# Sitcoms where "sidekicks" steal the show. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498 "2010-12-09T03:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [December 9, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/1 "2010-12-09T03:05:06Z")
I say “sidekicks” for lack of a better word. Here’s mine: George Costanza from Seinfeld. The only reason I ever watched that show. His dad was pretty funny too, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/2 "2010-12-09T03:22:33Z")
Jack & Karen from **Will & Grace**. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/3 "2010-12-09T03:23:50Z")
Schneider from One Day At A Time Rerun from What’s Happenin’ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/4 "2010-12-09T03:25:13Z")
I’m not sure that The Fonz and Urkel were that funny, but they sure stole the show. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/5 "2010-12-09T03:25:29Z")
I don’t think there’s anything in _How I Met You Mother_ which would compel me to sit through more than a minute of it, if not for Neil Patrick Harris. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/6 "2010-12-09T03:29:22Z")
Most of them? The supporters in sitcoms are almost always more interesting than the straight-man or -woman main character. The three sidekicks in Seinfeld, for example, don’t steal the show, they _are_ the show. Jerry is hilarious too, of course, but he often acts a lot like a representation of the audience, reacting to and wise-cracking about the antics of his friends. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/7 "2010-12-09T03:32:10Z")
Barney Fife was one of the first. Maybe Ed Norton, but I don’t think he stole the show that much. He and Ralph worked together on things, like Lucy and Ethel. Barney and Andy were going in different directions, sometimes with different plots. One of the biggest thefts was Erkel. He was supposed to appear on just one show. Before long, it was his show. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/8 "2010-12-09T03:36:34Z")
The _Bob Newhart Show_. He was the main character but was also the straight man in a sea of insanity. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/9 "2010-12-09T03:36:41Z")
John Laroquette and Richard Moll on Night Court. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/10 "2010-12-09T03:40:42Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > John Laroquette and Richard Moll on Night Court. And Selma Diamond. Rose (Charlie’s neighbor/stalker) is easily the best thing about _Two and a Half Men_, with Candy a close second. I used to think they should have their own shows, but those two are probably better in small doses. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/11 "2010-12-09T03:46:12Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Most of them? The supporters in sitcoms are almost always more interesting than the straight-man or -woman main character. The three sidekicks in Seinfeld, for example, don’t steal the show, they _are_ the show. Jerry is hilarious too, of course, but he often acts a lot like a representation of the audience, reacting to and wise-cracking about the antics of his friends. Yeah, now that I think about it, it seems like this is the norm. Frasier’s another one that comes to mind. Don’t get me wrong–I LOVE Kelsey Grammer, but I think David Hyde Pierce as Niles was just a bit funnier. Niles doing almost anything was gold. Niles pretending a bag of flour is a child, Niles thinking he’s high on pot, Niles pronouncing the word “fixin’s.” ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/12 "2010-12-09T03:48:46Z")
I’m not positive that she counts as a sidekick, but Brittany on **Glee**. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/13 "2010-12-09T03:54:47Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > And Selma Diamond. > > Rose (Charlie’s neighbor/stalker) is easily the best thing about _Two and a Half Men_, with Candy a close second. I used to think they should have their own shows, but those two are probably better in small doses. I always thought Conchatta Ferrell as Berta the housekeeper was the funniest thing on that show. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/14 "2010-12-09T03:57:13Z")
There are two stock types of sitcom leads, the wacky star with the straight sidekick (think Lucy and Ethel) or the straight star with the wacky sidekicks (Andy/Barney, Newhart/Howard-Elliott-George-Larrydarrylandtheotherdarryll). Andy Griffith said something to the effect that the straight lead and wacky sidekick tended to wear better on the audience than the reverse. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/15 "2010-12-09T04:00:56Z")
Larry and his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/16 "2010-12-09T04:38:06Z")
Here’s a list of what Wikipedia calls “breakout characters,” which is close to what you’re asking for: > **[List of breakout characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_breakout_characters)** > > A breakout character is a character in serial fiction, especially a member of an ensemble cast, who becomes much more prominent, popular, discussed, or imitated than expected by the creators. A breakout character may equal or overtake the other characters in popularity, including the protagonist. Prominent breakout characters often make cameo appearances in expanded franchises or feature as main characters in spin-off instalments of their own. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/17 "2010-12-09T04:40:06Z")
Kato on _The Green Hornet_. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/18 "2010-12-09T04:50:10Z")
Patsy on “Absolutely Fabulous.” When David Letterman did his show in London for a fortnight, actresses Jennifer Saunders & Joanna Lunmley even built their whole guest appearance on the conceit of the [sidekick stealing the show.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpDU8R4FdfE) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/19 "2010-12-09T04:57:35Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > And Selma Diamond. > > Rose (Charlie’s neighbor/stalker) is easily the best thing about _Two and a Half Men_, with Candy a close second. I used to think they should have their own shows, but those two are probably better in small doses. Berta and and Evelyn steal every scene they are in from the boys. I never cared much for Rose, but Kandi is sorely missed. And I mean sorely. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/20 "2010-12-09T05:09:26Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Berta and and Evelyn steal every scene they are in from the boys. I can’t believe I forgot Evelyn! Holland Taylor is a gem, pretty much no matter what she’s in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498.md?page=2)