Men

Arthur Fonzarelli

Joey Tribbiani

Luther Van Dam

Jethro Clampett

Women

Penny BBT

Chrissy (Three’s Company)

Rachel Green

Betty White (Golden Girls)

• Frank Costanza
• Moe Szyslak
• Jeff Greene
• Michael Kelso

Carlton Banks

Fez

Buster Bluth

Pam Poovey

I would assume for Seinfeld, Jerry, George, and Kramer are all primary, right? Either way, Joey Tribiani is a primary character on Friends.

This will take some thinking...

posted by justincredible

I would assume for Seinfeld, Jerry, George, and Kramer are all primary, right? Either way, Joey Tribiani is a primary character on Friends.

This will take some thinking...

I had no clue where to go. Joey and Rachel aren’t secondary. Hell, Rachel is probably the lead if there is one of the 6. Penny would be a lead too after S1, but I can see it more. 

Didn't even look at the female characters in the OP. Rachel is def a primary character. Rose would also be a primary character from GG.

Jerry Stiller was fantastic in Seinfeld and King of Queens as the crazy dad.

How would you categorize the characters from Parks and Rec and The Office?

Primary:
Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam
Ron Swanson, Leslie Knope

If so, Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) would make my top 4-5 secondary characters. Kevin Malone and Creed Bratton would be up there as well.

posted by justincredible

Jerry Stiller was fantastic in Seinfeld and King of Queens as the crazy dad.

Ah fuck. Yeah, he might actually be the winner for me as Arthur over Frank. Both are all timers though.

posted by Verbal Kint

Carlton Banks

Fez

Buster Bluth

Pam Poovey

 

Dang....I forgot Carlton!

posted by justincredible

Didn't even look at the female characters in the OP. Rachel is def a primary character. Rose would also be a primary character from GG.

😐

posted by justincredible

I would assume for Seinfeld, Jerry, George, and Kramer are all primary, right? Either way, Joey Tribiani is a primary character on Friends.

This will take some thinking...

Follow-up question: is a secondary character defined as one listed in the opening credits, but after the obvious "stars"?  Or is it someone that only appears in,  say, half of the episodes?  As Laley23 mentioned, many characters start out as secondary then gain traction after the first or second season.  Father Mulcahy and Klinger of MASH come to mind.  Nevertheless:

MEN:

Floyd Lawson

Waldo Faldo

Lieutenant Tragg (not a sitcom character, but he seemed to have the funniest lines in Perry Mason)

WOMEN

Georgette Baxter

(all I can think of until have more coffee)

posted by justincredible

Jerry Stiller was fantastic in Seinfeld and King of Queens as the crazy dad.

Not sure if secondary characters but Wayne Knight (Newman) and Steve Hytner (Kenny Bania) from Seinfeld.

posted by BR1986FB

Not sure if secondary characters but Wayne Knight (Newman) and Steve Hytner (Kenny Bania) from Seinfeld.

Definitely secondary.

Mike Erhnatraudt, Frank Costanza, The Hound, Red Foreman

Susie Greene (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Berta (Two and a Half Men)

posted by BR1986FB

Not sure if secondary characters but Wayne Knight (Newman) and Steve Hytner (Kenny Bania) from Seinfeld.

Seinfeld almost has to be its own category:

Newman, Frank Costanza, J Peterman, Jackie Chiles

posted by gut

Mike Erhnatraudt, Frank Costanza, The Hound, Red Foreman

Susie Greene (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Berta (Two and a Half Men)

From Breaking Bad? Not a sit-com, but definitely a great character. He was also great in Parks and Rec as Ben's dad.

And Red Foreman is definitely up there for me. One of my favorite sit-com characters of all time.

posted by justincredible

From Breaking Bad? Not a sit-com, but definitely a great character. He was also great in Parks and Rec as Ben's dad.

And Red Foreman is definitely up there for me. One of my favorite sit-com characters of all time.

Forgot it was sitcoms.  It's pretty tough - not really many memorable secondary characters.  I'd say most are either primary or part of an ensemble cast (like Woody or Coach from Cheers).

Steve Urkel....and probably technically primary, but I'm going with Dr. Cox from Scrubs (since really the show was about the 3 residents).

posted by gut

Mike Erhnatraudt, Frank Costanza, The Hound, Red Foreman

Susie Greene (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Berta (Two and a Half Men)

Berta....good call

posted by justincredible

How would you categorize the characters from Parks and Rec and The Office?

Primary:
Michael, Dwight, Jim, Pam
Ron Swanson, Leslie Knope

Agree on number of main characters

P&R has 2, Office has 4, Friends has 6, Sienfeld has 4, Mash has 2,

I questioned myself that 70's only has 2.

I literally know none of these people.  

But If i had to guess I would say that Slow Danny would be on my list

posted by Spock

I literally know none of these people.  

 

But If i had to guess I would say that Slow Danny would be on my list

 

I loved that goofy show

Karen from Will and Grace

Im going old school. Pick any 4 people from MASH.

posted by Ironman92

Karen from Will and Grace

I wouldn't consider her a secondary character. 

posted by Curly J

Im going old school. Pick any 4 people from MASH.

Sgt. Rizzo, Sgt. Zale,  Col. Flagg,  Dr. Freedman.