Break-out characters

[baronzzz]

Many shows seem to develop supporting characters that become so popular that the show's plots gradually change to give the "break-out character" more to do. But it drives me crazy sometimes when one character becomes so popular that the show changes to revolve around that character. It happened on Happy Days (Fonzie) and Family Matters (Urkel).

But other shows like 227 (Sandra Clarke), Green Acres (Arnold the Pig), Leave it to Beaver (Eddie Haskell) managed to keep them under control and still add to the general flavor of the show.

Other break-out characters like Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels), Suzanne Somers (Three's Company), and Valerie Harper (went to Rhoda out of MTM) left before their characters could "take over".

Who's your favorite break-out character and did he/she change the show, add more depth to the show, ruin the show or just leave the show before it ended its run? :crazy:

[Ant-Lox]

Hawkeye on Mash, was my favorite, but in the last few years of mash, it became hawkeye overkill...thats why i like the early seasons more when it was more about the cast as a whole...

[Brian Damage]

Jimmie Walker aka JJ on Good Times was a breakout character. The show wasn't as good when it was built around him.

[Ireneparalegal]

Flo on ALICE

[Buffyboy323]

Hmm...Jo on "Facts Of Life?", Cody on "Step By Step", and Darlene on "Roseanne."

[snl 70s show fan]

how about kelso on that 70s show

[db108108]

More interesting still are those characters that became bigger than the show itself. For instance, Steve Urkel. I bet more people recognize that name than the show he came from. Any others?

[Scoobiedoo30]

I would also have to say Hawkeye on M*A*S*H

[baronzzz]

I remember reading that in about the third season or so of Seinfeld, the audience would start clapping when Kramer would make his sliding entrance into Jerry's apt. But they (the producers?) cut that off. When a character only has to make an entrance and gets applause, he's got to be a breakout character!

[Chad Michael Murray]

How about Michelle on Full House? As she (they) got older and could handle a bigger role, there were a lot more stories on the show revolving around the character.

[Janice]

Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties.

Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter.

[Dragonflies]

Shawn on Boy Meets World, Cody on Step by Step, Urkel on Family Matters

[dlemond]

Breakout characters that didn't take over a show:

Louie DePalma - Taxi
Benson - Soap
Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP in Cincinnati

[Brian Damage]

Mike Seaver on Growing Pains

[Michael72581]

Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties)

[mstewart]

Flo on ALICE

That was why there was friction between her and Linda Lavin because people were saying that Flo was the star and the show was called Alice.

Another breakout character was Monroe Ficus of Too Close for Comfort. Jm J. Bullock, who played Monroe, was suppose to do a one shot guest spot. He was so popular that he became a regular. Frankly I did not like Monroe. Ted Knight was a good comic actor and Nancy Dussault is a good comedienne. Too bad her character of Muriel Rush was not develop enough because Nancy can do comedy.

[Buffyboy323]

Both Six and Joey on "Blossom."

Kim on "Moesha." (Eventually leading to her own Spinoff)

What about Edith Bunker? She sometimes stole the show, IMO.

[moeee]

Grady from Sanford and Son tried his own show, but didnt last very long.