While agreat TV protagonisthelps drive a series, the side characters are just as essential to a show’s success. As supporting characters add comic relief, help guide and inform the lead, or even partake infantastic B-plots, it’s often the case that the side characters slowly reveal themselves to be more engaging and entertaining than the main one. Although this can hint that a show has focused on the wrong area, there can also be too much of a good thing and that their role works best with more limited screen time.
Many ofthe best shows everfeature side characters who audiences actually like more than the lead, as this is an example of good writing across the board rather than just for one charismatic protagonist. Sitcoms are a great example of whereside characters often overtake the main one, as the top-billed star is commonly the most normal of the cast and must react to the outrageous behavior of unhinged side characters. While everyone’s favorite character will be different, it’s a sign of a well-developed serieswhen audiences assert that the side characters are the best ones.
10Community (2009 - 2015)
Main character: Jeff Winger
While the NBC sitcomCommunitywas an ensemble series based around a study group at Greendale Community College, the entire setup of the show was through Joel McHale’s characterization of Jeff Winger. As audiences witnessed this arrogant and vain disbarred lawyer’s attempt to earn a genuine law degree, Greendale quickly revealed itself to be a place populated by countless unique and highly entertaining characters. Of course, the core study group of Jeff, Britta, Abed, Shirley, Annie, Troy, and Pierce (before actor Chevy Chase was ousted from the show) had their charm, yetCommunityhad many more intriguing characters.
Standout secondary characters inCommunitywere the unstable Spanish teacher Ben Chang and the truly fascinating Dean Craig Pelton, whose unique personality quirks made for endlessly entertaining viewing. But this was just the tip of the iceberg, asCommunityalso boasted memorable recurring characters like Starburns, Magnitude, and Leonard, all of whom made Greendale feel like a truly lived-in place.Jeff and the core study group were the heart and soul ofCommunity, but part of the reason the show became such a cult favorite was its assortment of side characters.
Community
Cast
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
9How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)
Main character: Ted Mosby
How I Met Your Motherwas a unique sitcom based on one simple premise: a father explaining to his children how he met their mother. This creative way of packaging a series meant that everything that happened in the show came through the recollections of Ted Mosby, who was the central character of the entire show. While Ted was surrounded by a supporting cast of close friends, including Barney, Marshall, and Lily, as well as his on-again, off-again love interest, Robin, there was no denying thatHow I Met Your Motherwasn’t seen primarily through Ted’s eyes.
While there were some great Ted moments throughoutHow I Met Your Mother, as a main protagonist, he was also not the most compelling character. In fact,the womanizing antics of Barneyor the teenage pop stardom of Robin often made for more interesting viewing than Ted’s constant desire to find a wife and settle down. It’s true that Ted did ground the show in a sense of realism and gave the narrative its purpose, butHow I Met Your Mothernever would have become such a major hit had it not been for the essential contribution of the rest of the supporting cast.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
8The Good Place (2016 - 2020)
Main character: Eleanor Shellstrop
The fantasy comedyThe Good Placeshowcased the afterlife in a way viewers had never seen before as the selfish and self-absorbed woman Eleanor Shellstrop made it to Heaven, only to realize she was seemingly put there by mistake. In order to avoid being caught and sent to the Bad Place, Eleanor enlists the help ofthe ethics and moral philosophy lecturer Chidi Anagonyeto attempt to learn the fundamentals of being a better person. While this was the essential premise, the litany of hilarious supporting characters and surprising twists throughout madeThe Good Placeso engaging.
From the amateur disc jockey Jason to the programmed guide and knowledge bank Janet,The Good Placeused its unique, otherworldly premise to introduce wildly different characters. The standout side character ofThe Good Placewas Ted Danson, as Michael, the architect of The Good Place, who was eventually revealed to be a demon plotting to torture humans with uniquely sinister mind games. While Kristen Bell’s characterization of Eleanor acted as a great audience surrogate as viewers learned about this comedy’s unique world, the power of its ensemble cast made it a rare modern hit sitcom.
The Good Place
Eleanor Shellstrop finds in The Good Place, both the name of the fantasy comedy series from creator Michael Schur and a fictionalized heaven where those who have done good in life will end up. However, Eleanor discovers that the life she was believed to have led was a lie, as it seems The Good Place got the wrong “Eleanor Shellstrop.” When it’s revealed that three others are there under the same false pretenses, they concoct a plan to truly become “Good” to earn their place there - while hiding the truth.
7Scrubs (2001 - 2010)
Main character: John Michael “J.D.” Dorian
The medical sitcomScrubstook viewers on a nine-season journey of medical interns learning the ropes at the Sacred Heart Hospital and eventually becoming accomplished doctors in their own right. The series began with J.D.’s (Zach Braff) first day and hospital orientation, which quickly introduced audiences to other major characters like his surgeon best friend Turk, colleague and love interest Elliot, and reluctant mentor Dr. Cox. While J.D.’s constant retreat into a world of imagination led to some ofScrubs’best cutaway gags, the ensemble cast ofScrubswas essential to the show’s appeal.
Part of the reasonScrubswas able to endure for so many seasons was just how many great side characters it featured. From the antagonistic relationship between J.D. and the Janitor to incompetent singing lawyer Ted Buckland,Scrubswas truly a show packed with memorable supporting characterswho made Sacred Heart feel like a genuine hospital, complete with its idiosyncratic quirks.Scrubshad so many great characters, like the frat-boy surgeon The Todd, the office gossip Nurse Laverne, or Dr. Cox’s abrasive ex-wife Jordan, that there are almost too many to mention.
Scrubs
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
6Happy Days (1974 - 1984)
Main character: Richie Cunningham
Happy Dayswas one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s as it provided a nostalgic look back at life growing up during the 1950s. By embracing American pop culture and the exciting cultural moment that was the dawning of rock ‘n’ roll,Happy Daysexplored its wistful themes through the life of the teenager Richie Cunningham and his family. However,Happy Daysalso featured many enduring side characterswho helped lay the groundwork for spin-off series likeLaverne & ShirleyandMork & Mindy.
It was not just in spin-off shows that side characters excelled, asHappy Daysfeatured one of the best examples of minor roles becoming massive due to the incredible popularity of one character. That was Henry Winkler’s portrayal of the effortlessly cool greaser Fonzie, a side character who eventually became the lead ofHappy Days. Winkler’s portrayal was so effective that the producers even considered renaming the showFonzie’s Happy Daysat one point (viaTelevision Academy Foundation.)
Happy Days
Happy Days is a television series set in the 1950s and 1960s, exploring the lives of the Cunningham family and their friends in Milwaukee. Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and Henry Winkler as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, the show captures the essence of mid-20th century American life. Premiering in 1974, it enjoys iconic status for its nostalgic portrayal of teenage life and family dynamics.
5Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)
Main character: Piper Chapman
Orange is the New Blackfeatured so many richly developed female characters that it’s no surprise it became one of Netflix’s earliest hit shows. Following a privileged, 33-year-old white woman sentenced to 15 months in prison, this fish-out-of-water series saw Piper Chapman struggle to adapt to life behind bars as she attempted to make sense of the complex social hierarchies of a female prison. Based on the true story of Piper Kerman and her memoirOrange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison, this Netflix series perfectly blended comedy and drama throughout its seven-season run.
While the initial setup ofOrange is the New Blackfocused on Piper’s story, the real power of the series was its supporting characters, as each imprisoned woman had a compelling backstory that added depth and nuance to the show. From the destructive drug addiction of Natasha Lyonne’s Nicky Nichols to the challenges faced by transgender convicts, as shown through Laverne Cox’s Sophia Burset,Orange is the New Black’sside characters were not only highly entertaining but also addressed important issuesaround incarceration in the United States.
Orange is The New Black
Based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Champman (Taylor Schilling) after she turns herself in for a 15-month sentence in a minimum-security women’s prison for aiding in a drug-smuggling operation run by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). One of Netflix’s most popular original series, the show explores the corruption inherent in the US prison system through the lens of Piper’s experiences.
4South Park (1997 - Present)
Main characters: Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick
For nearly three decades,South Parkhas been one of the most popular and controversial TV shows on the air. Following the misadventures of four young boys in their small Colorado town,South Parkhas satirized politics, religion, and celebrity culture with some truly boundary-pushing and notorious episodes over the years. While main characters like the foul-mouthed elementary school student Eric Cartman have become touchstones of popular culture,the side characters inSouth Parkwere just as impactful.
The cast of characters who populate the town of South Park has ensured the series has been able to endure for the past 26 seasons. While the child characters attending South Park Elementary drove much of the show narrative in the earliest seasons, later seasons shifted the focus to the teachers, like Mr. Garrison, or the parents, such as Stan’s dad, Randy Marsh. With over 300 episodes, it’s no surprise thatSouth Parkhas built up an impressive roster of supporting characters.
South Park
South Park follows the irreverent misadventures of four grade-schoolers—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny—that take place in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado. The animated series explores various social and political issues through its characters' humorous and often absurd escapades.
3Suits (2011 - 2019)
Main character: Mike Ross
The legal dramaSuitsbegan with the intriguing premise of a genius college dropout with a photographic memory gaining his law into a major law firm without a law degree. With Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross, the question of whether he would be caught by his firm helped drive much of the series' drama as viewers learned how things worked at the Pearson Hardman law firm. WhileSuitstold Mike’s story for the first seven seasons, it was the show’s enjoyable cast of side characters who helped make this legal drama essential viewing.
While Mike’s mentor and best friendHarvey Specter was one ofSuits’most popular characters, it’s important to not forget the hilarious contributions of the self-serving junior partner Louis Litt or Harvey’s secretary and confidante Donna Paulson, each of whom added something special to the series. Add to this the likes of future British Royal Family member Meghan Markle as the paralegal Rachel Zane and Gina Torres as the firm’s co-founder Jessica Pearson andSuits’side characters were even more impressive than the main one.
Suits
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
2New Girl (2011 - 2018)
Main character: Jessica Day
The Fox sitcomNew Girlleaned into Zooey Deschanel’s reputation as the quintessential manic pixie dreamgirl as seen in movies like(500) Days of Summerfor a series about a quirky, bubbly young woman moving into a loft with three haphazard men. This classic premise offered plenty of laughs as the men struggled to adapt to having a woman in the house, and Deschanel, as Jessica Day, found friendship and support through her newfound living situation. Through strong writing and great performances,New Girlwas able to stand out and become one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s.
While Deschanel’s star power was one ofNew Girl’sbiggest draws during its debut season, the innate likability and talents of its ensemble cast were what kept it running for seven successful seasons. Characters like the confident ladies' man Schmidt or the cat-loving wannabe cop Winston helped makeNew Girlstand out among so many other sitcoms that followed the exploits of tight-knit friend groups. With plenty of fantastic side characters and memorable guest spots, including from Taylor Swift and Prince, it was far more than just Deschanel’s performance that madeNew Girlsuch a beloved sitcom.
New Girl
New Girl is a television series that debuted in 2011, centering on Jessica Day, an eccentric young woman. Following a breakup, she moves in with three single men, navigating her quirky personality and forming unexpected friendships in her new living situation.
1The Office (2005 - 2013)
Main character: Michael Scott
The American version ofThe Officewas not only a worthy remake of its British counterpart but actually ended up being far more successful. As one of NBC’s most enduring sitcoms, this hilarious show outlines the daily life at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and taps into the everyday oddities and hilarious humor of office life. With Steve Carell as a kindhearted yet hapless boss, Michael Scott, this leading performance was part of the show’s success, but it would not have been nearly as iconic without the rest of its talented cast.
The Officefeatured so many great supporting characters that it would be impossible to name them all. From the intense commitment of the salesman Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) to the outrageous mystery that is Creed Bratton,The Officewas an ensemble series in the truest sense of the word. With a strong supporting cast.The Officewas even able to continue for two more seasons after Carell’s exitat the end of season 7, showcasing that even the side characters had enough appeal to carry the show’s legacy forward.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
