Posted on 01/13/2019 5:43:26 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at ranker.com ...
Arnold the pig.
As Archie Bunker evolved, he become somewhat of a sympathetic, blue-collar character.
One scene that has always stuck with me was the one were Archie and Meathead were talking about childhood experiences. Archie said that his childhood nickname was “shoe-bootie”. That was because he wore one shoe and one boot. One of his shoes had worn out. And his parents could not afford to buy him a new pair of shoes.
In that moment, Meathead gained some insight into what shaped Archie’s character.
Sheldon Cooper isn’t breakout. He was always one of the three main characters, along with Leonard and Penny. But Bernadette was.
Some REAL breakout characters, along with Mister Spock:
Alex P. Keaton, by Michael J Fox, Family Ties
Frasier Crane, Cheers
Chloe O’Brien, 24
J.J. Evans, What’s Happening
Teddy Roosevelt, U.S. Presidency (They made him VP to be rid of him.)
I agree with most, but violently disagree with Wally growing up. My favorite episodes are the last 2 seasons with Wally, Eddie and Lumpy getting into teenage trouble. Not so fond of the earlier episodes with ‘cute’ Beaver and his fat little friend Larry Mondello. I will cut some slack for the episodes where Beaver goes up against his greatest nemesis, Creepy Judy Hensler - She’s so great as that goody two shoes tattle tale.
“Whoa Wlibur, where am I going?”
SNL
Even more crazy than Tim Conway: Vicki Lawrence. Spotlighted for a single episode because Carol Burnett thought it hysterical that she LOST to Vicki Lawrence in a Carol Burnett look-alike contest, she ended up literally stealing the show, taking Burnett’s part in Mama’s family.
I got to throw in a mention of one of the greatest side-players in television history.
Evelyn “Angel” Martin played by Stuart Margolin in the Rockford Files series.
Now that you have brought up ‘Green Acres’, did you know that the actor who played Fred Ziffel was deaf (due to old age)?
But the producers of the show really liked him. So they had a guy stand off-screen with a large pole. And when it was time for Fred to say a line, the guy tapped Fred on his foot.
‘Cause Norton’s a mental case.
Barry Goldberg of The Goldbergs.
Totally agree, Archie Bunker was my first thought when I opened the thread. I think you could add Maude and George Jefferson to the list - hated Maude’s politics but loved the back and forth with both.
Dr. Smith was a total distraction to me. Totally annoying. Would have loved to have seen him die in the pilot episode somehow.
Chidren = Children
Mutley
Elliot Gould player Trapper John McIntyre in the movie MASH
Wayne Rogers player Trapper John in the TV Show MASH
Pernell Roberts player Trapper John in the Spin-off “Trapper John, MD”
Didn’t know that. He also appeared in Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, and a bunch of other westerns.
Same with Major Hockstetter. I liked the few times that Burkhalter and Hockstetter appeared in the same episode.
Never thought of that, but so true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.