6 Supporting TV Characters Who Stole The Show (And 3 Who Never Should Have)
Some of these characters thrived with little, while others took too much...
While all elements of a TV show, such as premise, writing and directing, need to be remotely strong in order for it to work, the characters are undoubtedly the most important of them all.
They are the vessels through which we experience the adventures that unfold - our avatars, if you will - so it goes without saying that they are a valuable asset. After all, no protagonist, no story.
That being said, it isn't always the lead character who resonates with fans the most. Sure, they may do the job they're supposed to, like saving the day or winning the football game, but they may end up sharing the spotlight with (or losing it altogether to) one of their respective show's many supporting characters.
Supporting characters are often the glue that holds the show together and, when all is going wrong for the protagonist, they are there to bail them out or make them see sense - something that makes fans love them even more - so it isn't all that unusual for them to end up outshining their leading counterpart.
However, it also works the other way, as one annoying supporting character can sour a show altogether.
With that in mind, let's take a look back at some supporting heroes that ended up stealing their respective show (many of whom are still doing so today) and some not-so-great ones who ended up ruining it altogether.