# New characters that really added something to a TV series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601 "2014-09-15T21:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/61 "2014-09-17T17:50:57Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > They were there, just not in the song. Right? 😕 > > And the rest… They were in the series, but not in the pilot. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/62 "2014-09-17T17:51:08Z")
I have to second Ted Danson on CSI. I thought with the departure of Grissom that CSI would deflate, but thought Fishburne brought an interest to the show. Initially, I thought Danson would hurt the show, but he has been excellent. A departure that I thought helped was Kyra Sedgwick leaving and Major Crimes really improved. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/63 "2014-09-17T18:36:42Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > They were in the series, but not in the pilot. Then, my Bones McCoy should stand.😉 ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/64 "2014-09-17T22:36:44Z")
On Gunsmoke there were a couple…Festus (Ken Curtis), of course. A one time thing that just worked and worked and worked. The other was Quint (Burt Reynolds). His character fit in well, although I understand he didn’t always. On It Takes a Thief they had Fred Astaire do a cameo as Robert Wagner’s father and once again, it worked wonderfully and was kept as pretty much a regular. The irony here is that Wagner’s most recent roll is playing a father character much like Astaire’s, but his is on NCIS. Does not actually qualify, but on Happy Days…No not Scott Baio (or however you spell his name), but Mork from Ork. It added so much he got his own show. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/65 "2014-09-17T23:31:33Z")
A bad add was Mork’s son. The epicness that could’ve been! Totally misused. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/66 "2014-09-17T23:53:08Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > They were in the series, but not in the pilot. Not quite: \*Four of the original seven pilot characters were identical to those of the series (including the actor/actress cast for each role): Gilligan, the Skipper, and the two Howells. The three remaining original pilot characters differed from those of the series (including the actor/actress cast): In the pilot, the Professor was instead a high school teacher played by John Gabriel; Ginger the movie star was instead Ginger, a practical secretary with red hair, played by Kit Smythe; and Mary Ann the Kansas farm girl was instead Bunny, a stereotypically cheerful “dumb blonde” secretary, played by Nancy McCarthy. \* ---
**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:** [September 18, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/67 "2014-09-18T05:31:32Z")
I don’t think Goober added much to the Andy Griffith Show. They just needed a good hearted countrified idiot to replace Gomer Pyle after Gomer joined the Marines. And the cop who replaced Barney added nothing. Zane was a useful addition to Eureka. I guess Nathan was also. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/68 "2014-09-18T10:53:44Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > In the “replacement characters” category: > > Adding Ted Danson to the cast of CSI: has brought a good spirit and reinvigorated the cast. There was nothing really inherently WRONG with Lawrence Fishburn, he had an OK character with a “twist” that was revealed a bit too soon, but Danson has brought a unique personality, cadence, and chemistry with the cast that’s been missing for a while > [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I have to second Ted Danson on CSI. I thought with the departure of Grissom that CSI would deflate, but thought Fishburne brought an interest to the show. > > Initially, I thought Danson would hurt the show, but he has been excellent. I went from “oh, is this show still on?” with Fishburn at the helm to looking forward to it every week with the addition of Ted Danson and Elisabeth Harnois. I like Elisabeth Shue’s even more recent character too. I suppose it helps that I’ve always been fonder of Greg, Sara, and Nick than I ever was Gil or Catherine though. As for Angel and Buffy, Spike and Fred improved both a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/69 "2014-09-18T12:17:56Z")
Wait, did this thread really manage to get this far without anyone mentioning Law and Order? A quick look at the Wikipedia article indicates the show went through 27 different main cast members. The two most iconic characters, Lennie Briscoe and Jack McCoy, didn’t join the show until seasons 3 and 5, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/70 "2014-09-18T12:30:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I went from “oh, is this show still on?” with Fishburn at the helm to looking forward to it every week with the addition of Ted Danson and Elisabeth Harnois. I like Elisabeth Shue’s even more recent character too. I suppose it helps that I’ve always been fonder of Greg, Sara, and Nick than I ever was Gil or Catherine though. I LOVE Elisabeth Harnois! But Shue’s character has never grown on me. She started off good (hey we need a blood expert, I know a girl) but now it seems like either every case has SOMETHING to do with blood, or she does what ever CSI does and isn’t special anymore. I heard that this season is going to involve her more, so maybe she’ll grow on me. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/71 "2014-09-18T12:36:36Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Not even in jest. > > You might as well mention Scrappy Do. Damn you! I was going to say that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/72 "2014-09-18T13:05:03Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Then, my Bones McCoy should stand.😉 Have you tried gluing the joints together in a realistic pose? ETA… user/post combo… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/73 "2014-09-18T14:30:40Z")
Kryten didn’t properly join the crew of Red Dwarf until series 3. The later addition of Kochanski as a regular wasn’t nearly so successful. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/74 "2014-09-18T14:30:43Z")
I’m a Doper, not an anthropologist. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/75 "2014-09-18T14:42:02Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I suppose it helps that I’ve always been fonder of Greg, Sara, and Nick than I ever was Gil or Catherine though. I have this theory, that Sara killed Grissom not long after they were married, because deep down she’s bat shit insane. I hope that someday the show writers realize it, too. That would make an awesome plot development. Hey, if they can make Detective Vega a murdering, cooked cop, my theory could be possible. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/76 "2014-09-18T14:44:54Z")
Tom Zarek (though he was introduced in season 1) was one of the first real new characters of _Battlestar Galactica_, and his character development allowed the writers to take some of the card-carrying villain stuff away from Baltar and have more fun with his character, which was one of the true highlights of the reboot. ---
**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:** [September 18, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/77 "2014-09-18T14:54:35Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Tom Zarek (though he was introduced in season 1) was one of the first real new characters of _Battlestar Galactica_, and his character development allowed the writers to take some of the card-carrying villain stuff away from Baltar and have more fun with his character, which was one of the true highlights of the reboot. Gotta respect the season-two introduction of Dean Stockwell as Cavill. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/78 "2014-09-18T15:04:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Gotta respect the season-two introduction of Dean Stockwell as Cavill. Oh, hell, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/79 "2014-09-18T15:16:14Z")
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus in _Lost._ “You guys got any milk?” turned it from a show that I enjoyed to a Show I Did Not Miss. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601/80 "2014-09-18T15:24:58Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > **Game of Thrones** : It’s hard to believe at this point that neither Tywin Lannister nor Brienne of Tarth appeared in season 1. Few days late, I know, but Tywin Lannister most definitely WAS in Season 1. He appeared in Episode 7 of the 1st Season, and then also in Eps 8, 9, and 10. > **["Game of Thrones" You Win or You Die (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837863/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast)** > > "Game of Thrones" You Win or You Die (TV Episode 2011) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I believe he was first met in his tent as he was planning to fight Robb, as Tyrion showed up with his Mountain Clans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-characters-that-really-added-something-to-a-tv-series/698601.md?page=5)