Mine would be Mel Sharples from "Alice". This man to me carried the show. I liked him better than Alice herself. She was boring.

Edith Bunker - All In the Family. Jean Stapleton was excellent in that role and a good counterpart to Carroll O'Connor.

Laura Petrie - The Dick Van Dyke Show. Even though Rose Marie originally was supposed to be the second banana on the show Mary Tyler Moore showed her ability to do comedy and she became the lead actress on the show. On the opening credits MTM was always introduced last as, "and Mary Tyler Moore." Mary had an important role on the show and it was the chemistry between her and Dick Van Dyke that made the show. Their relationship looked more realistic. That's what brought about the friction between Rose Marie and Mary.

Kramer - he dominated the second banana role, imo.

Even though it was an ensemble Joey and Phoebe were second bananas to the others....on Friends...

other great second bananas... Brad Garrett on Raymond and Sean Hayes and Megan Mullaly on Will and Grace....Kathy Kinney on The Drew Carey Show

Ed Norton - The Honeymooners Art Carney pretty much invented/created the second banana term with his work on this series. :wave:

Ethel Mertz - I Love Lucy

Ethel Mertz

Edith Bunker

Barbra Jean-Reba

Chelsea - That's So Raven

Harvey Korman of course :lol:

Jackie Harris- Roseanne

Gotta be Ed Norton

Norton and Kramer of course. My other faves would HAVE to be Rhoda (once the spinoff came along, it just didn't click without Mary there :( ), Edith, Ethel, George Costanza, Barney Fife, Larry Dallas, and Skipper.

pat

The Sweathogs!

Ethel Mertz and Edith Bunker