https://screenrant.com/tv-characters-saved-shows/
While plenty of TV shows have introduced new characters after a few seasons, these 11 characters ended up saving their respective TV shows.
Duster76
07-20-2023, 11:27 PM
Here we go again, another poorly constructed list by screenrant. I'll address two headscratchers, Amy's addition to the The Big Bang Theory and BJ's to MASH.
Season 3 of TBBT was the breakout season, the show catapulted from number 40 to number 12. Amy appeared briefly in the final scene of the third season. That's it. The character was a great addition don't get me wrong, but the show didn't need saving, it was already a hit and still climbing before she arrived and continued that way for the remainder of its run. Therefore to categorize Amy as a character "that saved their show" is ridiculous.
By Season 3 MASH was already a smash, BJ showed up in season 4, the show didn't need saving, and to be honest while I think the addition worked based on the direction the series was headed it had become for all practical purposes Alda's (Hawkeye) show.
Screenrant could have listed the adds of Stephanie, Michael, Larry and the Darryls as saving Newhart a moderately successful series that was underperforming. Urkel as saving Family Matters. They could have stretched the concept a bit to fit Fonzie in, although not an add making that character the central focus of Happy Days saved the series.