Break-out characters - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

baronzzz · 05-10-2006, 12:26 AM

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?

Ant-Lox · 05-10-2006, 11:39 PM

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 · 05-10-2006, 11:41 PM

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

Ireneparalegal · 05-10-2006, 11:43 PM

Flo on ALICE

Buffyboy323 · 05-11-2006, 12:27 AM

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

snl 70s show fan · 05-11-2006, 01:31 AM

how about kelso on that 70s show

db108108 · 05-11-2006, 03:43 AM

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 · 05-11-2006, 05:00 PM

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

baronzzz · 05-11-2006, 11:40 PM

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 · 05-11-2006, 11:55 PM

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 · 05-12-2006, 12:28 AM

Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties.

Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter.

spunkygirl · 05-12-2006, 11:12 AM

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

dlemond · 05-12-2006, 11:21 AM

Breakout characters that didn't take over a show:

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

Brian Damage · 05-12-2006, 11:55 AM

Mike Seaver on Growing Pains

Michael72581 · 05-12-2006, 08:24 PM

Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties)

05-10-2006, 12:26 AM	#1
baronzzz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank Posts: 192	Break-out characters 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?

05-10-2006, 11:39 PM	#2
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	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...
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05-10-2006, 11:41 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Jimmie Walker aka JJ on Good Times was a breakout character. The show wasn't as good when it was built around him.
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05-10-2006, 11:43 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Flo on ALICE
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05-11-2006, 05:00 PM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Break Out Characters *I would also have to say Hawkeye on MASH**
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05-11-2006, 12:27 AM	#5
Buffyboy323 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 6,102	Hmm...Jo on "Facts Of Life?", Cody on "Step By Step", and Darlene on "Roseanne."

05-11-2006, 01:31 AM	#6
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	how about kelso on that 70s show

05-11-2006, 03:43 AM	#7
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	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?

05-11-2006, 11:40 PM	#9
baronzzz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank Posts: 192	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!

05-11-2006, 11:55 PM	#10
Chad Michael Murray Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,493	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.
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05-12-2006, 12:28 AM	#11
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter.

05-12-2006, 11:12 AM	#12
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Shawn on Boy Meets World, Cody on Step by Step, Urkel on Family Matters

05-12-2006, 11:21 AM	#13
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	Breakout characters that didn't take over a show: Louie DePalma - Taxi Benson - Soap Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP in Cincinnati

05-12-2006, 11:55 AM	#14
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Mike Seaver on Growing Pains

05-12-2006, 08:24 PM	#15
Michael72581 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 289	Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties)
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