# Examples of secondary characters completely taking over a TV or book series? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493 "2014-07-31T15:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/61 "2014-08-01T20:51:38Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > _Outland_ started with a completely new set of characters, but I guess Berkeley Breathed ran out of ideas pretty quickly, because it wasn’t long at all before Opus showed up in Outland, and the strip quickly became a revamp of _Bloom County_, with the new characters very much marginalized. Breathed intended to include Opus in _Outland_ from the start. I remember reading an interview with him, as _Bloom County_ was winding down, where he said the only two characters who would make the transition were Ronald-Ann and Opus. I don’t have a cite for this, but the final strips of _Bloom County_ involve Ronald-Ann trying to convince Opus to join her in Outland. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/62 "2014-08-01T20:54:35Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Ben Linus was supposed to be a brief, minor character in Lost, but he was so deliciously creepy and fans responded so well they made him a major character. Wait! No! The writers had everything meticulously planned out before the first episode even aired. I’m sure of it. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/63 "2014-08-01T22:06:33Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > _The Hobbit_ and _The Lord of the Rings_. > > Bilbo was the principle character of the first book, but was greatly marginalized, in favor of Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, anyone really. I don’t see that as minor characters taking over I see that as a sequel. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/64 "2014-08-01T22:38:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Wait! No! The writers had everything meticulously planned out before the first episode even aired. I’m sure of it. You’re right, you’re right. How could I have thought such a thing? ---
**Author:** ![danhanegan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb9ed0/32.png) [@danhanegan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danhanegan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/65 "2014-08-04T16:18:24Z")
Han Solo ---
**Author:** ![danhanegan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb9ed0/32.png) [@danhanegan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danhanegan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/66 "2014-08-04T17:15:10Z")
Just noticed my elderly mother watching a Gunsmoke rerun. Which has another example: Festus. James Arness always got the star billing, but Ken Curtis’ performance as his quirky deputy is what most people remember about the series. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/67 "2014-08-04T20:45:34Z")
Eddie Haskell !! ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/68 "2014-08-05T01:46:44Z")
Does a franchise being handed on count? Colin Dexter’s book series ended with the death of Inspector Morse. But the television adaptions promoted Sergeant Lewis to inspector, and provided him with a new sergeant character, Hathaway. At the end of those series, Lewis retired and Hathaway left the force. But they are both back, and fans are expecting, in the future, a re-retirement for Lewis, and a promotion and a new sergeant for Hathaway. Lindsey Davis stepped back from M. Didius Falco after twenty books, and her lead mystery-solving ancient Roman is now Falco’s adopted daughter, Flavia Albia. Only two books so far, so can’t tell whether it will be as successful as the Morse/Lewis/Hathaway sequence. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/69 "2014-08-05T11:49:41Z")
Sometimes I remember this show called The New Adventures of Tigger and his adorable friend Pooh Bear. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/70 "2014-08-05T13:35:32Z")
In The Heat of The Night was supposed to be a vehicle for Sidney Poitier starring as the main character Virgil Tibbs. Rod Steiger stole that movie as Police Chief Bill Gillespie, winning the Best Actor Oscar. Charles Schuz noticed a dish of peppermint patty candy and thought “Peppermint Patty would be a good name for a comic strip character.” He created a minor character with the name “before someone else used it.” He later admitted “She could carry another comic strip on her own.” ---
**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:** [August 5, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/71 "2014-08-05T13:44:25Z")
> [@danhanegan](#): > > Han Solo But…he’s a main character. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/72 "2014-08-05T13:59:20Z")
Tim Conway on The Carole Burnett Show. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/73 "2014-08-05T14:03:38Z")
Speaking of “wacky neighbors,” how about Laverne & Shirley’s Lenny & Squiggy? Wil Wheaton was supposed to be a “one-shot” on Big Bang Theory. The next day, the Internet was ablaze with references to “Evil Wil Wheaton.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/74 "2014-08-05T15:29:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I don’t see that as minor characters taking over I see that as a sequel. This. Frodo, Aragorn, Sam, Pippin, and Merry aren’t minor characters in _The Hobbit_; they’re not characters at all. Hell, only Aragorn had even been born yet. And while I’m far, far too lazy to verify this, I suspect that percentage-wise, Gandalf appears more in _Hobbit_ than in _LotR_. ---
**Author:** ![mimsical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@mimsical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mimsical)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/75 "2014-08-05T20:51:35Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Wait! No! The writers had everything meticulously planned out before the first episode even aired. I’m sure of it. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You’re right, you’re right. How could I have thought such a thing? I know, I know – after “Prometheus,” how could we ever doubt Lindelof’s ability to pre-plot? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/76 "2014-08-05T20:56:48Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > But…he’s a main character. And is pretty consistently placed second place to Luke in the narrative throughout the series. It’s not Han who fights Vader and the Emperor. Hell, it’s not even Han who pilots the Falcon and destroys the Death Star. ---
**Author:** ![mimsical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@mimsical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mimsical)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/77 "2014-08-05T20:59:22Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Tim Conway on The Carole Burnett Show. oh gawd… I’m glad I wasn’t drinking coffee when I read this. All I can think of is the poor little Siamese elephants who go “'FNORGN”. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/78 "2014-08-05T22:04:15Z")
> [@mimsical](#): > > oh gawd… I’m glad I wasn’t drinking coffee when I read this. > All I can think of is the poor little Siamese elephants who go “'FNORGN”. Just lost it here. FNORGN ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/79 "2014-08-05T22:36:01Z")
> [@FeAudrey](#): > > Does a franchise being handed on count? > Colin Dexter’s book series ended with the death of Inspector Morse. > > But the television adaptions promoted Sergeant Lewis to inspector, and provided him with a new sergeant character, Hathaway. > > At the end of those series, Lewis retired and Hathaway left the force. But they are both back, and fans are expecting, in the future, a re-retirement for Lewis, and a promotion and a new sergeant for Hathaway. > Lindsey Davis stepped back from M. Didius Falco after twenty books, and her lead mystery-solving ancient Roman is now Falco’s adopted daughter, Flavia Albia. Only two books so far, so can’t tell whether it will be as successful as the Morse/Lewis/Hathaway sequence. Hell, [Taggart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taggart) ran from 1983 to 2011 even though Mark MacManus, who played the eponymous Glaswegian detective, went to the Big Barlinnie in the Sky in 1994. Where, no doubt, some bampot was banjoin’ the chippies. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493/80 "2014-08-06T02:43:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I believe it was only Renko (Charles Haid) who was supposed to die. Hill (Michael Warren) was supposed to recover and be teamed with a new partner while he coped with his former partner’s death. I agree with **Exapno**. I was a big fan of the show back in the day and remember reading an interview with Steven Bochco; my recollection is he said that both characters were supposed to die. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-secondary-characters-completely-taking-over-a-tv-or-book-series/694493.md?page=5)