFJ or “Insightful Visionary.” He’s got the “sensitive and reserved” part of this personality type, and he’s also “private.” Like other characters who are given a lot of attention for their good looks, Jake doesn’t have a ton to him. Sometimes he’s nice but for the most part, he’s pretty gruff. He’s the kind of person who everyone falls in love with but he’s quick to get angry and feel like others are trying to wrong him.
Matt Fielding: INFP
Matt Fielding (Doug Savant) would be an INFP or “Thoughtful Idealist” as he’s in the field of social work. He sounds like the description: “They typically try to help others with their growth and inner development to reach their full potential.”
Matt is “virtuous” and “loyal.” Many people feel that his character wasn’t given enough of a fair shot because he didn’t have successful relationships. He’s also got other INFP traits such as being “concerned” and “idealistic.” He marries Katya Petrova in order for her and her child to live in the U.S. Matt often thinks about others more than himself and after relocating to San Francisco, he tragically dies in a car accident.
Jane Andrews Mancini: ISFJ
Josie Bissett’s Melrose Place character and Michael Mancini are married for a little while, but then he cheats on her with Kimberly. She’s the older sister of Sydney.
Jane is a talented designer who seems like an ISFJ or “Practical Helper.” She sounds like the description: “responsible, loyal, and traditional and enjoy serving the needs of others and providing practical assistance.” She’s nice but seems like the kind of person who is easily convinced. She doesn’t stand out as having that many unique characteristics, unlike the other Melrose Place characters.
Billy Campbell: ENFJ
Andrew Shue played Billy Campbell, a guy with huge writing dreams who has a sensitive nature and seems very easygoing. It’s no wonder that so many of the women on Melrose Place love him, from Alison to Amanda.
Billy is an ENFJ or “Compassionate Facilitator.” As a writer, he’s “verbal” and he’s also “people-oriented.” He’s also “compassionate.” Billy is definitely naive and innocent, and he dates Amanda even though it’s clear that she’s just doing that in order to make Alison envious.
Dr. Michael Mancini: INTP
Thomas Calabro’s Melrose Place character is Dr. Michael Mancini. He’s just as crazy as Kimberly, even though he would never admit it.
Michael would be an INTP or “Objective Analyst.” He sounds like the description: “They typically adopt a detached and concise way of analyzing the world and often uncover new or innovative approaches.” He’s mostly talked about for constantly cheating on whoever his current partner is, and he has quite the creative way of making sure that he’s always in a relationship and always doing well at work. He’s “cognitive” since he’s a doctor and also someone who will “challenge others.”
Sydney Andrews: ESTJ
Laura Leighton played Sydney Andrews on this juicy TV drama (and now she’s married to her co-star, Doug Savant). She’s headstrong and wants to be with Michael, even though he was married to her very own sister.
Sydney sounds a lot like an ESTJ or “Efficient Organizer.” She’s “practical” and “direct.” Sydney’s life purpose seems to be to figure out who she wants to date and if they don’t want to be with her or it doesn’t work out, she makes it her mission to cause them pain. Like Matt, she ends up dying because of a car accident (this time, a car kills her when she’s at a wedding).
Kimberly Shaw: ENTP
Kimberly Shaw (Marcia Cross) is well-known for two big reasons: she’s with Michael during his marriage to Jane… and she blows up the apartment complex in the third season finale (called “The Big Bang Theory.”)
Kimberly is an incredibly fun character to watch as she’s pretty nuts. She’s always planning and scheming and fans never knew what she was going to do next. Since she’s so creative with her schemes, she would be an ENTP or “Enterprising Explorer.” She’s definitely “challenging” and “lively.” She attempts to murder Michael several times and even wears a wig (and in one crazy scene, she pulls it off to show off the most disgusting scar ever).
Amanda Woodward: ENTJ
Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear) seems perfect: she’s beautiful, smart, and works at D&D Advertising. She gets what she wants: fancy clothing, a top job, and Billy Campbell (much to Alison’s dismay).
When it comes to Amanda’s MBTI, it would have to be ENTJ or “Decisive Strategist.” She gives Kimberly a run for her money in terms of organized schemes. She loves being a leader but, unfortunately, she thinks that she’s better than everyone. She’s a “take charge” person who is “challenging.” Just one of her schemes: after she has to take time off from work because of her cancer, she and Brooke Armstrong (played by Kristin Davis) try to get in charge of D&D.
Alison Parker: ESFP
Courtney Thorne-Smith’s Melrose Place character works her way up at D&D Advertising. She starts off working in reception and then has a much higher position.
Alison is a bit whiny and overly emotional at times. She struggles with drinking and drugs, and she’s in love with both Jake and Billy over the course of the show. She’s got a massive problem with Amanda and always feels that the world is out to get her. Her MBTI would be an ESFP or “Enthusiastic Improviser.” While she can be described as someone who loves life “and being around other people” she’s “action oriented” (sometimes to a fault, like when she can’t stop being jealous and does crazy things in response).
