Favorite Off Beat Characters in TV shows....

[WCGreen]

My favs right now are Walter on Fringe and Mozie on White Collar.

They are great supporting actors to the main characters and both are unique and peculiar in such a way that they almost steal the scenes that they are in.

But as good supporting characters, they make the show more colorful or interesting without dominating the show.

I remember when Fonzie was like that, the first few episodes of Happy Days. He quickly stole the show because the major characters were pretty weak.

A good character in an ensemble show should add to the show without taking control of the action.

[targetpractice]

1. Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M05Z08OhunY

[Initech]

17. Yes, I'm afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was supposed to be a dry run.

Now I'm afraid I have a mess on my hands."
"So many poorly chosen words in that sentence."

:rofl:

[Mojambo]

33. Time for me to take off my receptionist skirt...

...and put on my Barbara Streisand, in the Prince Of Tides, ass-masking therapist pantsuit.

[JTG of the PRB]

59. "I'm afraid I just blue myself."

"There's gotta be a better way to say that."

:rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BznwsT6r_tM

[Initech]

65. Who'd like a bangar in the mouth?

"Oh wait, in America, you refer to it as a "sausage in the mouth".
"We just call it a sausage."

:rofl:

[BlueIris]

2. Phoebe Buffay, Byers/Langley/Frohike, and Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad.)

I love Saul.

[JonLP24]

4. Saul Goodman was the first thing that came to the top of my head

Couldn't really think of any "offbeat" characters besides him so he may not be my favorite but I like him too.

[Joe Fields]

3. Jim Ignatowski on Taxi

[WCGreen]

6. Oh Jim....

Yep...

[mzteris]

8. that's one I would pick. n/t

[pokerfan]

11. that was my first thought

[Mojambo]

25. ... What....... Does..... A.... Yellow.... Light.... Mean? n/t

[Joe Fields]

30. lol

[WinkyDink]

56. The Reverend Jim, to you!

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

5. Creed from The Office

"I'm not offended by homosexuality. In the 60's I made love to many, many women, often outdoors, in the mud and the rain... and it's possible a man slipped in. There'd be no way of knowing".

"i run a small fake ID business from the back of my car with a laminating machine I swiped from a police station."

"Cool Beans man, I live down by the quarry. We should hang out sometime and throw THINGS down there."

And he used to play in the Grass Roots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnFZsrs32Co

[fishwax]

7. Creed's hilarious

:rofl:

I don't know how it is that I didn't know he was in the Grass Roots, though ...

[pokerfan]

12. creedthoughts

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/creed-thoughts

[IcyPeas]

9. richard belzer on law and order

[fizzgig]

80. i *heart* munch

[NV Whino]

10. Walter is the only redeeming feature of Fringe IMO

I really hate the rest of the characters and stopped watching after the first season.

[WCGreen]

19. The woman is always smirking...

I watch it when it is on but don't go out of my way...

It's been all but canceled.

[WCGreen]

20. The woman is always smirking...

I watch it when it is on but don't go out of my way...

It's been all but canceled.

[HopeHoops]

13. Carlton the doorman.

[Lady President]

14. Northern Exposure- half the cast

I loved the quirky characters that would pop-up on that show... Ruth Ann, Marilyn, Ed, etc.

[Iggo]

36. Also, the other half of the cast.

That show was nothing if not interesting. Even the normal people were strange.

[MorningGlow]

15. Abed in Community

:headbang:

[Patiod]

46. Who would have thought he would have become the heart?

When it started, it felt like it was all about Joel McHale character. Even though I like the actor, I wasn't crazy about the show.

I started watching again recently (around about the making-tents-out-of-blankets episodes) and was delighted that Abed seemed to have become the heart of the show. Along with the Alison Brie character. The writers have really been on a roll lately - we were actually screaming and kicking our feet laughing when they did the "anti-drug" skit at the elementary school.

[MorningGlow]

48. It was

I guess it started out as a vehicle for Joel McHale, but then it became an ensemble show--and I am so glad it did. Talk about quirky characters! Even the minor ones, like Leonard and Starburns...
:rofl:

Loved the anti-drug skit. And the social commentary with the recent "elections"! But I was most touched by the ep with the Dungeons and Dragons kid. WOW. :wow:

Have you heard they're doing a sequel to the paintball war?!?! I can't wait! :bounce:

[Patiod]

49. Missed the paintball war - will try to find online

Heard it was great.

Loved the election, loved the D&D ep.

[peekaloo]

70. Abed and Troy the latest in a line of great bromances.

Following Alan & Denny and Turk & J.D. :-)

Senor Chang deserves a shout-out, too.

[Rob H.]

74. He's the first one I thought of, too

It also helps that he and Troy are hilarious together. :D


Edited to add: He's had some great dramatic moments on the show, too, like "Introduction to Film" where he makes a movie about his parents' divorce using footage of Jeff and Britta.

The first episode I ever saw was "Physical Education" (Jeff and Coach Slater(?) play pool in the nude) and the scene where they get Abed to pretend to be someone else and a "vampire" is what Abed comes up with hooked me on the series immediately.

[gratuitous]

16. No doubt, Jaclyn Smith from Charlie's Angels

Oh, you said "off beat," not . . .

:blush:

Never mind.

[WCGreen]

18. Oh my....

[Initech]

21. Newman from Seinfeld

[rug]

22. Larry, Darryl, and Darryl

[Mojambo]

23. Super Hans FTW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG3GRPFf7mA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93WRQ8HT_WA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CaNf2I4Ils&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRS41-7MTSs

[musette_sf]

44. another Super Hans fan

"I've been down enough bloody city-boy chain pubs, with their logos in the foam, disinfectant in the lager, air-freshener in the mayo.... nah, I wanna run a place that makes a difference!"

The Swan And Paedo

[Mojambo]

51. "The secret ingredient is crime." n/t

[musette_sf]

76. "I can't be in two bands at once.

Tom Petty tried that with The Heartbreakers and The Wilburys. Nearly killed the fucking guy!"

[madinmaryland]

24. WTF?? Beat-off characters??

:wtf:

[gratuitous]

81. A little late the party

See post #16.

[era veteran]

26. Vyvyan, The Young Ones

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

[Tuesday Afternoon]

27. Harry Soloman from 3rd Rock and Shelly Tambo from Northern Exposure

[Joe Fields]

35. Damned near everyone from Northern Exposure.

That show rocked...

:toast: :loveya: :hug:

[Initech]

39. 3rd Rock was an awesome show.

[Initech]

28. I got to add Leon and Suzie from Curb Your Enthusiasm

Got to love a Jewish mother who can say the word "fuck" each time with as much purpose and conviction as the previous time! :rofl:

[Mojambo]

29. God, Leon is so fucking funny.

"You gotta get in that ASS, Larry!"

[Iggo]

37. 'Fuck you, Larry!'

Funny every goddam time.

[Initech]

38. My favorite: "You bald fuck!!! And you fat piece of shit!!! Where's the head???"

[peekaloo]

71. "Stop scratching your balls and tell me where it is!!"

lurve Susie.

[Joe Fields]

31. I would have to add the entire cast of the Beverly Hillbillies

[Contrary1]

32. Denny...Denny Crane

And his trusty sidekick, Alan Shore.

[eShirl]

34. Ted Baxter... Dr. Johnny Fever... Festus.... the BALDWIN SISTERS omg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Baxter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Fever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festus_Haggen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Waltons_characters#Mamie_Baldwin

[Iggo]

40. All of Samantha's people on Bewitched.

Uncle Arthur, Dr Bombay, Endora.

Oh, and Derwood's boss, come to think of it. Larry Tate was his name?

[Mendocino]

41. Coach on Cheers n/t

[peekaloo]

42. Tommy Jefferson 'Harry's Law'

if you saw this week's show...."you're gonna owe me an arm and a leg". :rofl:

[MoralSyncretism]

43. Eldin on Murphy Brown, and Martin on Frazier

Eldin the "philosopher house-painter." Remember how Murphy Brown was in the news for Dan Quayle's snide reference to Murphy as a single mother? How disgraceful in an age of "family values"! But the show got him bac for his "potatoe" misspelling when he corrected a spelling bee contestant. Haha, those were great times for comedy in the Bush I era.

Two of my current favorites are Raj and Howard on Big Bang Theory.

[Lindsey]

45. I LOVE Suzy on Curb Your enthusiam. No one has said FUCK

w/more conviction than Suzy.

[Initech]

55. I read somewhere her driver makes her call him a "fat fuck" every morning.

:rofl:

[Patiod]

47. Well, Sheldon on "Big Bang" of course

And Larry, Darryl and Darryl, as mentioned before.

And Bruce Campbell's character on "Burn Notice".

[Tikki]

50. I like Marshal Marshall Mann

Maybe not too off-beat...But will he ever find love?

In Plain Sight

Tikki

[alphafemale]

52. I loved that quiet guy from Freaks and Geeks...Seth Rogen?

I wonder if anything ever became of him....

[JonLP24]

62. He is mostly in Apatow produced films

I think the funniest movie he was in lately is Pineapple Express. He was pretty funny as a cop in Superbad as well.

[alphafemale]

82. Pineapple Express was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. nt

[PassingFair]

53. Current Favorite: Sue Sylvester

[trof]

54. Maynard G. Krebs

AKA Bob Denver.

Maynard G. Krebs (the G. stood for Walter) was the "beatnik" sidekick of the title character in the U.S. television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

The Krebs character, portrayed by actor Bob Denver, began as a stereotypical beatnik, with a goatee, "hip" (slang) usage, and a generally unkempt, bohemian appearance. His abhorrence of conventional social forms was signified by comical reactions to the three words: "work", "marriage", and "police". For example, whenever the word "work" was mentioned, even in passing, he would yelp "Work?!" and jump with fear or even faint. He served as a foil to the well-groomed, well-dressed, straitlaced Dobie, and the contrast between the two friends provided much of the humor of the series.

Gradually, he became less of the stereotypical beatnik and more a free soul who did his own thing—including collecting tinfoil or petrified frogs, seeing the old Endicott Building get torn down and seeing the movie The Monster That Devoured Cleveland. In one episode, he invited Dobie to accompany him to a double-feature in which the film was shown with its sequel, Son of the Monster that Devoured Cleveland. Maynard might be described as the prototype of the late-1960s hippie. Many of the later episodes centered around Maynard, with Dobie more of an observer, but always as narrator. The series lasted four years (1959–1963), but its popularity extended into the 1990s as stations like Nick at Nite re-broadcast it for new generations.

Maynard's middle name was Walter. Named for his aunt, the "G" was silent.
:rofl:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_G._Krebs

[WinkyDink]

57. You rang?

[JTG of the PRB]

58. I have to second Walter Bishop from Fringe.

Also, Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development, and Abed on Community.

[JeffersonChick]

67. Me too.

[JeffersonChick]

68. Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds

[Amerigo Vespucci]

60. My all-time favorite: actor James Gregory, A.K.A. "Inspector Frank Luger" on "Barney Miller."

Far right in the photo below. He made every episode he was in a little better.

[csziggy]

61. Going WAY WAY WAY far back - Maynard G. Krebs on Dobie Gilliis

The original off beat character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLQkOp50Di8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXL4lfgzIt0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zj5cTNfIdM

[Bake]

79. Ah, you beat me to it!

:rofl:

Bake

[blue neen]

63. Burt Campbell on "Soap".

Of course, everyone on "Soap" was offbeat, but Burt was my favorite. :)

[Initech]

64. Cant believe no one's mentioned Ari Gold from Entourage yet.

And his assistant Lloyd always cracks me up. LLOYD!!!!!!

[sakabatou]

66. One of my faves is Lt. Barkley from ST: TNG

[Skittles]

69. Colonel Flagg in MASH

:rofl:

[JCMach1]

72. Rickety Cricket, or the Waitress

from it's always Sunny in Philadelphia...

[In_The_Wind]

73. I really like House and Bones.

I'm on my way back home this week. :bounce:
I've been away from TV for so long I've gone through withdrawal. Before I hit the road last time I set my Direct TV to record but we had to change our account (just the basic) recently. I'm not sure if any of the programs will be waiting for me or if I'll have to wait for reruns to see what's up on the boob tube.

:hi:

BTW ~ I'm gonna write a book. No one would believe the life I've had if I don't put it in print.
:shrug: Maybe it was a mistake to stand up the Donald for our second date so many wears ago. :banghead:


:hide:
On second thought ~ that was the right choice back in 1972.
:banghead: again I posted it as 1992 thus my need for an edit


:loveya::hug:

[charlie and algernon]

75. Abby on NCIS

[CBGLuthier]

77. The recently deceased Steve Landsberg as Arthur Dietrich in Barney Miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGv_7VgFgeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TwD3A28HmI

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

Of course there is also James Gregory as Inspector Luger from the same show (and the last clip)

[mainstreetonce]

78. Hurley on LOST

Dude!