The Greatest Breakout Characters in TV History

Ranker ^ | no date given | no author given

[Leaning Right]

When a television show first starts, the writers of the program already have the star in mind. They write for the characters they think the audience will relate to and like the most and design the show around those characters. However, once the show hits the airwaves, the viewers don’t always agree. Sometimes the true star of the show is the unlikeliest candidate. The breakout character is usually a character who was introduced as part of the supporting cast, but for one reason or another became a fan favorite.

[odawg]

The ones listed that I am familiar with are repugnant.

Sheldon Cooper???

[Celtic Conservative]

Guy Williams was very bitter about Johnathan Harris’ popularity, iirc.

CC

[trebb]

Bruce Willis’s role in “Moonlighting” didn’t show up...it’s where I first saw him.

[going hot]

From the 2016 primaries, Donald Trump!

[Envisioning]

Number one should be Bruce Lee, “The Green Hornet”.

No one else comes close to the fame he achieved.

[Riflema]

How about Carlos Danger from that 90s fave, The Clintons?

[skr]

Newhart’s Ltarry and the Darryls. Two of them didn’t even have to talk.

[wally_bert]

Angel Martin was one of the greatest TV characters ever.

I’m glad he wasn’t used to death and showed up now and then.

[TruthWillWin]

The voting list for those born before 1944 were Ed Norton, Festus, and....what was the question?

Not sure if anyone else got this?

[alexander_busek]

Characters that demolished a sitcom... Flintstones “The Great Gazoo” Brady Bunch “Cousin Oliver” Bewitched “Tabitha” Happy Days “Ted what’s his name” also Chachi Andy Griffith “Warren” Leave It To Beaver “Beaver and Wally” (they grew up)

They didn't "demolish" their shows - they were only the dust settling after the wrecking ball had already done its work.

Regards,

[going hot]

lol

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) is one of many glaring omissions to that list.

I got to talk with him while shooting DIE HARD 2. What a bright, open, and easy person to speak with. No hint of any Chicago or East Coast accent - which threw me off. :)

[Leaning Right]

> The ones listed that I am familiar with are repugnant. <

That’s a very interesting observation. And except for Barney Fife and Spock, you might be right!

[wny]

Vinny Barbarino

[Captain Compassion]

Bart Simpson?

[surrey]

Doris Roberts ,who played Marie Barone, Raymond’s mother. She’s my hero.

[Chickensoup]

I thought two different actors played Trapper in the TV show

[Chickensoup]

I thought two different actors played Trapper in the TV show

[AFreeBird]

Ensign Parker.