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I get a kick out of you . . . TV's Best Sidekicks
They’re the best friend. The partner in crime. The assistant. The coworker. The spouse. The brother. The sister. But they’re never, ever the main character. They’re the sidekicks.
Often sassy and frequently adorable, sidekick characters are a crucial but often overlooked part of a television series.
While watching Reaper last week, it occurred to me that Tyler Labine deserves a lifetime achievement award in the sidekick category. Just like he did on Invasion, Labine brings the perfect amount of comic relief and fun to his role. He’s hilarious, loyal and you just never know what he’s going to say next.
Who are some of my other favorite sidekicks?
Chloe on 24: Honestly where would Jack be without her? He wouldn’t be able to communicate with anyone, that's for sure.
Pacey on Dawson’s Creek: Whoo-hoo! Sidekick gets the girl.
Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Moore Show: You go girl. Sidekick gets her own show.
Karen and Jack on Will & Grace: Oh sweetie, there were many days when I would have preferred to be watching the Karen & Jack show.
Sharona and Natalie on Monk: These two ladies are very different, but both help Monk thrive in the real world.
It's been awhile since we've talked about this so I want to know . . . Who are some of your favorite sidekicks? Talk about it below.
Highlights of the Week Ahead
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for April 7-13
Samantha Who? is back with brand new episodes Monday at 9:30 p.m. on ABC. This is a show that gets better and better with each new outing and Jennifer Esposito has created a fantastically bitchy sidekick as Sam's best friend Andrea. But what I really like about the series is that it has these very real moments. In tonight’s episode, Sam does something I have done many, many times. Can you guess what it is?
If you’re like me you missed Reaper when it moved to Thursday nights. So it’s very nice of the CW to be repeating the episodes on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. before the show returns with brand new episodes on April 22. In this week’s repeat Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino begin playing Sock, Sam and Ben’s new neighbors.
My Name is Earl and Without a Trace aren’t shows that have a lot in common but both have placed their lead characters in jeopardy. This isn’t a plot device I really care for since it seems quite obvious that Earl will come out of his coma and Jack will survive being viciously attacked. I’m rather concerned about Earl since it seems like the show is going to leave him in a coma for a few more episodes. That pretty much means Earl spent half the season in jail and half the season in a coma. While I give the show credit for not allowing the show’s premise to grow tired, this season has been uneven. TV fantasy sequences should be used in small doses but unfortunately that sitcom fantasy going on in Earl's head continues this week. The show doesn’t know when to say when on some of its ideas. Do you like this plot device?
The rest of NBC’s Thursday night line up returns this week. 30 Rock returns at 8:30 p.m. and Jack has a hit on his show with MILF Island. That would be even funnier if it didn’t sound like a show some network would actually do (don’t forget the CW has the series Farmer Takes a Wife premiering at the end of the month. That's right I said Farmer Takes a Wife). The even better news is that two of the show’s best guest stars – Dean Winters and Will Arnett – will return to the series in the coming weeks.
Pam and Jim are invited to have dinner and Michael and Jan’s house on The Office (Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.). I still liked Jan so much better when she was Michael’s exasperated boss fighting her attraction to him. I don’t enjoy their dysfunctional relationship as much, do you?
Turk learns Spanish as a gift for Carla on Scrubs (Thursday, NBC, 9:30 p.m.) and even though NBC did not pick up Scrubs, fret not. It appears highly likely that ABC will pick up the show so Bill Lawrence can end the series as he originally wanted to.
So what should we make of the fact that Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy, has come out and said that by the end of the season Derek and Meredith will be back together for good. I don’t even feel like I’m spoiling any thing by telling you this because Rhimes and the show’s other producers have been quoted early, often and everywhere saying this. It just seems so strange to me the show runners would come out with this information since Rhimes has always shrouded plot developments in secret. Why announce a permanent Derek and Meredith reunion? How do you feel about the fact this has been announced before the show is even back? Grey’s is back with original episodes on April 24 and in the meantime, ABC repeats an episode Friday at 8 p.m.
Do we think Grissom was talking to Sara at the end of CSI (Thursday, CBS, 9 p.m.)? I’m thinking I still need closure on their relationship, how about you? This week Catherine investigates the murder of a three-year-old girl.
Alas, ER (Thursday, NBC, 10 p.m.) did not listen to me. We will see the blossoming romance of Sam and Tony when the show returns this week. As you can see, my efforts to break up with the long-running drama failed. I’m not exactly excited the show will be returning for a 15th season but I’m coming to terms with the fact that I a bit powerless when it comes to the show. I’ll probably still be watching next year. Will you?
Okay back to Jack and Without a Trace (Thursday, CBS, 10 p.m.). The show doesn’t delve into character’s personal lives that often but it has done a good job of building up to the fact that Jack is unhappy with the choices he’s made in his life. I’m just not sure where they go from there since this is primarily a procedural drama. This week, Adam Kaufman, Poppy Montgomery’s real-life boyfriend, reprises his role of the father of Samantha’s baby.
Welcome to Wisteria Lane, bitch. Desperate Housewives is back with five new episodes beginning Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC. Chris Carmack, who played Luke on The O.C., begins his guest star stint as Susan’s cousin Tim. Also we’ll get closer to learning the secret Katherine Mayfair has been hiding. While I think this is definitely the best secret the show has had since the first season, I’ve become a little less interested in it in the months that have passed. How about you? Do you care what Katherine is hiding? I’m hoping whatever her secret is, it means we’ll be seeing much more of Nathan Fillion.
Eli Stone gets a little extra exposure this week when it airs both Thursday night (10 p.m. on ABC) and Sunday at 10 p.m. on ABC. Katey Segal plays law firm senior partner Marci Klein who opposes Eli in court when he wants to shut down the Golden Gate bridge because of an impending earthquake. The fate of the show is still unknown and next Thursday (April 17) is the season finale so if you are a fan of the show now is the time to tune in.
That's all for today. I'll be back on Wednesday with a look at Idol Gives Back, this week's familiar faces (where was Herman's Head?) and much more. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a topic for discussion or a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
re: Earl - I think the TV fantasy sequences are an excuse to cram guest starts into episodes. or at least it was last week. Although, I do appreciate that paris only played herself.
erinb | Apr 7, 2008 12:49:01 PM | #Landry Clark went from my favorite sidekick on FNL season 1 to an unfortunate A-story in season 2. It makes you wonder what would be, had he remained only as Matt Saracen's comic relief.
Elisa | Apr 7, 2008 1:00:11 PM | #Best sidekick ever --- Willow Rosenberg on Buffy!
Dave | Apr 7, 2008 1:00:26 PM | #Although Buffy technically had many sidekicks and they all had funny lines, your article Amy of course makes me think of Xander, who was funny because he was the stereotypical sidekick and played it well!
Which leads me to think - can we mention teams of sidekicks? (I guess so if we count Karen and Jack, huh?), for which I would inevitably put down the Scooby Gang on Buffy, all of the rest of the cast on Angel, the Squints on Bones, and Abby and Ducky on NCIS. Of course, I also liked Karen and Jack, too. Those are some of my favorites! Great column, Amy!
AndreaC | Apr 7, 2008 1:03:35 PM | #Don't forget about Xander!!!
Sylvia | Apr 7, 2008 1:03:55 PM | #Ensign Parker on McCales navy
Huggy Bear on Starsky and Hutch
Tatoo on Fantasy Island
AL on Home Improvement
Woody and Coach on Cheers
Wilson on House
Bones on Bones
Willow & Xander on Buffy
and of course Robin on Batman
great sidekicks all
kevin | Apr 7, 2008 1:06:39 PM | #Xander and Willow - especially Xander - are still my favorite TV sidekicks. They were always loyal to Buffy, but weren't afraid to tell her off when they thought she needed it. Plus they were both always good for comic relief.
Also a big fan of:
Marc from Ugly Betty
Rose and Captain Jack from Doctor Who
Iolaus from Hercules (yes, I watched that show, I admit it)
I'm going to yell now. HOW COULD YOU FORGET DWIGHT SCHRUTE???
Denise | Apr 7, 2008 1:16:28 PM | #Ummmmm... well if they are back to gether permanently mebbe they're going to kill one of them off.. I would assume McDreamy.. because the show is lamely named after meredith..
I don't know why I'm commenting on this.. I don't WATCH This show and I know far too much about it thanks to the people who talk about it around me...
Francesca | Apr 7, 2008 1:23:56 PM | #No question. All-time best sidekicks: Xander and Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Glenn | Apr 7, 2008 1:26:58 PM | #Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show.
Larry | Apr 7, 2008 1:29:15 PM | #I'm thinking Rhimes has gone on the record for putting Derek and Meredith together permanently because she is listening to the complaints of the wishy-washy-ness of the coupling. Perhaps viewers will come back if they know there is a definitive plan
Lila | Apr 7, 2008 1:33:43 PM | #I'm thinking Rhimes has gone on the record for putting Derek and Meredith together permanently because she is listening to the complaints of the wishy-washy-ness of the coupling. Perhaps viewers will come back if they know there is a definitive plan
Lila | Apr 7, 2008 1:33:44 PM | #Best sidekick on TV???? Guster on Psych! I love Dule Hill.
Captwc | Apr 7, 2008 1:36:59 PM | #Best sidekicks:
Barney Fife (Andy Griffith Show)
Edith Bunker (All in the Family)
Claire Huxtable (Cosby Show)
Spock (Star Trek)
B.J. Hunnicutt (M*A*S*H)
Robert Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
Kramer (Seinfeld)
Ed Norton (The Honeymooners)
Chloe on Smallville!
Kevin | Apr 7, 2008 1:41:36 PM | #Sorry for this, but don't know where else to ask....
Is "Best Bets" a thing of the past? I can't find it anymore. Help?
Thank you.
Susan | Apr 7, 2008 1:41:57 PM | #I disagree with you on Earl-in-prison. I've never thought that the show was about Earl completing his list, it's about Earl trying to be a good person. The list is disposable. So I was fine with the Earl-in-prison storyline.
I'm also fine with Earl being in a coma and the storylines being split between the real world and Earl's fantasies.
However, I'm not in love with the sitcom delusions. It's been done before: "Roseanne," "Pleasantville" - I'm probably forgetting a bunch. I'd rather have seen a different TV genre spoofed: Earl imagines he's on "Lost in Space." Earl imagines he's on "Scooby-Do." Something like that.
Mitch Wagner | Apr 7, 2008 1:42:45 PM | #Chloe Sullivan on "Smallvillle"
Jimmy Olsen on all Superman based t.v. series
Natalie Teeger on "Monk"
To me those are the best sidekicks.
Penny | Apr 7, 2008 1:44:26 PM | #The best t.v. sidekicks are Jim Clancy on "Ghost Whisperer" and Natalie Teeger on "Monk." I agree with you Amy, Rhoda from "Mary Tyler Moore" was a good one too.
trupen | Apr 7, 2008 1:53:54 PM | #Marshall from Alias provided great comic relief combined with cool spy gadgets
robyn | Apr 7, 2008 1:57:36 PM | #kevin, Bones on Bones?
I always thought that when a show was named after a character that they were the star of the show not the sidekick.
Sidekicks: how could you forget the best one? Randy, Earl's brother!
Jan | Apr 7, 2008 2:04:41 PM | #Wash on Firefly is also one of the really cool sidekicks.
Ana | Apr 7, 2008 2:05:52 PM | #Weevil and Wallace on Veronica Mars!
Luz | Apr 7, 2008 2:15:19 PM | #
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