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Most supporting characters on TV deserve their side roles because additional screen time would quickly wear out their appeal. But The Office is reportedly considering shifting the show's focus from whoever's the new manager of Dunder-Mifflin to one of the existing characters once Steve Carell leaves after the 2010-11 season. It's an intriguing idea that we think might make sense for plenty of other series. Here are the scene-stealing characters we'd most like to see take center stage:
10. Wilson (House)
Wilson really deserves to more than just a sounding board who looks out for his best friend. He's a smart doctor and we're sure he's got some tricky cancer patients and could capably run a crew of diagnosticians. Plus, he seems to enjoy quite the active dating life.
9. Lexie (Grey's Anatomy)
She's the younger and far less annoying Grey in Seattle Grace and could easily be the center of the show's ensemble instead of just a usually minor player. We love Cristina and Bailey, but making them the leads would create an insanely intense show, while a Lexie Grey's Anatomy would be an enjoyable return to the booze-happy, elevator-sex show we originally loved.
8. Grizz & Dot Com (30 Rock)
If someone were to let this pair take over the network while Jack Donaghy flees the country to escape persecution for financial and/or other improprieties, we wouldn't necessarily complain. These two are full of surprises.
7. Green Arrow (Smallville)
Let's face it, Clark Kent is pretty but also pretty damned boring. By comparison, Green Arrow is both enigmatic and compelling. We'd love to see Oliver step up to the fore so we could put the whole Lois and Clark relationship way, way, way on the back burner.
6. Ron Swanson (Parks & Recreation)
Leslie's cute and peppy, but frankly, we watch the show for this lovable curmudgeon who hates government bureaucracy even more than we do.
5. Kurt (Glee)
Rachel? That drama queen and Finn are so dull together, we can't even stand it. Sue? She's amazing, but an hour of her might get old quick. Our favorite scenes from all of last year centered around Kurt (with and without his dad), so why not give him his extended turn in the spotlight. He's adorable, and so long as his proud papa is around, we'll be happy.
4. Annie (Community)
We were stunned last season when she was Jeff's choice (at least in that moment), but we can see why. She's funny in a slightly more subtle way than Troy and Abed and her sheer determination makes us want to see her be the one that keeps this ragtag study group together.
3. Kalinda (The Good Wife)
We initially tuned in for Julianna Margulies and Chris Noth, but we stayed because of Archie Panjabi (well, her and the quality writing). And we're not alone since even the Emmys saw fit to reward her work. Kalinda's clever, has a ton of secrets (both personal and professional) that we can't wait to uncover and we appreciate her straight-forward, no-nonsense style.
2. Joan (Mad Men)
If SCDP actually revolved around the person that keeps the office humming, Joan would totally be the star of the show. We'd love to find out more about what makes her tick, see her rule the secretarial pool and maybe have crack pen her diary so we could learn a few dirty little secrets. She probably has more outrageous tales to tell than Don, Roger and Mrs. Blankenship combined.
1. Lafayette (True Blood)
Sookie is quite possibly an idiot and we're hoping she stays off in the fairy dimension so that we can focus on the line cook and his bewitchingly hot new beau. They're about a hundred times more interesting than Bill and Ms. Stackhouse ever were together. We thank our lucky stars that producer Alan Ball saw fit to keep him alive (even though the books killed him off) and now we want him take over the world... or at least Bon Temps.
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Lafayette was a bit dull this year, though I suppose being sidelined was hardly the character's fault, so I'd watcha show about him (given the town the fantastical elements would always be in place).
But Kalinda is the worst thing about The Good Wife in my book. Maybe it's an irrational dislike of the actress's style, but whenever she was given time she bugged the hell out of me.
I would tune in for the Grizz & Dot Com show, but didn't they already do webisodes?
I would definitely watch more TrueBlood is it was Lafayette-centric.
Castiel! He is so awesome, he deserves to stay on Supernatural AND get his own show.
I'm seconding the Green Arrow love. I adore Oliver and am secretly hoping we get a GA spinoff. I live in hope. :)
A series about supernatural events occuring while Lafayette gives "bitch crazy" side-eye and snogs Sexy Jesus? I'd totally watch that.
I'd add Auggie Anderson from "Cover Affairs" to this list. Chris Gorham's blind CIA tech genius pretty much owned the new show. He's hot, charming, fascinating with an intriguing back story. Plus, did I mention that he's hot? Really, the show was okay but Auggie/Chris turned into must-see for me.
How about Guerrero from Human Target? JEH steals every scene he's in and Guerrero's moral ambiguity would make him a wonderful anti-hero.
I say refocus Two and a Half Men towards Berta. I say just get rid of Charlie, Alan and Jake and have Berta turn Charlie's house into a halfway home for all of Charlie's exes. The possibilities are endless.
I am definitely for anything that gets Lois Lane as little screentime as possible.
And I agree with Bethie re: Covert Affairs. The Auggie-centric episode was the best one of the series so far!
If Glee, Grey's or Mad Men followed these suggestions, they'd at least lose one viewer immediately. Lexie may not be the MOST obnoxious character, but she's near the top of the list. I swear I'm the only person in the world who can't stand Kurt or Joan.
You are a genius...
Please, television gods? Please?
I'd watch the Eric and Pam show, rather than either of the fucking Stackhouses.
Joan? Hell yes.
I agree with the comments about Auggie and Guerrero (Covert Affairs and Human Target) 100%.
And sanen85, you're not the only one who can't stand Kurt.
Also, if he weren't dead (dammit), I'd nominate Ianto to take the lead of Torchwood.
I second the Eric and Pam show. Lafayette could be a major supporting character, but Eric and Pam all the way.
Yes, the Eric, Pam, and Lafayette show would totally ROCK. Sideline the Stackhouses, please.
No Castiel or Bobby from Supernatural?!
Eric and Pam. Just a plain 'life' at Fangtasia show. Can you imagine all the snarky awesomeness if the show was a 'documentary' of the goings on at Fangtasia? Torture. Sex. Violence. Politics. Shoes. Hairstyling. And Jessica can stop by for vampire tutoring from Pam, and Lafayette to do Eric's bidding. Pure amazingness!
You think Kurt deserves MORE screen time? He's not enough of a Gary Stu already?
I couldn't agree more about Auggie. He is easily the best part of the show.
And while I like Kurt's character in Glee he deserves nothing more than a supporting role. While Rachel's storylines get a bit old the show revolves around her because she is by far the most talented singer of the bunch.
And even though she recieves probably the second most screen time on Mad Men already I would love to have more Peggy storylines. Elizabeth Moss is just an incredible actress and I am glad she is the star female lead over January Jones.
I think that viewers tend to underestimate Wilson... he really is a tremendously important and influential character who gets a deceptively small amount of screen time; however, he remains a pivotal figure to both the show and its title character. If I could choose someone from House to receive more focus than they're getting at present, it would be Taub... I think he's a fascinating person whose role on the show as a diagnostic fellow could be generously amplified by more focus on him as a person. Just my opinion.
Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman in "Better Call Saul" with Nescafe as the primary advertiser.
Yes, yes and yes! I think a show centered around Castiel would hold loads of potential and Misha Collins has shown us he can do comedy and drama equally well! Not to mention, he can certainly bring the sexy! I would watch anything he's in, but I'd love to see him in a starring role (much as I love Jensen, and Jared)
Number 3?! Nooo! Not Kalinda, I can't stand her. She has to be one of the most annoying characters on TV.
Kurt is annoying as all hell.
I think Joan's novelty is starting to wear thin.
I definitely agree about Kurt. He's funny AND interesting enough to carry the show. Good call on Lafayette as well!
I would watch the Lafayette show as long as he stops with the ridiculous visions. The Eric and Pam show too would be great. I agree with limiting the Stackhouses, but shirtless Jason has to be resonably big part of the show. Maybe he could wash and park the cars for patrons of Fangtasia? That actor is hot and, I think, the most talented actor on the show.
Ugh, pass on Kurt. I put up with him so I can get my fix of Mike O'Malley, but any show centered on Kurt will be a nightmare to watch.
Forget Kurt let's watch the Brittana show! Brittany and Santana FTW!
I like the Pam & Eric show idea, with large roles for both Lafayette and Jessica. Really those 4 are the only good things left about TB. But I'd rather watch the Pete Campbell show than the Joan show. She's starting to annoy me, but Pete always is good for a laugh and a little backstabbing :)
Lexie is annoying as hell.
DEAR GOD NO TO MORE KURT!
That character is beyond stereotypical on a show full of stereotypes. While it's great for a young, gay character to be so present on television it would be much better of that character wasn't every stereotype of gay under the sun and wasn't ALL about his sexuality.
I was over it before it even started. More Rachel, please.
I'm going to pass on Kurt, he's annoying, nasty, vicious and a stalker and the only thing that makes him tolerable is his father. As for Castiel, I'll pass, as much as I enjoy Misha Collins Castiel under Sera Gamble's hands would be a nightmare, just one more person to whom Dean is supposed to allow to walk all over him and be grateful that he's getting the attention. Thanks but no thanks, I get enough of that with Bobby and Sam and with Sera taking over Supernatural is about to fully become the Sam Winchester show as it is.
I like Joan but I would hate her in a show where she is the center. A Pete or/and a Peggy show would be far more intertaining for me. There is never enough Pete in Mad men.
As for True Blood, I would love a Pam show.
Lexie, the main character? Seriously? ...Seriously?
I agree about Joan, I quite like her character, very interesting. More so than Peggy, IMO, who's becoming a bit Mary Sue in the show.
Wishful thinking, but still............
Remember when Lisa Bonet left "A Different World" and they (more or less) gave the lead to Whitley?
I think the show was better after Lisa left.
SERIOUSLY, lexie ? I want to slap her at EVERY appereance she makes in the show
Kurt has good potential as a central character (mainly because of Chris Colfer), but his stalker and f*g storylines were so awful (and awfully unresolved) they turned me off him almost completely--and I LOVED him in Preggers at that. Hopefully next season things will be better for his character, but seriously Cohn, I don't understand how you can still call Kurt "adorable" after the stunts he pulled.
I'm all for more Kurt! More Kurt also means more Burt which is good.
Lafayette, Pam and Eric should have their own show. I'd totally watch that.
Thanks for putting Kurt on the list. It's fun watching Glee posters go into a predictable embittered meltdown over his inclusion. Personally I think Chris Colfer has created the most compelling and emotionally nuisanced character on the show (though I love me some Sue Sylvester too). I don't need Kurt to be the star but I do feel that he (and his father) have become the heart of the show.
I love that we are getting more Joan in S4 of MM. I'm a bigger fan of Pete and Peggy, but Joan is certainly one of the shows most iconic characters and I'm always pleased to get more insight into her character.
People are such haters. Kurt is awsome. And yeah he got lots of screen time in the back-9, but no more than anyone else...
People really need to stfu, they can't appreciate a unqiue gay character who isn't the sterotypical flawless one.
Yay, I'm so glad Kurt is on this list. He's pretty much the reason I'm still invested in this show- Rachel and Finn are just plain dull.
Also, i don't quite understand the haters comments. Yes, Kurt is a stereotype, as is everyone on this show, but they've done a great job of showing that he is more than that. I also don't agree that he is nasty or a stalker- do the people that make these comments even watch the show?!
I'm glad you chose Kurt as one of the characters that should be the star of the show. He's the main reason I watch Glee. Chris Colfer is a gifted performer and when he's on screen (even in the background) my eyes tend to focus on him.
I will jump on the Kurt bandwagon. I think the character does indeed have the potential to carry a show. They would have to change the writing strategy for him a little bit as the lead; I think he won't be good for as many cheap yuks. However, the character has rich possibilities and the actor is stunningly gifted.
I think Kurt could definitely carry a show, it is not all about singing, otherwise it would become just a reality talent show. It is about acting and drama and humor more than anything, which Kurt has in spades.
I have loved Chris Gorham (maybe all Chris' should have their own show?) since Jack 2.0 and love that he has a character that is interesting to play.
Deanna:
If you love Chris Gorham, check out Popular, Oddysey 5 and Out of Practice. Trust me, you won't regret it :) He's an exceptional actor. Oh and he was also in Ugly Betty.
P.S. I will also jump on the Kurt bandwagon, yes, one episode was badly written, but Kurt still rocks and Chris Colfer is THE scene stealer of the show. He's SOOO freaking talented. He deserved that Emmy so much!
I don't even watch Glee but still I'm offended: please, would you allow somebody to disagree with you without calling them "haters?!!" That's something moronic celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow say. The best thing about TWoP are the intelligent posts we get. Calling other people meaningless names cheapens our site.
@Sashay
I apologise for my earlier comment, it was uncalled for, but I was just offended about certain comments made about Kurt. It's like people take characters way too seriously that they feel the need to trash characters like that. I would never trash another character on the list, even if I hated them.
People need to lighten up
Yes! I would totally watch a Kurt show.
Or better yet, the Kurt and Mercedes show that Sue suggested for bravo- along with their friendship hair flip thing every episode. Hee
I'm surprised Lexie is on there. I didn't really think many people liked her.
Just, no. All the way, no.
If you're being sarcastic in your last statement, it really doesn't come across. It is obvious that viewers see characters differently. I, like others, found some of Kurt's actions in the Back 9 creepy and stalker-ish, and NOT because he is gay (and I'm gay for that matter--not that it should count), which was further made irritating by the fact that none of his actions were addressed and resolved. You might disagree with me, but that's alright.
I myself am surprised that people find Rachel and Finn dull and boring, not that they're perfect characters with perfect storylines in the first place. However their flaws do not give me reason enough to dislike them (they even amuse me like Finn's "intelligence" and Rachel's mememe attitude), not to mention Michelle and Monteith are among the best actors in the show along with Lynch, and yes, Colfer. But heck, my opinions differ from others, and that's alright, too.
I think the question may be "Does this character have the potential to be able to carry the lead in a show?" not, "Did I like everything this character did last season?"
To go back to The Office, from whence this whole debate began, my own take on that would be that there are very few people on that show who could play as prominent a role as Michael does. Michael, for all that he is a doofus, has a genuinely sweet spirit as a redeemable quality; Dwight does not, and should not take his place. Jim is the obvious candidate to become the lead, but he's not as quirky as Michael and it might not work.
If, for some reason, Rachel left Glee, I probably would not make another person the lead. I think they would do best with a Fame-like ensemble that features Finn and Kurt, who are the best of the student actors, doing the heavy lifting with substantial help from Mercedes, Artie, Puck and Quinn.
So Puck can basically date rape Quinn, Quinn can lie and manipulative Finn into providing for a child that is NOT his, but Kurt get's all the hate? When have characters on Glee EVER taken responsibility for their mistakes. Never lol.
I'm gay too and I find it very offensive when people call Kurt "creepy". And all the staff over at afterelton still LOVE Kurt. He still has lots of gay fans. And he really wasn't THAT bad. The worst things he did were sing a song and introduce their parents. Why can't people remember that it's GLEE, everything is dramatized and exagerated.
Anyway that's my two cents.
People take things too seriously. I find it highly unfair that all the other charaters get away with their MAJOR mistakes but when KUrt does something it's world war three. Not cool!
Sometimes I just wish some of the Kurt fans would accept the fact that NOT everyone likes Kurt. I also wish they would not take every point of criticism on Kurt's motives as an opportunity to wager a personal crusade on the non-confirmists in the Kurt hero-worship.
Don't get me wrong. I personally like Kurt and love Chris Colfer's acting. But to be brutally honest, the over-defensiveness of the Kurt supporters in nearly every Glee forum is tiring me out.
Love this list.
Lexie as a lead on Grey's Anatomy is something I'd look forward to, girl is more watchable and tolerable then Meredith.
Also, LOVE the idea of Kurt being lead. Interesting.
Hi just thought i'd personally explain something.. That is twice now i’ve landed in your blog in the last 21 days looking for totally unrelated things. Spooky or what?