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TWoP 10: Characters We'd Like to Regift (The 2009 Edition)

In this tough economy, we can't be expected to spend a ton of money on presents for the holidays. So the best bet is to take something unwanted and pass it along to someone else who might appreciate it. This is exactly what we'd like to do with characters on some of our favorite shows. We've got the wrapping paper ready and shipping boxes all set so we can pass these folks off and make their current shows better in the process.

10. Sam Trammell (True Blood)
Poor little Sam Merlotte. His storylines just aren't as exciting when compared with the vampires and whatnot in Bon Temps, and the show seems to be adding more new characters by the minute. He'd be better off heading over to The Vampire Diaries, where his shape-shifter might fit in well. We're sure that Mystic Falls could use a quaint new bar and grill.

9. Jessalyn Gilsig (Glee)
It isn't entirely the actress' fault that her storyline has been the most irksome part of this season, but now that her whole fake pregnancy is resolved, it's time to let her go before Will buys into any more of her delusions. And the perfect place for a crazy person with delusions? 90210. That school needs more teachers, and we actually liked her on Boston Public.

8. Randy Jackson (American Idol)
With Kara on Idol, Randy is becoming increasingly obsolete. But if he insists on judging, maybe he could go dole out his "dawgs" on the show that actually bears his name: Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew. Especially since, depending on how the case turns out, there might be an available seat.

7. Samantha Harris (Dancing With the Stars)
Here's the thing about Samantha Harris: she's not a very good interviewer. And while she may look lovely in a dress, she certainly doesn't have the skills to ask any sort of meaty questions, even though that's ostensibly her job. That's why we think she'd be a perfect new host for Find My Family. She'd only have to ask the adopted kids how they feel when they're reunited with their birth parents. That can't be too hard, and she'd be better than that show's current weepy host who can't even talk sometimes because he's crying so much.

6. Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation)
This show has been picking up steam and everyone has upped their games this fall... except Paul Schneider, whose sweet but dopey Mark has been the dull point in this otherwise bright comedy. So let this quiet romantic type head on over to Brothers & Sisters where he can woo Sara now that her fling with hottie Gilles Marini has hit the bricks.

5. Joseph Fiennes (FlashForward)
It's not that Joseph Fiennes is a terrible actor, but he's certainly not bringing his FlashForward character to life. He only makes one dopey facial expression and his character seems more obsessed with the possibility that his wife is going to cheat on him than with figuring out why millions of people died. Better to send him over to Mercy, where they specialize in lack of facial expressions. Maybe he could even become the McDreamy of that show.

4. Laurence Fishburne (CSI)
Solving cases involving bodily fluids doesn't necessarily seem to be Laurence Fishburne's cup of tea, but it would be a shame if we lost such a great actor from the airwaves permanently. Perhaps he could relocate to Gossip Girl and try his hand at playing Vanessa's dad. Since he's married to Gina Torres (who plays Vanessa's mom), this shouldn't be too much of a stretch, and the sparks could really fly.

3. Amy Brenneman (Private Practice)
Look, we're not proud of the fact that we still regularly watch Private Practice, but we do. Anyway, while Charlotte grates on our last nerve, it's really Amy Brenneman's Violet who has most disappointed us this season. Gone is the sensitive shrink and in her place is a selfish, obnoxious adulterous woman who has basically abandoned her child. The only real place for her is Melrose Place, where she can start inflicting her irritating therapy methods on Doctor Whore.

2. Tom Welling (Smallville)
We vaguely recall a time when we tuned into this show because we liked seeing the adventures of Clark Kent, but that was so long ago. Now Clark is just there. We'd like to ship him off to Heroes, where he would fit in with the other dull people with super powers, and Smallville can turn into the Green Arrow show.

1. Heather Locklear (Melrose Place)
We were so excited to have this original bitch back on this watered-down remake, but Amanda isn't as vindictive or spiteful as we remember her. It's sad and it's sort of ruining our fond memories of the classic MP. So we'd like Amanda Woodward to relocate herself post-haste to Wisteria Lane in order to unleash her claws and make those Desperate Housewives' lives a living hell.

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25 Comments

December 24, 2009 8:46 AM
jen
Reply

Seriously? You put Sam on this list? That's more than a bit of a stretch. Not as exciting as the vampires? Excuse me, but what show were YOU watching? I may love Eric & Pam, but I'll regift Bill in a freaking heartbeat, along with that stupid evan rachel wood vampire queen.

December 24, 2009 10:36 AM
boa
Reply

Agree with Jen. Send Evan Rachel Wood away and give Sam a little more of a storyline. His scenes with Andy and Jason were the highlight of the last episodes of True Blood.

I agree about Joseph Fiennes though. His attempt at a 'standard issue American accent' is hilarious. He always sounds like he is trying to channel John Wayne.

December 24, 2009 12:03 PM
Andi
Reply
replied to comment from jen

Couldn't agree more. Sam's fabulous. If anyone deserves the boot it's the ever-wronged, emo Vampire Bill. He is so boring and uninteresting.

December 24, 2009 12:20 PM
Dianne
Reply

Gah, yes, please get rid of the absurd ERW's Sophie. I think she is one of the most over rated young actresses of her generation. And she doesn't even chew scenery properly, she more gnaws around the edges, pretending to be freaking Dita Von Teese.

December 24, 2009 12:28 PM
Jim
Reply

Going into its last season I know this won't happen, but I wish Kate would have been shipped somewhere and Juliet (played by the wonderful Elizabeth Mitchell) was still on the show.

I also wouldn't mind if Betty from Mad Men had a horse riding accident and she was never heard from again.

December 24, 2009 4:42 PM
Vanessa
Reply

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU? Giving SAM away? I don't think you're watching the right show. Sam is part of why True Blood is awesome. He's completely engaging especially on that last episode! Leave Sam alone, send ERW away and please re-gift us Godric!

December 24, 2009 8:32 PM
Lauren
Reply

I don't watch True Blood - I watched about half of the first season, but if they got rid of Bill and gave Sam more to do, I might have actually stuck around. Bill is the sole reason I stopped watching that show, and Sam is the sole reason I watched it for as long as I did. What is it with girls choosing the annoying emo vampire when the hot shapeshifter is just waiting for her? Ugh.

December 24, 2009 8:59 PM
Manny
Reply

gotta agree that Bill is who I would get rid of on True Blood. I mean I read the books and eventualy Sookie does regift Bill and the world gets kinda awesome. So I'm just bidding my time til Bill is background to the Sookie show.

December 24, 2009 9:38 PM
Hannah
Reply

I agree with a lot of this list but really, Sam? I love Sam. He's probably on my top 5 characters on the show and if I had to choose between him, Eric or Bill I'd choose Sam in a heartbeat, assuming of course that Hoyt wasn't isn't available.

December 26, 2009 3:04 PM
K.E.S
Reply

Don't you touch my Sam! Send Clark away though, and bring on the Green Arrow.

December 27, 2009 6:28 PM
Sailor
Reply

Agree with SAVE the SAM. I've never understood that warped obsession with vamps anyway (noticeable exceptions - Spike and Eric) - shapeshifters are Waay hotter, esp if their animal self is canine. I can live with Bill, as long as Sam is there. And Hoyt. And Jason.
Also second Clark boredom. I've lusted after Justin Hartley for a long time (since Days of Our Lives) and would much prefer him as the lead, with Erica Durance back as his love interest. (Lois and Green Arrow forever!)

December 27, 2009 6:29 PM
Sailor
Reply

Plus we get to see Sam naked!!

December 27, 2009 8:26 PM
Caroline
Reply

Hannah, I'm with you. My favorite character switches between Sam and Hoyt depending on the episode. I'm so glad to see more Sam love in these comments!

December 28, 2009 1:52 PM
Lisa
Reply

Have to agree with others. True Blood should keep Sam, he's way, way hotter than Bill.

December 28, 2009 2:44 PM
Georgie M
Reply

Tin-ear Randy Jackson is a good choice to de-idolize. The great Broadway singer Barbara Cook expressed a low opinion of Randy, Simon and Paula as judges of singing (or caterwauling, or whatever they do on "American Idol").

December 28, 2009 4:05 PM
Mel
Reply

Sam we need, it's Bill that needs to go away. I'm hoping Alan Ball stays true to the story and Bill just fades way into the background.
I Agree with Clark going away, but could he take Chloe with him? I think they might have a tough time re-gifting her though; I don't know too many shows that need a know it all b*tch.

December 28, 2009 4:05 PM
Mel
Reply

Sam we need, it's Bill that needs to go away. I'm hoping Alan Ball stays true to the story and Bill just fades way into the background.
I Agree with Clark going away, but could he take Chloe with him? I think they might have a tough time re-gifting her though; I don't know too many shows that need a know it all b*tch.

December 28, 2009 7:47 PM
SchoolHard
Reply

Kudos on the Smallville/Tom Welling call. Holey canoli, can an actor look any more bored in his role?? His range ended when his character miraculously graduated from college in one year and got a reporter job without any street cred. Its just awkward watching a 30yo man play 21. And he knows he cant fake it much longer, so he decides to pull sour faces so we wont notice. Sigh.....

December 28, 2009 8:54 PM
Em
Reply

Without Sam there would have been no Mary Anne and without her there would be no point at all to the second season of true blood, how is that a minor part? I completely understand the pick from glee...just because I hated her guts, but taking away Sam makes no sense.

December 29, 2009 5:18 AM
lemon
Reply

as usual these telefiles are written so weirdly.

no one wants to regift Sam. It's not even a vampire vs. shapeshifter thing. Sam is awesome. The scenes of him and jason and andy were highlights.

Bill is the most annoying character in the show and I wouldn't mind if they got rid of him. They don't even have to pair sam and sookie up.

December 29, 2009 5:31 AM
Kate
Reply

"Izzie' Stevens.

Don't regift her, just have her off TV, preferably run over by a tank.

December 29, 2009 6:28 AM
Kris
Reply

Jessalyn Gilsig was one of the worst things about Boston Public, are you sure you remember that show very well, Angel Cohn ? It was only years later when I saw her (and loved her) on Nip/Tuck that I realized she can actually act. She was okay on Heroes as well (script-willing), but nothing special. Glee just confirms that she excels at playing crazy and/or high-strung. I don't think she was bad for the show, but the fake-pregnancy storyline was drawn out too long, yes (though its end did give the actor who plays Will one incredible scene).

Sam's one of my favorite things about True Blood. He's more real/grounded than some of the characters (despite his past and his ability), alongside Tara (pre-Maryann mind-rape) and Lafayette. The show needs that. It can't all be gothic Sookie/Bill romance and the incredibly-cool/sexy-but-threatening-to-become-a-Spike-level-Eat-The-Show cast member. We need contrasts. Sam provides that. And Sam Trammel is scruffy, we need more scruff on TV.

Also, even though some didn't like the drawn-out Maryann story (I did), Sam was arguably one of the best parts of that. Him getting fucked over in the Daphne situation was brutal, we got some good bits of Sam back-story, and he got to be the hero of the season (with Jason and Andy supporting).

I shouldn't use too many more Buffy comparisons, but he's really the underappreciated Xander of this series. Although at least not in this thread.

And yes, Godric was killed off far too soon, but apparently that's in line with the novels ? I'm fine with some of the other changes they've made, but that one about Bill fading into the background sounds promising, like one they should follow (don't hate Bill, just don't like him being the secondary headliner after Sookie in this series).

January 2, 2010 12:57 PM
DKB
Reply
replied to comment from Mel

Like everyone, gotta keep Sam; his character deserves better/more on True Blood, not exile. Agree with losing Clark, but (sorry Mel) gotta keep Chloe.

January 17, 2010 5:42 PM
Emmy
Reply

Wow, TWOP is insulting Smallville. I'm stunned. ::rolls eyes::

June 27, 2011 3:56 PM
www.televisionwithoutpity.com
Reply

Twop 10 characters wed like to 1.. WTF? :)

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