Quickest Realization That a Supporting Character was a "Breakout" Candidate

[Brian Cronin]

So I've been watching the first season of The Dick Van Dyke Show and it is fascinating. They filmed the first 14 episodes before the first episode aired. Just in those 14 episodes, though, they realized that Mary Tyler Moore was obviously a legit star so they moved the order around and moved up a spotlight episode from roughly episode #9 to episode #2. They also moved a couple of other episodes spotlighting Moore.

Which made me think - what was the quickest time that a supporting character was obviously a breakout star? Urkel? Fonzie? Would Kramer count (as he was a supporting cast member right off the bat)? John Cage on Ally McBeal (he was such a surprise character that they later had to address the fact that his introduction on the show was him hiring a prostitute, which dd not match the characterization of Cage once he was an established character)?

In Laura Petrie, the episodes hadn't even AIRED yet when they realized she was a breakout candidate, so I wonder if that means she "wins" this?

What do you folks think?

-Brian

[Mormel]

Angel and Spike, both on Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Angel was a guest role until season 2, when he became main... but Spike was originally supposed to be killed off at the end of his debut episode. Someone in the production team (dunno if it was Joss Whedon) loved him so much, they decided to spare him, and he and Dru became the main villains for the rest of the season. I think there were several points in which they considered killing him off ('What's My Line', 'Becoming'), but he'd grown so popular, they made him return in one episode in season 3, and then as a main character halfway into season 4, when he'd gone from villain to reluctant ally.

Also, maybe Brian and Stewie from Family Guy? They're the dog and the baby, respectively. I mean, look at how The Simpsons treats Maggie and Santa's Little Helper. I don't know that Brian and Stewie were originally intended to blow up as big as they did. As early as season 2, they got their own Brian-centric and Stewie-centric episodes, at the expense of Meg and Chris. Of course, the main focus will be on Peter in most episodes, but Brian and Stewie really lifted off. To the point where fans and not-so-fans refer to recent Family Guy as 'The Brian And Stewie Show'.

[Nitz the Bloody]

As far as comics are concerned, would Wolverine count? Some guy for the Hulk to beat up in his first appearance, a member of the all new X-Men in his second, and the breakout franchise's breakout star shortly thereafter.

[dancj]

Luke Perry in Beverly Hills 90210?

Ben in Lost?

Though it's going to be hard to top the example of Spike up above being promoted before they even finished the first episode he was in.

[dupersuper]

I remember finding George Clooney something Je ne sais pas when I first saw him on an episode of Facts of Life.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

So I've been watching the first season of The Dick Van Dyke Show and it is fascinating. They filmed the first 14 episodes before the first episode aired. Just in those 14 episodes, though, they realized that Mary Tyler Moore was obviously a legit star so they moved the order around and moved up a spotlight episode from roughly episode #9 to episode #2. They also moved a couple of other episodes spotlighting Moore.

Which made me think - what was the quickest time that a supporting character was obviously a breakout star? Urkel? Fonzie? Would Kramer count (as he was a supporting cast member right off the bat)? John Cage on Ally McBeal (he was such a surprise character that they later had to address the fact that his introduction on the show was him hiring a prostitute, which dd not match the characterization of Cage once he was an established character)?

In Laura Petrie, the episodes hadn't even AIRED yet when they realized she was a breakout candidate, so I wonder if that means she "wins" this?

What do you folks think?

-Brian

Well with Urkel he was supposed to be a one off character. But the moment he appeared ...the audience exploded. I was watching a special and the producer had never seen the audience laugh so hard in the 11 episodes taped before.

So knowing he had hit on something , that one time guest appearance became more. By the next season he was bumped up to cast member. By the 3rd season he was the star of the show. This didn't set well with Jo Marie Payton who slowly grew angry at how the show about the Winslow family became more and more focused on Urkel and Carl.

But about Laura Petrie ... I had a joke that they wanted Moore to wear dresses and all. But she refused . She had been the "legs" in the Richard Diamond series when it started and perhaps felt she needed that .

[Omar Karindu]

A slight correction re: Buffy.

Spike was supposed to be killed off in the mid-season two-parter "What's My Line" that restored Drusilla to full strength. She was then to take over his role until Angel went bad. Instead, Whedon spared Spike due to his popularity, but stuck him in a wheelchair where he couldn't affect the plot much until the season finale.