If I wanted to make videos about as a TV character just for fun is that illegal?

You can probably claim the parody exemption depending on the content.

You need to talk with a lawyer who knows this exact area of law discuss exactly what you plan to do. I get these kind of questions a lot. Depending on what exactly you are doing, it may violate copyright, trademark, right of publicity, or it may not. Violating copyright does not depend on making money. Don't take this as legal advice, but if there are things on Youtube that don't belong there, in most cases, the videos are removed off Youtube, and that is the end of it. If there has been a copyright claim on a youtube video, then even if it has been removed, it usually won't be accepted for ads. It is really important to discuss exactly what you want to do with a lawyer, since I cannot give you specific legal advice here, and since any lawyer needs to know exactly what you have planned. Another issue here is if you are violating trademark, right.