# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/21 "2010-12-09T05:12:43Z")
I think I’m gonna win the thread with this one: _Remington Steele_ (Pierce Brosnan, as if anyone didn’t know) Even though he was the titular character, the show was intended as a starring vehicle for Stephanie Zimbalist - as reflected in the fact that she had star billing throughout the series’ run. The fact that Brosnan and his portrayal of Steele became so wildly popular allegedly resulted in considerable offscreen tension, with the two stars said not to get along off-camera, though they both denied it. Doris Roberts, another member of the cast, has alluded to this in interviews, calling working conditions on the set “unpleasant”. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/22 "2010-12-09T05:15:24Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > John Laroquette and Richard Moll on Night Court. Does _Night Court_ really count though? It was more of an ensemble than focussing on one particular main character. Harry may have gotten more time than anyone else, but pretty much everyone had equal time. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/23 "2010-12-09T05:24:27Z")
Franklin (Noah Gray-Cabey [Noah Gray-Cabey - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Gray-Cabey) ) from _My Wife and Kids_. Cute kid and talented pianist, he stole the show with every appearance. ---
**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, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/24 "2010-12-09T05:45:25Z")
More of ensemble cast, but the main reason I watched _Taxi_ was because of Louie DePalma and Reverend Jim ---
**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, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/25 "2010-12-09T06:21:30Z")
Not only was Reverend Jim a character who went from doing a one-shot appearance to being a regular, but Christopher Lloyd essentially created the character himself. There was an episode where Latka married a prostitute in a paper marriage so that he could stay in the U.S. The producers of the show needed someone to play the minister for this wedding. They auditioned a number of actors who did fairly standard stereotypes of ministers. Lloyd though came into the audition with the character of Reverend Jim all worked out. The producers liked his ideas and cast him for that episode and, after seeing his performance in the show, decided to make him a regular. ---
**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, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/26 "2010-12-09T06:39:57Z")
**Shakes** So far in this thread _sidekick_ could mean the secondary member of a pair of characters, or any member of an ensemble, or a recurring character, or an insignificant character. And \*steal the show \*could mean the sidekick becoming the primary character, or being more popular (funny) than the primary character, or being more popular than the character was intended to be, or just an increase in significance of the character. So with the different opinions, we’re getting a list of non-primary characters that we like. Did you have a more precise definition of \*\*sidekick \*\*and \*\*steal the show \*\*in mind? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/27 "2010-12-09T06:47:02Z")
Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett Show. ---
**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, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/28 "2010-12-09T08:42:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > **Shakes** > > So far in this thread _sidekick_ could mean the secondary member of a pair of characters, or any member of an ensemble, or a recurring character, or an insignificant character. > > And \*steal the show \*could mean the sidekick becoming the primary character, or being more popular (funny) than the primary character, or being more popular than the character was intended to be, or just an increase in significance of the character. > > So with the different opinions, we’re getting a list of non-primary characters that we like. Did you have a more precise definition of \*\*sidekick \*\*and \*\*steal the show \*\*in mind? Nope, you got it right. The seconday characters who steal the show are what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/29 "2010-12-09T08:55:12Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I think I’m gonna win the thread with this one: > > _Remington Steele_ (Pierce Brosnan, as if anyone didn’t know) > > Even though he was the titular character, the show was intended as a starring vehicle for Stephanie Zimbalist - as reflected in the fact that she had star billing throughout the series’ run. The fact that Brosnan and his portrayal of Steele became so wildly popular allegedly resulted in considerable offscreen tension, with the two stars said not to get along off-camera, though they both denied it. Doris Roberts, another member of the cast, has alluded to this in interviews, calling working conditions on the set “unpleasant”. You could probably say the same thing about _Moonlighting_, while you’re at it. When the show started, Sheppard was an established (albeit C-list) movie star, while Willis was a bartender who’d been on \*Miami Vice \*once. Even the show’s title referred to the fact that it was supposed to be about a model “moonlighting” as a detective. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/30 "2010-12-09T10:31:44Z")
Homer on the Simpsons. There s no doubt that, in it’s early run, Bart was the title character. Also, Allison Mack completely stole the show in Smallville. She w barely meant as Clarck Kents sidekick, but her character was one of the best on the show. If comic book geeks weren’t so stuck on canon, ive no doubt Chloe would become a comic book character. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/31 "2010-12-09T10:51:43Z")
Bob Denver’s character of course. No not Gilligan but Maynard G. Krebs on \*The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis \*. Art Carney as Ed Norton stole most of his scenes in _The Honeymooners_. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/32 "2010-12-09T12:36:09Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Also, Allison Mack completely stole the show in Smallville. She w barely meant as Clarck Kents sidekick, but her character was one of the best on the show. If comic book geeks weren’t so stuck on canon, ive no doubt Chloe would become a comic book character. Actually I think she did make it into the comics at some point…I don’t know if they ret-conned her as a childhood friend Clark never talked about until now, or if she was just introduced as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/33 "2010-12-09T16:00:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > **Shakes** > > So far in this thread _sidekick_ could mean the secondary member of a pair of characters, or any member of an ensemble, or a recurring character, or an insignificant character. > > And \*steal the show \*could mean the sidekick becoming the primary character, or being more popular (funny) than the primary character, or being more popular than the character was intended to be, or just an increase in significance of the character. Well, if we define “sidekick” as “secondary member of a pair of characters”, and “steal the show” as “being more popular or funny than the primary character”, then I think Christine Baranski’s portrayal of Maryann Thorpe in _Cybill_ counts. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/34 "2010-12-09T16:12:22Z")
It would almost be more interesting to talk about shows where the supporting cast DIDN’T steal it. Only ones I can think of off-hand are The Cosby Show and the above-mentioned I Love Lucy. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/35 "2010-12-09T16:29:35Z")
Joy and Randy from My Name Is Earl. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/36 "2010-12-09T16:32:00Z")
Sheldon Cooper was supposed to be Leonard’s sidekick on Big Bang. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/37 "2010-12-09T16:38:49Z")
Benson on Soap (Og, I feel **old!!!** remembering this) ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/38 "2010-12-09T16:43:56Z")
Oliver Douglas versus the rest of Hooterville. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/39 "2010-12-09T17:02:41Z")
I think Michael Bluth is considered the main character of **Arrested Development** , and while he is quite funny, it’s really GOB, George, Buster and Tobias that make the show. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498/40 "2010-12-09T18:00:12Z")
[Alexander Scott](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001070/) and [Bubble](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001363/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcoms-where-sidekicks-steal-the-show/563498.md?page=3)