Characters that underwent personality changes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ThomasE · 07-04-2011, 12:54 AM

Name characters that started out one way and then evolved/changed personality wise on TV shows:

Rose Nylund- Golden Girls/Palace - By the time she was running the hotel with Blanche and Sophia, she was still sweet but was a mean woman when she wanted to be. Her insults were catty and sharp. Her humor was a bit more twisted. She even hit Dorothy with a newspaper for a change. LOL.

Corky Sherwood Forest Silverberg - Murphy Brown - She began as this Miss America pageant winner turned perky and sweet/bimboish newscaster. Later in years, she was more cynical and sarcastic with her remarks. She was less of a pollyanna and more of a realist.

Synclair James Jones - Living Single - She was this naive girl from the midwest who had a cooky, silly personna about her. Years later, although still silly, she was more agressive and a realist who spoke up for her self more and became pretty good with her comebacks. She didn't take much crap from anybody.

Anybody else want to name a few?

JamesG · 07-04-2011, 11:26 AM

On "Boy Meets World" Topanga started out on the first season as a nature-loving, activist type.

From the second season and onward Topanga no longer had all of this eccentric behavior; like the supernatural and face-paint rituals.

robyrob · 07-04-2011, 12:02 PM

Potsie Weber went from a daring punk type character to become a complete simpleton over the course of Happy Days' run

Ralph Malph went from a cool, even suave character to a prankster scaredy-cat by the end of his run on Happy Days

Chachi went from a money-obsessed miniature tycoon that actually did well with the girls to an aimless loser that couldn't hold a job or a girl by the end of the series

James · 07-04-2011, 12:36 PM

Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years: Went from a character you could feel for to a jerk by the high school years (1991-93)

andress_jade · 07-04-2011, 01:23 PM

Daphne Moon Crane-Frasier
At the beginning Daphne was the physical therapist to Frasier and Niles father, Martin. She was funny, sweet and a bit eccentric. Near the end of the series she married Niles and became stronger. She was tougher and stood up for herself more. A lot of people didn't like her new personality but I embraced it. It was nice to see her as a stronger person and not afraid to stand up for herself. She was still sweet and funny but not a pushover anymore. Niles love changed her for the better. It was almost like they were meant to be together.

Niles Crane-Frasier
At the beginning of the show Niles was neurotic and stuck up. After he divorced Maris and married Daphne, he was less stuck up and neurotic. He was less wimpy as well. He stood up to Mel, his second wife, which is something he was never any good at. He had always loved Daphne from afar and was finally brave enough to tell her how he felt. Daphne's love changed him for the better. I think he always knew Daphne was the one for him, it was just a matter of time.

Andy Taylor-The Andy Griffith Show
Andy was a nice, funny, smart guy who ran the town of Mayberry without carrying a gun and being too strict. After Don Knotts left the role of Barney, Andy became more grumpy and less funny. He wasn't happy and neither were the viewers.

Retro4Life · 07-04-2011, 01:37 PM

Jackie on Roseanne started out as a fairly level headed woman who just had a problem finding a good man. By the end of the series she was a lunatic basket case who seemed like she'd have problems tying her own shoelaces.

Frasier Crane started out a pompous, affected man who nonetheless was able to give wise perspective and guidance to his family, friends and listeners. By the end of the show he was much more buffoonish and didn't seem to have much plot left in him besides an endless stream of ill conceived romances, most of which ended because of his own foolishness.

Meg Griffin started out a nerdy neglected child on Family Guy and after a few years became a nearly psychotic, dope smoking, horrendously abused young woman who often seems to not be totally in touch with reality.

ThomasE · 07-04-2011, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years: Went from a character you could feel for to a jerk by the high school years (1991-93)

I noticed that too. He was a jerk for sure.

Another character for me would be Whitley Gilbert of A Different World. She started out as seventy five percent ice queen who was still in times of "A woman can't maintain a career and raise a family". When Debbie Allen took over as showrunner, Whitley became more independent and a bit nicer although she was still a "you know what". She was also in the first season, sophisticated and reserved then she changed her look and years later, she was also more physically comedic.

@andress_jade:

The viewers weren't happy with Andy? The show was still number one when he left the series.

UMFaninMD · 07-04-2011, 10:41 PM

Naomi on Mama's Family started out as a bit more subdued, street-smart and weary when she married Vinton. You could tell she had a rough life but wanted something more stable and better for herself. Her voice was different also. But when the show went into syndication, she lost that edge and became a shrill, vain, dumbed-down tart. She also seemed to lose some of the intelligence she had on the original run.

The same thing happened with Designing Women's Suzanne Sugarbaker. Suzanne was always a snob but she was elegant and softer-spoken. But during the years when Delta Burke was feuding with Linda Bloodsworth-Thomason, she became loud, crude, abrupt and she also became less intelligent.

ekkostar · 07-04-2011, 10:53 PM

Dan Fielding when Phil the Bum died. He went to the extreme of extremes, right up to acting like Phil was God or something. Those episodes are also rather on the creepy size in the way Dan went so over-the-top, I refuse to watch them.

ThomasE · 07-04-2011, 11:00 PM

Rhoda Morgenstern of The Mary Tyler Moore show:

She was always complaining and dumpy kind of looking. She was always down on herself and was mean to Mary when she first met her. They became friends and a couple of years later, Rhoda lost weight, had more condifience in herself. She looked more attractive and she complained less and looked much happier always smiling.

Eddie Winlsow from Family Matters was kinda airheadish in the beginning and then became more of a sexy, suave type of personality later in the seasons.

andress_jade · 07-05-2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

@andress_jade:

The viewers weren't happy with Andy? The show was still number one when he left the series.

The show may have still been number one but since Don Knotts left the role of Barney, the show wasn't the same. Andy Griffith even said he wasn't happy anymore by that point. His demeanor definitely changed in later seasons. Fans noticed the change.

Schmoopie · 07-05-2011, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andress_jade

Daphne Moon Crane-Frasier
At the beginning Daphne was the physical therapist to Frasier and Niles father, Martin. She was funny, sweet and a bit eccentric. Near the end of the series she married Niles and became stronger. She was tougher and stood up for herself more. A lot of people didn't like her new personality but I embraced it. It was nice to see her as a stronger person and not afraid to stand up for herself. She was still sweet and funny but not a pushover anymore. Niles love changed her for the better. It was almost like they were meant to be together.

Niles Crane-Frasier
At the beginning of the show Niles was neurotic and stuck up. After he divorced Maris and married Daphne, he was less stuck up and neurotic. He was less wimpy as well. He stood up to Mel, his second wife, which is something he was never any good at. He had always loved Daphne from afar and was finally brave enough to tell her how he felt. Daphne's love changed him for the better. I think he always knew Daphne was the one for him, it was just a matter of time.

I love this, and I have to add Martin Crane to this thread as well. In the very beginning of the show, he was almost bitter and clearly didn't like living with Frasier and having his freedom taken away. Gradually we saw him start to bond with his sons and with Daphne and there were many sentimental moments between the Cranes which I loved. One in particular that is a favorite of mine is in "Visions of Daphne" when Niles is upset over Daphne accepting Donny's proposal. He was so caring and sweet to his son, trying to comfort him. In the beginning of the series, scenes like that were hard to find. So in the course of 11 years, Martin Crane went from a grouchy old man to a loving, caring father and friend....

Kristen · 07-05-2011, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I love this, and I have to add Martin Crane to this thread as well. In the very beginning of the show, he was almost bitter and clearly didn't like living with Frasier and having his freedom taken away. Gradually we saw him start to bond with his sons and with Daphne and there were many sentimental moments between the Cranes which I loved. One in particular that is a favorite of mine is in "Visions of Daphne" when Niles is upset over Daphne accepting Donny's proposal. He was so caring and sweet to his son, trying to comfort him. In the beginning of the series, scenes like that were hard to find. So in the course of 11 years, Martin Crane went from a grouchy old man to a loving, caring father and friend....

Well, Andrea, you know I agree 100%. Watching Martin and Frasier's relationship change is one of the best parts of the show. I also love his father/daughter bond w/ Daphne. Esp. in the aforementioned ep. where Daphne gets engaged to Donny. She comes out to the living room late that night and at one point tells Martin, "He really is wonderful, Mr. Crane." And you can tell she wants him to approve of the guy she's about to marry. (Well, the guy she was going to marry AT THAT TIME.

) There's more I could say, about the final scenes in "Goodnight, Seattle," but I won't, for obvious reasons!

- Kristen

McGillicuddy · 07-05-2011, 06:55 AM

I would say Chrissy on Three's Company. She got ditzier as time went on.

ThomasE · 07-05-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

I would say Chrissy on Three's Company. She got ditzier as time went on.

I totally forgot about her. She was not that dumb when the show started. It was a balance. She was a little bit of an airhead but still had her wits about her and knew when she was being played (like ep 13 when she found out she was dating a married man. Funny moment) but she became a cartoon as the years went on.

07-04-2011, 12:54 AM	#1
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Characters that underwent personality changes Name characters that started out one way and then evolved/changed personality wise on TV shows: Rose Nylund- Golden Girls/Palace - By the time she was running the hotel with Blanche and Sophia, she was still sweet but was a mean woman when she wanted to be. Her insults were catty and sharp. Her humor was a bit more twisted. She even hit Dorothy with a newspaper for a change. LOL. Corky Sherwood Forest Silverberg - Murphy Brown - She began as this Miss America pageant winner turned perky and sweet/bimboish newscaster. Later in years, she was more cynical and sarcastic with her remarks. She was less of a pollyanna and more of a realist. Synclair James Jones - Living Single - She was this naive girl from the midwest who had a cooky, silly personna about her. Years later, although still silly, she was more agressive and a realist who spoke up for her self more and became pretty good with her comebacks. She didn't take much crap from anybody. Anybody else want to name a few?
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07-04-2011, 12:02 PM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,176	Potsie Weber went from a daring punk type character to become a complete simpleton over the course of Happy Days' run Ralph Malph went from a cool, even suave character to a prankster scaredy-cat by the end of his run on Happy Days Chachi went from a money-obsessed miniature tycoon that actually did well with the girls to an aimless loser that couldn't hold a job or a girl by the end of the series
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07-04-2011, 01:23 PM	#5
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Daphne Moon Crane-Frasier At the beginning Daphne was the physical therapist to Frasier and Niles father, Martin. She was funny, sweet and a bit eccentric. Near the end of the series she married Niles and became stronger. She was tougher and stood up for herself more. A lot of people didn't like her new personality but I embraced it. It was nice to see her as a stronger person and not afraid to stand up for herself. She was still sweet and funny but not a pushover anymore. Niles love changed her for the better. It was almost like they were meant to be together. Niles Crane-Frasier At the beginning of the show Niles was neurotic and stuck up. After he divorced Maris and married Daphne, he was less stuck up and neurotic. He was less wimpy as well. He stood up to Mel, his second wife, which is something he was never any good at. He had always loved Daphne from afar and was finally brave enough to tell her how he felt. Daphne's love changed him for the better. I think he always knew Daphne was the one for him, it was just a matter of time. Andy Taylor-The Andy Griffith Show Andy was a nice, funny, smart guy who ran the town of Mayberry without carrying a gun and being too strict. After Don Knotts left the role of Barney, Andy became more grumpy and less funny. He wasn't happy and neither were the viewers.
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07-04-2011, 01:37 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Jackie on Roseanne started out as a fairly level headed woman who just had a problem finding a good man. By the end of the series she was a lunatic basket case who seemed like she'd have problems tying her own shoelaces. Frasier Crane started out a pompous, affected man who nonetheless was able to give wise perspective and guidance to his family, friends and listeners. By the end of the show he was much more buffoonish and didn't seem to have much plot left in him besides an endless stream of ill conceived romances, most of which ended because of his own foolishness. Meg Griffin started out a nerdy neglected child on Family Guy and after a few years became a nearly psychotic, dope smoking, horrendously abused young woman who often seems to not be totally in touch with reality.
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07-04-2011, 10:53 PM	#9
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Dan Fielding when Phil the Bum died. He went to the extreme of extremes, right up to acting like Phil was God or something. Those episodes are also rather on the creepy size in the way Dan went so over-the-top, I refuse to watch them.
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07-04-2011, 11:26 AM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,034	On "Boy Meets World" Topanga started out on the first season as a nature-loving, activist type. From the second season and onward Topanga no longer had all of this eccentric behavior; like the supernatural and face-paint rituals.

07-04-2011, 12:36 PM	#4
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years: Went from a character you could feel for to a jerk by the high school years (1991-93)

07-04-2011, 10:41 PM	#8
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	Naomi on Mama's Family started out as a bit more subdued, street-smart and weary when she married Vinton. You could tell she had a rough life but wanted something more stable and better for herself. Her voice was different also. But when the show went into syndication, she lost that edge and became a shrill, vain, dumbed-down tart. She also seemed to lose some of the intelligence she had on the original run. The same thing happened with Designing Women's Suzanne Sugarbaker. Suzanne was always a snob but she was elegant and softer-spoken. But during the years when Delta Burke was feuding with Linda Bloodsworth-Thomason, she became loud, crude, abrupt and she also became less intelligent.

07-04-2011, 11:00 PM	#10
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Rhoda Morgenstern of The Mary Tyler Moore show: She was always complaining and dumpy kind of looking. She was always down on herself and was mean to Mary when she first met her. They became friends and a couple of years later, Rhoda lost weight, had more condifience in herself. She looked more attractive and she complained less and looked much happier always smiling. Eddie Winlsow from Family Matters was kinda airheadish in the beginning and then became more of a sexy, suave type of personality later in the seasons.

07-05-2011, 06:55 AM	#14
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I would say Chrissy on Three's Company. She got ditzier as time went on.