# Shows Named After the Character not the Actor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545 "2009-02-12T16:05:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/21 "2009-02-12T17:45:28Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Jeeves & Wooster > Poirot > I, Claudius > And a lot of other British shows they brought over for Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery. In fact, I can’t think of a British show named after the actor, unless the actor was playing himself/herself (or a person with the same name), e.g., Hancock’s Half Hour (with Tony Hancock the main character played by Tony Hancock). ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/22 "2009-02-12T17:54:00Z")
Another British one; Fawlty Towers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/23 "2009-02-12T18:01:28Z")
Will & Grace Grace Under Fire ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/24 "2009-02-12T18:13:52Z")
The Sopranos ---
**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:** [February 12, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/25 "2009-02-12T18:18:31Z")
Becker King of the Hill Peter Gunn Get Smart Welcome Back, Kotter Charlie’s Angels (even though Charlie remained unseen, he was a character in that he spoke to the Angels) The Sopranos Joanie Loves Chachi McMillan and Wife ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/26 "2009-02-12T18:21:49Z")
Seinfeld, named after the character Jerry Seinfeld. (as played by actor Jerry Seinfeld, but that’s just a funny coincidence) ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/27 "2009-02-12T18:21:51Z")
Gloria (an unsuccessful “All in the Family” spin-off) Maude (a more successful “All in the Family” spin-off) Fawlty Towers (the unsuccessful U.S. version) Payne (an unsuccessful “Fawlty Towers” adaptation) Hazel (about a maid) The Jetsons (who had a robot maid) “Roseanne” is listed upthread. I think that’s kind of cheating, but if it counts than so do “I Love Lucy,” “Here’s Lucy,” “The Lucy Show,” and (shudder) “Life With Lucy.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/28 "2009-02-12T18:28:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Becker > Peter Gunn Which naturally leads to “Mr. Lucky”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/29 "2009-02-12T18:31:10Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Becker > Peter Gunn Which naturally leads to “Mr. Lucky”. Burke’s Law Richard Diamond, Private Detective Cannon ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/30 "2009-02-12T18:31:13Z")
Just realized we have “King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons,” and “The Jetsons,” but not the original: The Flintstones. Those are the major primetime, family viewing cartoons. If we included Saturday morning kiddie stuff, we could be here forever. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/31 "2009-02-12T18:33:17Z")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Angel Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. The Rat Patrol (stretching a bit–show named after the 4 man team) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/32 "2009-02-12T18:36:57Z")
I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster The Strange Report (yes, the hero (played by Anthony Quayle) was named Strange). The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis ---
**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:** [February 12, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/33 "2009-02-12T19:36:12Z")
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch House of Payne ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/34 "2009-02-12T19:43:44Z")
The A-Team! Charlie’s Angels! How could I forget those?!? _hangs head in shame_ ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/35 "2009-02-12T20:24:58Z")
Kate & Allie Remington Steele That Girl ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/36 "2009-02-12T20:27:31Z")
Banacek Hunter MacMillian & Wife Cannon ---
**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:** [February 12, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/37 "2009-02-12T20:29:13Z")
George of the Jungle ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/38 "2009-02-12T20:50:39Z")
The Trouble with Tracy (Also the worst sitcom ever.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/39 "2009-02-12T21:28:27Z")
Alice Julia Daniel Boone Nichols Pete and Gladys Parker Lewis Can’t Lose Ferris Buehler Ellery Queen The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (which was on the air before “Ellery Queen”) Honey West Amos Burke, Secret Agent Longstreet ---
**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545/40 "2009-02-12T21:32:11Z")
Columbo Leave it to Beaver Archie’s Place [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-named-after-the-character-not-the-actor/485545.md?page=3)