Break-out characters

baronzzz · 05-10-2006, 12:26 AM

Many shows seem to develop supporting characters that become so popular that the show's plots gradually change to give the "break-out character" more to do. But it drives me crazy sometimes when one character becomes so popular that the show changes to revolve around that character. It happened on Happy Days (Fonzie) and Family Matters (Urkel).

But other shows like 227 (Sandra Clarke), Green Acres (Arnold the Pig), Leave it to Beaver (Eddie Haskell) managed to keep them under control and still add to the general flavor of the show.

Other break-out characters like Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels), Suzanne Somers (Three's Company), and Valerie Harper (went to Rhoda out of MTM) left before their characters could "take over".

Who's your favorite break-out character and did he/she change the show, add more depth to the show, ruin the show or just leave the show before it ended its run?

Ant-Lox · 05-10-2006, 11:39 PM

Hawkeye on Mash, was my favorite, but in the last few years of mash, it became hawkeye overkill...thats why i like the early seasons more when it was more about the cast as a whole...

Brian Damage · 05-10-2006, 11:41 PM

Jimmie Walker aka JJ on Good Times was a breakout character. The show wasn't as good when it was built around him.

Ireneparalegal · 05-10-2006, 11:43 PM

Flo on ALICE

Buffyboy323 · 05-11-2006, 12:27 AM

Hmm...Jo on "Facts Of Life?", Cody on "Step By Step", and Darlene on "Roseanne."

snl 70s show fan · 05-11-2006, 01:31 AM

how about kelso on that 70s show

db108108 · 05-11-2006, 03:43 AM

More interesting still are those characters that became bigger than the show itself. For instance, Steve Urkel. I bet more people recognize that name than the show he came from. Any others?

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-11-2006, 05:00 PM

I would also have to say Hawkeye on M*A*S*H

baronzzz · 05-11-2006, 11:40 PM

I remember reading that in about the third season or so of Seinfeld, the audience would start clapping when Kramer would make his sliding entrance into Jerry's apt. But they (the producers?) cut that off. When a character only has to make an entrance and gets applause, he's got to be a breakout character!

Chad Michael Murray · 05-11-2006, 11:55 PM

How about Michelle on Full House? As she (they) got older and could handle a bigger role, there were a lot more stories on the show revolving around the character.

Janice · 05-12-2006, 12:28 AM

Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties.

Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter.

Dragonflies · 05-12-2006, 11:12 AM

Shawn on Boy Meets World, Cody on Step by Step, Urkel on Family Matters

dlemond · 05-12-2006, 11:21 AM

Breakout characters that didn't take over a show:

Louie DePalma - Taxi
Benson - Soap
Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP in Cincinnati

Brian Damage · 05-12-2006, 11:55 AM

Mike Seaver on Growing Pains

Michael72581 · 05-12-2006, 08:24 PM

Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties)

05-10-2006, 12:26 AM	#1
baronzzz Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank Posts: 181	Break-out characters Many shows seem to develop supporting characters that become so popular that the show's plots gradually change to give the "break-out character" more to do. But it drives me crazy sometimes when one character becomes so popular that the show changes to revolve around that character. It happened on Happy Days (Fonzie) and Family Matters (Urkel). But other shows like 227 (Sandra Clarke), Green Acres (Arnold the Pig), Leave it to Beaver (Eddie Haskell) managed to keep them under control and still add to the general flavor of the show. Other break-out characters like Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels), Suzanne Somers (Three's Company), and Valerie Harper (went to Rhoda out of MTM) left before their characters could "take over". Who's your favorite break-out character and did he/she change the show, add more depth to the show, ruin the show or just leave the show before it ended its run?

05-10-2006, 11:39 PM	#2
Ant-Lox Senior Member Frasier Fanatic Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Rozniac Posts: 1,443	Hawkeye on Mash, was my favorite, but in the last few years of mash, it became hawkeye overkill...thats why i like the early seasons more when it was more about the cast as a whole... __________________ *"Niles Gotta have It!" - Niles Crane*

05-10-2006, 11:41 PM	#3
Brian Damage Moderator Forum Legend Don't Mess With My Ba-Ba! Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: Someplace playing footsie with Patty Posts: 50,539	Jimmie Walker aka JJ on Good Times was a breakout character. The show wasn't as good when it was built around him. __________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3

05-10-2006, 11:43 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal Forum Celebrity LEGAL SPICE ;) Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,550	Flo on ALICE __________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

05-11-2006, 12:27 AM	#5
Buffyboy323 Senior Member ER: 1994-2009 Join Date: Jun 24, 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 5,442	Hmm...Jo on "Facts Of Life?", Cody on "Step By Step", and Darlene on "Roseanne." __________________ Tuesdays are a bitch. -Melrose Place on The CW

05-11-2006, 01:31 AM	#6
snl 70s show fan Senior Member Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,419	how about kelso on that 70s show

05-11-2006, 03:43 AM	#7
db108108 Forum Regular Teacher (for now) Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 982	More interesting still are those characters that became bigger than the show itself. For instance, Steve Urkel. I bet more people recognize that name than the show he came from. Any others?

05-11-2006, 05:00 PM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Forum Celebrity MEMBER Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,398	Break Out Characters *I would also have to say Hawkeye on MASH** __________________ Who Dat

05-11-2006, 11:40 PM	#9
baronzzz Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank Posts: 181	I remember reading that in about the third season or so of Seinfeld, the audience would start clapping when Kramer would make his sliding entrance into Jerry's apt. But they (the producers?) cut that off. When a character only has to make an entrance and gets applause, he's got to be a breakout character!

05-11-2006, 11:55 PM	#10
Chad Michael Murray Senior Member Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,494	How about Michelle on Full House? As she (they) got older and could handle a bigger role, there were a lot more stories on the show revolving around the character. __________________ "I think that I’m definitely connected to my sensitive side. I pretty much wear my emotions on my sleeves for the people in my life." --Chad Michael Murray

05-12-2006, 12:28 AM	#11
Janice Administrator Forum Celebrity Puffy Shirt Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 31,510	Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter. __________________ God Bless our Troops "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That's not leadership. That's not going to happen." - Barack Obama May/08

05-12-2006, 11:12 AM	#12
Dragonflies Moderator Forum Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Location: Watching The Big Bang Theory Posts: 20,545	Shawn on Boy Meets World, Cody on Step by Step, Urkel on Family Matters

05-12-2006, 11:21 AM	#13
dlemond Moderator The night shift Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,599	Breakout characters that didn't take over a show: Louie DePalma - Taxi Benson - Soap Dr. Johnny Fever - WKRP in Cincinnati

05-12-2006, 11:55 AM	#14
Brian Damage Moderator Forum Legend Don't Mess With My Ba-Ba! Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: Someplace playing footsie with Patty Posts: 50,539	Mike Seaver on Growing Pains

05-12-2006, 08:24 PM	#15
Michael72581 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Oct 13, 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 280	Alex P. Keaton (Family Ties) __________________ Michael Tranzillo Alias Name: MichaelTheTVFan82

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