Favorite characters added to already existing shows

[DRW50]

This can be a few episodes in, a few seasons in, whatever you want.

There are many in my head, but my quick choices would be shows I've watched more recently - Castiel on Supernatural (such a rich, complex character when given the opportunity to be more than a plot point or a joke), and Ben on Parks and Rec. Parks and Rec totally fell apart after the third season, but I love Ben. He's smart, supportive, funny, sweet, yet he's also incredibly neurotic and terrified. And I love his geekiness and that way he is so elitist in that geekiness even when he doesn't mean to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS_CvXj21uk

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A few others...

Sue Ann Nivens - I often felt like she was too reduced to a dirty joke machine, but on the few times they allowed Betty White more of a chance, she was stupendous. And the vibrating bed was the funniest thing ever on MTM, or close anyway.

Iola on Mama's Family - I'm not sure I could have stomached the cheap syndicated years of Mama's Family without her. Beverly Archer was a delight.

[Soapsuds]

Bubba to Mama's Family. I couldn't stand Vinton's kids...ugh

[All My Shadows]

Disowning you, Carl, for shading the syndicated years of Mama's Family. Those episodes were gold!!

My #1 favorite TV character of all time (well, when it's not Miss Kane) is Dawson's Creek's Jack McPhee, who first appeared in the second season. He was such a warm, honest character and a perfect fit for the show, especially as the central triangle created perpetual drama for the core 4 and took away a bit of the atmosphere of the first season. The show just wouldn't have been the same without him.

[Soapsuds]

I still remember the scene where he broke down after admitting to his family he was gay. Powerful stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVN4q0_hkZQ

[Gray Bunny]

Heather Locklear added to Melrose Place half-way through Season One.

Joan Collins added to Dynasty at the start of Season Two (though I *loved* season one).

Johnny Galecki and Sandra Bernhard added to Roseanne in Season Four; Martin Mull added in Season 3-4 (then left and rejoined for good in Season 6).

[Soapsuds]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4JIYXkv9Gc

At 1:07 just love it...Mama being there for Bubba..always gets to me.

[SFK]

-Bringing the delicious Sable Colby over to Dynasty in season 9 was a brilliant move. After The Colbys "failed", the producers could have easily severed all ties to the spin-off, but they wisely and thankfully saw what a winner they had in Stephanie Beacham.

-Little Billy on Who's the Boss, Halyalkar was the child actor's last name iirc, was one of the few instances where the sitcom trope of adding a new cute kid actually worked. Little Earl on What's Happening!! is another example though that began to crumble as the series neared its end.

-Monroe on TCFC. He brought out the comedic best in Ted Knight, not unlike his relationship with his son in Caddyshack ("You'll get nothing, and LIKE it!")

-Abby.

-Kim and Freddie.

-Charmaine and Lance.

[SFK]

-Johnny Brown, Good Times

-LaWanda Page, Sanford and Son

-Alice Ghostley and Jan Hooks, Designing Women

[Cheap21]

Kimberly, Sydney, Lexie, Taylor and so many others on Melrose Place

Amanda, ALEXIS, Dana, Adam on Dynasty

Kris on Charles Angels

Wesley on Angel

Faith, Riley on Buffy

[Bright Eyes]

Riley on Buffy - the most hated main Buffyverse character of all time next to Connor? Are you on crack? But speaking of the Buffyverse, I have to add my favourite character from both series who came onto the show in season three, Anya. She was unfortunately underused a lot, but she basically saved the day in the season 5 finale and was the MVP in two major episodes; the musical episode during and in "The Body" where she gives her fruit punch speech about not understanding human death, easily one of the best moments in the history of the show.

Here's the fruit punch speech ... (sorry about the quality, couldn't find a better version)

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[Cheap21]

Are you?

[applcin]

Rev. Jim on Taxi. Best move several times over, because they dumped the dull Randall Carver, Christopher Lloyd was hilarious, and Jim was a better scene-stealing character than the sometimes annoying Latka.

[I Am A Swede]

Hazel Forrest & Elizabeth Bellamy - "Upstairs, Downstairs"

Melissa Agretti - "Falcon Crest"

Elizabeth Corday - "ER"

Casey Novak - "Law & Order - Special Victims Unit"

Rita Connors & Pixie Mason - "Prisoner: Cell Block H"

[Khan]

That is interesting. I know the rest of the WTB? cast have said publicly that they were highly displeased with his arrival and were glad when the producers gave him a quick exit.

[Days22]

Anya on Buffy

Valerie on 90210

Mr Furley on threes company