# Characters introduced in the middle of a series that ruined the series for you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [June 7, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737 "2021-06-07T03:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/21 "2021-06-08T01:30:56Z")
Parks and recreation. Tom’s best friend and his best friend’s sister. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/22 "2021-06-08T02:33:08Z")
Maybe one of the earliest examples of a kid ruining a show was in the classic _I Love Lucy_ series. There were a bunch of (mostly not very funny) baby-related episodes when Lucille Ball was pregnant IRL, but many of the later episodes were completely ruined when they focused on “little Ricky”. For the longest time I thought “little Ricky” was a shameless attempt by Lucy and Desi to showcase their own child, but in fact he was a child actor unrelated to them at all. Anyway, he spoiled every show in which he dominated. A good example of the opposite – new characters improving a show – began in the third season of _Newhart_ (that’s the one where he plays the Vermont innkeeper, not the earlier Bob Newhart Show). That was when a couple of unlikable characters were replaced by the totally self-absorbed Stephanie (Julia Duffy) and her comically shallow boyfriend Michael (Peter Scolari). AFAIC _Newhart_ didn’t really take off until Season 3 for that reason. I believe Duffy was Emmy-nominated for her role; I don’t think Scolari was, but he should have been. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/23 "2021-06-08T02:46:57Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > All of the second-wave Happy Days cast - Jenny Piccalo, Roger Phillips, Eugene Belvin, etc. I always thought the character that ruined it was the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/24 "2021-06-08T03:09:03Z")
The anime K-On! introduced a new character to the main group in the middle of the first season named Azusa. The problem was she was basically the “straight-man” character, when the show already had a straight-man character in the cast from the beginning. So you basically had a completely unnecessary and useless character eating up screen-time for really no reason. You would literally get both of the straight-man characters reacting in the same way almost every single time, it was so bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/25 "2021-06-08T04:41:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Emily in _ **Big Bang Theory** _ . The actress may have been hot, but her character totally sucked. For me it was Stuart’s girlfriend. She really didn’t fit. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/26 "2021-06-08T05:10:52Z")
Wow! I’d forgotten he even _had_ a girlfriend! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/27 "2021-06-08T06:30:45Z")
I don’t think I’ve had a series runied, but there are certain season’s episodes that I routinely skip. Like any Law and Order with Fontana. I’m not sure where they thought they were going with his character, but replacing Lennie with this guy who is a thug, tortures suspects, and presents the image of being on the take didnt work for me. And although I must admit there are some good episodes in second season TNG, I tend to skip random ones with Pulaski. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/28 "2021-06-08T07:07:53Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Ricky Segal on _ **The Partridge Family** _ . The final nail in the coffin for that show! In fairness, the producers must have realized that Ricky’s screeches (it’s difficult to call them “singing”) turned a lot of viewers off, and he disappeared, with about six episodes left to go in the season. He appeared in none of them. But the damage was done, and that was the final season for the Partridge Family. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/29 "2021-06-08T07:43:16Z")
‘All in the Family’. While decidedly toward the end of the series, the arrival and the Bunker’s de-facto adoption of ‘Stephanie’ caused some nauseating turns of events in the show. Watching ‘Archie’ have to soften up was predictable but well enough played within the bounds of the limits of his character was one thing. Hearing ‘Edith’ fawn about having “_a little giiirrrllllll_” in the house was squirm-worthy. The term “glurge” came much too late. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/30 "2021-06-08T07:48:19Z")
Poochie the Rockin’ Dog absolutely ruined the Itchy and Scratchy Show. Maybe even more so than the previous additions of Disgruntled Goat, Uncle Ant, and Ku Klux Klam. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/31 "2021-06-08T09:49:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > AFAIC _Newhart_ didn’t really take off until Season 3 for that reason. I believe Duffy was Emmy-nominated for her role; I don’t think Scolari was, but he should have been. Scolari got nominated for three in a row for his work on _Newhart_; it’s just that he was up against guys who kept hitting it out of the park on _Cheers_ and _Night Court_. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/32 "2021-06-09T01:09:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Poochie the Rockin’ Dog absolutely ruined the Itchy and Scratchy Show. [I feel we should rastify him by 10% or so.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySXu8x-RnA) And Roy was at least tolerable. In seriousness, though, “Poochie’s dead!” is a great phrase for when something unpopular is discontinued. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/33 "2021-06-09T01:13:59Z")
Came in to mention Stephanie on Archie Bunker’s Place but was beaten to the punch. Of course the gold standard is Cousin Oliver. Pinky Tuscadero is a good honorable mention. The lady doctor in Petticoat Junction. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/34 "2021-06-09T01:20:55Z")
The opposite of this would be when a character improves a show, like when Fred joined Angel at the end of season 2. Many of the new people on MASH also improved the show. Jool was a huge misstep on Farscape. They wrote her off after one season, realizing their error. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/35 "2021-06-09T11:09:36Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > The original new kid has to be mentioned. Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch. He was a terrible addition to the show. Important trivia: Cousin Oliver delivered the last line of the series. My nominee is Rebecca from **Cheers**. Never did like her character. I watched Diane. I knew Diane. She’s no Diane. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/36 "2021-06-09T11:13:43Z")
Important trivia: Robby Rist was later shoehorned into Battlestar Galactica (in its Galactica: 1980 incarnation) as “Dr Zee” - a metaphoric “Cousin Oliver” (to replace “Boxie”) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/37 "2021-06-09T11:22:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My nominee is Rebecca from **Cheers**. Never did like her character. I watched Diane. I knew Diane. She’s no Diane. I was going to mention her as an opposite, but she isn’t quite that. The show as good before, but I prefer the Rebecca era because it finally began to move on from the Sam & Diane will-they-won’t-they era. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/38 "2021-06-09T11:28:42Z")
He only played Dr. Zee for 3 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/39 "2021-06-09T11:38:23Z")
Wow. I thought he was there throughout. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737/40 "2021-06-09T19:49:18Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My nominee is Rebecca from **Cheers**. Never did like her character. I watched Diane. I knew Diane. She’s no Diane. > > mmm I feel the opposite. The show was more fun with Rebecca and Woody. I like that he focus of the later seasons was more on the bar regulars rather than primarily Sam’s relationship with Diane. Frasier, even though he started in Diane days, also came into his own during the Rebecca era. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-introduced-in-the-middle-of-a-series-that-ruined-the-series-for-you/943737.md?page=3)