When the Sidekick is Better Than the Hero
- Thread starter auntiehill
- Start date
Barney on How I Met Your Mother. But I think "better" is the wrong word because as mentioned, most of these sidekicks and secondary characters wouldn't necessarily make good leads. They're the spice that adds flavor, not the food itself.
^^^
As an aside, in the original show concept Frasier didn't have a brother. David Hyde Pierce's agent contacted the creators, pointed out Pierce's resemblance to Kelsey Grammer, and suggested giving Frasier a sibling.
As an aside, in the original show concept Frasier didn't have a brother. David Hyde Pierce's agent contacted the creators, pointed out Pierce's resemblance to Kelsey Grammer, and suggested giving Frasier a sibling.
I myself was actually considering creating a sidekicks thread. It was inspired by watching the 1st season or so of Hex. While I often felt that Cassie (and later Ella) were kinda stiff & boring, Cassie's dead lesbian roommate Thelma livened things up considerably.
Harrison & Davis were both way better than Tru on Tru Calling.
The best characters on Xena weren't even the main sidekick but the recurring supporting sidekicks like Autolycus & Joxer.
Dr. Kurt Mendell was the main draw for Odyssey 5 for me.
Although I always preferred Angel on Angel, Wesley certainly started to take over the show in Seasons 3 & 4.
Actually, in pretty much all these cases, I don't really care if the show itself comes back. I just want to see the sidekicks come back on another show. Somehow, I need to create a new TV show that incorporates Kurt Mendell, Harrison Davies, Davis, & Thelma.
Wow.
I can't even imagine how quickly that show would have fizzled without Niles. I mean, without Niles, we wouldn't have had Maris, we wouldn't have had 7 years of pining over Daphne, we wouldn't have had anyone to exchange insults with Roz. Damn....
Actually, that story reminds me of how Cliff was supposedly created on Cheers. John Ratzenberger originally auditioned for Norm but wasn't quite right for it. He then asked the producers if they had a "bar smart guy." He figured every bar has a know-it-all like Cliff. So he just did a little bit of the Cliff routine and they decided to make him a main character on the show.
Harrison & Davis were both way better than Tru on Tru Calling.
The best characters on Xena weren't even the main sidekick but the recurring supporting sidekicks like Autolycus & Joxer.
Dr. Kurt Mendell was the main draw for Odyssey 5 for me.
Although I always preferred Angel on Angel, Wesley certainly started to take over the show in Seasons 3 & 4.
Actually, in pretty much all these cases, I don't really care if the show itself comes back. I just want to see the sidekicks come back on another show. Somehow, I need to create a new TV show that incorporates Kurt Mendell, Harrison Davies, Davis, & Thelma.
Wow.
I can't even imagine how quickly that show would have fizzled without Niles. I mean, without Niles, we wouldn't have had Maris, we wouldn't have had 7 years of pining over Daphne, we wouldn't have had anyone to exchange insults with Roz. Damn....
Actually, that story reminds me of how Cliff was supposedly created on Cheers. John Ratzenberger originally auditioned for Norm but wasn't quite right for it. He then asked the producers if they had a "bar smart guy." He figured every bar has a know-it-all like Cliff. So he just did a little bit of the Cliff routine and they decided to make him a main character on the show.
Good Will Riker
Admiral
On MMPR, Tommy the Green Ranger became more popular with the fans than Jason as the Red Ranger that when Tommy was written off the show the popular character was brought back to eventually become the White Ranger (and replace Jason as leader on the show), the Red Zeo Ranger, the Red Turbo Ranger, the Black Dino Ranger, appear in 2 Power Rangers theatrical films, and return in a special 10th anniversary episode "Forever Red."
Awww...RIP Kevin Smith (the New Zealand actor and not the director who plays Silent Bob).
Angel's Spike was a much better character in the show's final season than Angel himself, imho. I also prefer Wesley from that show over the title character.
Equally, on Buffy, Willow and Giles were always more compelling characters to me than the eponymous heroine.
Equally, on Buffy, Willow and Giles were always more compelling characters to me than the eponymous heroine.
You knew things weren't quite right when even Clem started to have funnier/touching moments than Buffy in the last two seasons.
I'm kidding though, but yes I did always watch the show more for Willow than Buffy. But I don't see a Willow series working on its own.
You knew things weren't quite right when even Clem started to have funnier/touching moments than Buffy in the last two seasons.
I'm kidding though, but yes I did always watch the show more for Willow than Buffy. But I don't see a Willow series working on its own.
And yeh, I agree - Willow makes a very strong and interesting supporting player, but i think that would have been ruined by putting her centre stage. I think Giles could have handled himself for a miniseries or two if they'd done Ripper, but even he plays best when he's in his element with the younger cast.
This brings something up that I think needs mentioning, even when you find the sidekick more interesting, I think most people would agree , the side kick couldn't carry the show/story as the lead.
The sidekicks usually have the luxury of being more extreme.
^ True. Joey was frequently the funniest character in Friends, but didn't really carry a sitcom of his own. Then again, the crap writing and lack of chemistry in the spin-off show didn't help.
