Sometimes, when a new character is added to a show (like Cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch), the quality of the show goes downhill fast. Other times, the added character actually improves the series. Which characters do you think actually improved the TV series they were on, and basically had the "Reverse Oliver" effect?

Some I can think of right now...

Rebecca (Cheers)
Reverend Jim (Taxi)
Antonio (Wings)

Markie Post improved The Fall Guy tremendously when she joined the cast in the second season.

Also when she joined Night Court,after leaving The Fall Guy,it improved the cast greatly as well.

Jo (Facts of Life) comes to mind immediately right off the top of my head (Trimming down the cast size also helped)

Frasier on Cheers.

Obviously.

Dietrich on Barney Miller

I forgot about Frasier on Cheers. He was a great addition.

well... not live action

but I thought when Timmy was added, South Park really hit it's stride


I also thought the additions of James Marsters and Emma Caulfield as regulars tp Buffy The Vampire Slayer in season 4 both more than made up for David Boreanez and Charisma Carpenter's departures at the end of season 3

Chachi Arcola on Happy Days.

Jack Hunter on Boy Meets World.

Rich On Step By Step.

Roger on Happy Days. (ALOT Of people dont like him, But i think he was an excellent addition to the show and is one of my favorite characters.)

Beans On Even Stevens.

The Entire Powell Family on Charles In Charge was ALOT Better than the Pembrokes.

Mr. Furley on Threes Company. The Ropers were great, But Mr. Furley was excellence.

Sue Ann Nivens - The Mary Tyler Moore Show
And I agree about Antonio on Wings, too!

I'm sure there are others, but those are the only two that come to mind right now.

I don't know for certain if this addition improved the acutal qualityof the show, but it did improve (and increased) the longetivity of this particular sitcom...

Steve Urkel on Family Matters

I watched Family Matters from its beginning on ABC in 1989 to its conclusion on CBS in 1998 (I think its final episode aired the night after Seinfeld's on NBC). To me, the show was decent pre-Urkel, but the Urkel addition put the show on the map.

I think Frasier is the epitome of the reverse Oliver effect.

Lilith also greatly improved the show when she became a regular.

I don't think Rebecca fit that exactly. As I see it, the improvement in the show didn't originated from her character specifically. I believe there were other factors involved.

Originally posted by Chambers
I don't think Rebecca fit that exactly. As I see it, the improvement in the show didn't originated from her character specifically. I believe there were other factors involved.

Namely the writing.

Originally posted by AKA
Namely the writing.

Yes, that and treating the cast as more of an ensemble cast, thereby renewing the energy among the characters. I personally like the way things were in the earlier seasons, but I know there are people who like this style better. So my point was that these changes were not due to Rebecca's arrival - it was more a result of Diane's departure than anything else.

How about Newman on Seinfeld?

Jack Hunter Boy Meets World

Rich on Step By Step

Jefferson on Married with Children

Casey on Wings

Frasier, Lillith and Woody on Cheers

BJ and Col. Potter on M*A*S*H

Originally posted by Chambers
How about Newman on Seinfeld?

I think I prefer the episodes without Newman.

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Jack Hunter Boy Meets World

Although it didnt go bad.... I prefer the episodes without him.

Anyways.... definately Frasier on Cheers.

Also.... Terry on Three's Company.
After the Chrissy character became a buffoon and the terrible Cindy.... Terry was a VERY welcome addition.

Also.... Larry Dallas on Three's Company. Most underrated TV character ever.

Originally posted by barwars
Although it didnt go bad.... I prefer the episodes without him.

Anyways.... definately Frasier on Cheers.

Also.... Terry on Three's Company.
After the Chrissy character became a buffoon and the terrible Cindy.... Terry was a VERY welcome addition.

Also.... Larry Dallas on Three's Company. Most underrated TV character ever.

:lol: I like Jack and Rachel on BMW, but the show could do without them and it wouldn't have hurt the show.

I prefer Cindy over Terry, but I like both

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:lol: I like Jack and Rachel on BMW, but the show could do without them and it wouldn't have hurt the show.

I prefer Cindy over Terry, but I like both

Im liking the name.
When'd you change it??

Originally posted by barwars
Im liking the name.
When'd you change it??

Thanks, I wasn't sure if anyone would like it, thanks for the suggestion :)

TJ just changed it today :)

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Thanks, I wasn't sure if anyone would like it, thanks for the suggestion :)

TJ just changed it today :)

cool.
I hope you like it.

One of the best additions ever to an existing show was Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H. Charles(brilliantly played by David Ogden Stiers) finally provided Hawkeye with a worthy rival as opposed to the human punching bag Frank Burns.(played by the underrated Larry Linville) This gave the writers a whole new set of stories to tell and allowed them to expose unbefore seen facets of the existing characters as they interacted with and adjusted to this new prescence in camp.:wave: