Sitcoms where a side character became bigger than the main star - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GARFIELDKOOL · 12-12-2008, 08:50 PM

I think there have been threads about this before, if so, forgive me. Anyway, I know for a fact where Flo from Alice became bigger than Alice herself.

jimpickens · 12-12-2008, 09:17 PM

Flo-Alice
Fonzie-Happy Days
The Sweathogs-Welcome Back Kotter
Lenny & Squiggy-Laverne & Shirley
Urkel-Family Matters
Joy-My Name Is Earl

catlover79 · 12-12-2008, 11:52 PM

Larry, Darryl & Darryl - Newhart

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-13-2008, 12:07 AM

Jack and Karen from Will and Grace

catlover79 · 12-13-2008, 12:09 AM

Alex P. Keaton - Family Ties. Originally, the show was supposed to be focused on the Keaton parents.

Wreckless · 12-13-2008, 12:13 AM

Fonzie for Happy Days. He was originally not the center or main character, sort of a side character, not a Ralph or Potsie was, as Ron Howard was most likely the main character intended at the beginning. The "coolness" effect, popularity and just the Fonz character in general turned him into the star onward (the 3rd or 4th season on), although, until his last season, Ron Howard was still A main character.

janet42 · 12-13-2008, 02:01 AM

Pearl Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies first season

Big C · 12-13-2008, 02:25 AM

Unhappily Ever After

The main characters at the start of the show were Jack and Jennie Malloy, but it was daughter Tiffany that ended up stealing scenes and becoming the most popular character on the show.

Of course, it helped that it was Nikki Cox playing the role- she was probably the curviest teenage character I've ever seen on T.V.

comedyfreak · 12-13-2008, 02:29 AM

Good Times-About a struggling Black family in the ghetto, the JJ character got so popular he stole the show.

catlover79 · 12-13-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Good Times-About a struggling Black family in the ghetto, the JJ character got so popular he stole the show.

That's right - DYN-O-MITE JJ!!

mstewart · 12-13-2008, 04:10 AM

That was why Linda Lavin got pissed off because Polly Holliday's character of Flo was bigger than Alice and she was the breakout star. If you watch Polly's final season on Alice you can see the interaction between her and Linda Lavin was not the same. You can see the tension between those two where they interacted very little on screen. At the beginning of the series you can see how close they were.

Laura Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show was a breakout character where she was almost funnier than Rob.

Meredith Baxter Birney was not happy how she was everything but kicked to the curb during the run of Family Ties. She was the star of the show but Michael J. Fox became the breakout star. Too bad because they could had did some nice storylines with Steven and Elyse's relationship.

12-12-2008, 08:50 PM	#1
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Sitcoms where a side character became bigger than the main star I think there have been threads about this before, if so, forgive me. Anyway, I know for a fact where Flo from Alice became bigger than Alice herself.

12-12-2008, 11:52 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Larry, Darryl & Darryl - Newhart
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-13-2008, 12:07 AM	#4
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Jack and Karen from Will and Grace
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

12-13-2008, 02:29 AM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Good Times-About a struggling Black family in the ghetto, the JJ character got so popular he stole the show.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

12-12-2008, 09:17 PM	#2
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,391	Flo-Alice Fonzie-Happy Days The Sweathogs-Welcome Back Kotter Lenny & Squiggy-Laverne & Shirley Urkel-Family Matters Joy-My Name Is Earl

12-13-2008, 12:09 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Alex P. Keaton - Family Ties. Originally, the show was supposed to be focused on the Keaton parents.

12-13-2008, 12:13 AM	#6
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Fonzie for Happy Days. He was originally not the center or main character, sort of a side character, not a Ralph or Potsie was, as Ron Howard was most likely the main character intended at the beginning. The "coolness" effect, popularity and just the Fonz character in general turned him into the star onward (the 3rd or 4th season on), although, until his last season, Ron Howard was still A main character.

12-13-2008, 02:01 AM	#7
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	Pearl Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies first season

12-13-2008, 02:25 AM	#8
Big C I Heart Angie Watson Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 3,531	Unhappily Ever After The main characters at the start of the show were Jack and Jennie Malloy, but it was daughter Tiffany that ended up stealing scenes and becoming the most popular character on the show. Of course, it helped that it was Nikki Cox playing the role- she was probably the curviest teenage character I've ever seen on T.V.

12-13-2008, 04:10 AM	#11
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	That was why Linda Lavin got pissed off because Polly Holliday's character of Flo was bigger than Alice and she was the breakout star. If you watch Polly's final season on Alice you can see the interaction between her and Linda Lavin was not the same. You can see the tension between those two where they interacted very little on screen. At the beginning of the series you can see how close they were. Laura Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show was a breakout character where she was almost funnier than Rob. Meredith Baxter Birney was not happy how she was everything but kicked to the curb during the run of Family Ties. She was the star of the show but Michael J. Fox became the breakout star. Too bad because they could had did some nice storylines with Steven and Elyse's relationship.