Best backing cast on a sitcom - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

installLSC · 02-18-2014, 10:54 AM

The death of Mary Grace Canfield today got me thinking about the excellence of "Green Acres"' supporting cast. Eb, Mr. Haney, the Ziffels, etc. seemed to get all they could out of their roles, and I don't remember a single cast member who was a weak spot. What supporting cast stands out for you as full of talent and depth.

comedyfreak · 02-18-2014, 02:00 PM

Without a doubt the supporting cast of Frasier all fit in well and were funny. Niles, Daphne, Mr. Crane, Roz, Bulldog etc all great.

Marvo301 · 02-18-2014, 02:45 PM

The Dick Van Dyke Show! Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Carl Reiner, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Jerry Paris were all great actors, all perfectly cast in their roles, and allowed Dick and Mary to shine as the leads. Even Larry Matthews who played their son was well cast as a typical american kid.

SitcomsOffline · 02-18-2014, 04:13 PM

Shows IMO with the best ensemble casts:

Frasier
Cheers
Martin
Living Single
I Love Lucy
Seinfeld
Friends
Married With Children
The Cosby Show
The Golden Girls
Roc

mr awesome · 02-18-2014, 06:39 PM

This is why 2 Broke Girls is awful, the leads are likeable enough but they have to do all of the heavy lifting. One of the most useless supporting casts I've ever seen. The creepy russian, the creepy asian kid and garret morris all add nothingl, waste of space. They added Stifler's mom and she's a funny comedienne.

Back to topic....
Frasier
NewsRadio
Seinfeld

Fontaine · 10-18-2014, 06:38 PM

I think Bewitched owns this category. Samantha and Darrin (at least Dick York) are great leads, but it's the supporting cast that made the show long-lasting and interesting. Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, Uncle Arthur, Tabitha, Dr. Bombay, Serena, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, etc. all took the show in different directions each week. The leads were great, but with no real supporting cast, it becomes...well, I Dream Of Jeannie!

Tubehead · 10-19-2014, 01:48 AM

best casting choices:
I love Lucy
the honey mooners
family ties
boy meets world
the wonder years
Sanford and son
the dick van dyke show
quantum leap
the odd couple
Frasier
saved by the bell
welcome back ,kottoer
family matters
step by step
my two dads
the Jefferson's
I dream of jennies
bewitched
batman
Adventures of Superman
wonder women
The Incredible Hulk

benjamoon · 10-19-2014, 01:34 PM

The Mary Tyler Moore Shows stands above all others for me in this category.

But some others that are worth mentioning:
Bob Newhart Show
Andy Griffith Show
Cheers
The Office
Newsradio
Parks & Recreation

MrCleveland · 10-19-2014, 05:46 PM

I'd also like to add "Gimmie a Break" on here. The supportive cast featured Thelma Hopkins, John Hoyt, and Joey Lawrence.

I'd also say "All in the Family" since that show had two successful spin-offs with "Maude" and "The Jeffersons". "Happy Days" was like that too with "Laverne and Shirley" and "Mork and Mindy".

bmasters9 · 10-20-2014, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjamoon

The Mary Tyler Moore Shows stands above all others for me in this category.

But some others that are worth mentioning:
Bob Newhart Show
Andy Griffith Show
Cheers
The Office
Newsradio
Parks & Recreation

I think also that Barney Miller fits.

tlc38tlc38 · 10-20-2014, 07:11 PM

Some of my favorite ensemble casts:

Mama's Family
Green Acres
The Golden Girls
Designing Women
The Facts of Life
Desperate Housewives
3rd Rock from the Sun
Will & Grace
Murphy Brown
Newhart
The Wonder Years
The Addams Family
The Andy Griffith Show
Leave It to Beaver
NewsRadio
All in the Family
The Jeffersons
Boy Meets World
Step by Step
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cheers
Ellen
Gilligan's Island
I Love Lucy
In the Heat of the Night
Night Court
Roseanne

McGillicuddy · 10-20-2014, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjamoon

The Mary Tyler Moore Shows stands above all others for me in this category.

But some others that are worth mentioning:
Bob Newhart Show
Andy Griffith Show
Cheers
The Office
Newsradio
Parks & Recreation

I agree that The Mary Tyler Moore Show stands above.

02-18-2014, 10:54 AM	#1
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	Best backing cast on a sitcom The death of Mary Grace Canfield today got me thinking about the excellence of "Green Acres"' supporting cast. Eb, Mr. Haney, the Ziffels, etc. seemed to get all they could out of their roles, and I don't remember a single cast member who was a weak spot. What supporting cast stands out for you as full of talent and depth.

02-18-2014, 02:00 PM	#2
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Without a doubt the supporting cast of Frasier all fit in well and were funny. Niles, Daphne, Mr. Crane, Roz, Bulldog etc all great.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

02-18-2014, 02:45 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	The Dick Van Dyke Show! Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Carl Reiner, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Jerry Paris were all great actors, all perfectly cast in their roles, and allowed Dick and Mary to shine as the leads. Even Larry Matthews who played their son was well cast as a typical american kid.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-19-2014, 01:48 AM	#7
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	best casting choices best casting choices: I love Lucy the honey mooners family ties boy meets world the wonder years Sanford and son the dick van dyke show quantum leap the odd couple Frasier saved by the bell welcome back ,kottoer family matters step by step my two dads the Jefferson's I dream of jennies bewitched batman Adventures of Superman wonder women The Incredible Hulk

10-19-2014, 01:34 PM	#8
benjamoon Bewitched Senior Member Join Date: Jun 15, 2000 Location: New York Posts: 1,450	The Mary Tyler Moore Shows stands above all others for me in this category. But some others that are worth mentioning: Bob Newhart Show Andy Griffith Show Cheers The Office Newsradio Parks & Recreation
	__________________ My Blog: http://benjamonsterstv.blogspot.com/ My Site: peaktvdatabase.weebly.com My favorite TV shows: Bewitched, I Love Lucy, American Dreams, Mary Tyler Moore, The Office, Happy Days, The West Wing, Modern Family, Friday Night Lights, Friends, Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood

02-18-2014, 04:13 PM	#4
SitcomsOffline Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2013 Posts: 492	Shows IMO with the best ensemble casts: Frasier Cheers Martin Living Single I Love Lucy Seinfeld Friends Married With Children The Cosby Show The Golden Girls Roc

02-18-2014, 06:39 PM	#5
mr awesome Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2013 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 275	This is why 2 Broke Girls is awful, the leads are likeable enough but they have to do all of the heavy lifting. One of the most useless supporting casts I've ever seen. The creepy russian, the creepy asian kid and garret morris all add nothingl, waste of space. They added Stifler's mom and she's a funny comedienne. Back to topic.... Frasier NewsRadio Seinfeld

10-18-2014, 06:38 PM	#6
Fontaine Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 16, 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 160	I think Bewitched owns this category. Samantha and Darrin (at least Dick York) are great leads, but it's the supporting cast that made the show long-lasting and interesting. Endora, Larry Tate, Gladys and Abner Kravitz, Aunt Clara, Uncle Arthur, Tabitha, Dr. Bombay, Serena, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, etc. all took the show in different directions each week. The leads were great, but with no real supporting cast, it becomes...well, I Dream Of Jeannie!

10-19-2014, 05:46 PM	#9
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,234	I'd also like to add "Gimmie a Break" on here. The supportive cast featured Thelma Hopkins, John Hoyt, and Joey Lawrence. I'd also say "All in the Family" since that show had two successful spin-offs with "Maude" and "The Jeffersons". "Happy Days" was like that too with "Laverne and Shirley" and "Mork and Mindy".
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

10-20-2014, 07:11 PM	#11
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,269	Some of my favorite ensemble casts: Mama's Family Green Acres The Golden Girls Designing Women The Facts of Life Desperate Housewives 3rd Rock from the Sun Will & Grace Murphy Brown Newhart The Wonder Years The Addams Family The Andy Griffith Show Leave It to Beaver NewsRadio All in the Family The Jeffersons Boy Meets World Step by Step Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cheers Ellen Gilligan's Island I Love Lucy In the Heat of the Night Night Court Roseanne
	__________________ 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.