...what an epic compendium...sidekicks are like good basslines in a jazz or funk song...carrying the whole but sometimes easy to overlook...i’ve often wondered what a show only of sidekicks might look and play like (is it even possible, or does everyone become a lead at that point?)...maybe that’s what cheers was?...
When it comes to sitcoms I can only think of two - Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy and Karen Walker in Will and Grace.
Most 90’s romcoms seemed to have female best friends/sidekicks though.
They usually played the voice of reason (but always couched in humour) - Rosie O’Donnell, Judy Greer and Carrie Fischer come to mind.
Same goes for movies made in the 40’s and 50’s.
Actresses like the often, “wisecracking”best friend or employee, Eve Arden, or the nun, nurse, housekeeper, comic relief types played by Mary Wickes (who I had to google because while I’ve seen her face a million times I had no idea what her name was).
But it’s true, I had to think hard to come up with those female examples, while I could probably rattle off the top of my head 20 famous male sidekicks.
You make a great point, Deborah! Rainn was likely referencing the figures he idolized during his boyhood, a time when women in those roles were less recognized. Can you think of other female sidekicks besides Rhoda Morgenstern? This might be something worth exploring down the road…
What a paradox! For youngers, when they accidentally hop on Seinfeld they say "Dude!! That's Heisenberg... Jerry's dentist."
But for the OGs it's exactly the opposite.
"Look man! Whatley has a main role on Malcom. [years later] Whatley's cooking meth!"
I belong to the second group.
...what an epic compendium...sidekicks are like good basslines in a jazz or funk song...carrying the whole but sometimes easy to overlook...i’ve often wondered what a show only of sidekicks might look and play like (is it even possible, or does everyone become a lead at that point?)...maybe that’s what cheers was?...
When it comes to sitcoms I can only think of two - Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy and Karen Walker in Will and Grace.
Most 90’s romcoms seemed to have female best friends/sidekicks though.
They usually played the voice of reason (but always couched in humour) - Rosie O’Donnell, Judy Greer and Carrie Fischer come to mind.
Same goes for movies made in the 40’s and 50’s.
Actresses like the often, “wisecracking”best friend or employee, Eve Arden, or the nun, nurse, housekeeper, comic relief types played by Mary Wickes (who I had to google because while I’ve seen her face a million times I had no idea what her name was).
But it’s true, I had to think hard to come up with those female examples, while I could probably rattle off the top of my head 20 famous male sidekicks.
Interesting.
Yeah. Hopefully we will continue to see more and more, but those are great examples.
“it was all about the sidekicks, the disjointed men of mayhem who provided the comic relief."
I’m curious, why did you limit it to men?
For example, I would have thought Rhoda Morgenstern was more the side kick than Ted Baxter?
You make a great point, Deborah! Rainn was likely referencing the figures he idolized during his boyhood, a time when women in those roles were less recognized. Can you think of other female sidekicks besides Rhoda Morgenstern? This might be something worth exploring down the road…