Summary
I’ve always felt some of the best sitcom characters were often the most underutilized, and there were plenty of hilarious characters I’d love to have seen more of. While I agree, there’s some merit to the idea that less can be more when it came to beloved sitcom characters, and by keeping their appearances brief, the excitement whenever they appeared onscreen was be maintained. However, I cannot help feeling that some characters’ potential has been wasted through their limited use, and these sitcoms could have benefited from giving some of these secondary characters more time in the spotlight.
I’m sure everybody has a different answer regarding who they thought werethe most wasted sitcom characters, but these were some who I believe could have benefited from further appearances. While some of these characters only showed up for a couple of episodes, others were more prominent yet still could have had more development, storylines, and a larger character arc associated with them. While it’s impossible to go back and change the past,I would have loved to have seen more of these hilarious sitcom characters.
8Gail The Snail
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005 - Present)
While the gang fromIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahas always shocked and enthralled me, I think one of the show’s best aspects was how creativeAlways Sunny’ssupporting characterswere. From the slow decline of Rickety Cricket to the creepy milk-drinking presence of the McPoyles, the wayward band of oddballs who found their way into Paddy’s Pub have never failed to make me laugh. However, one character I thinkAlways Sunnycould have used a little bit more of was Dennis and Dee’s unnerving cousin, Gail the Snail.
Gail the Snail got her name because Dennis and Dee would throw salt at her to keep her away, and having just appeared in four episodes, I believe she was painfully underutilized. Gail was first introduced in Season 5 and, in her few appearances, has shone through as one of the most memorable and disconcerting characters in the series, especially considering her uncomfortable relationship with her uncle Frank. AsAlways Sunnycontinues as the longest-running live-action American sitcom, there’s surely room for more Gail-centric stories.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Cast
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
7Creed Bratton
The Office (2005 - 2013)
While some viewers loveThe Officebecause of the poignant romance between Jim and Pam or the outrageous antics of Michael Scott, one of my favorite aspects was Creed Bratton. To me, Creed felt like an anomaly in the series, a mystery waiting to be uncovered whose every action and utterance hinted at a fascinating life outside of the Dunder Mifflin paper distributor. While audiences were given hints about Creed’s personal life, I’d love to have seen a lot more of it in the show.
Everything about Creed fascinates me, from the fact thathe’s playing a fictionalized version of himself and is actually named Creed Brattonto his backstory as a rock star, drug user, and former homeless person. While Creed was given more storylines asThe Officeprogressed, I was sad he never truly got his time in the spotlight, and I’d love to have seen more Creed-based episodes. Although it may not be official canon, one of my favorite Creed moments came when he met Jesse fromBreaking Badduring a skit at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
6Mona Lisa Saperstein
Parks and Recreation (2009 - 2015)
One of my favorite things aboutParks and Recreationwas how absurd the residents of Pawnee, Indiana, were and the incredible interactions they would have with the Parks Department. Some of the best moments came in Town Hall meetings or when the public would be invited into the offices, although another recurring resident who I always wanted to see more of came through Tom Haverford’s hilarious business partner Jean-Ralphio. While I love Jean-Ralphio, it was his sister, Mona Lisa Saperstein, who I always wanted to see more of.
Jenny Slate expertly portrayed Mona Lisa, who was described by her brother as “the worst person in the world" and a “total klepto, nympho, and pyro.” While Mona Lisa left a lasting impression in every episode she was in, I was shocked to learn that she turned up in just nine episodes ofParks and Rec. For such a hilarious character with so much untapped potential, I thought Mona Lisa was painfully underutilized throughout the series and could have contributed further to the misadventures of Tom, Jean-Ralphio, and the rest of the Parks Department.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is a television series that premiered in 2009, focusing on Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in Pawnee, Indiana. She encounters various challenges from bureaucrats and citizens while striving to beautify the town through her role in the Parks and Recreation Department.
5Kirk Van Houten
The Simpsons (1989 - Present)
AsThe Simpsonsprogressed over the years, I thought it was fascinating to witness how the show grew from focusing on the antics of the family toa true ensemble encompassing the entire spectrum of Springfield. I loved the way the series fleshed out not just the circumstances surrounding the family’s life but went even further to give the secondary characters, like Bart’s best friend Milhouse, their own fully formed family. Out of this attention to detail came one of my favorite characters, Milhouse’s father, Kirk Van Houten.
For my money, Kirk had some of the greatestSimpsonsmoments, including “I sleep in a race car, do you?” to “can I borrow a feeling?” and there was something so compelling and pathetic about the character. While I agree Kirk had several episodes that shed light on his hilarious character, I have always wanted to see more of him. As Kirk traversed the challenges of his separation from Lunane, getting fired from the cracker factory, and trying to forge a relationship with his son post-divorce, there were plenty more opportunities for Kirk episodes.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
4Pierce Hawthorne
Community (2009 - 2015)
The towelette tycoon turned college student, Pierce Hawthorne, was an integral part of the Greendale study group for the first four seasons ofCommunity. Although Pierce was boorish, offensive, and downright obnoxious most of the time, he was also among my favorite members of the cast and contributed to some of Community’s funniest moments through his complete lack of social decorum.I always thought Pierce was a great character with lots of potential, and that’s why I was so saddened that he was written off the show due to behind-the-scenes problems with his actor, Chevy Chase.
I’m well aware that Chase has always been notably difficult to work with and that these problems continued on the set ofCommunityas he found himself in conflict with showrunner Dan Harmon and co-stars like Donald Glover. Despite this, I believe Pierce’s absence was significantly felt in later seasons ofCommunity, and I would have loved to have seen more of him. While I know it’s unlikely that Chase will appear in the upcomingCommunitymovie, I’m still holding out hope they find a way to pay tribute to his character in some way.
Community
Community is a comedic television series that chronicles the lives of diverse students at Greendale Community College, a fictional and notoriously underperforming educational institution in Colorado. Released in 2009, the show explores the quirky interactions and relationships among the eclectic group navigating their academic and personal challenges.
3Bo Derek Thompson
Superstore (2015 - 2021)
I always enjoyed the workplace sitcomSuperstoreand tuned in every week to witness the trials and tribulations of the employees of Cloud 9. With an incredible array of talented performers, Cheyenne Thompson (Nichole Sakura) stood out as my favorite as I not only found her hilarious, but the way she built herself up from a pregnant high school student to a savvy supervisor was truly inspiring. Adding to this, oneSuperstorecharacter I would have loved to see more of was Cheyenne’s partner, Bo Derek Thompson.
Bo was a wannabe rapper who got engaged to and married Cheyenne over the course ofSuperstore. Although Bo’s appearances were brief, he always left a big impression, as his cluelessness, unfounded self-belief, and love for Cheyenne meant that, despite his faults, I was always rooting for him.I was excited at the idea of seeing more of Bowhen theSuperstorespin-offBo & Cheyennewas announced in 2020; however, this dream was crushed when it was revealed NBC was not moving forward with the project.
2Newman
Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)
One of my favorite things aboutSeinfeldwas that the series didn’t need to spell everything out to us viewers and was comfortable leaving certain aspects of a mystery. This was especially the case when it came tothe reasoning behind Jerry’s hatred of Newman, his arch-nemesis and sworn rival. This hilariously acrimonious relationship meant that Newman acted as a constant thorn in Jerry’s side and while he was hilarious in all of his appearances,I would have loved to have seen more of Newman throughoutSeinfeld.
While it’s true that Newman’s character got more screen time asSeinfeldprogressed, his job with the Postal Service and frequent involvement with Kramer’s bizarre schemes meant there were plenty more opportunities to include him. Wayne Knight did an incredible job playing Newman, and he appeared in 44 out of the 180 episodes. While I always wished to see more of Newman, I was pleased to see him reprise his role in an ad for the US Postal Service in 2020 titled “A Message from Your Friendly Local Mail Carrier.”
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
1Carol Willick
Friends (1994 - 2004)
WhileFriendsrevolved around the core six characters who made up its ensemble, part of the reason the series was such a success was because it had such an incredible roster of supporting characters. I have always enjoyed the absurdity of Ugly Naked Guy and thought Janice was the funniest of all the members' partners, but one character who should have played a larger role in the series was Carol Willick. As Ross Geller’s ex-wife and the mother of their child, Ben, I always found it strange how little we saw of Carol throughout the ten seasons ofFriends.
WhileFriendsoften used Carol’s brief appearances to joke about her same-sex relationship with Susan Bunch, I think the show missed out on an opportunity to explore more storylines about the trials of traversing divorce and parenthood.Carol’s role was reduced asFriendsprogressed, but I believe as Ben grew older, the series could have leaned more heavily into how this affected her and Ross’s relationship and communication. Carol was in just 15 episodes and did not even appear in the final three seasons, which I think was a disservice to her character’s importance.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
