Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:17
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Castiel in Supernatural. As well as Bobby/Crowley/Rowena.
Actually - I love all the characters they added. Even God/Chuck/Lucifer.
Cain, the Father of Murder.
Cain should have been a huge character and been given so much more to do. But in the two episodes he did get, he was incredible. Never has stillness and quiet been so full of potential horror. And a tragic character, too; he had the capacity to love others, and to curb his killing, and wanted to keep his vow, but in the end, couldn't overcome the mark. Timothy Omundson was amazing, and showed his range, in that role.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:11
Subject: Re:new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Woody Strode, the coroner, on "Psych." The show was and would still have been great without Woody's addition, but he was such a breath of weird fresh air whenever he appeared with his freaky quirks. And "Psych" very wisely did not overuse him; it gave us enough Woody to love him but never let him overstay his welcome. The show was good at that -- using extremely quirky characters just enough to leave us wanting more, but not overdoing them.
Hope we'll see Woody again in the fourth Psych movie that's supposed to happen (fingers crossed).
He's played by the terrific, prolific character actor Kurt Fuller, whom everyone has seen in something over the years.
My fellow Psych-o!! I do love Woody, too. And forgot he didn't come on until the show had been on for a while.
I'll add Pierre Despereaux, too. I loved every episode he was in.
I think we've crossed paths here before, Psych-O. Despereaux is indeed a wonder, though I'd call him more of repeat guest character than a recurring one, like Woody. And I think my theory that the show always knew not to overuse characters applies to Despereaux, too. We got great episodes centered around him and were left with a fun mystery. I never want to know for sure whether he was a government agent pretending to be a thief, or a thief/con pretending to be an agent, or a bit of both....
NEVER! Though I would not be upset in the least if he features in a Psych movie, one of these years.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:09
Subject: Re:new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Ben and Chris on Parks on Rec
I keep trying to watch that show from the beginning, and the first season is painful. Mostly because the love interest is freaking awful
I do like the episodes I have seen on Comedy Central of later seasons.
Skip the first season and start when Ben and Chris arrive. Then watch it all. There are some nice arcs for the characters over the seasons. But the "love interest" (Mark) and the way others were written at first (including Leslie) are just not good. I'm glad the network gave the show time to find its feet and improve. Too many shows now, on networks or on streamers, just do not get any time to make adjustments or find their audience. Today, Parks and Rec might well have been axed after season one.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:09
Subject: Re:new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Amanda on Melrose Place
Jimmy Smits on SOA mainly b/c I just love Jim Smits and he is eye candy to me
Jimmy Smits on "The West Wing." But that show was great at adding characters. Smits as Matt Santos was terrific, complex, ambitious and genuinely idealistic at the same time.
Agreed! Other great additions to TWW: Kristin Chenowith (Annabeth Schott), Emily Proctor (Ainsley Hayes), Matthew Perry (Joe Quincy), and I'm sure there are others. Most importantly, TWW made the best decision ever when they sent Mandy to Mandyville.
Another great addition: Paul Rudd on Friends.
And, in contrast to the poster on the other thread, I'd say the female characters (Amy Farah Fowler and Bernadette) made the Big Bang Theory better.
Someone else still refers to "sending her to Mandyville"!
Agree, Mandy was a misfire of a character and should have departed far sooner. It's pretty telling that, I think, she is never even mentioned again in the rest of the series. And also agree on characters like Annabeth, Ainsley and Joe. I would add Will Bailey to that, too; he brought such a wryness to TWW. A cooler balance for Josh's hotheadedness. Plus, Joshua Malina is so funny.
I didn't like Ainsley either - she should have gone to Ainsleyville.
But Loved Will Bailey.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:05
Subject: Re:new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Woody Strode, the coroner, on "Psych." The show was and would still have been great without Woody's addition, but he was such a breath of weird fresh air whenever he appeared with his freaky quirks. And "Psych" very wisely did not overuse him; it gave us enough Woody to love him but never let him overstay his welcome. The show was good at that -- using extremely quirky characters just enough to leave us wanting more, but not overdoing them.
Hope we'll see Woody again in the fourth Psych movie that's supposed to happen (fingers crossed).
He's played by the terrific, prolific character actor Kurt Fuller, whom everyone has seen in something over the years.
My fellow Psych-o!! I do love Woody, too. And forgot he didn't come on until the show had been on for a while.
I'll add Pierre Despereaux, too. I loved every episode he was in.
I think we've crossed paths here before, Psych-O. Despereaux is indeed a wonder, though I'd call him more of repeat guest character than a recurring one, like Woody. And I think my theory that the show always knew not to overuse characters applies to Despereaux, too. We got great episodes centered around him and were left with a fun mystery. I never want to know for sure whether he was a government agent pretending to be a thief, or a thief/con pretending to be an agent, or a bit of both....
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:01
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Mack on Agents of Shield. Became the heart of the show in many ways.
Oh, this post just gave me a huge AoS flashback. OK, got to go rewatch. Mack was my favorite, and by extension Mack and Yo-Yo as a couple. Loved that show and it was treated as if it didn't exist. By both Marvel and ABC.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 16:00
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Woody Boyd on Cheers.
YES I know we’re supposed to love Coach and it’s sad that he died but Woody was a great shot in the arm for that show. Also Rebecca was better than Diane.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 15:59
Subject: Re:new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Amanda on Melrose Place
Jimmy Smits on SOA mainly b/c I just love Jim Smits and he is eye candy to me
Jimmy Smits on "The West Wing." But that show was great at adding characters. Smits as Matt Santos was terrific, complex, ambitious and genuinely idealistic at the same time.
Agreed! Other great additions to TWW: Kristin Chenowith (Annabeth Schott), Emily Proctor (Ainsley Hayes), Matthew Perry (Joe Quincy), and I'm sure there are others. Most importantly, TWW made the best decision ever when they sent Mandy to Mandyville.
Another great addition: Paul Rudd on Friends.
And, in contrast to the poster on the other thread, I'd say the female characters (Amy Farah Fowler and Bernadette) made the Big Bang Theory better.
Someone else still refers to "sending her to Mandyville"!
Agree, Mandy was a misfire of a character and should have departed far sooner. It's pretty telling that, I think, she is never even mentioned again in the rest of the series. And also agree on characters like Annabeth, Ainsley and Joe. I would add Will Bailey to that, too; he brought such a wryness to TWW. A cooler balance for Josh's hotheadedness. Plus, Joshua Malina is so funny.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 15:03
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
I loved Clark on the Office. I wish he had been there all along.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 14:34
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Woody Boyd on Cheers.
Yes! Woody was so great. The Kelly song? Amazing
Oh my. I had to look that up b/c I couldn't remember. Thanks for the laughs.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 14:18
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Woody Boyd on Cheers.
Yes! Woody was so great. The Kelly song? Amazing
Imagine being in 8th grade when that episode came out and you would constantly hear that song in the hallways of junior high.
Was about to say Woody Boyd as well. Great character.
Anonymous
11/21/2023 14:01
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Seven of Nine in Star Trek Voyager
Anonymous
11/21/2023 13:57
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
How about Christine on Night Court?
Anonymous
11/21/2023 13:57
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Anonymous wrote:Woody Boyd on Cheers.
Yes! Woody was so great. The Kelly song? Amazing
Anonymous
11/21/2023 13:43
Subject: new characters that made a TV show better
Woody Boyd on Cheers.