# Name a TV character who doesn't belong in a series

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-tv-character-who-doesnt-belong-in-a-series/979248>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, actor-characters\
**Created:** [February 3, 2023, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-tv-character-who-doesnt-belong-in-a-series/979248 "2023-02-03T10:45:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-tv-character-who-doesnt-belong-in-a-series/979248/202 "2023-03-01T13:46:59Z")

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> [@terentii](#):
>
> When it comes to Batman and Robin, watch this clip. Aunt Harriet was **not** fooled!
> 
> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAfX3Iyr1U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAfX3Iyr1U)
> 
> I love the shots of the Batmobile. They make me feel eleven years old again! 🥰

The only thing that was missing was Robin saying, “Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed!”

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-tv-character-who-doesnt-belong-in-a-series/979248/203 "2023-03-01T14:48:55Z")

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> [@Jaycat.again](#):
>
> > [@Pavelb1](#):
> >
> > I think Chevy Chase is hilarious,
> 
> Oh, you’re the one.

“Medium talent”

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-tv-character-who-doesnt-belong-in-a-series/979248/204 "2023-03-01T15:43:21Z")

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Ryan Pierce on _The West Wing_. Pierce (played by Jesse Bradford) was brought in to the series in Season 5. He was a White House intern who was assigned to Josh Lyman. Apparently somebody felt that viewers were unhappy because they didn’t understand all of the political situations that were occurring in the show (and which the characters who were White House staffers all understood). So Pierce’s role in the narrative was to be ignorant and ask questions about what was going on so the other characters would have to slow things down and explain what was happening to him (and the viewers).

It was a thankless job at best and starting it in the show’s fifth season made it worse. Anyone who didn’t like the show because they were confused had already left. People who were still watching the show didn’t feel the need to have things dumbed down for them.

Pierce only appeared in nine episodes and was then written out.

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