Underdeveloped characters - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

wiseguy182 · 07-05-2013, 08:04 AM

What characters should have been developed more?

I'm sure there are a ton of these, but one that comes to mind right off the bat is Vice Principal Bernadette Meara (Jeannetta Arnette) from Head of the Class. With 13 cast members on this show at any given point, I think she just kind of got lost in the shuffle. It would have been nice to see her utilized more. Come to think of it, Jawarlahal could also fit the bill here. He never got any significant screen time or story lines and the writers never seemed to know what to do with him and eventually replaced him.

any others?

tlc38tlc38 · 07-05-2013, 09:07 AM

I'm sure I'll think of more later but as of now these pop into my mind:

Boy Meets World: Minkus and Mr. Turner
Mama's Family: Buzz and Sonja
Designing Women: Bernice (I wish she were in more episodes)
Three's Company: Cindy
The Nanny: Val
Step by Step: Brendan
Family Matters: Judy (obvious)
2 Broke Girls: Han Lee (I hope they do more with him in season 3)

wiseguy182 · 07-06-2013, 01:10 AM

Oh yes. Buzz from Mama's Family. I wanted to see him more not just because I wanted his character to be developed further, but also because I enjoyed looking at him and that huge, fine ass of his. And I do think they should have utilized Sonja more.

I think Judy Winslow and Brendan Lambert maybe. I do know that sometimes when these actors are hired very young they turn out to be not very good actors. The most glaring example I can think of is Carrie Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, played by the Greenbush twins. They couldn't act. AT ALL. Out of 9 seasons, they had 2 episodes about Carrie. One in which she fell down a hole and was off-screen for most of it. The other is "The Godsister" which is usually thought of as one of the worst episodes of any series of all time. I *did* hate it when Step by Step dumped Brendan and brought on Lily, whose claim to fame at that point was doing those annyoing Welch's Grape Juice commercials. God I hated Lily.

I do see what you're saying about Cindy, but it was tough to fill that slot. The trio of John Ritter, Joyce Dewitt and Suzanne Somers just clicked really well and I'm not sure anyone they brought on could replace Suzanne. I do think it was horrible how they treated Cindy. They demoted her and then let her go. She didn't do anything wrong.

Another one was Catherine Duke (Khandi Alexander) on NewsRadio. At the same time, Joe Rogan was OVERutilized and it was pretty apparent he was just there for eye candy (though that's not the worst thing in the world). I didn't find his anger and his conspiracy theories funny at all.

wiseguy182 · 07-06-2013, 02:26 PM

Heidi from Home Improvement. I don't think she ever said anything much more "here you go Tim". How humiliating. I know she was probably just there for eye candy, but the woman deserves some respect. Even the original Tool Girl Lisa (Pamela Anderson) got more lines. Heck, they even had an episode where Lisa comes back and Heidi gets left in the dust.

McGillicuddy · 07-06-2013, 02:47 PM

Fran from Mama's Family, in addition to Buzz and Sonja.

tlc38tlc38 · 07-06-2013, 03:05 PM

HAHA! It seems that since the announcement of Mama's Family coming to DVD----every thread somehow ends up being about MF.

icecream · 07-08-2013, 01:19 PM

Michel on Gilmore Girls. Yanic Truesdale was great in the few lines he had, I would have liked to see his role be a lot bigger.

Penny Lane · 07-08-2013, 05:00 PM

Marcia Strassman as Julie Kotter on Welcome Back Kotter

John Amos as Gordy the weatherman- Mary Tyler Moore

Penelope Sudrow as Vernette Boylan on Mama's Family -She and Bubba were so cute together!

mr awesome · 07-11-2013, 08:26 PM

2 Broke Girls - The entire supporting cast, Except for the polish character (Jennifer Coolidge?) they added mid-way during season one, she's good I remember her from Joey. The Russian guy is starting to be fleshed out more than just being a one-note creep, as he bounces off the Polish character often.

McGillicuddy · 07-11-2013, 08:49 PM

Chris and Tracy Partridge - The Partridge Family

07-05-2013, 08:04 AM	#1
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Underdeveloped characters What characters should have been developed more? I'm sure there are a ton of these, but one that comes to mind right off the bat is Vice Principal Bernadette Meara (Jeannetta Arnette) from Head of the Class. With 13 cast members on this show at any given point, I think she just kind of got lost in the shuffle. It would have been nice to see her utilized more. Come to think of it, Jawarlahal could also fit the bill here. He never got any significant screen time or story lines and the writers never seemed to know what to do with him and eventually replaced him. any others?

07-05-2013, 09:07 AM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I'm sure I'll think of more later but as of now these pop into my mind: Boy Meets World: Minkus and Mr. Turner Mama's Family: Buzz and Sonja Designing Women: Bernice (I wish she were in more episodes) Three's Company: Cindy The Nanny: Val Step by Step: Brendan Family Matters: Judy (obvious) 2 Broke Girls: Han Lee (I hope they do more with him in season 3)
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama. Last edited by tlc38tlc38; 07-05-2013 at 09:27 AM.

07-08-2013, 01:19 PM	#7
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,691	Michel on Gilmore Girls. Yanic Truesdale was great in the few lines he had, I would have liked to see his role be a lot bigger.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

07-08-2013, 05:00 PM	#8
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,048	Marcia Strassman as Julie Kotter on Welcome Back Kotter John Amos as Gordy the weatherman- Mary Tyler Moore Penelope Sudrow as Vernette Boylan on Mama's Family -She and Bubba were so cute together!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

07-06-2013, 01:10 AM	#3
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Oh yes. Buzz from Mama's Family. I wanted to see him more not just because I wanted his character to be developed further, but also because I enjoyed looking at him and that huge, fine ass of his. And I do think they should have utilized Sonja more. I think Judy Winslow and Brendan Lambert maybe. I do know that sometimes when these actors are hired very young they turn out to be not very good actors. The most glaring example I can think of is Carrie Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, played by the Greenbush twins. They couldn't act. AT ALL. Out of 9 seasons, they had 2 episodes about Carrie. One in which she fell down a hole and was off-screen for most of it. The other is "The Godsister" which is usually thought of as one of the worst episodes of any series of all time. I did hate it when Step by Step dumped Brendan and brought on Lily, whose claim to fame at that point was doing those annyoing Welch's Grape Juice commercials. God I hated Lily. I do see what you're saying about Cindy, but it was tough to fill that slot. The trio of John Ritter, Joyce Dewitt and Suzanne Somers just clicked really well and I'm not sure anyone they brought on could replace Suzanne. I do think it was horrible how they treated Cindy. They demoted her and then let her go. She didn't do anything wrong. Another one was Catherine Duke (Khandi Alexander) on NewsRadio. At the same time, Joe Rogan was OVERutilized and it was pretty apparent he was just there for eye candy (though that's not the worst thing in the world). I didn't find his anger and his conspiracy theories funny at all.

07-06-2013, 02:26 PM	#4
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Heidi from Home Improvement. I don't think she ever said anything much more "here you go Tim". How humiliating. I know she was probably just there for eye candy, but the woman deserves some respect. Even the original Tool Girl Lisa (Pamela Anderson) got more lines. Heck, they even had an episode where Lisa comes back and Heidi gets left in the dust.

07-06-2013, 02:47 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Fran from Mama's Family, in addition to Buzz and Sonja.

07-06-2013, 03:05 PM	#6
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	HAHA! It seems that since the announcement of Mama's Family coming to DVD----every thread somehow ends up being about MF.

07-11-2013, 08:26 PM	#9
mr awesome Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2013 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 275	2 Broke Girls - The entire supporting cast, Except for the polish character (Jennifer Coolidge?) they added mid-way during season one, she's good I remember her from Joey. The Russian guy is starting to be fleshed out more than just being a one-note creep, as he bounces off the Polish character often.

07-11-2013, 08:49 PM	#10
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Chris and Tracy Partridge - The Partridge Family